ENGL489 Advance Portfolio Workshop Author Bios
(scroll to the end of this page for contact information and links to office hours and zoom classes)
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Amanda Guindon is a 21 year old English major at Bridgewater State University. With a concentration in Writing and Writing Studies and a minor in Communication, Amanda dreams of being a freelance editor or an editor for a major publishing firm. She has a piqued interest in creative non-fiction and the art of memoirs. Since school forces a lot of constrained academic writing, it wasn’t until recently that Amanda found her passion for creative non-fiction writing. Amanda is an animal lover. Her favorite cat, Odessa, lives with Amanda and her boyfriend in Easton; while Tucker and Hondo (her family dogs) live at home in Millis, Massachusetts with her parents. When Amanda isn’t in school she spends her time reading, making puzzles and playing video games like Sims, World of Warcraft and Animal Crossing. A creature of habit, Amanda enjoys the simple pleasures in life--cuddled up in pajamas on the comfy, cozy couch. If it’s a good day, then there’s kernels popping in her new popcorn machine--obviously her favorite snack while her favorite podcast, Red Web plays in the background. Amanda is excited to graduate college in Fall 2021 and will be the first in her immediate family to go to college.
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Kate Bazarsky, 21 years old of Somerset, Massachusetts, was at one point a preschool teacher, but has since decided that it was not for them and has returned to Bridgewater State University. They are currently pursuing a degree in English with a concentration in Writing and Writing Studies. And while school last semester was difficult, Bazarsky plans to graduate in just one more semester, something they are immensely proud of. In their free time, Bazarsky can be found measuring ingredients and whisking batter as they love to bake, frequently testing out new recipes to try. The latest of these recipes included matcha cookies, brownie brittle, and brownie balls covered in chocolate. . .and that was just in one day. To be honest, they’re also probably listening to some sort of hippy music or old rock as they whip up delicious recipes; music is one of their purest passions. Bazarsky’s love for writing centers on flash fiction and spoken word poetry. They describe flash fiction as a camera shot: one moment where you can zoom in and focus on each of the senses. Spoken word poetry, on the other hand, holds a special place in Bazarsky’s heart. In fact, if money wasn’t an obstacle to work around, Bazarsky would love to be a spoken word poet because the medium reaches a wide audience.
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Emily Spagna is a Photography major with a minor in English. Some of her passions in life include photography and animals. What led Emily to pursue a career in photography was being able to use a camera to potentially make an impact in the world around her. She fell in love with the idea of combining her abilities to take beautiful pictures and tying in her writing has the power to both inspire and inform. Someday she would love to work for National Geographic taking pictures of various animals and writing articles on subjects that she enjoys. She has a special soft spot for African elephants, which are her favorite animal, and would love to work with conservationists in the plains of Africa writing as much as she can so others can learn. Emily would also like to write articles that teach others about service dogs. Her service dog named Jasper is a very important aspect of her life. Other aspects of writing that Emily likes is fiction, preferably young adult fiction. She revels in writing about worlds that are other than our own such as alternate realities and fantasy. She is currently working on a young adult novel.
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Lynne Campbell, up and coming author, is a Bridgewater State University senior who recently moved from Quincy Massachusetts to Amherst Massachusetts to live with her significant other and his family. The young author is studying English as her major and picked up a minor in anthropology. While fiction writing with gothic elements is her passion, Lynne will occasionally write poetry. She draws inspiration from her favorite author, Edgar Allen Poe, who she read many stories from when she was younger. During her free time, Lynne can be found snuggled up on the couch watching a movie with her three dogs--Shadow, Willow, and Timber--a nice cup of hot chocolate, and some desserts, or playing Dungeons and Dragons with her friends, though she claims she is always happiest when writing. People are often surprised when they first meet Lynne, because her writing does not reflect the way she presents herself. Lynne hopes to move to a quaint little town up north in the woods one day, where she can truly enjoy her favorite season of fall and pull inspiration from for her writing, especially during the Halloween season.
