Student Leadership
Active student members have the opportunity to serve Sigma Tau Delta on a Society level. Those members who do so gain valuable networking, organizational, and leadership skills that benefit their personal and professional lives.
Student Advisors (SA)
Autumn Koors Foltz – Senior Student Advisor
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO
Email: [email protected]
Autumn Koors-Foltz (any/they/them) is a poet from Baltimore, MD. They are currently earning their MFA in poetry from Colorado State University. She holds a BFA from the University of Maine at Farmington in Creative Writing and English. Autumn has embarked on various research endeavors on topics including contemporary poetics, queer letter-writing, and reality television. Among many topics that thrill them, they’re passionate about building community, making playlists, and writing letters.
After joining Sigma Tau Delta in 2021, Autumn served as the 2022-23 Eastern Region Student Representative and began their term as Student Advisor in 2024. They look forward to continuing to serve the Society!
Kelly Taylor – Junior Student Advisor
Chapman University
Orange, CA
Email: [email protected]
Kelly Taylor (she/her) is a graduate student at Chapman University in Orange, CA, pursuing an MA in War, Diplomacy, and Society. Her current research centers around memoirs authored by servicewomen. She graduated with a BFA in Creative Writing and a BA in History from Chapman in May 2024. During her time as an undergrad, Kelly served as the Editor in Chief of Calliope Art & Literary Magazine, a Senior Editor for Voces Novae, Historical Journal, and an officer in the Alpha Zeta Iota Chapter. She has also served as the Far West Student Representative 2023-24. Her additional experience includes two years at Future House Publishing as a freelance editor and a summer with Random House Books for Young Readers as an Editorial Intern.
Student Representatives (SRs) and
Associate Student Representatives (ASRs)
Eastern Region
Matthew Chinique – Student Representative (SR)
The College of New Jersey
Ewing, NJ
Email: [email protected]
Matthew Chinique (he/him) is a senior from The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), majoring in English Secondary Education and pursuing a minor in Sexuality and Queer Studies. A proud first-generation college student, he recently completed both of his student teaching internships, and is beginning graduate coursework this year as well. Matthew has been involved with TCNJ’s Alpha Epsilon Alpha Chapter of Sigma Tau Delta since his freshman year, and is serving as Chapter President for the 2024-2025 academic year. On campus, he works as a writing tutor and helps coordinate admissions events for the School of Education. Outside of school, Matthew is an avid runner who also enjoys live music, basketball, biking, playing with his dog (a dachshund mix named Legs), playing board/card/video games, and of course, reading! He is grateful for the opportunity to serve the Eastern Region, and is overjoyed to be representing his fellow Sigma Tau Deltans!
Loustella Perry – Associate Student Representative (ASR)
Kent State University at Stark
North Canton, OH
Email: [email protected]
Loustella Perry (she/her), also known as Lucy, is a senior at Kent State University at Stark majoring in English and minoring in Creative Writing. She is a published author of a poetry collection called Toast, which is available on Amazon as a paperback and eBook. Lucy is the active Vice President of the Sigma Tau Delta chapter, Alpha Psi Omicron; she is the social media manager of Kent Stark’s Feminism for All Beings (FAB) club; and she is a student leader for Kent Stark’s Creative Writing Club. Lucy just finished up an internship with Kent Stark’s Fine Arts Building, as the social media content creator. She is currently working on running her personal blog, Loustellaperry.com and her senior honors thesis, which is set for completion in spring 2025. In the future, she plans to continue publishing her poetry and has been signed onto the editorial team for Brainchild Magazine this fall. Apart from writing and social media, Lucy enjoys reading Harry Potter, collecting crystals, and traveling abroad. Lucy is very excited to serve as the 2024-2025 Eastern Region Associate Student Representative.
Far Western Region
Zach Brady – Student Representative (SR)
Utah State University
Logan, UT
Email: [email protected]
Zach Brady (he/him) is a senior at Utah State University pursuing a BS in English with a minor in Chemistry. Zach loves writing and presenting his work. He has published written pieces through USU’s Sink Hollow Magazine and Cherish: The Love of Our Mother in Heaven Volume 2. In addition to written works, he also writes and produces music, much of which has gone on to win awards through Scribendi Magazine and the Zappers Film Festival. Zach loves playing the guitar, eating good sushi, and traveling abroad with his wife—Cassidy. After graduation, Zach plans to apply to medical school, with hopes to further understand humanity through medicine.
Kaylee Jo Stocks – Associate Student Representative (ASR)
Utah State University
Logan, UT
Email: [email protected]
Kaylee Jo Stocks (she/her) is a junior at Utah State University. She is double-majoring in English and Economics with minors in Entrepreneurship and Yoga Studies. You can find her on campus working at the library, actively participating as a member of the Rho Tau Chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, and practicing yoga with the Yoga Club. In her free time, she loves reading, writing, playing Animal Crossing, and hanging out with her family.
High Plains Region
Isaiah Russell – Student Representative (SR)
Fort Hays State University
Hays, KS
Email: [email protected]
Isaiah Russell (he/him) is an undergraduate senior studying at Fort Hays State University in Hays, KS, who is pursuing a BA in English Writing. He is currently the President of the Rho Psi Chapter of Sigma Tau Delta as well as a consultant at his university’s writing center. He is also on the editorial board for FHSU’s literary and arts journal, Lines from the Middle of Nowhere. Isaiah enjoys writing in a variety of genres, from critical essays to short stories and poetry. After graduation, he plans on furthering his education through obtaining an MA in English. Having been a Sigma Tau Delta member for several years, Isaiah is excited to work more closely with the organization and its members as a Student Representative.
