The Switchback Books Staff
Megan McMullen, Development Coordinator
Megan McMullen lives in Chicago, where she earned her MA in Arts Administration and Policy from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She has a diverse and extensive arts background and is currently researching for her first documentary film.
Mairead Case, Publicity Coordinator
Mairead Case leads writing workshops everywhere from Chicago Public Libraries to a South Bend Juvenile Justice Center to, once, the Hugo House parking lot. Mairead's written for and edited a variety of publications, and she blogs at http://fabulouscolor.blogspot.com.
Daniela Olszewska, Deputy-at-Large
Daniela Olszewska holds a BA in Poetry from Columbia College Chicago. Her work has appeared in recent issues of Wicked Alice, La Petite Zine, MiPOesias, Cranky, and Pebble Lake Review. Daniela's chapbook, The Partial Autobiography of Jane Doe, was published by dancing girl press. Check out Daniela's blog at http://bloodyicecream84.blogspot.com. View Daniela's work.
Jen Watman, Editorial Intern
Jen Watman is an artist living in Chicago. She has worked on Columbia Poetry Review and Another Chicago Magazine and has work in or forthcoming from Columbia Poetry Review #19 and #20, MiPoesias (edited by David Trinidad), Wet, A Journal of Proper Bathing, and Another Chicago Magazine #48. If you're into aural massages, check out: myspace.com/notaprisonbutatheater. View Jen's work.
Elizabeth Metzger Sampson, Editorial Intern
Elizabeth is a native Chicagoan who graduated from the University of Iowa. She is currently working on her MFA at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Elizabeth is also a poet-in-residence for the Poetry Center's Hands On Stanzas program. View Beth's work.
Jess Rose, Editorial Intern
Jess Rose is a poet completing her BA at Columbia College. She is a native Chicagoan, works in Reference, and is a seeker of the free periodical.
Helen Kiernan, Editorial Intern
Helen Kiernan (HK) was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago. She worked at Gallery 37 in the poetry program. HK is currently the Chief Editor of Elephant, a local poetry 'zine dedicated to publishing a wide variety of styles and voices. She is currently wrapping up her BA in poetry at Columbia College Chicago.View HK's work.
Beatriz Ruiz, Editorial Intern
Beatriz Ruiz graduated from the University of Illinois-Chicago in Spring 2008 with a degree in English, concentrations in both poetry and fiction and a minor in Psychology. She will begin the Master’s Program in English at UIC in Fall 2008. She is currently working for the Chicago Healthy Living Study, which conducts cancer research. She is also the 2008 recipient of the Undergraduate Creative Writing Award.
Erica W. Adams, Contest Reader
Erica W. Adams lives in Chicago, IL, where she is an MFA candidate in writing at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her writing can be found at Hobart, 42opus, and the Vestal Review. Her blog can be found at http://ericawadams.blogspot.com.
Cathy Nieciecki, Design Editor
Cathy Nieciecki is an award-winning art director for a global advertising agency. Trained in graphic design at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, she is responsible for developing corporate identities and the associated branding. Cathy designed the Switchback Books logo and will be the designer for our books. She is also an accomplished photographer. View Cathy's work or visit her website.
Erik Mace, Design Editor
Erik Mace is a graphic designer based in California; he designed the Switchback Books website. View Erik's work.
ALUMNI
Kristin Aardsma, Jennifer Steele, Rachel Finkelstein