During her first year in the MFA in Creative Writing and Poetics program, her professor Ching-In Chen encouraged her to apply for the Imagining America PAGE Fellowship. She was pleasantly surprised to be selected. The fellowship supports historically underrepresented groups in higher education, with a focus on public-facing scholarship, and provides a generous stipend along with travel support for fellows.

The application process was straightforward, and it was an honor for her to be selected by former fellows who now serve as co-directors. Being a PAGE Fellow offered a rare opportunity for her to immerse herself in a community of like-minded scholars and to deepen her trust in her own capacity to engage in sustainable, publicly facing creative work.

The year she was selected, instead of the usual Imagining America National Gathering, PAGE Fellows were invited to attend a special Engaged Arts Summit hosted by UC Davis—the current host institution for Imagining America, a role that rotates annually. While fellows typically travel to the larger national conference, this summit provided a more intimate and focused space for connection, learning, and collaboration among their cohort.

One of the highlights of the summit was visiting TANA—Taller Arte del Nuevo Amanecer—a community art space where she learned screen printing and created booklets. This hands-on experience reignited her interest in book arts. She also learned a great deal just by listening to her cohort share their work—most were PhD students deeply engaged in justice and equity projects within their fields. It was inspiring for her to see the many ways public-facing scholarship can take shape.

Her cohort shared stories and enjoyed fellowship over an unforgettable meal at Dubplate Kitchen and Jamaican Cuisine—a must-visit for anyone in the Sacramento area (the goat curry and sorrel come highly recommended).

In the end, the PAGE Fellowship offered her a deeply supportive space that was pivotal in building her confidence and sense of agency as a public-facing artist. It was also a rich opportunity for connection, creative exploration, and community.

For undergraduates interested in similar work, Imagining America also offers the Joy of Giving Something (JGS) Fellowship, which provides meaningful support and mentorship.

She is grateful for the opportunity to be involved with Imagining America, whose values reflect the kind of country she wants to help build. She also holds deep gratitude for the PAGE Fellows who came before her—and those yet to come—whose work continues to nurture creative vision and public scholarship in communities across the country.

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The class culminates with beautifully curated feminist writing portfolios that scream Voice and empowerment, some of which while others are too private to share. In most cases the experience was cathartic for the students and Dr. Shayne. Being in a class where no one shamed us for being angry or questioned our pain resulted in a space where we translated formerly self-blamed pain and trauma from brewing frustration into joy-filled-anger.

If you are interested in taking this class, Dr. Shayne teaches it every other year and it will likely be offered again in spring 2026. after the first time she taught it and a story 56�Թ���B ran about the class just as it was launching.

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In addition to highlighting members of our graduating class, the night also served as an opportunity to acknowledge and honor distinguished awardees from the IAS community. From the Chancellor’s Medal to Distinguished Teaching Legacy awards, we are thrilled to share space with some of the most talented, committed, and influential members of the 56�Թ��� community.   

Shauna Elbers Carlisle: Distinguished Teaching Legacy Award 

Associate Professor Shauna Elbers Carlisle teaches a range of social policy, research, and statistics courses at the undergraduate and graduate level. With an emphasis on community learning and interactive instruction, Dr. Elbers Carlisle has made a lasting impact on her students over the years. This year, Dr. Elbers Carlisle was selected by the University of Washington Alumni Association to receive the Distinguished Teaching Legacy Award. This award is one of the highest honors that a 56�Թ��� instructor can receive, and the first time that an instructor from the Bothell campus has received the award. 

Raissa DeSmet: Distinguished Teaching Award 

Raissa DeSmet is highly respected by students, faculty, and staff across the University of Washington. In her role as Associate Teaching Professor, Dr. DeSmet has been influential in a multitude of programs, courses, and initiatives that advance diversity for the University. One example is her co-leadership of the . Dr. DeSmet is known for her exceptional teaching style which centers love and celebration of students’ experiences and identities. 

