A Car Wreck in December

  Audra Womack Allen lives in Tillison Bend with her husband Bobby. She has worked at GSCC since 2007. Audra and Bobby enjoy walking, hiking and biking together and she often can't resist stopping along the way to take pictures. She has always enjoyed taking pictures of friends, family, pets and her surroundings.

Sarah Aultman serves as Director of Veterans Upward Bound at Gadsden State, and is a traveler and photographer. When not at work, she can be found hiking, traveling, or visiting with friends.

 Miley Barron is 11 years old. She enjoys photography, graphic design, online art, and many more things. She loves spending time with family as well as playing games with her dad. They do a lot of fun things together, and she loves her family, too. 

 Wesley R. Bishop is an historian, writer, and editor living in northeast Alabama. He teaches history and public humanities at JAX State University and is the founding and managing editor of The North Meridian Review: A Journal of Culture and Scholarship.  

Hilary Blackwood is a local artist and serves as Media Technician at Gadsden State Community College. She lives in Sardis with her husband and two children. When she is not busy helping everyone at GSCC with her media tech prowess, she can be found enjoying her front porch with her family, handcrafting a project, or generally being her amazing, creative self. 

Tara Blanchard (Spellman) is an aspiring writer. While she tends to seem to be a Jack of all trades and yet a master of none, writing is the one constant she has had since she was young. She is a wife, a mother, and a friend to the special needs community. When she is not feverishly starting a new writing work or neglecting another, she can be found reading, running, spending time with her family, loving on her pride and joy The Dog, or answering her daughter's millionth question. She is actively pursuing her Associates degree and plans to use that to take over the world. 

Hannah Blevins is an aspiring author and student at GSCC. She has loved writing stories and poems since she was old enough to hold a pencil in her hand. Once she finishes her Associate degree, she plans to attend JSU and someday obtain a Masters degree. After that she hopes to teach English and Literature at a college level. 

 Tabitha Bozeman is an English instructor here at Gadsden State, and editor for the Cardinal Arts Journal. She has degrees from JSU, UAB, and is ABD from SHSU. Her favorite part of teaching at GSCC is the opportunities to meet students and advisees and be part of their journeys. She is also a writer and speaker, and her poetry has been published in journals such as the Birmingham Arts Journal, Southern Women Writers Review, Mud Season, and Here Poetry; speaking to local and state groups as a Mental Health advocate is dear to her heart. She lives in Gadsden with her husband, Jason, 4 children, and fur babies. When not studying, grading, or writing, she is taking care of her plant babies, drinking tea, and reading her favorite authors. 

 Trevor Brown works as the international programs specialist in the admissions and records department. A Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, Trevor lived in Armenia and served as a community and youth development specialist, and still speaks Armenian and Russian as a result. Outside of work, Trevor is usually practicing cello, banjo, or guitar, reading a book, or learning about linguistics. Trevor has only recently taken up an interest in poetry and is excited to dive further into learning how to read and craft poetry for fun. 

 Madison Crawford is a freshman at Gadsden State Community College, and plans to get her degree in English. When she isn't in class, she loves to play piano, sing, read her favorite books, and write stories.   

Vanessa Cochran was born near Chattanooga, TN, and currently lives in Steele, AL with my husband and 5-year-old son. She is a non-traditional student at Gadsden State and is pursuing a degree in secondary education. Vanessa hopes to one day work in correctional facilities helping reformed inmates earn their GEDs and creating programs to reduce recidivism. She loves to spend time with family, at her church, volunteering, and crafting.

Casie Drummond has been a student at GSCC since Fall 2020. She married her high school sweetheart, and they have three adult children. Casie loves to go on hikes with her husband, with whom she has a small farm including dogs, cows, goats, chickens, and donkeys. When she isn't busy on her farm, she really enjoys exploring her creative side. 

Jordan Drummond is 28 years old, and  goes by the nickname her parents lovingly gave her: Coral Anne. She is a TBI survivor, and loves to write short stories, children's stories, and novels. 

   Lindsey Frazier is a multifaceted, multi-media artist from Birmingham, Alabama. Working with hair, fabric, or the written word she uses her love of creativity to transform the mundane into works of art. 

Rodrigo Haro has been published in SEEDS: The Literary Arts Journal at NEIU. He has also self-published four books. The latest book is Content Test (novel) (2022). You can find him at conejoview.blogspot.com. He is a creative writing graduate student at Eastern Illinois University.  

Oli Harp, a Gadsden State student, is an avid creator who enjoys theatre, music, video games, and many forms of art.  

Dr. Farrah Hayes is a third-generation educator who began her career as a high school English and Spanish teacher. In 2015, Dr. Hayes joined the GSCC faculty as an English instructor. She has served as the Director of Cardinal Tutoring Centers, Division Chair of Languages and Humanities and is now Dean of Academic Programs & Services. She has earned her Bachelor of Arts in English and Spanish, Master of Science in Secondary Education English Language Arts, Educational Specialist Degree in Secondary Education English Language Arts from Jacksonville State University. She earned her Doctorate of Education in Developmental Education Administration from Sam Houston State University. Dr. Hayes is married to Justin Hayes, an attorney in private practice. They reside in Gadsden, Alabama.

 Julianna Hayes is a current student attending Gadsden State Community College and is pursuing a career in nursing. She hopes that in her spare time from nursing she can write bone-chilling thrillers and horrific novels that leave toes curled and jaws dropped. For those wearing their heart on their sleeve, she has some more emotional pieces she would hope readers could connect with on an emotional and relatable level. Julianna has always dreamed of reaching others and not only by nursing she hopes to accomplish this, but also through her writing. Julianna hopes that through her work she can provide a safe escape for those in need of love, comfort, laughter, adventure, and even mystery. 

