About the Contributors
Dr. Tony R. Magagna is an Associate Professor and Chair of the English Department at Millikin University, specializing in modern and contemporary American literature. In addition to EN202: Writing About Literature, Dr. Magagna has taught a variety of literature courses, including classes on the modern American novel, contemporary American regionalism, modern American drama, and American popular culture. He has twice served as a Fulbright Lecturer in American Studies, both in Germany (2012-2013) and Japan (2018-2019). Over the last few years, Dr. Magagna has added a new dimension to his career, developing research and curricula focused on the intersections of digital media/technology and literature. You can find the course website for his Digital Literatures course here.
Max Barrows is a Middle School education major, seeking endorsements in both literacy and social science. He is currently a junior at Millikin University. Upon graduation in the spring of 2021, Max hopes to find a job teaching in the greater Decatur area. Outside of the classroom, Max stays busy coaching both Jr. High wrestling and track at Mt. Zion Junior High School. His other hobbies include watching Rick and Morty, managing his fantasy football team, and talking about Game of Thrones
TillieAnn Boliard is a senior Secondary English Education major at Millikin University. She is set to graduate in December of 2020 and is excited to become a high school English teacher and begin teaching young adults about the beauty of reading and writing. Tillie loves to write and is working to get her first novel, Crayons, published. When not in class or working at local nonprofit Webster Cantrell Youth Advocacy as their Web Designer, Tillie can be found creatively writing, spending time with friends and family, or watching an unhealthy amount of television shows and movies.
Johannah Comish (she/her) is a Junior English Education major with a Music minor, set to graduate in the Spring of 2021. She plans to either earn terminal degrees in school administration and go back into the school system or earn terminal degrees in English and/or education to teach at the collegiate level. Outside of classes, she works at the Writing Center and participates in the Honors and James Millikin Scholars program. She is also a member of the founding cohort of the Leadership Scholars. While at Millikin, she has been involved in the Millikin Choirs, Alpha Chi Omega, and Sigma Alpha Iota. Johannah also serves as a First Year Experience Mentor in the Fall. In her limited free time, Johannah loves to consume as much media and as many stories as possible via reading books and comics and watching movies and shows. You can find her walking around campus listening to music too loud on her headphones, or you can find her on Twitter and Instagram at @johannahcomish.
Kaitlin Hathaway is a sophomore English Education major from Rossville, Illinois. She plans on graduating from Millikin in spring of 2022. While at Millikin, Kaitlin has been involved with cheerleading and Alpha Lambda Delta. Kaitlin is also a Golden Apple Scholar and hopes to spend many years teaching high school English. Along with teaching, Kaitlin also plans on coaching cheerleading and softball. She also plans on getting her masters and possibly her graduate degree in hopes to become a superintendent of a school district. When Kaitlin is not cheering or working, she enjoys watching Marvel movies and spending time with her friends.
Ben Kuxmann is a sophomore English Education major while also pursuing a Special Education endorsement at Millikin University. He is also a proud member of the university's Cross Country and Track and Field teams where he hopes to qualify for the National Championships. When he's not running, Ben enjoys watching and talking about sports, mainly soccer, and being active with his friends. He is always willing play, and beat you, at Spikeball. As a Golden Apple Scholar, Ben hopes to teach at the secondary level in Illinois while also coaching soccer, cross country, or track and field.
Linnea Nordstrom is a sophomore Secondary English Education major from Toluca, IL. She is a member of Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women, where she serves as the chair of the philanthropy committee. Linnea is also a member of Alpha Lambda Delta and serves as the co-vice president of programming for the Student Honors Advisory Council. In her free time, she loves watching Friends and petting every dog that she sees.
Savanna Prasun is a double major in History and English Literature. Part of her majors is research, so this Casebook was an excellent challenge. When she is not occupied with school, she is occupied with her many hobbies. She has many art projects and loves to play D&D, and she often uses her D&D sessions to inspire some of her artwork. Savanna is often skeptical of her art, so she wants to offer some advice: “Be proud of yourself and the work you do!”
Rachel Roberts is a Junior English Education Major. She is also pursuing a minor in Theater. Her hope is to one day teach high school English and Theater as well as run the Drama Department in her school. She lives in Mound Minnesota with her parents, although she grew up in a very small town in rural Illinois. She has three brothers, two older brothers and one younger brother. Rachel also has the privilege of being a first-generation college student in her family! Rachel is the president of Blue Harmony A cappella at Millikin University. In her free time, which there is usually very little of, she enjoys reading, singing, and cooking/baking. Rachel also really loves spending time with her pet Pitbull BleuBelle who she adores with her entire heart. She is very excited to become a teacher and cannot wait to graduate.
Madeline Wilson is a junior English Education major pursuing a Special Education endorsement from Mokena, IL. While at Millikin, you can find her serving the honors community in the Student Honors Advisory Council and thriving alongside her sisters in Pi Beta Phi. She stands as the number one fan of every Greek organization on campus and is honored to serve as the Panhellenic Council's president for the 2020 year. She is also proud to be a First Year Experience Mentor. When not at Millikin, she can be found baking cookies with her mom, getting emotional over the beauty and success of her friends, or preparing to volunteer at Camp PALS, a camp for individuals with Down Syndrome and their peers. She is forever and always missing her cat at home and wishing there was more time in the world to read a good book next to a cozy fire.