Gianelly (Gia) Alaya Rodriguez
Gianelly (Gia) Ayala-Rodriguez is an English Rhetoric and Writing major with minors in Visual Arts and Creative Writing. She is serving on riverrun’s Marketing Committee and is also the leader of the Visual Arts Committee. She is a senior graduating May 2026 who hopes to pursue a career in editing, art and novel writing; currently working on her first fantasy novel alongside original illustrations, hoping to bring pride to her motherland: Puerto Rico. In her free time, she enjoys reading, arts and crafts, video games and putting her vast, creative mind to use 💖
Annie Bent
Annie Bent (she/her) is a junior studying Creative and Rhetoric Writing, serving on the Poetry and Radio Committee. Annie’s biggest supporters are her family, friends, and cat, Mulligan!
Shannon Brittain
Shannon Brittain is a junior double major in English and TCID (Technical Computer Information Design), serving on the Poetry and Design Committees. Outside of academia, Shannon enjoys animating and illustration as a freelance artist.
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Marissa Darnell
Marissa Darnell (She/Her) is an English Rhetoric and Writing major with a minor in marketing. She serves on the Visual Arts and Website Committees. Outside of school, she is out trying new places to eat and experimenting with many different kinds of craft projects.
Theo Engle
Theo Engle (he/him) is a senior at UCCS and will graduate in May 2026 with a B.A. in English Rhetoric and Writing. He is serving on the Website and Creative Nonfiction Committees for riverrun. Outside of class, Theo enjoys learning new hobbies and listening to audio books.
Jada Forte
Jada Forte is a junior majoring in Secondary Education in English with a minor in French. She serves on the Poetry Committee and the Marketing Committee and enjoys discovering new worlds through reading and experimenting with new hobbies.
Pronouns: she/her
Elyssa Gleeson
Elyssa Gleeson (she/her) is a senior earning her B.S. in Business Marketing with minors in UX Research and Design and Rhetoric and Writing. She supports the Radio and Visual Arts Committees. Outside the classroom, she can be found mountain biking, planning her next trip, or catching a film at the theater.
Jessa Hamel
Jessa Hamel is a second-semester junior majoring in English Writing and Rhetoric, serving on the Fiction and Design Committees. She hopes to work in the publishing world as an editor after graduating and moving to New York. Outside of scholarly pursuits, she enjoys artistic pastimes like drawing and crocheting.
River Hampton
River is a non-traditional junior student majoring in English Literature and minoring in WEST, serving on the Fiction and Website Committees. Outside of school, River is a single parent, foster cat parent, and freelance ghostwriter.
Pronouns: any (he/she/they/dude/hey you)
Bethany Odegard
Bethany Odegard (She/Her) is a senior at UCCS as an English Literature Major with a Creative Writing Minor. Bethany serves on the Marketing Committee for riverrun, as well as the Fiction Selection Committee. When she isn’t writing, Bethany loves to hike, sketch, play guitar, and spend time with her bird Bean, who is very enthusiastic about peanut butter. She hopes to one day write novels professionally, and help others publish their own works.
Zachary Peebles
Zachary Peebles (He/Him) is a senior studying English Rhetoric and Education, assisting on the Creative Fiction Committee and helping manage the riverrun Radio show. Outside of class, he can be found usually playing a game of some kind with his friends, writing, or going on another adventure with his fiancé. He hopes to secure a job teaching and wishes to pursue a better world of education.
Kaliyah Rau
Kaliyah Rau (she/her) is a Secondary English Education major, with an associate degree in Theater Arts. She is serving on the Design and Fiction Committees. When not in school, she is either found at work or at home devouring every book she can get her hands on!
Kiley Ross
Kiley is a sophomore majoring in English – Rhetoric and Writing. She is working on the Website Committee and the Nonfiction Committee. Kiley enjoys reading and watching anything that tugs at the heartstrings, writing (her first novel), and dancing.
Rhianna Smith-Burns
Rhianna Smith-Burns (she/her) is a junior double majoring in English and communications with a minor in creative writing. She serves on the Design and Fiction Committees. When not working or at school, Rhianna likes to spend time with her siblings and cat!
Ryla Stark
Ryla Stark is Computer Science major, working on the Marketing and Poetry Committees. When Ryla is not in class, she enjoys working on cars and attending car meets.
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Rin Westbay
Rin Westbay (She/They) is an English Rhetoric and Writing major with minors in French and Linguistics. She is currently serving on riverrun‘s Design and Fiction Committee. They are a Senior graduating Spring of 2026 and hope to pursue a career in translating and editing books. In her free time she loves reading, traveling, collecting trinkets, and playing D&D. Most importantly, they love working their brain and learning new things.
Natalie Burton
Natalie Burton studies English Literature at UCCS and will be graduating in May of 2026. She serves on the Website Committee and Nonfiction Selection Committee for riverrun. In her spare time, Natalie loves to cook for her family and hike in the beautiful nature of Colorado and Oregon.
Pronouns: (she/her/hers)
Ravneskalle Crozier
Ravneskalle Sigurd Lì Crozier (he/him) is a dual major in English and History with a minor in Philosophy. He serves on riverrun’s Visual Arts and Marketing Committees.
Outside of his academic pursuits, he is an ordained Goði and Chieftain within an Ásatrú Heathen tribe, a practitioner and instructor of five-element–style Kung Fu, a single father, an author, and a musician.
His interests lie at the intersection of literature, history, linguistics, the occult, visual expression, and embodied tradition.
Isaac Dumas
Isaac Dumas (he/him) is an English major with an emphasis on Rhetoric and Writing. He serves on riverrun’s Nonfiction and Marketing Committees.
Sophia Kustar — Managing Editor
Sophia Kustar (they/them) has been involved with riverrun for every single one of their four years in college, including as a published poet, a student in the ENGL 3170 class, and, now, a student employee for the journal. While attending UCCS as a senior studying English literature with minors in creative writing and philosophy, they support the journal as its Editorial Manager. They hope to continue pursuing their passions in writing and editing with a career in the publishing industry after graduating.
Pronouns: they/them.
Tanner Bertram — Outreach Coordinator
Tanner Bertram (he/him) is a senior this year, majoring in English Rhetoric and minoring in Pre-Law. He works as the Outreach Manager for riverrun, working with the committees and campus together to increase visibility for riverrun. He enjoys playing the guitar, reading and writing, playing board games, and hiking whenever he can.
Dr. Kirsten Ortega — Faculty Advisor
Dr. Ortega is Associate Professor of English and Faculty Advisor of riverrun Literary & Arts Journal. She teaches courses in contemporary poetry studies, African American literature, and contemporary American literature in addition to ENGL3170, in which riverrun is published.
riverrun 