Yolanda Padilla: Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentor Award 

In her teaching, Associate Professor Yolanda Padilla is deeply committed to outreach, inclusion, and mentoring. These are principles that she brings into every level of her practice. This year, she was recognized for her impact as a mentor by being selected for the Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentor Award. She was nominated for this award by a student, who specifically highlighted Dr. Padilla’s motivating spirit, infectious enthusiasm, and ongoing support. 

Jin-Kyu Jung: Outstanding Community-Engaged Scholar Award  

Professor Jin-Kyu Jung is a community-minded scholar who is committed to optimizing the presence and participation of those most likely to be absent or silenced in critical space. With his expertise in data visualization, he brings a remarkable skillset in using data to highlight and address social inequities.  He has a particular interest in teaching community-based learning and research. The 2024 Outstanding Community-Engaged Scholar Award recognizes Dr. Jung’s dedication to community, reciprocity, and mutual respect. 

Puneet Birk: Chancellor’s Medal 

Puneet has graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Law, Economics and Public Policy. She received the incredible honor of being selected for the . This award is given out once per year to a graduating student. Puneet has been a source of inspiration for many during her time at 56�Թ��� Bothell. This award recognizes her contributions and impact on students and faculty alike. 

Phoenix Kai Vaughan-Ende: Husky 100  

Phoenix is a graduate of the MFA in Creative Writing and Poetics program. This year, they were selected for 2024 Husky 100, a special distinction which honors 100 students across the Seattle, Tacoma, and Bothell campuses for their contributions to their community. Phoenix was one of 6 students from 56�Թ��� Bothell to earn this distinction. They describe themselves as a multimedia artist and poet writing on a mission to change the world. Their work exists at the intersections between humanities, identity, quantum physics, mathematics and language. 

Itzel Vixtha: Mary Gates Leadership Scholarship and Chancellor’s Student Civic Leadership Award 

Itzel is the recipient of two great accolades this year. The first is the Mary Gates Leadership Scholarship, which aims to encourage undergraduate students to develop their leadership abilities through practical experience, personal reflection and in community with mentors and peers. She is also the recipient of the Chancellor’s Student Civic Leadership award, which recognizes students who are addressing critical issues on their campuses and in their communities through civic engagement and social entrepreneurship. Itzel graduates with a Bachelor of Arts in Media & Communications Studies. 

Andi Kresl: Climate Fiction Writing Award Winner 

Andi Kresl is a talented and passionate writer. He has been selected to receive the Climate Fiction Writing Award by the 56�Թ��� Bothell and Cascadia College Library. The award seeks to highlight community-centric fiction that centers environmental and social justice from a visionary perspective. His thoughtful approach to writing has earned him this special recognition by members of the 56�Թ��� Bothell community. Andi graduates with a Bachelor of Arts in Culture, Literature & the Arts. 

Henry Strayer: Climate Fiction Writing Award Winner 

Henry has graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Culture, Literature & the Arts. As a member of the Clamor editorial team and a student staff member in the Writing & Communication Center, Henry has contributed much to the IAS and 56�Թ���B community. This year, he received the special honor of winning the Climate Fiction Writing Award from the 56�Թ��� Bothell and Cascadia College Library. Henry was selected by members of the 56�Թ��� Bothell community for his writing submission “A Remembrance of our Return,” a piece which honors traditional knowledge and practice of the Coast Salish people, whose land 56�Թ��� Bothell is located on. 

Rileigh Thompson: IAS Distinguished Achievement in Community Stewardship  

Rileigh was nominated by IAS faculty member Ursula Valdez. She has been recognized for her dedication to academic excellence, teamwork, high initiative and leadership skills. Rileigh has demonstrated a visible commitment to the well-being of others in her community. Rileigh graduates from IAS with a Bachelor of Science in Conservation & Restoration Science.  

William Porritt: IAS Distinguished Achievement in Academics 

William was nominated by IAS faculty member Eric Stewart. He has been recognized for going above and beyond in his Psychology courses, earning 100% in several of them while also being a boundless source of support and encouragement for his classmates. His enthusiasm, ability to deeply analyze and question issues, and interdisciplinary approach to classwork has been inspiring to students and faculty alike. William graduates with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.  

