TEACHING ARTISTS

Ben is a writer and educator from Fishersville, Virginia. While teaching creative writing in Hong Kong, Ben discovered that the arts allow students to stake identity and take initiative in their learning and lives. Ben studies English at the University of Pennsylvania, where he reads for The Penn Review and performs spoken word with the Excelano Project. His work has been recognized by the Albricias Prose Prize and the Penn Poetry Prize. And off the clock, Ben is a diehard advocate for goofing around.

Finn is a Canadian-American poet, playwright, and typist studying English and Creative Writing at Dalhousie University. Based in Philadelphia, he has had multiple plays produced locally as well as his poetry and prose published in magazines and newspapers such as the Philadelphia Inquirer. On a rainy day, he loves to bury his face in a cup of tea, listen to vinyl on his record player, and dance!

Gabby is a doctoral student in the Department of English at the University of Pennsylvania researching relational ethnic studies in literature. She has spent the last six years as an editor-in-chief at literary magazines on her college and high school campuses, and has a passion for connecting people through writerly communities. Her interests are in documentary poetry and lyric essays, with a focus on memory and imperialism.

Trisha is a junior at the University of Pennsylvania studying Sociology, Cognitive Science, and Neuroscience. Teaching is one of her greatest passions, and she is always looking for ways to share her love for it by helping children. She believes that when children engage in creative activities, it allows them to step away from the pressures of traditional academics and truly be themselves, all while learning and growing.

Luca Bushkin is a Master of City Planning student at the University of Pennsylvania. They first became enamored with writing stories at the ripe age of 10 years old, and they’ve been enamored with writing short stories and novellas ever since. Although they don’t have much time for creative writing these days, they’re excited to inspire the next generation of writers and hope to imbue an appreciation for the power of well-crafted communication and storytelling.

Demetra is an undergraduate at Georgetown University, studying Classics. She is an alum of Cosmic Writers workshops, as well as Writopia Lab, the Young Artists and Writers Project, the Kelly Writers House Summer Workshop, and many more. As both a writer and an instructor, Demetra has loved the time she's spent in creative workshops, and is excited to help young writers find that same passion for writing! When she's not telling stories, she can be found eating bagels, thrifting, and listening to ABBA.

Madeline is an undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania interested in studying English and History. After teaching writing workshops at elementary schools in her hometown of Dallas, Texas, she is excited to continue her teaching journey with Cosmic Writers. Along with reading and writing, she loves playing the viola, taking long walks, and visiting coffee shops.

Diemmy is a sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania studying Philosophy, Politics, & Economics. On campus, she is involved with 34th Street Magazine and the Kelly Writers House, and is very excited to bring her passion for writing to an educational context. Outside of writing, she loves concerts, trying new restaurants, and crocheting. 

Mmachi is an undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania studying both Neuroscience and Creative Writing. Having been a storyteller since the age of seven, she understands first-hand the impact that writing had on her development as both a dreamer and a creator, and she is passionate about sharing the craft with other young artists. Outside of drafting her novel, she spends most of her free time digging her nose in her favorite comfort book, figuring out new rice cooker recipes to try in her dorm, and watching bad Tubi movies with her friends.

Hailing from central Georgia, Monique (they/them) is a multidisciplinary writer based in New York City. Monique's main areas of creative work are poetry, nonfiction, and playwriting, particularly concerning themes of activism, place, spirituality, and relationships. They are currently pursuing their MFA in Creative Nonfiction at New York University. When they’re not writing (which is rare), you can usually find Monique baking banana bread, reading poetry, and browsing Etsy for funky earrings.

Nida is a recent graduate of New York University with a degree in Social and Cultural Analysis. Originally from Upstate New York, she’s passionate about social justice and enjoys reading South Asian literature. She also enjoys writing poetry and creative nonfiction pieces. She’s always loved working with kids and teaches at a learning center in NYC on the weekends. In her free time she loves to knit and watch the Great British Baking Show!

