Publisher — Donna Brown, Director of Undergraduate Research
Welcome to Inquiry ‘09 >>

Senior Editors — Brigid C. Casellini (left) and Jennifer Lee (right)

Assistant Editors — Matthew Kingston and Travis Taylor

Matthew Kingston is no stranger to travel. His academic studies have taken him around the world from his hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Seattle, Rome, London, Maine, and now Durham. He earned bachelor’s degrees in business administration and English at the University of Washington in Seattle, and a master’s degree in English at the University of Maine. Now a graduate student at the University of New Hampshire, Matt is working toward a master’s of fine arts in creative writing with a concentration in fiction. Though he describes writing as his “one true love,” he also is fascinated by painting, sculpture, and music. A self–described coffee addict, Matt hopes to become a writer and professor sometime in the next five years. If that’s not possible, however, he will settle for pursuing a doctorate in literature while working toward that ultimate goal.

A native of Kingsley, Michigan, Travis Taylor came to the University of New Hampshire to pursue a master’s of fine arts in creative writing, focusing on fiction. He completed his undergraduate degree in fiction and philosophy at Grand Valley State University in southern Michigan. Travis became an assistant editor for Inquiry in the fall of 2008 because he likes working with both writers and the editors that work with writers in developing a piece of writing. When he’s not reading fiction by authors such as William Faulkner, Charles Baxter and Stephen King, Travis enjoys running, kayaking and canoeing. He also enjoys attending plays and musicals and watching the Chicago Bears. In the coming years, Travis plans to finish his master’s degree along with his novel, for which he hopes to find a publisher, in addition to starting a family with his wife of five years.

A junior Honors Program student and second-year Inquiry editor, Kristin Brodeur satisfies her broad range of intellectual interests with a diverse academic program: a major in English with minors in Spanish and psychology. Her personal interests are quite broad as well; she is one of the Red Sox’ biggest fans, and she hopes to participate this coming summer in the University of New Hampshire’s Cambridge program in England. One of many in her family to attend UNH, she joined Inquiry's editorial staff with the hope that she would be able to write, read, and edit as much as possible. “There’s just something about putting a pen to paper and making something interesting where there was nothing before,” she says. Like J.K. Rowling, one of many authors who intrigue her, Kristin finds the lives of teenagers a particularly fascinating subject to fictionalize; she one day plans to publish novels that deal with that topic. A Nashua, New Hampshire native, Kristin envisions herself staying in New England and toys with the idea of moving to Boston after graduation to join the city’s revered literary community.

With writing a book as one of her major goals, it is no wonder that Honors Program student Danielle Curtis joined the Inquiry editorial staff to learn about the editing process. A sophomore journalism major from Manchester, New Hampshire, Danielle decided to attend the University of New Hampshire because of its vast number of writing programs; she was passionate about journalism even before she arrived here. Besides writing, Danielle also is involved in intramural sports on campus, and especially enjoys playing lacrosse and softball. While she is not sure where life will take her after college, she knows that taking a Mediterranean Sea cruise is definitely on the list, along with utilizing her major and becoming a journalist.

Kyle Flynn, of Nashua, New Hampshire, is a junior philosophy major and French/economics minor in his first year at Inquiry. Currently residing in Dover, Kyle is an Honors Program student who chose to attend the University of New Hampshire after correspondence with a UNH philosophy professor while still in high school. He adds that getting a scholarship made the choice easy. Kyle joined Inquiry because he enjoys writing and wanted the experience of being on the editorial board. Interested in philosophy as well as economics, Kyle is the only philosophy major working with the Atkins Investment Group as an economic analyst. With that experience he hopes to attend graduate school to further his study of economics. Kyle spends his free time reading, skiing, and playing soccer.

As a dancer, Kristina Griffin is no stranger to balance, grace, and determination. For the last four years as a student at the University of New Hampshire, the Merrimack, New Hampshire native has employed those very skills to great success. A recipient of multiple awards and scholarships, including the Parent’s Association Endowment Scholarship and the Modern Greek Award, the health management and policy major continues to embody symmetry in her daily life, gracefully balancing her studies, a busy work schedule, and community service. Kristina, who is also an Honors Program student, returns to Inquiry as a third–year editor who finds the research articles, and the people who write them, to be truly fascinating. She is passionate about Russian literature, enjoys outdoor activities such as kayaking and camping, and continues to be a member of the co–ed community service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega.

For the truly discerning cheese connoisseur, location and production technique affect preferences. Hence Kristin Lamy’s favorite cheese, Abbey d’Belloc, made from the milk of French sheep raised by the monks of Notre Dame. The junior English journalism major from Chester, New Hampshire, first tasted exceptional cheese when she was four years old. “It was Berkswell, and it was crumbly,” she says. And since, she’s traveled with her parents to partake in the cheese eating portion of their wine tasting excursions. She joined Inquiry because she “wanted to assist these passionate and excited writers in telling their stories in the most impacting, effective, and beautiful way possible.” Though her career plans are uncertain, an advanced degree is in Kristin’s future, and she knows that she wants to explore the world. “It seems that I forget sometimes just how beautiful and massively fascinating our planet is and I hope to spend most of my life learning everything I can from it,” she says.

As a newly declared nursing major with a minor in psychology, junior Sarah Matrumalo welcomes the chance to see a piece of writing progress through the editing process. In fact, her desire to edit and write, and the lack of this opportunity in her major, brought her back to Inquiry for a second year as a student editor. From Derry, New Hampshire, Sarah is a member of the Honors Program and sits on the Honors Advisory Board. While Sarah is not entirely sure what she wants to do when she graduates, she has plenty of ideas. From getting a job as a nurse to possibly traveling to Italy, Sarah has a variety of plans for her future. A few things Sarah is certain about: her love of the outdoors, of hanging out with friends, and of baking.

A junior philosophy major from Stratford, Connecticut, Alex Miklos joined the Inquiry editorial board last year because he thought it would be a good opportunity to support undergraduate research at the University of New Hampshire, a school he chose because it was the perfect size and just far enough away from home. When Alex isn’t working at Wildcatessen, he’s reading, watching Darren Aronofsky movies, or playing sports. A perennial problem for philosophy majors like Alex is convincing the world that their degree is useful. Alex says that his five–year plan includes answering the question, “What do you do with a philosophy degree?”

In her youth, Aniela Pietrasz envisioned a career in art. After a disappointing high school art class, however, she decided to focus her energy on numbers. Now a mathematics and economics major, Aniela includes game theory, the analysis of human decisions, and the concept of a rational human being in her list of interests. She also maintains her passion for art, especially the colors and ornate, elaborate costuming of Indian art. A second–year Inquiry editor and Honors Program student from nearby Hampstead, New Hampshire, Aniela will graduate in 2010. She plans to study either economics or mathematics in graduate school.