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Matthew McGuirk, A senior from Dighton, Massachusetts, currently holds an associate’s degree in Communication. Matt started at Bridgewater State in Fall 2019 majoring in Communications with a concentration in film/video and media studies and an minor in the writing and writing studies. He plans on returning to BSU for a Master’s in English. He has an interest in creative writing, particularly fiction. Since 2016, Matt has worked in sports journalism, which helped him get a head start in his writing career. He became interested in sports during high school when he was hired by the Boston Cannons professional lacrosse team as their junior reporter. Matt wrote a number of articles for BostonCannons.co and interviewed players and coaches. During summer 2020, one of his game stories was picked up by The Boston Globe. That was his first time seeing his work published in a newspaper. While writing, Matt listens to pop punk music--especially, Green Day. Besides writing, Matt can be found baking pizza or gaming. A fun fact about Matt, there are two of him: a twin brother, Jack. In the future, Matt hopes to work in journalism or creative writing as well as teach.
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Paige Couture graduated from Bristol Community College in 2018 with an associate’s degree in early education. She is now pursuing a bachelor’s degree from Bridgewater State University with a double major in early education and English with a writing and writing studies concentration. If you would like to learn more about Paige’s projects, you can reach her at [email protected]. Having worked for 4 years at a daycare, Paige hopes to use her degree to become a preschool teacher and bring her passion for reading to her students in the classroom while continuing to write on her own time. Paige is an avid reader of all things mystery, fantasy, and true crime. Her obsession with figuring out “whodunnit” has inspired her to write herself. She tries to put at least a few dozen words to paper per day, but when writer’s block hits--as it inevitably does--Paige prefers to think of it as a sign that she needs to take a break. Whether that means reading something else, spending time with friends and family, or going for a walk to work out the blockage, these short recesses from writing are key. Paige’s approach to writing stresses dedication without overexertion. She applies that philosophy to all her ventures, including her most recent project, a mystery novel. When Paige isn’t writing, she is reading them or watching true crime stories unfold on Dateline. She lives in Somerset, Massachusetts.
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Madison Staples is a senior at Bridgewater State University majoring in English with a concentration in writing and writing studies and has a double minor in anthropology and U.S. ethnic and indigenous studies. Madison hopes to earn a Master’s Degree in library science in the future. As the daughter of a librarian, she spent much of her childhood in the library and developed an interest in researching. She hopes to continue researching with a career in library services and plans to use this as an opportunity to help others learn. Madison spent much of her time at Bridgewater State writing academically, which is her preference. Essays and literary analysis are her strong suits. However, she also has an interest in creative writing and likes to write short stories because she believes that with less words than a novel, the payoff is greater. Books that have inspired her creative aspirations are "We Were The Mulvaneys" by Joyce Carol Oates and "The Haunting of Hill House" by Shirley Jackson. Madison believes that practicing creative writing and reading for leisure helps her write professionally because they give her a deeper understanding of meaning. When she’s not writing, Madison works at Honey Dew Donuts. She resides in Carver, Massachusetts and has a cat named Rosie.
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Ron Corbett was born on November 30, 1974 in Wenatchee, Washington State. Ron lived with his grandmother growing up because his mother passed away from an automobile accident when he was just eleven months old. He said that his grandmother was the one who taught him the value of hard work and that he should live his life the way he wants. In elementary, middle, and high school, his best subjects were history, government, and current world problems. His worst subject was math. He graduated from Eastmont high school in 1994. Ron attended Bristol Community College and transferred to Bridgewater State University in the spring of 2018 where he is majoring in Special Education with a minor in Reading. Ron is married and lives with his wife and a cat named Buford. He currently works at the Somerset Bridge Nursing Home, but is planning to make a career of teaching. Ron spends his free time with his wife and plays video games on his Xbox. His video game interests include Assassin’s Creed, Call of Duty, Halo, Gears of War. He also likes to watch Marvel movies and read comic books which is where his interests for reading sparked from. He especially enjoys the superhero genre of comic books. Ron anticipates graduating from Bridgewater State in the Spring of 2022.