Maya is an undergraduate at Tufts University studying in Human Factors Engineering. She discovered her passion for working with kids through mentoring youth programs at the South Orange Public Library. Maya believes that all writing has value, that freehand writing helps with self-expression, and that storytelling can take shape through many different mediums. In her free time, Maya enjoys people-watching, journaling, and driving around with friends listening to music.

Janet is a student at the University of Pennsylvania studying behavioral economics, design, and mathematics. As an avid reader of memoir and fiction, Janet is usually found in a coffeeshop or the local library when she's home in Fayetteville. She enjoys teaching younger students and engaging their imaginations through creative narrative writing. Outside of writing, Janet stays busy sailing, swing dancing, and acting.

Dedeepya is a student at the University of Pennsylvania. She writes prose and journalism, and is a writer for the Daily Pennsylvanian and 34th Street. Her work has been published in the New York Times, Best Teen Writing of 2019, Blue Marble Review, and others. She loves working with younger students and understands the value of mentorship, which is why she’s so thrilled to work with Cosmic Writers and share her love of writing. Besides writing, she loves running, iced chai, and sunsets.

Michaela is an undergraduate at Barnard College studying English. As an avid reader and writer, she's especially passionate about global literature and genre fiction. At Cosmic Writers, she hopes to help others fall in love with stories and gain a healthy confidence in their own work. When she's not on the hunt for the coziest of bookstores, she can be found exploring the city with friends and frequenting nearby coffee shops.

Sophia represents her hometown, Washington DC, as Youth Poet Laureate and U.S. Presidential Scholar. Her writing has been recognized by the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, the Library of Congress, Button Poetry, and several other organizations. Her poem “Multiple Choice,” won grand prize in the Sixteen River Press’s Youth Poetry Contest and was subsequently nominated for the Pushcart Prize, and her poem “What We Leave Behind” was a Frontier Poetry finalist for North America. She has taught workshops at Politics & Prose, the National Gallery of Art, the Marchutz School, Writopia Lab, and now for Cosmic Writers! She attends the University of Pennsylvania.

Karina is a literary enthusiast studying Writing, Literature, and Publishing at Emerson College. She has won multiple awards for her poetry and fiction, and her work has appeared in Aura Literary Arts Review, Heartburn Review and Plum magazine. She can be found in Northampton, Massachusetts with her nose in either a book or a large mug of tea.

Enne is a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania hoping to major in English and International Relations. She loves to write prose and poetry, and she writes for 34th Street and several other literary magazines. She is so excited to continue working with children and fostering a love of reading and creativity.

Anthony is an undergraduate at New York University studying adaptations in classic literature. They write fantasy and speculative fiction and hope to encourage young writers to create fantastical worlds of their own. When they aren't writing, they can be found jamming on bass, observing club play rehearsals or sketching out a new character design. 

Kei is an undergraduate at Amherst College who loves all things reading, writing, and editing. They hold several editorial positions for creative, non-fiction, and journalistic writing, and work on literary magazines both in and out of Amherst. They absolutely adore teaching and hope to inspire in others a lifelong love for the literary arts.

Helen is a student at the University of Pennsylvania interested in how writing can help people (particularly kids!) think through difficulties, feel in touch with their emotions, and connect with each other. She has enjoyed reading fiction for almost as long as she can remember, and her first inspiration for writing fiction was her older sister. Outside of writing, she also enjoys singing, 3D modeling, and lion dancing. 

Sophia is a student at Barnard College double majoring in Italian and English with a Creative Writing concentration. A lifelong writer, she is excited to teach kids about the ways in which they can express their own lived experiences through poetry and the importance of research in fiction writing. When not teaching or drafting a poem, Sophia can be found writing for her school's satire paper The Columbia Federalist or working backstage on a play or musical!