Levi Gutiérrez: IAS Distinguished Achievement in Academics 

Levi was nominated by IAS faculty member Yolanda Padilla. They have been recognized for being a savvy and articulate student, bringing nuance and depth to their coursework and engagement in classes. Levi has gone above and beyond in their ability to research, advocate for social justice, and collaborate with their peers, as both a student and grader in IAS courses. Levi graduates with a Bachelor of Arts in Educational Studies and an IAS minor in Gender, Women, & Sexuality Studies.  

Roland Schoeneman: IAS Distinguished Achievement in Research and Scholarship 

Roland was nominated by IAS faculty member Melanie Malone. He has been recognized for his leadership, maturity, compassion, and advocacy for indigenous communities. Roland is thoughtful and thorough in his work, combining insights from the physical sciences, social sciences, and his personal experiences as a construction worker to support and improve the research process for projects he’s been a part of. Roland graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Earth System Science.  

Nicolette Natividad: IAS Distinguished Achievement in Creative Expression 

Nicolette was nominated by IAS faculty members Carrie Bodle and Peter Brooks. They have been recognized for their unwavering commitment to the Arts and Student Media at 56�Թ���B. In class, Nicolette is always willing to experiment creatively, often pushing themselves outside of their comfort zone, and is a person other students look up to. Outside of class, they served as the Station Manager for 56�Թ���ave radio, a DJ at a variety of campus events, campus open mic organizer and host, and participated in various other activities to unite the 56�Թ���B community through creative works. Nicolette graduates with a Bachelor of Arts in Media & Communication Studies.  

Ezra Bantum: IAS Distinguished Achievement in Creative Expression 

Ezra was nominated by IAS faculty member Samuel Yum. He has been recognized for his artistic vision and sensibilities, particularly in the BISMCS 472: Advanced Media Workshop course. Ezra has a signature aesthetic reflecting his identity as a student and artist. Ezra’s style is intentional, provocative, and visually arresting, all while embracing the technical demands of media production. He graduates with a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Arts.  

Mason Solis: IAS Distinguished Achievement in Creative Expression 

Mason was nominated by IAS faculty member Peter Brooks. He has been recognized for his contributions to the 56�Թ���B community as a station engineer for 56�Թ���ave radio. Through this role, Mason has contributed much to the campus community, serving as a DJ, hosting campus wide events, and creating educational opportunities for their peers in collaboration with local radio stations KUOW, KEXP, and C895. Mason graduates with a Bachelor of Arts in Media & Communication Studies. 

This year, the School of IAS recognized distinguished students across multiple disciplines who have done remarkable work within and outside of the 56�Թ��� Bothell community. IAS faculty were invited to nominate students who fit this criteria, and the selected winners were announced at the first ever IAS Graduating Student Send Off Event earlier in June. 

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phoenix intends to change the world through their creative practice and community interactions. “It sounds cheesy, but I’ve always held onto the idea that anything is possible.” Prior to coming to 56�Թ��� Bothell, phoenix studied Ethnic Studies as an undergraduate student. They describe this education as powerful and ideologically challenging. This experience, coupled with the guidance of their mentors, sparked a passion in phoenix for advocacy and collective liberation, which they see as core to their work. “Writing and art are the medium to help spread that message. My practice is in lineages of social justice movements and informed by the power of words.” 

Through a beautiful collection or art and words, phoenix’s thesis project Trans Universe Theory aims to argue that a “non-binary perspective of things is inherently valuable, especially when we look at the smallest parts of our universe and how they resist binaries.” When asked about what this means, phoenix offers photons as an example. “[Photons] act as a particle and a wave simultaneously. How we measure them is where they’re most probable to occur. Fields of knowledge [and] the binaries between them, are really made up.” Their poetry collection utilizes variables of language, presenting layers of thoughts and meanings. This practice was informed by Maxwells Equations, where, in a single equation each variable will represent another equation, and so forth. “Will people really deep dive into the poetry? I don’t think many people will, but the option is there to break it down.” 

