Meet the Toyon Staff!
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Jamilla HashemSpecial Guest Editor
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Abdulaziz AkilaSpecial Guest Editor
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Soph Robson
Graduate Publishing Fellow
Managing Editor Soph Robson (they/them/she) is a first-year graduate student in the Applied English Studies program. They got their undergraduate at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in English, and have worked in high school English classrooms for many years. Their research focus is in how spoken word poetry can be a mode of radical resistance for those who have experienced gender- and power-based violence, allowing survivors to reclaim agency, navigate trauma, and be a form of Transformative Justice. They have written and performed many spoken word poems at shows throughout their time in college. They hope to become a professor and remain a poet-activist in their local community!
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Nathan Rueppel
Assistant Managing Editor
Nathan Rueppel (any pronouns) is an upper division transfer in his junior year and Assistant Managing Editor for Toyon 72. He’s always had a keen interest in writing and now hopes that he can spread that interest further by teaching English. He hopes that he can use his love of literature and writing to make Toyon 72 a fantastic issue that is able to draw people in and spread awareness about the injustices and inequalities that often go underrepresented and misunderstood.
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Scott Nichols
Assistant Managing Editor
Scott Nichols is in his senior year at Cal Poly Humboldt earning an English Degree with a minor in Publishing. Scott was raised as a rural carpenter in the mountains of Pennsylvania, he brings a sense of steadfast perseverance in the face of scarcity or harsh conditions to all his works. He likes fast motorcycles and adventure, his perspective from a harsh background brings a sense of vibrancy to everything he does.
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Nai Gonzalez
Community Liaison
Lead Multilingual & Translation Writing Editor bio to come
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Elliot Hochheiser
Editorial Team Lead: Acquisitions Editor
Lead Critical Analysis Editor Elliot Hochheiser (he/him/his) is a Senior at Cal Poly Humboldt who has two Associates Degrees, one in Human Behavioral Science and another in the Liberal Arts as a graduate of Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo. Pursuing a Bachelors in English, Hochheiser intends on teaching English in foreign countries after graduating from Cal Poly Humboldt in December, 2025. In his free time, Elliot enjoys taking walks, reading, writing and tinkering with electronics. He aspires someday to be a published author and loves the philosophy, biographies, history, sci-fi and fantasy genres. His favorite song is Slippin’ by DMX
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Sarah Marquez
Editorial Team Lead: Authenticity Editor
bio to come
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Luke Mellom
Co-Lead Poetry Editor
Luke Mellom (he/him) is an ongoing student at Cal Poly Humboldt in the English Department and is the Treasurer of the Creative writing club. His writing interests include topics of environmental justice, activism, and poetry as a way of service for other people. He has past experiences working on publications such as starting his high school's first podcast, being head of the entertainment section for the school's online paper, and having a year of study as a journalism student. He hopes that his work on this year’s issue of Toyon will be able to seek out and display thought-provoking, progressive, and genuine poetry.
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Miller Bailey
Lead Fiction/Playwriting Editor
Co-Lead Poetry Editor Miller (she/her), commonly known as Millie, is a third year English major with a minor in Writing at Cal Poly Humboldt. She has previously been published in her high school’s literary magazine (where she also served as an editor), a couple of zines on campus, and scenes in the 24 Hour Play Festival for both of the last two years. After undergrad, Miller plans to be a high school teacher and eventually pursue an MFA in creative writing. While she is not busy with school, Miller enjoys writing, reading, crocheting, spending time outside, involving herself with theatre, and being around friends.
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Alexa Amador
Lead Creative Nonfiction Editor
Alexa Amador (she/her) is the Creative Nonfiction Lead Editor for Toyon 72. She is completing her bachelor’s in Business with a concentration in Entrepreneurship & Management and a minor in Literary Publishing. Passionate about both business and storytelling, Alexa hopes to merge these fields by creating future magazines and articles. Her ultimate goal is to live a quiet life on the Italian coast. Outside of her editorial work, she enjoys reading, running, sketching, and spending time at the beach.
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Ginger Misamore
Lead Environmental Justice Award Editor
Ginger Misamore (she/her) is an Environmental Studies major with a minor in Studio Art, and is working to complete her final year of university. For this year's publishing of Toyon 72, she will be working as the Lead Editor of the Environmental Justice and Art section. Ginger feels as though this portion of Toyon 72 intersects her studies perfectly and she looks forward to highlighting environmental justice issues through art.
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Sean Elmore
Lead Humor & Satire Award Editor
Sean Elmore (He/Him) is the Division Editor for the Humor/Satire award for Toyon 71. He is an English Major with a focus in Education with the hopes to be a High School English Teacher. Sean is a transfer student and currently works locally as a barista and enjoys reading, writing, juggling, and hiking. He also has a fondness for sloths and relates to their ability to survive when they shouldn’t be able to.
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Alexis Blue
Visual Art Editor, Cover Designer
Alexis Blue (she/her) is a senior at Cal Poly Humboldt, pursuing her B.A. degree in Journalism and Mass Communication with a concentration in public relations and a minor in writing. Alexis is the Cover Designer and Visual Art Editor for Toyon 72, interested in media design and advertising, as well as developing her skills as a public relations professional. Alexis is also a collegiate student-athlete at Humboldt, competing on the Cal Poly Humboldt Women’s Soccer Team. In her free time, she enjoys the beach, making coffee, and spending time with friends or her dog named Maui.
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Susana "Ana" Ruvalcaba
Typesetter, Book Designer
Ana Ruvalcaba is a senior at Cal Poly Humboldt in pursuit of her bachelor’s in English and hopes to get her master’s degree in either Research or Experimental Psychology. She strives to explore the individual mind and its functions to ensure a lasting legacy through contributions to culture. Some of these contributions including, but are not limited to, writing novellas, plays, and voice work such as radio, podcasts, and book narration.
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Ocean Edgar
Archivist & Webmaster
Ocean (she, her) is an Anthropology major (socio-cultural focus) with minors in Journalism, Film, and Writing. Ocean transferred to Humboldt from the Bay Area and in her limited time at Cal Poly Humboldt she has taken advantage of as many opportunities as possible, including attending CPH’s Bio-Archaeology field school in Zewelo, Poland, volunteering as a photographer and Archaeology student in the field in North Macedonia, and studying for a semester abroad in Santiago, Chile. She has been on staff as a reporter and photographer for El Leñador, CPH’s bilingual newspaper (where she continues to volunteer), and is an intern at the Cultural Resources Facility. Ocean is passionate about human culture, our past and future “in the family of things”. She is considering international graduate studies in the niche discipline of Visual Anthropology. Her dream is to live somewhere where she can swim in fresh water every day. She is very excited about her role as an archivist for Toyon’s 72nd issue and documenting history in the making!
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Juno Montrose
Social Media Manager
Juno Montrose (they/them) is an English Major and Transfer student at Cal Poly Humboldt. After gaining a quarter of experience of editing for a literary magazine at UC Santa Cruz ( and wrestling with adobe indesign), they are excited to once again contribute to the publication of student works and take on the exciting role as social media manager.
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Marcos HernandezFaculty Advisor
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Department of English | Cal Poly Humboldt
Toyon is printed and published on the present and ancestral homeland of the Wiyot Tribe. Donate to the Wiyot Tribe honor tax. |