 Sebella Henry is a college sophomore at Gadsden State and member of Phi Theta Kappa. She plans to pursue degrees in mathematics and education. She has also discovered a love for literature and writing since starting classes at GSCC. She enjoys writing fiction and creative non-fiction, and has made a mediocre, yet well-rhymed, attempt at poetry. She also has a love for all animals and vintage clothing—which is why she is 85% vegetarian and has worn the same pair of beat-up Converse for 6 years. As she continues working toward her degrees in mathematics and education, she hopes to continue her literary journey, as well. She would also like to note that while writing this author's bio, she has learned that it is really hard to write about yourself. 

  Ashley Hunter is a fiction writer and student editor of the Cardinal Arts Journal. She focuses on crime fiction as well as romance And paranormal romance. When she is not writing or helping with the journal, she can be found at home reading her favorite books, playing with her son, and dabbling in other art forms.  

 Anahi Jimenez-Jose was born in Portland, OR and raised in AL. She began drawing in middle school when she was given my first sketchbook. Since then, art has been my primary source of self-expression. I have used art to express my anger, frustration, and sadness. I have also used art to express love and gratitude. I love to draw because it is entertaining. Creativity was my most notable quality during middle/high school. I believe that art has impacted my studies. I have always enjoyed math, as much as I enjoy shapes and patterns.

I'd like to say that I am from a family of artists. My mother, older sister, and younger sisters draw well. They draw beautifully, but they do not draw as frequently as I do. I am grateful for my supportive sisters. They applaud my progress. My mother has supported me through purchasing art supplies. My mother is proud of my talents, but she prefers that I focus on my academics. It is a bit disappointing, yet I am still grateful. My extended family and friends have also been encouraging. I am grateful for all of them. My supporters are the reason that I continue to create art.

  Cheryl D. Johnson is originally from Anniston, Alabama, and currently lives in  Atlanta, GA, where she is a GSCC distance learning student. She graduated from Anniston High School in 1979 and first attended Gadsden State in the early 1980s. She married a military man and they have two grown children.  Her daughter has a BS in Biology and her son has a degree in Graphic Design. When her husband retired from the military she decided to pursue her dreams. She plans to first graduate from GSCC with an Associates in General Studies, and then move on to a four-year institution and pursue a Bachelors. Poetry is a kind of therapy for her, and while these began as school assignments, she soon realized that writing gave her an outlet for expressing her own experiences. 

 Ryan Kelly is an amateur photographer, actor, and student at GSCC. He is from Gadsden but has moved many times throughout his life. He attempts to make sense of the many aspects of life through his photography.

Poet, librarian, raconteur; Matt Layne has been poking hornet's nests and looking under rocks for lizards and snakes since he was knee-high to a peanut peg. A founding member of the 1990s improvisational poetry collective, The Kevorkian Skull poets, Layne believes in the radical transformative power found in the intersection of poetry and art, and he wants you to write your truth and share it out loud. A multiple Hackney Award winning writer, he has also been recognized by the National Society of Arts and Letters and been featured in Peek Magazine, Birmingham Arts Journal, Steel Toe Review, B-Metro, and elsewhere. Look for him at your local library. 

https://www.mattlaynepoetry.com/about 

 Madison McFarland is a senior a Gadsden City High school and will be attending Jacksonville State University in the fall. She has done choir for seven years and theater for two. She plays piano and guitar. She has recently taken a liking to writing and composing things such as poems and original songs. Her passion in life is music and plans to become a vocal music educator in her future.

 Tina Anderson Pendley lives in Hokes Bluff with her husband David.

Growing up, she worked with ceramics and as an adult, she began collecting pottery. The more she collected, the more she wanted to learn to make it herself. In 2012, she began creating on her own. She knew she had found her place. She creates what she calls "Patchwork pottery," making individual pieces and forming them together to make the final piece, glazed with bright, bold colors. Tina enjoys watching the piece develop and come to life as she takes her ‘out of the box’ ideas and creates them out of clay.

In 2016, she branched into encaustic art. an ancient art form dating back to 100 AD. Tina's work has won many awards, including: 

2014- Purchase Award at Caves Spring Art Show; Second place in Sculpture at Art in the Park, Scottsboro, AL; 2015-First place in: Professional Pottery category, Best in Category, and Best Over-All in the Georgia Area EA Ceramic and Fired Art Show. Her Patchwork pottery was featured in Lookout Alabama Magazine. 2019-Honorable Mention Gadsden State Alumni Art Exhibit. 

Her work is currently available in Maraela Winery in Hokes Bluff, AL; Noccalula Falls Park; and in the Mentone Art Center, Mentone, AL.  

 Kendra Perry is a student at Gadsden Community College getting her Associate Degree. She has yet to decide where to go for a four-year college but plans to pursue a business degree. When she is not at school you can find her at home taking care of her baby cousins or hanging out with her family. She enjoys listening to music and her newfound passion for writing poems and fiction stories. Kendra's main goal is to grow as a woman, to be a good person, and to help people become the best version of themselves.  

Suzanne McEntyre Smith is a local photographer, home health hospice nurse, mom, Nan, gardener, and chicken wrangler. When she is not busy at work, she can be found hanging out with her family and friends, or working in her garden. 

 Kevin L. Willoughby is a teacher, human resources professional, and lifelong learner who is dedicated to encouraging others to achieve success in their journeys. He enjoys time with family, reading about leadership development, connecting and sharing ideas with friends, and traveling to new places. He never leaves home without a book and can usually be found with a cup of sweet tea nearby. 

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