Current Students

Sophia Michalski received her BFA in Creative Writing from BGSU in May 2023. During her undergraduate studies she was president of a student organization and a member of the school literary journal Prairie Margins. Having double-minored in Chinese and Japanese, Sophia enjoys analyzing similarities and differences in languages and hopes to continue learning languages. Sophia reads a great deal for both academic and recreative purposes, though she prefers fantasy fiction or YA novels in her free time and enjoys having conversations while analyzing these texts. When she’s not studying, she likes to play videogames rich in storytelling or watch TV with her dog.

Sarah Urbank received her BA in English from the University of Akron. As an MA student in BGSU's Literary and Textual Studies program, her research interests include queer studies, graphic narratives, and popular culture. Sarah's work focuses on bridging the gap between history and literature to explore what texts can tell us about the past.

Sarah is the treasurer for the Ray Browne Association on Class and Culture for 2024-25 and has worked as an Assistant Editor for the Mid-American Review. Her fiction has appeared in Ashbelt and she is a regular contributor of book reviews to TARDIS and Celestial Toyroom. Outside of academia, she enjoys baking, attempting to keep houseplants alive, and hiking with her dog.

My name is Sarah Webb, and I am a second-year master's student in the Textual and Literary Studies program. Counting the years it took to get my undergrad and my first master's degree in Pure Mathematics, this will be my seventh year attending BGSU. I enjoy studying literature because, through literature, I can explore a variety of worldviews, historical perspectives, and mythologies.

Aysenur Zaza received her BA in English Literature from Bogazici University, Turkey in 2022. Her research interests include Gothic novels, food, trauma, sexuality, identity, and women in literature. When she’s not studying, she likes to solo-travel as much as she can, go for a walk, or cuddle with her cat and attempt to write a novel. Before pursuing a master’s degree in Literary and Textual Studies at Bowling Green State University, she worked as a content marketer.

Mike Altstaetter is a first-year M.A. student at Bowling Green. He received his B.A. in English from the Ohio State University at Lima in 2024. Mike’s interests include Shakespeare, gender, class, Trailer Park Boys, and Diet Coke.

Saba Aaryanfar is a dedicated educator with a passion for language learning.  She holds a Bachelor's degree in English Translation, graduating with top honors from the University of Azarabadegan in Iran in 2015.  Aaryanfar has extensive experience teaching both public and private classes in various institutions and schools.  She is also a translator and interpreter for both English and Turkish, having worked with a 5-star international hotel and the third-largest holding company in Iran.  Since 2020, Aaryanfar has led her own private teaching platform, offering online and in-person courses to students worldwide.  Driven by a desire to continually improve her skills and provide her students with the best possible educational experience, she seeks to pursue further education, focusing on advanced language learning methods. 

I received my BA in Philosophy, Politics, Economics, and Law (PPEL) from BGSU in April 2024. With a primary interest in deconstructionism and Marxist theory, I am passionate about exploring their intersections despite their different approaches. My scholarly pursuits aim to analyze literature through the lenses of economic and social implications rooted in historical materialism, while challenging established structures of language and interpretation. When I’m not studying, I enjoy traveling and photography.