HeartLines

Ayasha Cantey

Ayasha Cantey is a Senior English major with minors in Creative Writing, Women, Gender, and Sexuality studies, and Health Humanities. She is a commuter student from Norwalk, CT. She hopes to continue her education and get her Master’s and PhD in English, to someday become an English professor. Ayasha is a member of Sigma Tau Delta- English Honors Society. She is also a research assistant for the Untitled Othello Project. She is also involved in the Multicultural Center, where she works as a resource guide and an MACC student connector. Her hobbies include creative writing, jewelry making, and painting. Ayasha is excited about working on the magazine, hoping to help her gain a greater understanding of the publishing and editing world. After working on Heartlines as the poetry editor last year, Ayasha is so excited to be returning as the Co-Editor!

Jenna Siuta

Jenna Siuta is a Junior English major from Rockland County, NY. She has a minor in Honors, as well as writing, and aspires to be an English Professor. She is part of a sorority on campus, the Theatre Arts Program, two honor societies including Delta Alpha Pi, and Sigma Tau Delta. She is also part of the American Sign Language club, and the Student Events Team where she is the Co-Bingo chair. She enjoys playing with dogs, and teaching young kids. She has a work study here at Sacred Heart at the Office of Student Accessibility, and an off campus job as a substitute teacher. Jenna is excited to be an Editor on the magazine, so that she can pursue her writing and editing dreams!

Haven Hawkins

Haven Hawkins, from Columbia, Tennessee, is a dynamic senior at Sacred Heart University. Balancing a rigorous academic and athletic schedule, she excels as a Division I rugby player for the Sacred Heart women’s rugby team, where her dedication and athleticism shine on the field. In addition to her athletic pursuits, Haven proudly serves in the Army National Guard, embodying leadership and commitment both on and off the field. Her military experience enhances her discipline and resilience, qualities that contribute to her success in various arenas. Majoring in English, Haven is deeply passionate about literature and writing. This year, she is also immersing herself in the world of literary arts through her role as an editor and marketer for the university’s literary magazine, where she helps bring compelling narratives to a wider audience.

Julia Prackup

Julia Prackup is a Senior English Major with Writing and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies minors and is a commuter student from Trumbull, CT. She transferred from the University of Arizona, returning back to Connecticut to attend Sacred Heart University where she is a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. She has enjoyed reading and writing from a young age, creating stories which sparked a passion for writing and literature. She also enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and dog Apollo in her free time. She is excited for her first year of editing for Heartlines.

Julie Dunn

Julie Dunn is a junior English major at Sacred Heart University, lives in Fairfield, CT, and she is exploring different minors at this time. She is involved in the English Club, as well as Campus ministry, and is exploring ways to use her interests in English literature and media.

Kelly Parker

Kelly Parker is a senior English major on the secondary education track, with minors in honors and education. She is from Long Island, New York. Kelly is part of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and Sigma Tau Delta- English honor society. She loves running and is a captain on the cross country and track teams here at Sacred Heart. Additionally, she is on the executive board of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Her hobbies include walking Jeopardy with her family, creative writing and reading- her favorite book series is A Court of Thorns and Roses. Editing has always been an interest of hers, so she is very excited to pursue this path with the literary magazine this semester!

Liliana Sosnowski

Liliana Sosnowski is a junior at Sacred Heart University with a major in Biology and minors in Writing, Chemistry, and Honors. She is a commuter student from Norwalk, CT, and is a part of the universities orchestra where she plays the violin. She hopes to continue her eduction by attaining a Masters in Genetic Counseling and possible further academic advancements. Some of her hobbies include being able to disconnect from stress by grabbing her favorite book, baking, sketching, or even just binging her new favorite show. She is excited to be a part of Heartlines to help others grow in their writing expertise as well as develop her own creative writing and learn about the publishing and editing world.

Miriam Da Ponte

Miriam Da Ponte is a senior double major in English and Philosophy with a minor in Writing. She is a member of the International English Honors Society, Sigma Tau Delta, and is currently on the Ethics Bowl team at Sacred Heart. Miriam has had a love for literature since high school, but has only recently discovered her interest in writing and editing during her time as an undergraduate. Though she enjoys reading all the genres Heartlines has to offer, she leans toward writing creative non-fiction and poetry herself. Miriam also loves to travel and has lived in three different continents; she finds that these experiences have and continue to influence her writing.  

Natalie Suarez

Natalie Suarez is a senior at Sacred Heart University from Norwalk, CT. She is an English Major on track to go to Law school next year. Natalie is a member of the English Honor Society, Sigma Tau Delta, as well as the Pre-Law club. She enjoys reading, writing and has taken multiple writing courses at Sacred Heart. She is excited to be a part of Heartlines and share her work with others!

