Meet the Editors Meet the Editors

Zara Roy is a senior majoring in psychology with a minor in theatre. She loves Fiona Apple and pretending to understand philosophy in her free time, and she hopes to discover all the liveliest bits of life after college (and perhaps get to the point where she can listen to “The Idler Wheel ...” without breaking out into hysterical tears.)

Marcela Johnson is a sophomore majoring in mass communication and journalism with a minor in design for performance. She is a proud southern New Mexican. Marcela hopes to practice law in New Mexico in the future as it is one of the few states with common sense at this point in time. She enjoys reading comics and horror and pushing boundaries with her makeup. Marcela is thankful to have worked with such an amazing Editor-in-Chief and staff this year.

Catalina Chapa is a fourth-year communications student at the University of New Mexico. When she is not in school you can find her reading, taking pictures, visiting art museums, and finding adventures. She also is an art fanatic and hopes to work as a curator in the future. Catalina is passionate about literature and having voices from all backgrounds given a platform to share their own unique perspective, which is what drew her to working with Limina.

Tia Donaldson is a PhD candidate in psychology finishing her last year of graduate school. Originally from Rio Rancho, NM, Tia is a foodie and loves to travel and discover new homes away from home. Throughout her studies, she has developed a passion for the brain, research, and science communication. Outside of academia, she volunteers for STEM literacy programs for K-12 students and serves as a community educator for the Alzheimer’s Association. In her spare time she enjoys baking, practicing yoga, and spending time with her family and dogs.

Charlotte Gates is currently a fourth-year student at UNM studying English and German. She is thrilled to be a part of the Limina staff for a third year, especially since she now considers herself a fan of copyediting. In her free time, Charlotte loves learning new languages, freestyle rapping, and taking the time to appreciate the little things in life, like Ed Sheeran songs. Charlotte’s main life goal is to one day write a play and watch it be performed. She invites all reading this to her play’s future debut performance.

John Scott is a senior at UNM studying English and philosophy. He’s recently discovered that taking a photo of someone flipping a coin — and freezing one side of the coin in the frame while it’s flipping — is harder than it looks. Perhaps this is why he isn’t very good at writing creative nonfiction: he’s unable to capture a singular moment, freeze it, and provide the reader or viewer with the proper reflection on said moment. The coin just flips, and life moves on.

Meg Vlaun has an MA in English literature and studies creative writing at UNM and CNM. She will begin her MFA in creative writing at Regis University in July. She writes creative nonfiction, fiction, book reviews, and poetry, and has published pieces in Limina: UNM Nonfiction Review, Meat for Tea, and Leonardo Magazine. Meg is also a writing instructor who currently tutors English at CNM’s Westside Campus. You can find her on Instagram: @megvlaun.

Foreword Foreword

Welcome to the 35th edition of Limina: UNM Nonfiction Review. I am exceptionally happy with this year’s brave selection of works from writers dedicated to knowledge and truth-seeking, and I hope you will too. Whether it be through deep research or difficult personal reflection (or a little bit of both), this issue is chock-full of hard-earned wisdom that bright minds have shared to the world in an act of great vulnerability and care for their craft. Especially in an age where misinformation is easier to share and more widespread than ever, these writers’ commitment to shedding beacons of truth and expertise to readers of our magazine is much appreciated and valued.

Of course, this feat cannot be completed without a passionate and committed staff of dillgent editors behind the scenes. It is difficult to convey my love and appreciation for this bunch without falling into the realm of cliché and platitudes, but nevertheless I will try. I am incredibly grateful to have been gifted with this year’s team: with their intelligence and strength and care, both for the magazine and for one another. Their willingness and thirst for knowledge propelled the selection process, and I hope this shines through in our publication this year.

Please cherish each piece and the grace and humility which it takes to put one’s work forth into the world and allow it to fall blindly into the hands of the reader. Most of all, please enjoy our work. Thank you for your support of UNM’s student publications.

Zara Roy Editor in Chief

by Maddie Coburn

by SpenSer Willden

by Thea SWifT

by Zane Shirley

by SaChi barnaby

by Gillian barkhurST

by iZZe ThoMaS

by SiMon ruybalid

by Sydney druMMond

by SiMone Sena

by SaMuel ShorTy by CaMila Seluja

by larry rybarCyk