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Marissa Merlino is an aspiring author from the South Shore of Massachusetts who will graduate from Bridgewater State University this spring with a major in English and a minor in graphic design. She regularly combines visual arts with her word craft and hopes to acquire a position where she can continue this journey in publishing or at a newspaper. An artist who prefers painting and drawing, her favorite mediums are acrylic, watercolor, coloured pencils, and makeup. When using makeup as her medium, she gravitates towards platform looks, but is not one to shy away from Clown makeup. That which terrifies others merely amuses Marissa. Her taste in authors and music is eclectic and her vast interest in film often inspires her work. Voices like Stephen King and Rob Zombie combine with rock and alternative sounds to help create her eerie prose. When writing, she prefers solitude to a bustling cafe. While open to technical writing, journalism and other more business focused genres, she often turns to horror to create stories that explore the uncanny while achieving the goal of unsettling her reader. These tales are fed by her untamed fascination with true crime, as the reality of what humans can accomplish is often more scary than our worst nightmares. Her absolute favorite film is Requiem for a Dream, be sure to ask her why. On the personal side, she enjoys all things Fall, Halloween and relaxing with her two cats, Boo and Eleven. Eleven is attributed with saving her life.
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CJ Hall is a sophisticated author who dabbles far beyond the realm of literature. Born in Ithaca, New York, Hall currently resides in Braintree, Massachusetts while also frequenting the state of Rhode Island. As a student at Bridgewater State University with a double major in both biology and English and a quadruple minor in biochemistry, psychology, global religious studies, and anthropology, Hall is headed to medical school in hopes of accomplishing her heroic dream. The driving force behind these rigorous studies is her goal to completely reform the face of modern-day medical care, creating a more personal patient experience that caters to the individual’s personal beliefs, ethics, religion, culture, and comfort level. Hall belongs to the Koasati (Coushatta) indigenous tribe based in Louisiana. She values the history of her ancestry as well as the range of eclectic experiences which have inspired her spiritual journey. Hall remains an avid reader since childhood and currently has an affinity for creative non-fiction, poetry, classical literature, horror, young adult novels, nonfiction, and science writing. Creating artwork and expressing emotions through art journaling is one of Hall’s most valued pastimes. From mixed media to pen-and-ink to acrylic, she masters many different mediums and even has a history with photography and makeup artistry. Growing up as an accomplished vocalist, Hall’s musical gift is one of her many talents and influences that allows her to skillfully tap into emotional description in her writing.
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Michael Wood is in final semester at Bridgewater State, successfully managing to balance his job working security for GBH television in Boston with his academics. Michael is 28 years old and currently lives in Easton, MA. With increased free time during the pandemic, Michael found more opportunities to do things he enjoys such as writing, playing video games, or reading novels. He loves science fiction and anything futuristic. He is currently reading Will Save the Galaxy for Food by Yahtzee Crowshaw. As an English major, Michael has always had a passion for fiction writing and hopes to utilize his writing skills to help him find success in the field of Biology, his second major, by conducting research or writing field reports. If he could live anywhere, Michael would love to move out to Nevada for the warmer weather and wide open spaces. If Michael hit the jackpot, he would use his winnings to travel around the world, and he may eventually settle down and set up a rustic cat cafe in a small European town. When Hollywood calls, he would want Tom Holland or Michael Cera to play him; they both can deliver that quirky charm. Michael’s preferred superpower would allow him to freeze time so that he can think before he acts and make the right decisions. This power coincides with Michael’s newfound interest in the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, as he has recently come to appreciate Gandhi’s notions of morality and integrity.
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Derek Krysko is a writer from Foxboro, Massachusetts. He is currently attending Bridgewater State University as an English major with a minor in communications. Writing always came naturally to Derek. For Derek, he is able to better express his creativity through writing and he finds writing to be more powerful than other areas of his study. His favorite books include the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling and Under the Dome by Stephen King among various works of science fiction. He hopes to one day become a journalist and cover either sporting events or film after graduation with higher aspirations to one day write and produce his own works for television. When he is not focused on his education, Derek enjoys playing video games, basketball, or spending time with his two dogs, Ruby and Daisy, who he loves more than anything else. One of his biggest inspirations in life is Barack Obama who he views as an insightful leader with a good heart and attitude. This inspirational mindset is what drives Derek forward in life and gives him the confidence to succeed.