Hannah Schultz

Hannah Schultz is a Senior English Major with minors in both Honors and Writing. She hopes to continue her education and get her masters in teaching to become a High School English Teacher. She has also worked as a one-on-one teaching assistant at an elementary school in her hometown. After taking a poetry class while studying abroad in Dingle, Ireland, Hannah has rekindled her love of poetry, finding that she now gravitates towards that genre the most. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, and spending time with friends and family. After working on Heartlines as the poetry editor last semester, Hannah is so excited to be returning as the Co-Editor!

Sam Kealey

Sam Kealey is a Senior English Major at Sacred Heart University with a Minor in Writing. He was born and raised in Fairfield County, CT and was the class speaker at his 2019 high school graduation. The most important things to him are his family and his community.

Emily Callahan

Emily Callahan is a senior Psychology major at Sacred Heart University with a minor in Writing. Her experience comes from working closely with children and animals, and volunteering with several non-profits. Emily has a strong entrepreneurial spirit and founded her own dog walking and care business, which she continues to run to this day. She served as a co-leader of the “Jump Start” program in Cranston, RI, an early-education after-school literacy program with AmeriCorps. Emily is passionate about public service and working with communities in the area. She lives in Fairfield with her dog, Lucy, and her cat, Gnocchi. In her free time, Emily enjoys hiking, long walks on the beach, cooking, and design.

Kelsey Donnelly

Kelsey Donnelly is a junior English major with minors in Writing and Marketing at Sacred Heart University. Kelsey rediscovered her passion for writing while taking courses at Sacred Heart. She was fortunate enough to have her work published in the first edition of HeartLines Literary Magazine in the Spring of 2023. Kelsey hopes to continue writing after college and aspires to work for a publishing house in the future. She grew up in Wading River, NY, where she spends time off with her family, her cats, and her two dogs. When she is not writing, Kelsey is baking, reading, or going to the beach. 

Jillian Reis

Jillian Reis is a senior English and Media Arts: Film & TV major with minors in writing and honors. She is the very funny and talented vice-president of English Club and co-manager of Audrey’s Corner. She has written for other sections of the Spectrum as well as MUD Magazine. She is a published poet, and in her free time, she likes to go to cafes to read, draw, and pretend to do homework.

Aidan Fee

Aidan Fee is a senior at Sacred Heart University from Long Island, New York. He is a psychology major with a minor in writing. Aidan is in Pi Kappa Phi fraternity at SHU. He plans on attending graduate school to study social work when he graduates. In his free time, Aidan enjoys hanging out with friends, going to the gym, writing, and playing sports. 

Annmarie Tramutolo

Annmarie Tramutolo is a senior at Sacred Heart University from Long Island, NY. She is an English Major with a Writing Minor on track to be a kindergarten teacher. Annmarie is member of the English Honor Society, Sigma Tau Delta, as well as the Theater Arts Program and Kappa Delta sorority. She has always enjoyed reading, writing, and traveling and in her spare time, you can find her doing just that! Annmarie has taken several writing courses at Scared Heart and is excited to be a part of Heartlines and share her work with her peers. 

Ariana Porco

Ariana Porco is a Sophomore at Sacred Heart University from Dutchess County, New York. She is majoring in Coastal & Marine Science, with a minor in both Writing and Sports Communication & Media. She works alongside High School students, via the Upward Bound Program, where she tutors in English. Ariana first recognized that she shared a passion for reading and writing back in Middle School, when she found herself consumed by all works of Literature. This is her first time working on the Heartlines Magazine, but is excited to do so, alongside an immensely talented group of people!

Camille Vail

Camille Vail is a Senior at Sacred heart University from Brookfield, CT. She is an English major and minors in Film & Television, Writing, Honors, and Catholic Studies. Camille is a member of the International English Honors Society, Sigma Tau Delta, and has previously been active in the Theater Arts Program. In her free time, she loves to read, draw, bake, and go hiking. With a strong passion for writing, she looks forward to collaborating with similarly driven peers in creating the next issue of HeartLines.

Erin Dunn

Erin Dunn is a Junior at Sacred Heart University from South Windsor, CT. She is majoring in Communications, Advertising, and PR, as well as minoring in Writing and Digital Marketing. Erin is a member of the Division 1 Track and Field team where she pole vaults. She recently became a brother of Alpha Kappa Psi, a co-ed business fraternity. Erin is also the Senior Editor and Social Media Manager for Sacred Heart’s chapter of Her Campus, where she is thrilled to combine her loves of writing and social media. In her free time she loves to read, plans on writing a book, baking cookies religiously, and spending hours watching TV with friends and family. She looks forward to curating this issue of Heartlines and working with a group of extremely talented people. 

