Monica Montelongo Flores
Faculty Advisor 

Monica Montelongo Flores is an assistant professor of Multiethnic American Literature in the department of English at CSU-Stanislaus. She holds a Ph.D. from Texas Tech University and specializes in Chicanx/Latinx Literature and Cultural Studies, American Literature, Film and Media Studies, and the U.S. West. She took over as faculty advisor for Penumbra in Summer of 2019 and since has launched the new publication presence, Penumbraonline.org. Besides research, she enjoys writing poetry and creative essays, as well as book/film/tv reviews. Prior to COVID-19, she enjoyed Texas road trips and travel in the southwestern U.S., particularly New Mexico. She is a wife, mama, and Chicana. For more, please see www.monicamontelongoflores.com 
Jarred White
Co-Editor in Chief, Art Editor, Lead Design and Web Design Editor, and Interview Coordinator

Jarred White is a graduate student at CSU Stanislaus and has been part of the Penumbra team since 2018. His field of study consists of American literature, editing, and book/film reviews. He specializes in the horror genre and how it intersects/interacts with gender, race, social classes, and U.S. culture. He is currently writing a book of short stories, "Heart Songs," which contains tales about an unscrupulous alien scientist, Lovecraftian cults run by active seniors, and a sinister mattress.
Jessica Charest
Co-Editor in Chief, Fiction Editor, Poetry Editor, Lead Submission Design Editor, and Interview Coordinator
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Jessica Charest is the co-Editor in Chief and fiction editor for Penumbra's Fall 2020 edition. She is a graduate of California State University, Stanislaus with an MA in English Literature. Throughout her college years, Jessica served as a peer writing tutor, as well as an editor, expressing her passion for editing and reviewing works. Her passion for reading began at an early age, particularly for fantasy and paranormal novels, as well as stories focused on various mythologies. Her hobbies largely consist of reading, creative writing, listening to kpop, and spending time with her dogs. It is her belief that books offer a variety of experiences to readers, transporting them temporarily into other worlds and lives. She aspires to write and publish her own fantasy novel one day, although she often gets distracted by her "TBR" list. 
Hannah Neeley
Reviews Editor, Assistant Nonfiction Editor, Web Design Editor, and Podcast Producer

Hannah Neeley is the Reviews Editor for Penumbra's Fall 2020 edition. She's a recent graduate of University of Nevada, Reno with a Bachelor's in English Literature and French. She's currently working towards an MA in Rhetoric at CSU Stanislaus with the hopes of one day teaching at a community college or working in publishing. Her academic interests include the English Renaissance and British Literature. In her free time, she is an avid reader of fantasy novels and loves to crochet, listen to new music, and bullet journal.
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Ahmed Fara
Assistant Poetry Editor, Assistant Reviews Editor, and Archives Design Editor

Ahmed Fara is an undergraduate student in the midst of finishing his Bachelor's in English at California State University, Stanislaus. Currently, he serves as the assistant poetry editor and assistant review editor for Penumbraonline.org, and worked on the editing team for the publication's print journal during its spring 2020 cycle. In his free time, he enjoys watching foreign films and writing screenplays that center on the Muslim American experience. 
Mo Gudino
​Hybrid Literature Editor and Interview Coordinator

​Mo Gudino is working toward their PhD at UC Davis where they study medieval and early modern literature. They hold an MA in English literature from Stanislaus State University and specialize in musicology and the intersection of music, gender, and race. They also study the connection of contemporary science fiction and horror cinema to early modern and medieval works and the importance of magic, the occult, and the law in Shakespeare’s plays. They served as Book Review Editor for Penumbra Literary and Art Journal and now act as the Hybrid Literature Editor for Penumbra Online. When not researching or catering to their cat, Mo enjoys playing the piano, getting new tattoos, watching Japanese animation, playing Dungeons & Dragons late into the night, and eating spicy pickles in Disneyland Park.
Bo Locke
Nonfiction Editor, Archives Design Editor, and Podcast Producer
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Bo Locke is a graduate student at CSU Stanislaus pursuing a Master’s Degree in Literature. Currently working for Penumbra as a Non-Fiction editor, he is returning to Penumbra after working on the 2016 issue of the print journal. Professionally, he hopes to instruct at the community college level and continue to bring the tradition of student-centered publication with him wherever he goes. His areas of interest for creative works are primarily prose, both fiction and non-fiction. His favorite genres for fiction are Fantasy and Science fiction, and for non-fiction he enjoys war memorials written by fellow Veterans. He is an avid reader, movie buff, and casual writer. He is a devoted husband and expecting his first child February 2021.
Essence Saunders
Assistant Fiction Editor and Submissions Design Editor
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Essence Saunders studies English and Journalism at California State University Stanislaus. She began working with the Penumbra Literary and Art Journal in the spring of 2019, and currently works with the website Penumbraonline.org primarily with the design this issue. She enjoys creative writing as well as academic analysis and has published articles in the CSU Signal.
Erika Evans
Assistant Art Editor, Web Design Editor, and Lead Archives Design Editor
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Erika Evans is an aspiring creative writer on her way to get her English BS Degree at CSU- Stanislaus. Her hobbies include reading, watching movies, working on old classic cars, and spending time with her animals. She first joined Penumbra in the spring of 2020 and has been dedicated since. She enjoys reading people's submissions and seeing the creative artwork that flows into Penumbra. Although her taste in books or reading material may differ from some of her colleagues, she always tries to convince others to see the beauty in a specific piece of work the way she does.
Monica Hernandez Medina
​Web Design Editor, Submissions Design Editor, and Archives Design Editor

Monica Hernandez Medina is an English major at CSU Stanislaus. She currently serves as a design editor and assisted with the 2020 Spring Penumbra edition. She enjoys watching movies and reading. In her free time, she loves to read and explore new places with her two little kids.
Beatriz Gonzalez Rivera
PR Manager

Beatriz Gonzalez Rivera is a Social Science undergraduate with a minor in English at CSU-Stanislaus. She holds an Associates degree in English and Social Sciences from San Joaquin Delta college. She assisted in the editing and publishing of the Spring 2020 Penumbra edition. She enjoys reading Sophie Kinsella in her free time and going for long hikes in the woods.

Previous Editions' Staff

Summer 2020:
Monica Montelongo Flores
(Faculty Advisor and Poetry Editor)

Jarred White
(Co-Editor in Chief, Design Lead, Art Supervisor, and Reviews Editor)

Jessica Charest
(Co-Editor in Chief and Fiction Editor)

Mo Gudino
(Hybrid Literature Editor and PR Manager)

Ahmed Fara
(Nonfiction Editor)

Beatriz Gonzalez Rivera
(Design Editor)

Essence Saunders
(Design Editor)

Morgan Lincoln 
(Design Editor)

Erika Evans
​(Design Editor)