Although graduate school is not easy, phoenix has enjoyed building individual connections with their peers, and learning from their advisors and mentors, such as IAS faculty Dr. Ching-in Chen and Ted Hiebert. phoenix acknowledges that their achievement as a Husky 100 Award winner would not be possible without the nominations and support from their network. “The award came from those around me, my mentors, my personal life, my undergrad, literally everyone around me. I’m grateful for access and connections. [IAS] professors have made themselves very open and available for support. 

phoenix’s journey as a passionate and curious creative will continue after graduation. “My goal now is to change the world and I do think I have very big dreams, but… [in] seeking out to change the world, you are effectively doing so.” 

If you’re interested in following phoenix on their journey to change the world, you can find them on .  

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“Just go out there and you’ll find something. You won’t expect it, but you’ll definitely find it.” 

These are the words of Anthony Safai (’24), a recent graduate of 56�Թ��� Bothell who majored in Media & Communication Studies and Culture, Literature, & the Arts. Safai is the creator of Existence in Silence, a captivating YouTube series that delves into the haunted, paranormal, and controversial histories of some of the most infamous locations in the United States and abroad.  

Exploring Our Histories

Each episode features Safai and his collaborators exploring a new location. The premise is simple: stay the night in a location that is known for being haunted, and document what happens. As simple as the premise seems, explaining what is uncovered on the show is much more challenging.  

This challenge is much of what draws Safai to this work. In exploring each location, he isn’t simply looking to terrify viewers with a spooky gimmick. Instead, the goal is to reconnect the past with the present and unearth the sometimes long-forgotten histories of the land we all walk on each day.  

“When you do these episodes,” Safai explains, “you remind people of the land, you remind people of all the things that have happened there”. Each location holds a story, some dating back centuries. With his exploration, Safai hopes to discover evidence that helps draw conclusions to historical mysteries and advance our understanding of the paranormal along the way.

“I’ve noticed that as I’ve continued to explore [these locations] more and more, I can’t help but feel this sense of unjust abandonment from modern day society. So that said, the historical remembrance is what brings me so much pride and satisfaction to my work.”

Anthony Safai, Media & Communications Studies; Culture, Literature & the Arts ’24

An Unexpected Passion

When speaking to Safai about his work, he describes it as purpose-filled. Although, it didn’t start out that way. “If you ever ask a paranormal investigator ‘did you ever think you’d do this when you grew up?’ I guarantee you they will say no” Safai says with a laugh. 

Safai first stumbled upon this work when visiting California with a friend. They had intentions to go to Disneyland and the beach, and as a joke, decided to stay at a haunted hotel. “We also said, ‘what if we like recorded everything, too, just like as a fun little memory’” Safai recalls. 

That night changed his life. “A lot of very strange things started happening that we couldn’t explain” says Safai. “Objects were like moving on their own. We were hearing like really, really strange noises that were caught on camera… [that was] the first time in our lives when we truly experienced something that was completely unexplainable.” From that moment, Existence in Silence was born. 

Safai launched the series in October of 2022, and in just over a year the show has managed to attract the attention of multiple media outlets, including Fox 13 News and 56�Թ��� Bothell’s own 56�Թ���ave Radio. With hundreds of subscribers and over a thousand views on some episodes, the show is just getting started. 

When asked about what’s next, Safai eagerly speaks of his intentions to take the show abroad. Japan is at the top of his list, with some other places in the works as well. In the meantime, viewers can get excited about season two, which is currently in post-production.  

While season one visited locations throughout the West Coast, primarily in California, Safai brings the focus of season two to the Pacific Northwest. The season, titled “Whispers in the Winds” will highlight the paranormal mysteries of Washington and Oregon. “It’s a completely untapped market,” explains Safai, “because a lot of my competitors haven’t been to the Washington and Oregon area, and so I thought it was a perfect chance for me to be able to see what’s going on in my own backyard.”