Frida Avila

Frida Avila is a senior at Sacred Heart University from Norwalk, CT. Frida is an English major with a minor in Psychology. She transferred to SHU in Spring 2022 after completing her Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences from Norwalk Community College. Frida is a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society. Frida is looking forward to pursuing a career in the publishing industry after graduation. Outside of her academic interests, Frida is an avid beauty enthusiast and is passionate about all things makeup and skincare. Frida has been a certified makeup artist since 2016 and enjoys making her clients feel beautiful from the inside and out. 

Isabella Fabbo

Isabella Fabbo is a senior Strategic Communications, PR & Advertising major with minors in both Writing and Honors. She’s the photo editor for the Spectrum Newspaper as well as a senior producer for The Pulse, Sacred Heart’s own TV Magazine Program. She is also pursing her Master’s in Journalism and Media Production. Isabella is passionate about honing her skills in the field and further crafting her art in storytelling. When she isn’t working, Isabella can be found cooking, reading, and searching for concert tickets. She also enjoys photography, surfing and skiing. 

Jenna Siuta

Jenna Siuta is a sophomore English major, with minors in Writing and Honors. She loves to read, cook, and hangout with friends. She is a part of Kappa Alpha Theta, as well as our Theatre Arts Program and multiple Honor societies. She is excited to be a part of this magazine in hopes to gain insight of a major part of the Journalistic side of her major.

Kaylee Shindel

Kaylee Shindel is a junior at Sacred Heart University. She is an English Major along with minors in Writing and the Honors Program. Apart from academics, Kaylee is an athlete on the Equestrian Team at Sacred Heart University. In her free time she likes to go to the gym, read, and spend time with her friends and family.

Megan Agrillo

Megan Agrillo is a Senior at Sacred Heart University from Huntington, New York. She is an English major and minors in Writing and Film & Television. Megan is a member of the Division 1 Women’s Lacrosse team where she plays defense and helps run the Team Impact program. Megan is also a member of the International English Honors Society, Sigma Tau Delta. In her free time, she enjoys reading and writing, going on hikes, and spending time with friends and family. 

Mollie Lewis

Mollie Lewis, is a Senior with a Media Arts major, with minors in Writing, and Social Justice. Aside from her academics, Mollie plays on the Women’s Golf Team at Sacred Heart, and is also involved with the Multicultural Center on campus. In her free time, she enjoys photography, crocheting, and spending time with friends and family at home in Bristol, CT.  

Osama Al-Ahmari

Osama Al-Ahmari is a senior at Sacred Heart University from Saudi Arabia. He is an English major holds a bachelor’s degree in translation, and is on track to obtain his second bachelor’s degree in English. He speaks Arabic his second language is English and he started on his path to getting more. He is actively expanding his linguistic repertoire by delving into French and Japanese. 

“RJ” Railton-Jones

“RJ” Railton-Jones is a part-time student at Sacred Heart University from Hamden, CT. RJ is currently working on a second bachelor’s degree as an English major with a minor in writing, hoping to fulfill a dream of becoming a published author. RJ has a bachelor’s degree in computer science and a master’s degree in cybersecurity from Sacred Heart University. In free time, RJ likes to draw, write, read, craft, and spend time with friends and family.

Taylor Negast

Taylor Negast is a Junior at Sacred Heart University from West Nyack, NY. She is majoring in English and minoring in psychology. She is a member of Kappa Delta Sorority, Sigma Tau Delta, and the English Honor Society. Taylor has a strong passion for teaching and hopes to pursue a career as an High School English, positively impacting the lives and educational journeys of her students. Apart from academics, she enjoys going to the gym, baking, reading, traveling, hanging out with friends and family, and taking walks on the beach.

Kacey Veiking

Kacey Veiking is a junior English major on the Secondary Education 4+1 track at Sacred Heart University. She hopes to become a high school English Teacher and further her education in the future. She also has minors in writing and honors. Kacey is the current Vice President 1: Coordinator of Committees for the Lambda Alpha chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha at Sacred Heart. She is a substitute teacher at an elementary school in her hometown, Mansfield Massachusetts. She also works at a camp over the summer as a camp counselor and lifeguard. In her free time, she enjoys reading thriller novels and creative writing. Kacey’s favorite genre to write is creative nonfiction. She has a love for reading and writing, especially when given the opportunity to aid others in writing and editing their pieces!