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Rebecca Monestime was born in Randolph, MA in 1999. She graduated from Fontbonne Academy in 2017. That next fall she began to study Communications at Bridgewater State University with a minor in Writing & Writing Studies. Rebecca currently resides with her parents, Jean and Marie, and twin sister Bethanie. When not in class or studying, Rebecca has a part time job at Burlington Coat Factory. She has a great love for animals and hopes to get a puppy. In her limited off time, Rebecca enjoys spending time with her friends, listening to Kpop especially BTS, watching anime and surfing YouTube videos and watching tv. Rebecca also enjoys art and has a talent for drawing. After graduation, she hopes to travel within and outside the United States.
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John Walden is a writer and future law student at Bridgewater State University who will graduate with his bachelors in economics. Walden graduated from Saint Paul John the III high school and is currently working at the writing studio at Bridgewater State University. He is also working at a restaurant called La Cucina Sul Mare as he takes care of his adorable dog named Benji at home. Walden has traveled to Australia and Ecuador so he could volunteer for a Catholic church by teaching English to kids. If Walden is not working or studying for college, he is watching hockey and golf on tv at home. He is also big on writing memoir and nonfiction in his spare time. After graduating from BSU, Walden hopes to get through law school successfully and win the lottery in the near future.
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Brittany Oppenheimer is currently a senior at Bridgewater State University, graduating with a degree in Writing Studies in the spring of 2021. She is a graduate of Valley West High School in Chicopee, and attended Holyoke Community College before transferring to Bridgewater State. Currently, she is working part time at the supermarket chain Big Y as a food service clerk. Brittany has been published in four separate publications, including The Syndrome Magazine, The Kind Writer's Online Magazine, The Journal of Compressed Creative Arts, and The Book Smugglers Den. While she works in both fiction and non-fiction, she enjoys pulling inspiration from both film and video games to incorporate into her work. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her dog Cassie and her two cats Binx and Loki. She has also enjoyed her time travelling to both Hampton Beach and Hawaii. In the fall she will pursue her Master's degree, and in the future she hopes to use her degree and writing experience to publish a novel.
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Lee Torda believes there are writers who teach and teachers who write, and she is the latter. She publishes routinely in The Bridgewater Review. Her essay "Where are you From" appears in the edited collection Placing the Academy: Essays on Landscape, Work, and Identity. Her scholarly focus is on literacy instruction, policy, and writing pedagogy (see her essay on book clubs in Integrating Literature and Writing Instruction co-authored with Rona Kaufman). Most recently, Lee was a guest editor for the journal Teaching and Learning Together in Higher Education with Karen Richardson, where on her essay "Chaos in the Promise Land," co-written with two undergraduate students, also appears. The essay chronicles their shared experience traveling and writing about a research and writing tour in Israel in 2012. The majority of Lee's energy for writing goes into the classes she teaches and can be located and borrowed from at www.leetorda.com. Lee Torda is an Associate Professor of English and the Writing Program Administrator for first year writing at Bridgewater State University. She lives in Jamaica Plain, MA with her husband, three indoor, and one outdoor cats and is an intrepid walker in all manner of New England weather.
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Need to be in touch with me?
LEE TORDA 310 Tillinghast Hall Bridgewater State University 508.531.2436 [email protected] www.leetorda.com NOTE: All classes, student meetings, and open student hours (office hours) this semester will be held virtually via Zoom. Need to make an during a time that is not an open student hour? appointment? Let me know you want to meet by adding yourself to my google.doc appointment calendar here: https://goo.gl/3CqLf and I will send you a zoom link for the time you sign up for. |
Spring 2021 Open Hours for students (office hours):
T&R 11:00-12:30 W 11:00-12:00 F 3:00-4:00 and by appointment. Click here to attend ANY of the Open Hour for Students Zoom sessions listen above. HOW TO ATTEND ZOOM CLASS Click here to attend ENGL 301 Writing & the Teaching of Writing Click here to attend ENGL 344 Young Adult Literature Click here to attend ENGL 489 Advanced Portfolio workshop. |