A Respected Community

For students with similar interests in video production, Safai encourages them to use their class projects as opportunities to build and explore their passions. Once you get started, don’t forget to lean into your connections as a student for support. “As an IAS student, you’re never alone” explains Safai, “you will always have teachers being interested in giving you their input as well as peers.” He also notes that his credentials as a student have given him a boost when finding new places to investigate, and has earned him discounts on filming equipment and software. 

Most importantly, Safai urges anyone who ventures into the world of paranormal investigation to do so with respect. “Always be respectful of the property owners that let you investigate there, and I cannot stress that enough” says Safai. This work explores topics that can be sensitive for some viewers, so it is important to do so with good intentions, and a little thick skin. You can connect with Anthony Safai’s work by subscribing to his YouTube channel, (soon to be renamed Existence in Silence), or by visiting .

The Media & Communications Studies and Culture, Literature & the Arts majors are a part of the Arts & Media focus in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences. You can learn more about these programs on their respective pages on the IAS undergraduate website.

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(All images taken by Marc Studer, 56�Թ���B Advancement, January 2023)

On Wednesday, January 25th, 2023, Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies (GWSS) Co-Directors Julie Shayne and Alka Kurian and GWSS Student Representatives Henry Ngyuen and Audriannah Horne hosted the Social Justice Career Panel at the North Creek Events Center.

The Social Justice Career Panel presented three Alumni who graduated from the School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences to lead an informal discussion about their careers after they departed from 56�Թ���B. The panelists included Estephanie Guzman (Gender Women & Sexuality Studies, 2020), Manveer Sandhu (Law, Economics, & Public Policy, 2014), and Mary Jane Topash (Master of Arts in Cultural Studies, 2017).

After a brief introduction from Dr. Shayne, the Panelists opened with an overview of their time as students at 56�Թ���B and after their departure. The Panelists each gave a piece of advice for students on how they can best use their time at 56�Թ���B to help advance their careers. Those messages included: applying for internships (Guzman), seizing every opportunity available and seeing where it takes you (Sandhu), as well as knowing where you don’t want to be in your life and taking opportunities to study abroad and expand your horizons (Topash). After their introductions, Dr. Kurian opened a Q&A session for the students.

On behalf of IAS, we would love to thank Career Services for co-sponsoring, and GWSS for hosting this event!

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In addition to publishing her work, Levi-D’Ancona has been and continues to be a part of a number of MFA-affiliated reading series in the Seattle area, such as The Underbelly poetry series and Bulldog News Series hosted by (MFA ’20), The Caffeinated hosted by (MFA ’23), The Poetry Séance hosted by (MFA ’22), and , the MFA student-led reading series.

Levi-D’Ancona is working on her MFA thesis, a novel tentatively titled Mist Manifesto. The story is set in a post-apocalyptic marsh where a strange, bright mist consumes the town of Ahpisaw and stops time. Mogyype, a grieving widower, struggles to keep a hold on reality when he sees his dead wife in the blinding mist. As we learn more about the world, the gods, and the mist’s origin, we worry about the fate of Mogyype and what really is lurking in the marshes.

Liminality, surrealism, postmodernism, absurdism, and magical realism are the pepper of her pages; cats, coffee, cooking, hikes, warm blankets, and naps are the salt of her earth. Levi-D’Ancona teaches high school English by day and pursues her MFA in Creative Writing and Poetics at 56�Թ��� Bothell at every other waking hour. Follow her on Instagram: .

Check out “molasses traps” in !

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Last weekend MFA in Creative Writing and Poetics alum Nicole McCarthy (MFA 2017) was the keynote speaker for the , which took place on Sunday, October 9. Hosted by Christina Vega, publisher of , a hybrid publishing house that “center[s] Queer and BIPOC voices," the sold out event was a huge success. McCarthy read from her new book A Summoning, and led a workshop on creating visual poetry. Other presenters included Tacoma Poet Laureate Lydia K. Valentine and well-known regional poet, Robert Lashley, among others.

McCarthy's book, based on her MFA Thesis, was published this autumn and was recently reviewed in . She is currently planning a Seattle launch event for later this fall.

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