By Sheri Swayne ’26 Major: English; Minor: Creative Writing Contributor Biography: Sheri Swayne is a senior from Baltimore, MD, majoring in English with a creative writing minor. She is obsessed with Toni Morrison and writing critical pieces on racial topics. She’s the editor in chief of Collegian, president of Intervarsity, and enjoys reading, R&B, and action movies. If you ever…
Author: Washington College Review
Racial Inequality in the Hollywood Film Industry: Acknowledging Black Actresses
By Sheri Swayne ’26 Contributor Biography: Sheri Swayne is a senior from Baltimore, MD, majoring in English with a creative writing minor. She is obsessed with Toni Morrison and writing critical pieces on racial topics. She’s the editor in chief of Collegian, president of Intervarsity, and enjoys reading, R&B, and action movies. If you ever need to have a productive conversation with…
Bone Black: Forms of Remembering Black Girlhood
By Sheri Swayne ’26 Major: English; Minor: Creative Writing Contributor Biography: Sheri Swayne is a senior from Baltimore, MD, majoring in English with a creative writing minor. She is obsessed with Toni Morrison and writing critical pieces on racial topics. She’s the editor in chief of Collegian, president of Intervarsity, and enjoys reading, R&B, and action movies. If you ever…
Understanding Mary and Eve as Part of an Interconnected Narrative through Depictions in Manuscripts
By Elizabeth Fitzpatrick ’26 Major: Art History; Minors: French Studies and Museum, Field, and Community Education Contributor Biography: Elizabeth Fitzpatrick is an art history major from Catonsville, MD. After graduation she is pursuing a master’s degree in art history at American University. In the future, she hopes to work in a museum to share her love of art…
Mending as a means of Memory Making and Resistance
By Melchior Tuerk ’26 Contributor Biography: Mel is a senior who cares a lot about people and their stories. In their last semester at Washington College, they are enjoying the library terrace, walks to get ice cream, and time spent with friends. They look forward to returning home to the Lehigh Valley after graduation in May,…
Featured Artist: Faye Dorman ’26
Title: unfinished basement By Faye Dorman ’26 Contributor Biography: Faye Dorman is a dual major in Communications and Economics from Mohnton, PA. She is an active member in Dance Club, and is a member of several academic societies on campus. In her free time, she likes to draw, paint, and write, usually while “watching” a new show or movie. Short Description: For…
Featured Artist: Faye Dorman ’26
By Faye Dorman ’26 Contributor Biography: Faye Dorman is a dual major in Communications and Economics from Mohnton, PA. She is an active member in Dance Club, and is a member of several academic societies on campus. In her free time, she likes to draw, paint, and write, usually while “watching” a new show or movie. Short Description: For this assignment, students…
Griselda Gambaro and the Fight for Justice
By Juliana Santiago-Batista ’27 Contributor Biography: Juliana Santiago Batista is a Theatre major and Creative Writing minor from Carolina, PR. She believes people should learn more about Latin American theatre and their impact towards their countries. Juliana enjoys reading plays that feature powerful women, writing horror, and playing videogames with friends. She hopes to pursue a career in Acting…
Environmental Humility through Spirituality
By Maria McGinnity ’28 Contributor Biography: Maria McGinnity is a sophomore majoring in English with a minor in Creative Writing. She enjoys writing short-form fiction and essays and loves exploring new ways to be creative. When not writing, she enjoys reading, exercising, listening to music, and spending time with friends. Brief Description: For this writing project, I read works by Annie Dillard and compared…
The Amygdala’s Role in Horror Video Games
By Tamzin Maines ’29 Majors: Biology and Environmental Science Contributor Biography: Tamzin is a freshman at Washington College, seeking a degree in environmental science and biology. She has a passion for understanding evolutionary processes and how adaptations influence the organism. She further explores the environment with her land-trust to maintain habitats and track populations of horseshoe crabs. Brief Description: We frequently see the…
Note from the Editors
This issue features SCEs from across majors— from music and environmental science to English and anthropology– and each work explores themes, topics, and texts in ways that challenge disciplinary boundaries and spark creative, critical thinking in the spirit of the liberal arts tradition. We encourage you to learn something unexpected while reading these stand-out SCEs….
