Steering Committee

Oriana Gradeles-Scislowicz passion for writing began with short stories and poetry. Her veterinary career as an LVT uniquely blended her writing with her scientific background, resulting in over 90 published articles in veterinary journals and magazines since 2013. She earned a B.S. in Psychology (VCU) and an Masters in HR/Organizational Learning and Performance (CSU). Currently a PhD student in Learning Technologies at UNT, Oriana focuses on academic research and writing. Her other interests include film photography, the sax, and spending time with her golden, Niles.

Alicia Swain writes about feminist, queer, and political themes across multiple genres. She is the author of Steel Slides and Yellow Walls (Aug 2025), as well as over a dozen individually published pieces. She earned her MA in English from Eastern Illinois University and her BA in English from Penn State University. When she isn’t writing or reading, Alicia is often rewatching episodes of Supernatural, playing with her dog and cat, or daydreaming about houses in the Blue Ridge Mountains.