Gia Esposito

Meet Gia Esposito, a Senior Marketing student at Sacred Heart’s Jack Welch College of Business School with a minor in Writing. Gia’s passion for the arts and creative expression extends beyond the written word to singing, dancing, drawing, and more. Her ambition lies in becoming a brand strategist, melding her business acumen with her love for language and storytelling. Hailing from New Jersey, Gia grew up performing in theater and cheered for over a decade. These experiences continue to influence her collaborative spirit and creative vision as she contributes to our literary magazine.

Shea Sinclair

Shea Sinclair is a Junior Studio Art undergraduate student at Sacred Heart’s Art and Design program. She a mural artist that specializes in oil painting, printmaking, and illustration. Shea loves to make and publish zines under her studio Fueled by Monsters. Shea is also the Art director of Sacred Hearts GSA and has a passion for incorporating activism into her works.

Haley Alvarado

Haley Anne Alvarado is a sophomore Communication major with a double minor in writing and film and television, at Sacred Heart University where she is Dean’s List Recipient. She has worked as a writer and editor at “The Spectrum,” and “The Works.” Her aptitude for the arts extends to her years at Los Angeles County High School for the Arts to being a grant recipient for the Theatre Arts Program. She has also volunteered for the Bowtie Los Angeles River Project where she helped to advocate for the need of the public parks and educating the younger generation on nature.  Haley is currently focusing on composing a variety of one act plays on systemic issues in American and greater society. On the off season of college, she lives in Los Angeles, CA.

Kelsey Donnelly

Kelsey Donnelly is a junior English major with minors in Writing and Marketing at Sacred Heart University. Kelsey rediscovered her passion for writing while taking courses at Sacred Heart. She was fortunate enough to have her work published in the first edition of HeartLines Literary Magazine in the Spring of 2023. Kelsey hopes to continue writing after college and aspires to work for a publishing house in the future. She grew up in Wading River, NY, where she spends time off with her family, her cats, and her two dogs. When she is not writing, Kelsey is baking, reading, or going to the beach. 

Ayasha Cantey

Ayasha Cantey is a sophomore English major with minors in Writing, Women, Gender, and Sexuality studies, and Social Work. She is a part-time writer for Audrey’s Corners. She is a research assistant for the Untitled Othello project. She is also involved in the Multicultural Center, where she works as a resource guide. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, baking, painting, and jewelry making. She especially loves spending time with her younger sister and hanging out with friends.

Matthew Carrara

Matthew Carrara is a senior English major at Sacred Heart University with minors in creative writing and Catholic studies. He is a member of Sacred Heart’s Alpha Lambda Delta Chapter of the Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society and a leading member of the unofficial Catholic studies club. In his free time, Matthew enjoys watching films and is an avid reader and collector of comic books.

Ema Kojić

Ema Kojić is a senior at Sacred Heart University, where she is pursuing an English major and minors in writing, and fashion marketing and merchandising. She is a member of the English Club and Fashion Club at SHU. She has experience as a published fashion writer for The Mud Magazine, a social media manager at uInterview as well as Koja Contracting, and she published exhibit reviews during her time at Museé Magazine. Ema is a first-generation college student and first-generation American with a strong ethnic identity that has kept her tied to her Balkan roots. Her experience across the industries of fashion, marketing, and journalism have provided Ema with an opportunity to showcase her unique set of interests which include fashion, writing, cooking, and history.

Hailey Pinto

Hailey Pinto is a senior Marketing major at Sacred Heart University with a minor in writing. Her experience as a staff writer for Mud Magazine ignited her passion for creative expression through words and married her business-savvy mentality with storytelling. Her creative writing has extended into press recognized by publications like NBC, The New York Times, in Touch Weekly, Forbes, Seventeen, and Eater NY. She lives for predictability but stands too close to the fire of spontaneity, sometimes straying on the edge of mindless wandering for balance. She enjoys handwritten love letters, all-day breakfast, silly intrusive thoughts, and boba treats.

Julianna Rezza

Julianna Rezza is a senior double major in Biology and Theatre Arts with a double minor in Writing and Honors. She is a member of the repertory company here, enjoying analyzing and performing in both musicals and stage plays. She has loved writing since she was young, and has since found her focus in fiction and poetry. She’s written and interviewed for Mud Magazine, the Spectrum’s Audrey’s Corner, and loves workshopping and editing with her fellow writers!

