Kelci Dean

Secretary

Kelci Dean is an English literature graduate from DePaul University who served as an intern at the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame prior to joining the Associate's Board. She’s worked with other non-profit Chicago literacy organizations such as MAKE Literary Productions and Propeller Collective.

Brian Clancy

Brian Clancy is an MA student at DePaul University studying Writing and Publishing. He also earned his BA at DePaul where he studied Creative Writing and Philosophy. He currently interns as an English TA at Truman College and a Marketing Associate at HDI Global Insurance Company. In his spare time, he likes to write and read horror fiction and poetry, and play his guitar.

Reuben Diaz

Reuben Diaz is an engineer and essayist. After studying at DePaul and the University of Chicago, he consulted for startups in Illinois, Colorado, and Australia. He currently develops cybersecurity tools at Google’s Fulton Market office. When he’s not writing code, Reuben writes essays and narrative nonfiction exploring the intersections of bureaucracy, technology, and the interpersonal.

Kelley Engelbrecht

Kelley Engelbrecht, a recent MFA graduate in creative nonfiction from Columbia College Chicago, writes essays and prose that interrogates womanhood and traditional gender roles. With over ten years of experience in advertising and branding, she also helps companies articulate their unique brand narratives and values. Kelley lives in Chicago with her husband, daughter and cat. 

Adrian Hernandez

Adrian Hernandez graduated Summa Cum Laude from DePaul University in 2023 with a degree in English and a concentration in Literary Studies. During his final year in DePaul, he interned at the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame and then later joined the Associate Board not long after graduating. He previously worked at a high school for a nonprofit, helping junior students learn and research their best fit colleges and now works at a different nonprofit, where he travels to various colleges as an advisor to help students graduate. During his free time he enjoys going to concerts, playing guitar, watching movies, and of course, reading and writing. 

Anna Hyslop

Anna Hyslop is a published author and aspiring screenwriter. She graduated summa cum laude from DePaul University, majoring in Creative Writing. Building upon her internship experience, she joined the associate board of the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame. At the 2023 Fuller Award Ceremony, Anna adapted and directed two short scenes from Harriette Gillem Robinet's acclaimed works. In her spare time, she enjoys talking movies, television, music, and, of course, books! 

Eric Johnson

Eric Johnson is a poet who lives and works in Chicago. He is currently finishing his MFA in Poetry at Northwestern University, where he's been focusing on ecopoetics and exploring the environment through form. When not reading or writing, he can be found skateboarding, painting, and tending to overgrown plants.

Anna Hernandez Jung

Anna Hernandez Jung is an emerging, bi-racial poet whose current work explores motherhood, marriage & the matriarchal line of her Mexican ancestry. A poet & educator, Hernandez Jung serves as an associate editor at RHINO magazine & a teaching artist with Hive Center for the Book Arts. She is a recent graduate of New York University’s MFA program & is currently working on her first poetry collection, Motherhood & Other Myths. Hernandez Jung is an Army veteran & lives in the Edgewater neighborhood of Chicago with her husband, four children, two cats, and one absolutely amazing dog.

Clayton Lovell

Clayton Lovell graduated in 2023 from the University of Chicago with a BA in English Literature and is pursuing a career in foreign affairs. He writes short stories, poetry, and is a dedicated diarist. Beyond reading and writing, he likes to play basketball and to learn languages.

Allison Manley

Allison writes book reviews and short stories. She graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor’s in English, with a concentration in Creative Writing.

She is currently an MFA Candidate at Queens University of Charlotte and is slated to graduate May 2022; she previously worked at Northwestern University and the University of Chicago. In addition to reading, she likes opera, beer, movies, dogs, and Chicago’s rich live lit scene.

Ellie Martin

Ellie Martin is an English Educator in Chicago Public Schools who graduated cum laude with her BA in English at the University of Central Arkansas and her M.Ed. in Educational Equity at the University of Arkansas. Her focus remains on uplifting the voices of young writers, especially those of under-represented groups. She previously served as the Social Media Coordinator for the CLHOF and continues her work with the organization on the Associate Board. She spends her free time doing organizing and advocacy work, reading, caring for her handicapped cats, and spending time with her partner.

Jasminum McMullen

Jasminum McMullen (she/her) is a poet, essayist, and fiction writer with a background in DIY publishing. She is an adjunct instructor at Dominican University, teaching Critical Reading, Writing, and Speaking and Intro to Creative Writing. The most influential book in her writing practice is Reality Hunger by David Shields. Her last three streams were Matlock (with Kathy Bates), Grotesquerie, and Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. She holds an MFA in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts.

Donna Montgomery

Donna Montgomery, a resident of Chicago’s South Side, decided to pursue her dream of becoming an entrepreneur at 50. Inspired by the advice and persistence of her then 28-year-old daughter, Tiffany, Donna embraced her true purpose, turning passion and skills into opportunity. She later established Golden Lady Writing Solutions LLC as the Managing Writer and Editor. In addition to being on the Associate Board of the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame, Donna is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists (Chicago and national chapters), the Hurston Hughes Writers Ministry of Trinity United Church of Christ, and the American Writers Museum. In her spare time, Donna volunteers with several community-based organizations. She also has a special place in her heart for the Arts, which is the focus of her blog, and regularly attends diverse performances around town. She sees writing as a powerful tool for positive change.

Cristian Stoicescu

Cristian D. Stoicescu is originally from Romania. He loved reading as a child, but once he changed countries and his language, he fell for the charms of television. Now as an adult, Dragos is a financial advisor; as such he likes to help people at a professional and personal level. Now grateful to be in a position to help causes dear to him, Dragos volunteered at the most recent Printers Row Lit Fest. His interactions with the literary community rekindled his love for books and desire to learn more about the literary process.