Issue 157 Lead Editors
Ryan Steel
Managing Editor
Originally from San Clemente, Calif., Ryan Steel is an MFA in Creative Writing candidate at SJSU. Ryan previously worked as a production assistant in the entertainment industry before changing gears to a career in academics and literature, specifically literary criticism. Ryan is a graduate assistant on campus and can be found during his free time, running laps on the indoor track at Spartan Recreation, playing Badminton, snapping film photos, and even trying his hand at Bluegrass Banjo.
Bekah Lazar
Fiction Editor
Raised in Santa Clara, Calif., Bekah Lazar (they/them) holds a BFA in Theatre Production from the University of British Columbia, where they also minored in creative writing. They are currently enrolled in SJSU’s MFA program, where they’ve rediscovered their love for fiction and poetry. They like to pet dogs in their spare time.
Allegra Balbuena
Nonfiction Editor
Allegra Balbuena is completing an MFA in Creative Writing at SJSU. She received a BA in English from CSU East Bay in 2020. Allegra currently works for a nonprofit organization that supports individuals experiencing domestic violence. Creative nonfiction is the second love of her life.
Olivia Rose
Poetry Editor
Born and raised in San Jose, Olivia Rose is a writer currently based in San Francisco. She holds her BA in English and Comparative Literature from UCLA and is an MFA candidate in creative writing at SJSU. Her poems and essays have appeared in various publications.
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Dylan Mueller
Art & EVC Editor
Based in San José, Dylan Mueller is a story lover often known as a writer and more so as an avid reader. Currently studying for a BA in Creative Writing at San José State University, they spend much of their time exploring various creative mediums.
Helen Meservey
Editor in Chief
Helen Meservey is a journalist and essayist who teaches writing at Menlo College in Atherton, California, and at San José State University. The editor-in-chief of Reed Magazine, Meservey in 2018 received
the first-place James Phelan Literary Award and a Solas Award from Travelers’ Tales for humor writing.