Ryan Riccio

Ryan Riccio is a junior Game Design and Development major at Sacred Heart University. He has taken several creative writing courses at Sacred Heart and loves using writing as a way to tell stories and express his creativity. His goal is to use his writing and game design skills together to create games with meaning that can tell a story. He is also a huge animal lover with a total of 6 pets including a dog, a snake, a lizard, two birds, and a praying mantis. In his free time, Ryan loves to write, draw, hang out with his pets, and go on hikes with his friends.

Eric Arakelian

Eric Arakelian is an energetic and passionate college student majoring in Information Technology. Eric is a brother of the Iota Alpha chapter of Pi Kappa Phi, a fraternity here at Sacred Heart. He is extremely happy to have helped create the website HeartLines and is excited to see what the future holds for this website. 

Isaiah Disla

Isaiah is a senior Information Technology Major with a minor in Cybersecurity. Additionally, he is a student employee for the Networking Department at Sacred Heart University; he’s a part of multiple organizations at SHU such as TAP, Alpha Phi Omega, and Delta Tau Delta. Isaiah enjoyed creating HeartLines as his senior project!

Laura Regan

Laura is a Senior Information Technology Major at Sacred Heart University, minoring in Business, Management, and Honors. Laura is passionate about being a brother of the Chi Mu Chapter of Alpha Kappa Psi, a Professional Co-ed Business Fraternity. Laura is so excited to have helped create the HeartLines online platform, and she hopes it becomes a space where people can share their creativity!

Hard Shah

Meet Hard Shah, an undergraduate majoring in Computer Science with a minor in Mathematics, embodies a fusion of cultural diversity and academic excellence. He has an unwavering passion for guitar. Enthusiastic about the complexities of coding languages, he delves into the logical puzzles of programming while also nurturing his artistic side through music. He brings a unique blend of passion from his upbringing in India to his current life in the States. The coexistence of innovation and passion in his life is what brings out the best in him.

Professor Marie Hulme

Prof. Hulme teaches Literature and Creative Writing. She received her B.A. In English from Smith College, an M.A. in British and American Literature from New York University, an M.A. in Teaching from Sacred Heart University, and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Fairfield University. Prof. Hulme’s fiction and non-fiction writing have won national recognition, most recently by the 2022 Pen Women’s Keats’ Literary Awards, with a first prize in the Religious Essay category and an honorable mention in the Flash Fiction category. She has previously been awarded third prize in the national story category by the Hackney Literary Awards for her short story published in “The Birmingham Arts Journal.” Prior to her life as an academic, she worked as a print journalist in Fairfield county and as a broadcast journalist for ABC News in London.

Professor Nathan Lewis

Nathan Lewis is a California born artist and curator. He received his MFA from Tufts University and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. He also studied at the Florence Academy of Art in Italy and in St. Petersburg, Russia, and received a BFA from Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts in Connecticut. His work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally in museums, galleries, and universities. His work is in private collections in NY, CT, MA, PA, CA, OR, FL, Germany, Russia and India. He has 5 works in the permanent collection of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. His paintings have been on the cover of numerous books and journals, and his work was included in films shown at the Cannes and Sundance Film festivals. His work has been published and reviewed by the New York Times, the New York Press, International Artist, Fine Art Connoisseur, Art in New England, The Huffington Post, and the Boston Globe, among others. He has received multiple grants, and two URCG grants to research art in Belgium, France, and Japan. He has been the recipient of multiple fellowships and residencies and has given artists talks at institutions throughout the US and Italy.

Dr. Robert McCloud

Bob McCloud is a Distinguished International Professor and Associate Professor of Computer Science at Sacred Heart University, currently serving as the Associate Dean of the Computer Science & Technology Department. He earned an honors degree in Philosophy at Williams College, then went to University of Pennsylvania to pursue graduate studies. At Penn, he was Schubert Fellow in Playwrighting. Along the way, he discovered computer programming and wrote his first program: a tool to analyze word use in the plays of Edward Albee. After developing that program, he became confused: computer science or playwrighting? That led to an extended absence from academia. During that time, he tried both writing and computer careers, ultimately spending most of the time doing computer science projects for corporations. His early corporate and publishing careers are documented as one of six entrepreneurs profiled in the book Self Made, by John Stickney, published by J.P. Putnam’s.

Ultimately corporate work lost its appeal. He quit and returned to graduate school to finish his doctorate. That led to a teaching job search that concluded at Sacred Heart. In addition to a group of published books and articles, Bob has had five major international fellowships, including two Fulbrights and a World Bank research grant. He also served as special projects advisor to Prime Minister Sali Berisha of Albania. Bob’s current work at Sacred Heart focuses on game design, in particular, using markerless motion capture to create animated game characters.