Dr. Marianne Kunkel, Faculty Advisor
Marianne is an assistant professor of Creative Writing and Publishing at Missouri Western State University. She is the editor of the university’s national undergraduate journal, The Mochila Review, and the faculty advisor for Canvas, the university’s journal for students, faculty, staff, and alumni. She earned her MFA in poetry at the University of Florida and her Ph.D. in English (poetry) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she was the managing editor for Prairie Schooner. She’s the author of The Laughing Game (Finishing Line Press) and her poems have appeared in Hayden’s Ferry Review, Notre Dame Review, The Missouri Review , Rattle, and elsewhere. She enjoys cooking, spending time with her husband and son, and collecting brooches.
Sara Brown, Editor-in-Chief
Sara is serving the Canvas staff for the fifth time. She developed a love for reading at a young age, reading and rereading classic children’s like The Berenstain Bears, Arthur, and Junie B. Jones books until graduating to other classics like Harry Potter, Pride and Prejudice and A Man Called Ove. When not reading or doing homework, she can be found looking up recipes and decor ideas on Pinterest, spending all her money at Target or watching musicals.
Da Vion Huey, Managing Editor
Huey is an enigma. Like an iceberg, there is way more to him beneath the surface.
Mandee Greer, Copyeditor
Mandee is a senior at Missouri Western State University pursuing a degree in creative writing and publishing. This is her third semester on the Mochila Review staff. When she isn’t studying hard, you can find her working, playing with her two children, scrap booking, surfing Facebook or binge-watching Bones or Charmed on Netflix.
Mariam Hess, Copyeditor
Mariam Hess is an aspiring poet and editor majoring in Creative Writing and Publishing at Missouri Western State University. She is currently a senior and is serving on the Mochila Review staff for the second time. Her work has been published in Canvas, 30N, and the Griffon News, and has been submitted more times than she can count elsewhere. She likes cuddling with her cat, procrastinating via Netflix, and listening to video game scores while she writes.
Daniel Holaday, Blogger
Daniel was born in California, and have lived in Missouri since around 2004. He is an avid fan of anything with a great story that also borders on the supernatural or delves into fantasy. He has two book series that I plan to write, but I am striving to better my craft before then. He is faithful, but not religious when it comes to beliefs, and if there's one thing that I believe it's this, "You can learn more from conversation than just about anywhere else."
Lora Kroush, Designer
Lora Kroush is the Designer for The Mochila Review. She is a junior studying Creative Writing and Publishing with a minor in English Literature. She has been published twice in Canvas and submits work monthly to literary nationwide. Lora loves to read and write poetry and science fiction. During her free time between classes and working two jobs, she enjoys watching cheesy horror films with her husband and experimenting with recipes she finds on Pinterest.
Brooklyn Lance, Marketing - Bulletin Board
Brooklyn Lance is a junior at Missouri Western State University working towards a bachelor's degree in creative writing and publishing and a Spanish minor. This is her first semester on staff. Her obsessions include Harry Potter, Hamilton and Parks and Recreation.
Samantha Lundy, Marketing - Canvas Outreach Coordinator
Sam is a Senior at Missouri Western State University, working on completing her bachelor's in technical communication. This is her second year on the staff of Canvas. When she's not working, studying, or going to class, she can be found cuddling her puppy or reading a gripping novel.
Chastity McCourt, Social Media
Chastity is a senior working on her degree as a social work major with a minor in marketing. This is her second semester on staff. She loves to spend time with her four children. She enjoys reading and writing poetry and short stories. She is dedicated to her position and gives it her all. Shes very creative and loves to think of new opportunities and creative ways to expand her audience.
Skylair Orr, Canvas Website Editor
Sky is a senior at Missouri Western State University. She is pursuing her degree in English with a concentration in creative writing and publishing. This is her first year on The Mochila Review staff. When she is not at school she is working to, one day, open her own bakery, working on her book, or baking cakes and other delicious treats.
Vincent Albertson, Art Intern
Vincent is a senior at Missouri Western State university. He is working on a BFA in graphic design. This is his first year on The Mochila Review staff. When not working on various school projects he is working on writing and illustrating his own webcomic Rat in a Cage which he hopes to publish the beginning of in the next two years.
