Spring 2026

I am so delighted to be a part of this project. In an increasingly thoughtless world, receiving these essays is the reminder I need that there are people out there who still engage with literature, chew on words, and interrogate culture. There are people out there who still value craft and humanness over efficiency. I wish we could publish all of our submissions if only as one act of encouragement for young writers, one act against the world losing its patience and our capability to pay attention.

The Paper Shell Review team would like to first share our deepest thanks to Professors Lee Konstantinou and Christina Walter for their continued support of our publication. Not only do they trust students to manage the project from start to finish, by continuing to hold faith in us sixteen years later they display their confidence in undergraduate student work.

This journal would also not be possible without Assistant Director of English Undergraduate Studies, Karen Lewis, and English Academic Advisor, Dr. Melvette Melvin Davis. Karen is our guiding light during the publishing process, and last year she helped us host a 15th anniversary party for the longevity of the journal to be properly celebrated. Dr. Davis is equally as invaluable; she checks in with English department club leaders often to provide support wherever she can.

We want to thank The Center for Literary and Comparative Studies and the Department of English for housing and funding the project, and for allowing our reach to be worldwide. 

Thank you to this year's five contributors for their commitment to literary scholarship and for allowing us to share their incredible work, and thank you, reader, for engaging with us.

Thank you to Sohayl Vafai, the student who founded this journal sixteen years ago.

I would like to express so much appreciation for the Paper Shell Review board members who make the publication possible by helping me organize events and leading our student editors, whose essay evaluations allow us to do the impossible work of narrowing down our incredible pool of submissions. It is truly a team effort and I am so grateful for their hard work.

Finally, the team would like to thank, for the last time, Professor Michael Olmert. Professor Olmert has written the preface for 10 of Paper Shell's 16 editions. He is now retiring, and we will truly miss his irreplaceable contribution to the project. I never had the opportunity to take one of his courses, but from what I have heard he is one of the most eloquent and inspiring professors you will ever meet. He will be missed by our campus community just as much as we will miss him at The Paper Shell Review.

Sincerely, 
Grace Marshall
Editor-in-Chief

Grace Marshall is a junior English Language & Literature major with a concentration on Language, Writing & Rhetoric and a Professional Writing minor. Along with this being her second year as editor-in-chief of The Paper Shell Review, Grace is a yoga instructor for UMD Recreation & Wellness, a writing tutor for the UMD Writing Center, and the English department student representative for ARHU Dean Stephanie Shonekan's Student Advisory Board. This summer she will be working as a nonprofit administration intern for the North Carolina State University Arboretum, and she hopes to work in this field post grad (higher education administration and student program design). In her free time Grace loves to watch mockumentary sitcoms, read, write craft, and play with her two golden retrievers.

Maxine Poe-Jensen is a junior at the University of Maryland, double-majoring in English Literature and Classics. Outside of her time as managing editor for The Paper Shell Review, Maxine loves to read any kind of novel, spend time with friends, and try new workout classes! Inside the classroom, she is interested in classical philology, specifically the Latin language, and Early Modern literature. Maxine intends to continue to graduate school with a concentration in Early Modern literature.

Christian Iannacone is a senior majoring in Mechanical Engineering and minoring in Creative Writing at UMD. He loves to analyze everything from robots and machines to shows and movies. He hopes to work in the robotics industry while still having some time to write and analyze his favorite (and least favorite) pieces of media. Christian also designed the cover for this edition of The Paper Shell Review!

Amanda Montanez is an English major in the Literary and Cultural Studies track and a member of the University of Maryland's chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, an international English honor society. A lifelong reader, she hopes to pursue a career in the publishing industry while also working toward one day getting her own works published. Aside from books, she enjoys live music, binge watching TV, and hanging out with her cat, Nala. This is her second year with The Paper Shell Review, and she looks forward to contributing one final year as a senior.

Rebeca Ventura is a sophomore English major with a double minor in Latin American and Caribbean Studies and Human Development. She hopes to work in the education sector, bridging the education gap and working with lower socioeconomic communities. She loves books, writing, playing bass guitar, and margherita pizza!

Frans Rejsjo is a member of the executive board, a Sophomore double major in English and Accounting, and a lover of Catan! Frans loves reading fantasy, playing board games, and has thoroughly enjoyed his second year as a member of the Paper Shell.

Lucien Turcios is a Freshman majoring in English Language and Literature, following a rhetoric track. This was Lucien's first year with The Paper Shell Review and he intends to continue his involvement with the publication. 

Lisa Gray received her A.A. from Community College of Baltimore County before transferring to University of Maryland where she currently studies as an English major on the Literary and Cultural Studies track. She is also a member of the Jiménez-Porter Writers’ House and works as an intern for the Dickinson Electronic Archives. Lisa lives in Maryland and enjoys playing pool, crocheting, drinking tea, eating pasta, and evening walks. After graduation Lisa intends to pursue an MFA in creative writing, after which she intends to have a career in higher education, publish a collection of poems and short stories, and form the greatest folk-rock band of all time with her partner.

Elizabeth Devlin is a junior English major with a minor in Rhetoric. She works as a writing tutor at the University of Maryland Writing Center and is a member of the school's chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, an international English honor society. This is her second year working on The Paper Shell Review, and she intends to pursue a career in the publishing field.

Dr. Melvette Melvin Davis serves as the Faculty Advisor for PSR. She is also a Lecturer in the Academic and Professional Writing Programs at UMD. Prior to teaching at the university, she owned a publishing company and worked as an editor and publisher for over 10 years. Dr. Davis is a Prince George's County, Maryland native and enjoys Hallmark movies, Crumbl Cookies, and smoothies.