Coffee Talk – Dr. Lisa Parzefall
As of August 2025, Dr. Lisa Parzefall is the Writing Program Director at Western Illinois University (WIU). Her interests include, but are not limited to,…
Unpacking My Library: Cecilia Garcia Luengas
Cecilia is a junior English major and psychology minor at WIU. She is a transfer student from Southeastern Community College in Keokuk, Iowa, currently residing…
Coffee Talk – Dr. Merrill Cole
Dr. Merrill Cole enjoys writing poetry, teaching, translating, queer theorizing, and just being his authentic queer self. A total cat fanatic, he also loves his…
What’s Your Bag? w/ Graeme Beckman
M&L: What’s your bag? GB: My bag is a satchel that was passed down to me from my dad when he attended school here. He…
Coffee Talk – Carter Myers
Carter is a junior English Literature & Language Major at Western Illinois University, and their interests include Doctor Who, politics, and adaptation in literature. Myers’…
My Life in Four Books: Abigail Jones
1) What book was most important to you in high school? Why? I read constantly when I was in high school. I would devour books…
Coffee Talk – Barbara Lawhorn
Barbara Lawhorn teaches composition and creative writing at Western Illinois University (WIU). She has fiction forthcoming in Iron Horse Literary Review, where she was a finalist in the…
What’s Your Bag? w/ Mara Kelley
M&L: What’s your bag? MK: I’m an online student, so I attend all of my classes virtually in the breakroom of my office job. Since…
My Life in Four Books: Samantha Adcock
1) What book was most important to you in high school? Why? Tenderness and I Am the Cheese by Robert Cormier. I read them over and over again…
My Life in Four Books: Marjorie Allison
1) What book was most important to you in high school? Why? I would say that the most important book that I read during high…
Unpacking My Library: Karissa Geisinger
Karissa Geisinger is a senior at Western Illinois University (WIU). She’s an English major, creative writing minor, and a writer and editor for The Mirror &…
Proust Questionnaire – Dr. Lisa Parzefall
As of August 2025, Dr. Lisa Parzefall is the Writing Program Director at Western Illinois University (WIU). Her interests include, but are not limited to,…
Proust Questionnaire – Dr. Matthew Balk
Dr. Matthew Balk is the University Writing Center Director at Western Illinois University. M&L: What is your idea of perfect happiness? MB: A cool rainy…
Unpacking My Library: Daniel Malachuk
Daniel Malachuk is a professor of English at Western Illinois University (WIU). Professor Malachuk has been teaching literature and composition at WIU since 2007. M&L:…
Unpacking My Library: Barbara Lawhorn
Barbara Lawhorn is an Associate Professor of English at Western Illinois University. Professor Lawhorn teaches creative writing and composition classes. M&L: What genre makes up…
Proust Questionnaire – Kenny Wheeler
Kenny Wheeler is the English Undergraduate Advisor at Western Illinois University. M&L: What is your idea of perfect happiness? KW: Happiness for me simply just…
Coffee Talk: Alexis Minasian
M&L: What is your coffee order? AM: My year round go-to coffee order is an iced caramel macchiato or latte depending on how much caffeine…
Proust Questionnaire — Nick Rush
Alumni, Nick Rush B.A., former managing editor of The Mirror & the Lamp. What is your idea of perfect happiness? Gosh. I think the perfect…
Unpacking My Library: Ashley Beardsley
Dr. Ashley Beardsley is an Assistant Professor of English at Western Illinois University and the Director of the University Writing Center (UWC). Prior to becoming…
Four Books That I Should Not Have Read in High School (And Four That I Should Have Read)
I have apparently held a Goodreads account since January of 2018, when I was a wee child in the seventh grade. Since then, I have…
Unpacking My Library: Andrew Cripe
Andrew Cripe is an English Grad Student at Western Illinois Univerisity; his thesis is about trauma representation in storytelling and whether it’s accurately depicted. Additionally,…
Unpacking My Library: Marjorie Allison
Dr. Marjorie Allison is a Professor and Chairperson of the English Department at Western Illinois University. She teaches world literatures and classes in the novel.…
PROUST QUESTIONNAIRE—Natoya Raymond
The Proust Questionnaire is a form of interview popularized by French novelist Marcel Proust, focused on the interviewee’s personality. (Interview Conducted in Spring 2024) Natoya:…
Unpacking My Library: William Thompson
Dr. William Thompson is an Emeritus Professor of the English Department at Western Illinois University. As you might assume of someone with Thompson’s academic passions,…
Proust Questionnaire —Ashley Beardsley
Ashley Beardsley is the University Writing Center Director, and a scholar of Writing Studies, Cultural Studies, and Food Studies. If you are lucky enough to…
The Book That Changed My Life
By Amber Butcher Books have the power of displaying a plethora of emotions. They tend to fill you with sorrow, happiness, and laughter. Books have…
PROUST QUESTIONNAIRE – MAX WALLACE
The Proust Questionnaire is a form of interview, popularized by French novelist Marcel Proust, that is focused on the interviewee’s personality. Max Wallace is currently…
My Life in Four Books: Katya Kozhukhova
1) What book was most important to you in high school? Why? The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco. I don’t know where I…
My Life in Four Books: Alisha White
1) What book was most important to you in high school? Why? In tenth grade we read several books and stories from our anthology that…
PROUST QUESTIONNAIRE — Alex Weidenhamer
Alex Weidenhamer completed his M.A. in English, with a focus on speculative literature, philosophy, and gender. He’s now looking into PhD programs and life’s next…