Marianne is an assistant professor of Creative Writing and Publishing at Missouri Western State University. She is the editor of the university’s national undergraduate journal, The Mochila Review, and the faculty advisor for Canvas, the university’s journal for students, faculty, staff, and alumni. She earned her MFA in poetry at the University of Florida and her Ph.D. in English (poetry) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she was the managing editor for Prairie Schooner. She’s the author of The Laughing Game (Finishing Line Press) and her poems have appeared in Hayden’s Ferry Review, Notre Dame Review, The Missouri Review , Rattle, and elsewhere. She enjoys cooking, spending time with her husband and son, and collecting brooches.
Sara Brown, Editor-in-Chief
Sara is serving the Canvas staff for the fifth time. She developed a love for reading at a young age, reading and rereading classic children’s like The Berenstain Bears, Arthur, and Junie B. Jones books until graduating to other classics like Harry Potter, Pride and Prejudice and A Man Called Ove. When not reading or doing homework, she can be found looking up recipes and decor ideas on Pinterest, spending all her money at Target or watching musicals.
Da Vion Huey, Managing Editor
Huey is an enigma. Like an iceberg, there is way more to him beneath the surface.
Mandee Greer, Copyeditor
Mandee is a senior at Missouri Western State University pursuing a degree in creative writing and publishing. This is her third semester on the Mochila Review staff. When she isn’t studying hard, you can find her working, playing with her two children, scrap booking, surfing Facebook or binge-watching Bones or Charmed on Netflix.
Mariam Hess, Copyeditor
Mariam Hess is an aspiring poet and editor majoring in Creative Writing and Publishing at Missouri Western State University. She is currently a senior and is serving on the Mochila Review staff for the second time. Her work has been published in Canvas, 30N, and the Griffon News, and has been submitted more times than she can count elsewhere. She likes cuddling with her cat, procrastinating via Netflix, and listening to video game scores while she writes.
Daniel Holaday, Blogger
Daniel was born in California, and have lived in Missouri since around 2004. He is an avid fan of anything with a great story that also borders on the supernatural or delves into fantasy. He has two book series that I plan to write, but I am striving to better my craft before then. He is faithful, but not religious when it comes to beliefs, and if there's one thing that I believe it's this, "You can learn more from conversation than just about anywhere else."
Lora Kroush, Designer
Lora Kroush is the Designer for The Mochila Review. She is a junior studying Creative Writing and Publishing with a minor in English Literature. She has been published twice in Canvas and submits work monthly to literary nationwide. Lora loves to read and write poetry and science fiction. During her free time between classes and working two jobs, she enjoys watching cheesy horror films with her husband and experimenting with recipes she finds on Pinterest.
Brooklyn Lance, Marketing - Bulletin Board
Brooklyn Lance is a junior at Missouri Western State University working towards a bachelor's degree in creative writing and publishing and a Spanish minor. This is her first semester on staff. Her obsessions include Harry Potter, Hamilton and Parks and Recreation.
Samantha Lundy, Marketing - Canvas Outreach Coordinator
Sam is a Senior at Missouri Western State University, working on completing her bachelor's in technical communication. This is her second year on the staff of Canvas. When she's not working, studying, or going to class, she can be found cuddling her puppy or reading a gripping novel.
Chastity McCourt, Social Media
Chastity is a senior working on her degree as a social work major with a minor in marketing. This is her second semester on staff. She loves to spend time with her four children. She enjoys reading and writing poetry and short stories. She is dedicated to her position and gives it her all. Shes very creative and loves to think of new opportunities and creative ways to expand her audience.
Skylair Orr, Canvas Website Editor
Sky is a senior at Missouri Western State University. She is pursuing her degree in English with a concentration in creative writing and publishing. This is her first year on The Mochila Review staff. When she is not at school she is working to, one day, open her own bakery, working on her book, or baking cakes and other delicious treats.
Vincent Albertson, Art Intern
Vincent is a senior at Missouri Western State university. He is working on a BFA in graphic design. This is his first year on The Mochila Review staff. When not working on various school projects he is working on writing and illustrating his own webcomic Rat in a Cage which he hopes to publish the beginning of in the next two years.