Foreman’s Patch: Learning from Macroinvertebrates
A Senior Capstone Experience by Kami Lentzsch ’25 Submitted to the Department of Anthropology Advised by Dr. Scott Erich Contributor Biography: Kami graduated from Washington College summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Anthropology with a minor in Chesapeake Regional Studies. As a senior, she was awarded department honors in Anthropology, Lambda Alpha Senior…
Monks, Monsters, and the Theories of Humor: Analyzing the Margins of the W.102 Book of Hours
A Senior Capstone Experience by Shannon Smith ’25 Submitted to Department of Art & Art History Advised by Dr. Aileen Tsui and Dr. Benjamin Tilghman Contributor Biography: Shannon Smith graduated from Washington College in Fall 2024 with a degree in Art History. She currently works at Winterthur Museum, Gardens & Library in DE, where she…
Dupixent in Asthma Care: Early Pediatric Intervention and the Ethics of Drug Pricing
A Senior Capstone Experience by Vani Chauhan ’25 Submitted to the Departments of Biology and Business Management Advised by Dr. Jennifer Wanat and Dr. Caddie Putnam Rankin Contributor Biography: Vani graduated summa cum laude from Washington College as a Biology and Business Management double major with a minor in Chemistry on the pre-med track. During her time at WC she conducted research as part of the Toll Fellows research program and was a portfolio manager…
An Interrogation of “a truth universally acknowledged”: Repositioning Romance in Austen’s Pride and Prejudice
A Senior Capstone Experience by Lucy Verlaque ’25 Submitted to the Department of English Advised by Dr. Katie Charles Contributor Biography: Lucy Verlaque graduated summa cum laude from Washington College in May 2025. She was the recipient of the Maureen Jacoby Prize and a finalist for the Sophie Kerr Prize. As a WC student, Lucy spent most of her time involved with…
Revolutionary Marketing: How the Hunger Games Franchise Promotes and Dismantles Political Agency and Authenticity
A Senior Capstone Experience by Heather Fabritze ’25 Submitted to Departments of English and Communications & Media Studies Advised by Dr. Courtney Rydel and Dr. Stephanie Brown Contributor Biography: Heather graduated from Washington College with a B.A. in English and Communication & Media Studies. At graduation, she was awarded the Communication & Media Studies Capstone…
The effect of CuSO4 on visual development in larval Danio rerio
A Senior Capstone Experience by Evan Merk ’25 Submitted to the Departments of Environmental Science and Studies and of Biology Advised by Dr. Martin Connaughton and Dr. Leslie Sherman Contributor Biography: Evan Merk (he/him) is a recently-graduated biology and environmental science major. On campus, he was a biology lab teaching assistant, Writing Center peer tutor, and an…
“A New Declaration of Independence”: Refiguring the Family in Louisa May Alcott’s Work
A Senior Capstone Experience by Grace Hogsten ’25 Submitted to the Department of English Advised by Dr. Katie Charles Contributor Biography: During her time at Washington College, Grace Hogsten worked at Washington College Review, The Elm, Collegian, the Miller Library, and the writing center. After graduation, she began working in elementary education and plans to pursue a career in…
“I want to be great, or nothing”: Amy March’s Subversion of Societal Expectations
A Senior Capstone Experience by Riley Dauber ’25 Submitted to Department of English Advised by Dr. Elizabeth Foley O’Connor Contributor Biography: After graduating in May, Riley interned with the American Scholar magazine, fact-checking articles for their Autumn issue. She also spent a few grueling weeks scooping ice cream before landing a reporting job at the…
Where I’m Coming From
A Senior Capstone Experience by David Londres ’25 Submitted to the Department of Music Advised by Professor Ken Schweitzer Contributor Biography: David Londres is an alumni at Washington College, with a degree in Music and a focus in Composition and Arrangement. He has been doing music for 10 years, and is able to play 5 instruments plus production. David loves to use samples in…
Examining How the Visitor Effect at the Salisbury Zoo on Busy vs. Non-Busy Days Impacts the Behavior and Welfare of Zoo Visitors, Spider Monkeys, and Prairie Dogs
A Senior Capstone Experience by Jevon Smalls ’25 Submitted to Department of Psychology Advised by Dr. Kevin McKillop Contributor Biography: Jevon is currently studying at Hood College in Frederick, Maryland to pursue a Master’s of Science in Environmental Biology with a GIS Certificate. He hopes to continue to conduct research involving animal behavior and wildlife…
Editor’s Note
As I put the final touches on my last issue of Washington College Review with just a few weeks until graduation, I find myself reflecting on the past just as much as I’m looking to the future. My years with WCR taught me so much and gave me an opportunity not only to grow as…
“A Consuming Fire”: Imagery as Agency in Jahan Khatun and Hildegard von Bingen’s Writings
By Lucy Verlaque ’25 Major: English; Minors: Creative Writing, Journalism, Editing, and Publishing and Gender Studies Contributor Biography: In her time at Washington College, Lucy has loved being involved with student-run publications; over the years, she has served as associate and managing editor of Washington College Review, a staff writer and copy editor for The Elm,…
Chingaderas and Exhaustion on the Migrant Trail: Visual Analysis of “This cabron is taking pictures of me sleeping! Maybe he’s in love with me?”
By Melchior Tuerk ’26 Major(s): Anthropology and Environmental Studies Minor(s): Museum, Field, and Community Education and Chesapeake Regional Studies Contributor Biography: Mel is a junior interested in the confluence of human culture and the natural environments in which they are cultivated. Currently they are an intern with the Hostile Terrain 94 exhibition in the library,…
