The Expository Writing Program is grateful to Gene Andrew Jarrett, Dean of the College of Arts and Science, and Matthew Santirocco, Interim Dean of the College of Arts and Science, for their support of this publication.

The Mercer Street selection committee—Ali Bujnowski, Benjamin Gassman, Grant Ginder, and Dan Kellum—and the editorial staff are also grateful to EWP’s new Executive Director, Jenni Quilter, for her commitment to developing our department’s representation in the wider community of university writing programs and for supporting this publication in its aim to showcase the quality and breadth of our students’ work across our diverse classrooms. 

The editors are also very grateful to EWP’s other Directors, including Denice Martone, Nate Mickelson, Jono Mischkot (our previous Editor), and Abby Rabinowitz, in addition to our new Editor, William Morgan. And we would also like to thank Assistant Directors Olivia Birdsall, Nicole Callihan, David Cregar, Michelle McSwiggan Kelly, Beth Machlan, Elizabeth Mikesell, Tara Parmiter, and Amira Pierce, as well as the many Writing Program faculty members who read submissions throughout the process. Finally, thank you to EWP Program Manager Christine Jensch, who continues to provide invaluable administrative support.

We also thank Managing Editor Katherine Carlson and Senior Production Editor Richard Larson, both of whom ensured the seamlessness of our operation. Katherine’s work on Mercer Street over her three years in this role has significantly helped elevate the quality and professionalism of the publication, and her steadfast management of our editorial process has set us up for future success as well.

And last but certainly not least, we owe so much gratitude to our three talented and resourceful undergraduate student editors—Lydia Mason, Hope Rangaswami, and Jules Talbot—for their hard work and keen eye for detail as they approached these essays with creativity and intelligence, without whom this publication would not have been possible. And a special thanks to Jules for our new logo!