Meet the Editors
Maddie Aylward is a senior Elementary/Special Education major at Providence College. In her free time, she enjoys coaching boxing, hanging out with her friends and family, reading, and writing. She hopes to become a classroom teacher and publish books for her students. She has thoroughly enjoyed her time working on The Alembic journals for the past three years.
Kate Blackwell is a senior English and Creative Writing major from Milford, Massachusetts. She has been an editor of The Alembic for three years and is extremely grateful to have worked with such talented writers and artists during her time at the journal. As she moves into the next chapter of her life upon graduating Providence College, Kate will be working as a secondary ed English teacher in the Greater Providence region. She is excited to continue reading and writing and looks forward to bringing the love of literature to the next generation.
Ella Bloom is a third-year creative writing student at Providence College. She is originally from San Diego, California, but her love for the seasons and desire for new experiences brought her from one coast to the other. She has found that the weather hasn’t been as forgiving as she thought. Ella loves all things literature, from the classics read in her Western Civilization class to the novellas she peruses on Slavin lawn when the sun finally decides to appear. She is incredibly excited to be published in her college’s own literary journal and cannot wait to see what the future holds for her writing.
Alyssa Caneira is a senior creative writing and communication student at Providence College. She grew up in northeastern Connecticut, where her vivid imagination was shaped by the stillness of the forest, the stained glass of her Catholic church, and the stories her parents read to her as a young girl. An aspiring author, she believes that words can change the world; her work aims to encourage hope against despair, peace over polarization, authentic human connection, and childlike wonder. Her literary influences include J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and L.M. Montgomery. She is inspired every day by her little sister, her loving family, and Christ the Author of Life.
Sophia Caneira is a freshman at Providence College. She is a Creative Writing major with minors in Film and Dance, and has a deep love of ballet. She enjoys writing for the Arts & Entertainment section of the campus newspaper, The Cowl, and running her radio show, Rush Hour, on the campus radio station. Her love of writing began with her sister, who wrote and illustrated many short stories for her to read when they were kids. During the pandemic, she discovered a new genre, screenwriting, which quickly became her favorite. In her spare time, she enjoys watching Christopher Nolan films, revisiting The Great Gatsby or D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths, listening to the same U2 song many times in a row, and writing with her sister.
Sarah Debian is a junior at Providence College from West Springfield, Massachusetts. She is double-majoring in English Literature and Health Policy & Management and minoring in Political Science. This is her first year as an editor of The Alembic, and she is incredibly thankful to be part of such an amazing project. Sarah deeply loves The Alembic because it features so many incredible voices and experiences of real people. She believes life is better lived when viewed from as many perspectives as possible, and reading is one of the greatest ways to achieve that. She hopes to pursue further education in Rhetoric and Composition after undergraduate school and to share her writing and love of stories with others.
Olivia Gleason is a senior English Literature major and Political Science minor. She is passionate about writing and literature and plans to pursue a career in either publishing or the law. Olivia has enjoyed being a part of The Alembic these past several years and getting to see the journal come to life.
Meghan Gracey is a second-year student at Providence College studying marketing and creative writing. As a first-year member of The Alembic, she is excited to contribute to the editorial process and continue developing her skills in storytelling and publishing.
Jenna Gomez-Nieto is a senior Psychology and Health Policy & Management double major at Providence College. She is an active member of the campus community and is president of Special Olympics College Club and the Providence College Pep Band. She has enjoyed her time working on The Alembic over the past three years and is grateful to have worked alongside such a great group of people.
Finn Heller is a sophomore at Providence College, majoring in English Literature with a Business & Innovation minor. He is from West Hartford, Connecticut, where he grew up reading with every spare second, growing into the dedicated bibliophile he is today. This is his first year as a member of The Alembic, and he has quickly fallen in love with the journal. In his free time, he reads voraciously, most recently delving into the classics and nonfiction works, though still holding an ever-present special place in his heart for mysteries. Outside of literature and school, he enjoys painting, baking, and spending time with his beloved dog, Rosie. Finn looks forward to his future with The Alembic and hopes to continue reading, writing, exploring and contemplating the world as much as he can.
Andrew Hilton is a senior English and Economics double major from Long Island. This is his third year as a member of The Alembic, and he has enjoyed his two years as co-editor in chief. He is an avid reader and wants to write more in the future.
Sara MacKinnon is a senior English Literature major, Political Science minor from Danbury, Connecticut. This is her second year working on The Alembic and co-leading the production of The Alembic’s audio issue. Sara’s favorite book genres include literary fiction, women’s fiction, and creative memoir, and when she hasn’t been working on The Alembic or class assignments, she has been drafting an original novel as part of an independent study. Although she is sad to say goodbye at graduation, Sara is grateful for all the good memories PC has gifted her and excited to take her passion for reading and writing into the professional sphere.
Maeve McWilliams is a sophomore Elementary/Special Education major from New York. This is her first year participating in The Alembic and she is very happy with how the journal has turned out! She loves to write, and her favorite stories to read are fantasy!
Kristina Spence is a senior Marketing major, Dance minor at Providence College. She has enjoyed her time as the Social Media and Business Coordinator of The Alembic and is glad she got to spend the past three years working with this incredible team.
