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

The Mercer Street selection committee—Ali Bujnowski, Benjamin Gassman, Grant Ginder, and Jackie Reitzes—and the editorial staff are also grateful to EWP’s Executive Director and Assistant Vice Dean of General Education, 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 (a previous Mercer Street Editor), and Abby Rabinowitz, in addition to our 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 our new Managing Editor, Leeore Schnairsohn, and Senior Production Editor Richard Larson, both of whom ensured the seamlessness of our operation. Leeore’s careful attention and editorial insight in his work with these essays, as well as his advising and mentorship of the junior members of the editorial team, were invaluable in our effort to create this year’s lively and engaging edition of Mercer Street. We would also like to thank our previous Managing Editor, Katherine Carlson, for her generous advice and guidance.

And last but certainly not least, we owe so much gratitude to our three talented and resourceful undergraduate student editors—Madison Hilligoss, Megan Maxfield, 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 again for designing our logo!