Steven is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in English with a focus on Pacific Literature while working as a mentor for English 100 students. He draws on his experiences as a teaching assistant at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada and as an SAT coach at a private academy. When he's not mentoring, he enjoys archery, needlework, table tennis, and other contact sports (not necessarily in that order). 

Jaimie Gusman is a PhD student in English, with a focus in Creative Writing, and runs the M.I.A. Art & Literary Series. Before coming to UHM she received her M.F.A. in Creative Writing at the University of Washington and earned her B.A. in English from the University of Florida. Jaimie has previously taught creative writing and poetry workshops while in Seattle. She has a passion for outreach programs, cross-genre collaborations and poetry.

Steven Holmes is pursuing his M.A. in the English Department. Originally from California, Steven received both a B.A. in English and a B. A. in Rhetoric from the University of California, Berkeley. At U.C. Berkeley he worked with the Summer Bridge program and co-facilitated the writing workshop. In high school, he also helped create “Big Brothers,” a mentoring program for Oak Ridge Elementary School. He also loves snorkeling. 

Lehua Ledbetter is pursuing her M.A. in English and is a UH Writing Mentor.  She assisted colleague Aiko Yamashiro in the development of AfterWord[s], an after-school creative writing initiative at James B. Castle High School. Her areas of interest include gender studies and place-based composition in Hawaii’s classrooms. In her free time Lehua enjoys blogging, hiking, food, and trips to the Big Island, where she grew up.

Christina Low is pursuing her M.A. in English and is a UH Writing Mentor. She loves to read and write fiction and poetry and is part of
the Creative Writing program, After she graduates, Christina hopes to continue writing while teaching English and getting her PhD in Europe. Born and raised on O’ahu, Christina enjoys spending time with her family and friends and is currently writing about a hill named Violet and a Frenchman named Henri.

Born and raised in England, Annette Priesman moved to Hawai‘i in 1995. She began her college career at Windward Community College (Kaneohe) in January 2000.  Obtaining her AA in Liberal Arts in May 2003, Annette transferred to UH Manoa where she completed her BA (English) in May 2006. Currently studying for her Master’s in Literature, Annette has also taught for the Department of Public Safety for 7 years. 

Ken received his B.A. at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa and is currently pursuing an M.A. in English concentrating on Creative Writing. Ken is expecting to complete the program in 2009. Most of the writing he does is based around Wai‘anae where he grew up. He is currently writing about a magical woodrose bush he knew as a child. In his spare time he writes and rides small waves.

Nikki Rabin is a Ph.D. student in the English Department where she hopes to focus her research on Multiracial Experiences and Literature. She received her B.A. and M.A. in English Literature from Clark University in Worcester, MA. While working as a mentor here at U.H., she hopes to learn more about the students and university in order to design an English 100 course for Spring 2010 that encourages student engagement. She is also a co-coordinator for the M.I.A. Literary and Arts Reading Series.

Anjoli Roy is a master’s candidate in English, concentration in creative writing. A recipient of the Myrle Clark Award for Creative Writing, she has edited for the Feminist Press, Kahuaomanoa Press, and most recently, the Center for Biographical Research. She is also a 2009–2010 Abernethy Fellow for Manoa: A Pacific Journal of International Writing. Here for just a flash, she will likely return to New York this coming spring. She is currently writing a novel.

Born and raised in Germany, Cornelius moved to Hawai’i in 1993. He started his college education at Leeward Community College in 1995 and graduated with a B.A. in English in December 1999 from UH Manoa. In the decade following graduation, he pursued a career as a professional chess player/coach, while also running a tutoring service on Oahu. Cornelius is now back at UH, working on his M.A. in English, with an emphasis on Literary Studies.

Mei Li is pursuing her M.A. in UHM's Department of English. She grew up in Malaysia and has lived in Singapore, India and mainland USA, where she graduated from Connecticut College with a B.A. in English. She has previously worked in adverstising and education, and her favorite pasttimes are reading and writing (especially online), cooking, watching movies and making friends with other people's dogs (because her own are half an ocean away).

Eleanor Svaton is a 7th year resident of Honolulu. She graduated from UH last spring with her B.A. in English, and is now a graduate student working on her Masters in Creative Writing. SheÕs also a theater junkie: acting, directing, improvÑwhatever! Originally from Massachusetts, she misses piling up the leaves when they change color and fall off the trees, and then diving in. Now she dives into the ocean.

My name is Tanya Torres and I am from Alamosa, Colorado. I’ve also lived in Texas, Georgia, New York, Panama, and Maine. I am a Masters student. In 2003, I graduated from Horizon High School. In 2007, I graduated from the University of Maine Presque Isle with a BA in English Literature and Secondary Education in Composition. Oh, and I love zombies and look forward to professionally hungering for your braiiins.

In the final years of his under-graduate study, Oahu- born David Uedoi decided to pursue a career in education.  Soon after receiving a BA in Philosophy he joined the UHM English Department as a Writing Tutor, Mentor, and MA Student concentrating in Composition & Rhetoric.  Today David continues traveling through books, resting only to enjoy family and friends, watch a good film or anime, or practice his trombone and euphonium.

After eight years, two different community colleges, three retail jobs, and a disastrous stint in the military, Abraham Yi received his B.A. in English at UH. He is a creative writer trapped in the mind of an M.A. cultural studies candidate. His research interests include asian-settler colonialism and its construction of “local” identity in Hawaii. In his spare time, he likes to hang out with friends, play basketball, and sprain his ankles.