About the Organizers

Guest Writers and Speakers

• Doug Van Gundy is a West Virginia poet and director of the low-residency MFA program at West Virginia Weslyan University.

• Dr. Elizabeth Savage is a writer and editor of Kestrel literary magazine. She also serves as a professor of English at Fairmont State University.

• Dr. Jay Smith is a professor of history at Davis & Elkins College.

• Dr. Brantley Craig is a professor of religion and philosophy at Davis & Elkins College.

• Iris Allen is the forest manager of the D&E Experimental Forest.

• Sydney Tammarine is an essayist, poet, and translator; she will be joining the English department at D&E in Fall 2024.

Program Supervisor

Sebastian Williams, PhD is an assistant professor of English at Davis & Elkins College. He earned his doctorate from Purdue University and currently researches literature, rhetoric, and environmental health. His recent book is titled Modernist Parasites (2023), and other work has appeared in Oxford University Press's Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature and Environment (ISLE) and the Journal of Medical Humanities, among other publications. Sebastian has also hosted a local Y.A. book club and is a transplant to West Virginia from the Midwest.

Assistant Supervisor

Emma Engle is a student at Davis & Elkins College. She is going into her Junior year and is a double major, studying Environmental Science and English (Writing). On campus, Emma is a writing consultant in the D&E Writing Center. Off campus, she enjoys hiking, reading, and camping. Emma will continue her education post-undergrad with the goal of working in nature conservation and environmental journalism.  

Volunteer

Willow Ferguson is a student at Davis & Elkins College.  She is going into her junior year, double majoring in Environmental Science and English (writing), with a minor in Geographical Information Systems (GIS).  On campus, Willow is an active member of the GreenWorks! club and a resident and participant of the Morrison-Novakovic Center for Faith and Public Policy.