2010-2011 Officers
Justin Bauserman, President
Justin Bauserman is working on the second half of a PhD in Literature, which includes studying for comps, proposing a topic, and dissertating. While bouncing around the state, he has taught in two different environments. While working on his MA at Indiana State University, he was both a TA and adjunct faculty member, teaching first-semester and advanced composition classes. After teaching composition at Ivy Tech for a year, he decided to push towards a broader career as a professor. Justin has been involved with Practical Criticism Midwest, has presented at IRA conferences, and recently presented at his first national conference (Pop Culture Association) in April 2010. He looks forward to more actively delving into the academic community this year by both presenting and publishing his work. His scholarly work focuses on deconstructive implications, postmodern literature, cultural analysis, identity phenomenologies, and studies in historiographic metafiction. This year, he hopes to more effectively turn academic thinking into academic writing. Justin enjoys living in Fishers with his wife Stefanie and his .5 children, a husky named Franky.
Asher John, Vice President
Asher John is a doctoral student in Linguistics. His primary research focus is on Punjabi. He loves to read and travel. Pakistani society and politics intrigue him and he keeps a close watch on socio-political discourse in Pakistan and South Asia. He loves sports and follows international cricket regularly.
Molly Foland, Secretary
Molly Foland is a second year MA student in Literature from Kokomo, Indiana. She’s unsure of her thesis topic, but hopes this will be the semester (or year) that she finds it. Molly is excited about teaching Comm 210 this year. So if you can’t find her in RB, try the Letterman building. In her former life as an undergraduate attending Indiana University at Kokomo, Molly held the position of Secretary for the campus literary club, The Dead Poets Society. After working for a satellite college in a maximum security level correctional facility teaching lit courses, she decided to pursue a graduate education to open up her teaching and research options. Her husband agreed, so they loaded up the car and moved to Muncie. BSU, that is. Swimming pools and literary stars! She hasn’t found any swimming pools yet, but lots of literary stars. In fact, her favorite part of Ball State is working with the phenomenal faculty and her astounding cohorts.Molly, when not studying or teaching, enjoys gaming of all types, knitting and crocheting, and talking lit with friends.
Matthew Balk, Treasurer
Matt Balk is a first year doctoral student in Rhetoric and Composition from West Union, Iowa. Having graduated from his undergraduate Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, he decided to leave the cornfields of Iowa…and ended up in the cornfields of Indiana. He just recently graduated from Ball State University with a M.A. in Creative Writing, and was persuaded to the “dark side” of English with the promise of cookies. Matt recently presented at his first conference, the Future of English Studies Conference in Springfield, Illinois, and enjoyed it so much he wants to do it more. When not teaching ENG 103, reading/writing for classes, and grading, he likes to play Risk, chess, and Euchre.
Aaron Nicely, Community Outreach Coordinator
Aaron Nicely is a second year Masters student in Creative Writing from Cincinnati, Ohio, focusing his thesis on creative non-fiction, and contemplating a Ph.D. track in literature. He has held positions as the Vice President of Phi Delta Theta - Indiana Beta chapter - and several others along the way. After graduating from Wabash College with a degree in English he sold copiers to support his wife Katey while she earned her Masters degree in Health Communications. Now she is supporting him. One aspect of life they both miss dearly, and try to cultivate everywhere they go, is the strong sense of family they grew up with. As GSAB social chair Aaron hopes to develop a sense of family and community amongst the English graduate students, forging life long personal and professional friendships. Aaron, when not planning social events, reading, or writing, is learning to teach, and will begin with a full assignment in the Spring semester.
Jill Emerick, Commuter/Non-Assistantship Student Liaison
Jill Emerick is a second-year creative writing student who continues to teach part-time at Harrison College in Anderson. Her husband and three dogs have accepted her busy schedule, though her garden suffered from a late-summer attack of weeds. The gourds, on the other hand, have risen to great heights and have been fruitful and multiplied--as they ought.
Jeff Paschke-Johannes, Webmaster
Jeff Paschke-Johannes is a doctoral student in Rhetoric/Composition and is currently studying for his comprehensive exams and preparing for his dissertation proposal, all the while teaching English 103 and 104 as a graduate teaching assistant. He earned his Master's degree in English at Iowa State University, where he studied creative writing. His academic interests include rhetorical history, race and whiteness studies in rhetoric, and writing in digital environments. He lives in Yorktown with his brilliant and beautiful wife, Tracy, a pastor at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Muncie, and his two wonderful kids, Shahra, age 5, and Samuel, age 2.