Deanna Aniles – Associate Student Representative (ASR)
Fort Hays State University
Hays, KS
Email: [email protected]
Deanna Aniles (she/her) is a senior undergraduate student at Fort Hays State University. She is excited to serve as Sigma Tau Delta’s High Plains Region Associate Student Representative. Originally from Garden City, KS, she has had a passion for English literature from an early age. She first struggled to read in her younger years, but once she got the hang of it after some years of help from school tutors, she would not stop reading. Due to this, Deanna is double majoring in English (Teaching) and Secondary Education as she wants to leave the same impact on emerging readers that past educators had on her. Her goal is to give back to the community as an educator, as she has seen the profound impact working with the youth of her hometown and Hays can have on both parties. She currently resides in Hays, KS, with her girlfriend, Emma, and her pet cat, Kuro.
Midwestern Region
Jo (Josephine) Mahlum – Student Representative (SR)
St. Norbert College
De Pere, WI
Email: [email protected]
Jo Mahlum (she/her) is an undergraduate junior originally from Mounds View, MN, and currently studying at St. Norbert College in Wisconsin. She is studying both English and Peace and Justice while also living the student-athlete life playing for her schools women’s hockey team. On campus she works for her school’s Norman Miller and Cassandra Voss Centers covering civic engagement and social justice issues. She is also Co-President of St. Norbert’s Sigma Tau Delta chapter. Her off-campus life consists of interning at the Green Bay Press Times publishing weekly feature stories and spending lots of time with her teammates and friends. While she is always finding something to do or be part of, Jo will always be down for a quick ice cream run or a good walk to enjoy some quality time and conversation!
Jo is very excited to be serving as the Midwestern Region Student Representative for 2024-2025!
Emily Palmisano – Associate Student Representative (ASR)
University of Evansville
Evansville, IN
Email: [email protected]
Emily Palmisano (they/them) is in their last year at the University of Evansville. They are a literature major, with minors in Spanish, British Studies, and Gender/Women’s/Sexuality Studies. They are the President of their local Sigma Tau Delta chapter and the chief marketing officer of their student government. They hope to become a professor of literature with a focus in memoir. On the rare occasions they aren’t reading or analyzing some form of media, they love to bake, crochet, and find the best coffee shops.
Southern Region
Sophia Jockell – Student Representative (SR)
University of North Georgia
Oakwood, GA
Email: [email protected]
Sophia Jockell (she/her) is a senior at the University of North Georgia majoring in English Writing & Publication with a minor in Public Relations. Sophia has served as Secretary and President of her local chapter of Sigma Tau Delta (Alpha Upsilon Phi) and will be finishing her time at UNG as President for a second term—along with working as a Social Media Marketing Assistant for UNG’s Supplemental Instruction program. In her free time, she loves to read, write in her planner, go thrift shopping with her sisters, feed her fish, and spend time with her husband. Sophia is over the moon to be Sigma Tau Delta’s Southern Region Student Representative this year!
Arista Elderkin – Associate Student Representative (ASR)
Berry College
Mount Berry, GA
Email: [email protected]
Arista Elderkin (she/her) is a senior at Berry College in Rome, GA. She is pursuing a BA in English and a BS in Secondary Education. She has served as President of the Epsilon Kappa Chapter of Sigma Tau Delta at Berry College for three consecutive years, and is excited to continue fulfilling that role this year as well. In her free time, Arista enjoys reading and spending time with those around her. Arista is thrilled to be able to serve as the Associate Student Representative for the Southern region this year!
Southwestern Region
Carmen Qha Ian Lok – Student Representative (SR)
Southern Arkansas University
Magnolia, AR
Email: [email protected]
Carmen Lok (she/her) is a senior at Southern Arkansas University (SAU) where she is currently pursuing a BA in English with a minor in TESOL. Along with her Associate Student Representative position, she is also serving as the President of Epsilon Theta, the Sigma Tau Delta chapter at SAU. Drawing from her experience as an international student from Malaysia, she is passionate about inclusivity, diversity, and representation in and out of academia. Carmen hopes to share that passion with others through her positions in SAU and Sigma Tau Delta. She is honored to serve the Southwestern Region as their Associate Student Representative this year!
Cyrah Johnson – Associate Student Representative (ASR)
Philander Smith University
Little Rock, AR
Email: [email protected]
Cyrah D. Johnson (she/her) is a junior at Philander Smith University in Little Rock, AR, majoring in English and minoring in Criminal Justice. Originally from Memphis, TN, Cyrah is the new Associate Student Representative for the Southwestern Region of Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society and is a proud Alpha Omega Theta Chapter member. She is also the Secretary of the Criminal Justice Club on campus, where they explore different systems of justice system roles and ways to contribute, further supporting her pursuit of becoming an attorney. Cyrah is a creative thinker who enjoys planning events and exploring new ideas to challenge and expand her perspective. As an entrepreneur, she runs a consulting business to help others navigate the evolving world of social media and also creates treats for holidays and special events. Her passion for advocacy is reflected in her work supporting young women as they explore the intersection of faith and mental health, particularly within marginalized communities. In her free time, Cyrah enjoys reading, analyzing conspiracies, and finding ways to connect her creativity with her love of service. She is excited to bring her leadership, vision, and dedication to Sigma Tau Delta and looks forward to contributing to its mission of celebrating language, literature, and growth.