Quinton is a poet from Nigeria by way of North Carolina. They are currently based in Brooklyn, doing their MFA in creative writing at New York University. They are an assistant copy editor for the Washington Square Review, a poetry reader for Muzzle Magazine, and have poems published in several online and print journals. They believe that language and writing are the keys to human connection, and that all children should be empowered with the tools to tell their stories and express themselves creatively through the study and practice of art, writing, and literature.

Christina is an undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania studying history and English. A native New Yorker, she enjoys helping young writers achieve their dreams wherever she can. Her work has appeared in Mochi Magazine, Moonflake Press, The F-Word Magazine, and Dear GlobalGirls Magazine. She has been recognized nationally by both YoungArts and the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. When she isn’t writing, you can find her listening to music, doodling, or watching a horror movie with the lights off.

Nate is a writer originally from Austin, Texas, and now based in Brooklyn. He specializes in speculative short stories, and his work appears in the bestselling anthology Amplitudes: Stories of Queer and Trans Futurity. Currently an MFA candidate at New York University, Nate is a lifelong fan of writing workshops and is excited to help others explore the joy of storytelling. In his downtime, you’ll probably find him hanging out at Prospect Park or typing furiously in a coffee shop.

Cassie is an undergraduate at NYU majoring in Teaching Social Studies and minoring in Global and Urban Education. Her studies focus on multidisciplinary curriculum development and education reform. She is originally from Westchester, NY, and has loved writing, especially poetry, and reading from a young age. She is excited to continue teaching and fostering students' excitement and creativity in learning.

Charles is an undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania studying History, Neuroscience, and Chemistry. He was born in California but lived in Shanghai for most of his life. He loves prose, poetry, and everything in between. You can usually find him watching squirrels on Locust Walk or getting halal food near the Quad.

Mia is a poet and aspiring educator from New Haven, CT, living in Brooklyn and studying Poetry in the MFA program at New York University. Her work has appeared in the 2024 and 2025 editions of The Gallatin Review and Confluence, and she has served on the editorial teams of The Gallatin Review, Literacy Review, and The Washington Square Review. In her free time, Mia can be found wandering through Prospect Park or extolling the virtues of New Haven pizza to dubious New Yorkers.

Ella is an undergraduate intending to study English at the University of Pennsylvania. She loves writing of all kinds, and she writes for The Daily Pennsylvanian, 34th Street, and the Penn Undergrad Law Journal. In her free time, she can be found singing and performing onstage.

Tamara is currently an undergraduate at Arcadia University, though she previously went to the University of the Arts before its closure. Double majoring in Studio Art and Creative Writing, Tamara is a young black queer woman who finds joy in expressing creativity in a variety of ways. Her visual artwork was featured in UART's Underground Pool literary magazine and the Institute of Contemporary Art’s Roots Reimagined publication. If you don't find her writing or drawing, she'll be reading, woodworking, or playing dungeons and dragons.

Jaden Urso is a senior at New York University studying Drama, English, and Creative Writing. She is an aspiring playwright and loves fostering future generations of writers through teaching!

Sarah is an undergraduate studying Comparative Literature at the University of Pennsylvania. Her work has appeared in Blue Marble Review, Midsummer Magazine, and Mosaic Lit Journal. She is currently obsessed with Trader Joe’s cotton candy grapes and the word 'frog'. In her free time, she likes playing Stardew Valley and junk journaling. 

Allyson is a sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. Originally hailing from Hong Kong, she writes prose to vicariously experience the lives of others, and poetry to romanticize her own. Beyond writing, she is a passionate genre fiction advocate, budding fortune teller, and a cappella singer.

Ava was born in Hangzhou, China and grew up in Southern California. She has been recognized by Scholastic, the National Council of Teachers of English, The Adroit Journal, and the University of Pennsylvania. Ava is an Orison Books Best Spiritual Literature nominee, Iowa Young Writers' Studio alumna, and YoungArts winner in the poetry category. Her work is published in Stone Poetry Quarterly, Whale Road Review, The Penn Review, and elsewhere. She is currently an undergraduate student at Penn studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics alongside English, and spends her weekends exploring Philly cafes.