Meet the Publications Team
Honors Student Writers and Editors
Kendall Doerr
Kendall Doerr is a second-year student from Houston, TX, studying English/creative writing and secondary education with a minor in Spanish. She is a member of the Iowa women's rowing team, an aspiring high school English teacher, and a frozen-yogurt enthusiast.
Maggie McKinney
Maggie McKinney is a fourth year student from Des Moines, IA studying philosophy on the pre-law track. Maggie is planning on applying to law school this cycle with the goal of working within the public interest realm.
Antonino Pollina
Antonino Pollina is a second-year student from Kansas City, Missouri majoring in English and creative writing at the University of Iowa. In his free time he enjoys writing poetry, exercising, and traveling to new places.
Natalie Thomas
Natalie Thomas is a second-year student from Cedar Falls, Iowa studying English and creative writing on the publishing track with a certificate in medieval studies. She enjoys writing and reading psychological fiction and her favorite book is Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky.
Emily Vitosh
Emily Vitosh is a second-year student from Falls City, Nebraska, studying English and creative writing on the publishing track. She loves reading on the Pentacrest lawn and recently joined the Wilder Things Literary Magazine staff as a copy editor.
Isaac Branch
Isaac Branch is a second-year student from Colorado studying economics with a minor in lifestyle medicine.
Lily Nelson
Lily Nelson is a junior studying neuroscience on the pre-med track at the University of Iowa. In addition to serving as alumni outreach for the Presidential Scholars Program, she also works as a research assistant in the Dailey Lab, an ambassador for the Office of Undergraduate Research, and a supplemental instruction leader for Human Anatomy.
Reese Hartke
Reese Hartke is a third-year honors student majoring in health studies on the pre-med track, with a certificate in entrepreneurial management. She plans to graduate in May 2027 and pursue a career in pediatric healthcare. Balancing the demands of a rigorous academic schedule with research, mentorship, and campus involvement, Reese exemplifies how honors students navigate stress and transform it into preparation for the future medical field.
Blanche Nery
Blanche is a third-year student from West Des Moines, Iowa, studying marketing with a minor in media management and holding a certificate in entrepreneurial management. In her free time, she enjoys baking banana bread.
Riley Shell
Riley Shell is a second-year student from Colorado Springs, Colorado, studying English and creative writing on the publishing track. She spends her summers working at the Colorado Renaissance Festival for extra cash and to spark her creativity. In her free time, Riley is working through piles of to-be-read books and writing a fantasy novel.
Ansley Tonkovic
Ansley Tonkovic is a freshman at the University of Iowa. She’s originally from Florida and is majoring in journalism and mass communications. She loves listening to music and her favorite dinner spot in Iowa City is Formosa. Her favorite book is Frankenstein and her favorite movie is Gladiator. After graduation she hopes to become a political reporter.
Ania Naso
Ania Naso is a first-year student from Iowa City majoring English and creative writing and secondary education. Upon graduation, she plans to volunteer abroad as an English teacher.
Riley Dunn
Riley Dunn is a third-year student from Pennsylvania studying English and creative writing on the publishing track with a minor in news and media literacy. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, swimming, and playing with her cat.
Sydney Manson
Sydney Manson is a third-year student from Delhi, Iowa, studying political science and ethics & public policy with a minor in business administration on the pre-law track. In her free time, she enjoys playing her guitar, hanging out with her dog, and traveling.
Emily Pavlik
Emily Pavlik is a third-year student from Glenview, Illinois, studying journalism with a focus in multimedia and design. She works as the graphic design chair for Dance Marathon, which provides emotional and financial support for pediatric cancer patients on the 11th floor of the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.
Ellen Tews
Ellen Tews is a Tippie College of Business student from Bettendorf, Iowa, studying marketing and psychology. Looking forward, she hopes to focus her career on brand management and content management.
Cameron Vest
Cameron Vest is a second-year student from Mequon, Wisconsin. He came to the University of Iowa to pursue a major in English and creative writing on the publishing track and a certificate in environmental sustainability. He enjoys reading and writing fantasy and sci-fi and hopes to write his own books in the future.
Ava Neumaier
Ava Neumaier is a third-year student from New York majoring in English and creative writing on the publishing track with a minor in communications.
Holly Blosser Yoder
Holly serves as the advisor to the student editors and writers who produce the Honors Newsletter, Alumni Connection and many articles on the program blog. A writer with an interest in history and culture. Holly is the author of The Same Spirit: History of Iowa-Nebraska Mennonites.