Department: Issue 32


Anthony J Brown, Creative Director and Assistant Production Editor
[caption id="attachment_790" align="alignleft" width="200"]Anthony J Brown, Creative Director and Assistant Production Editor Anthony J Brown, Creative Director, Poetry Reader, and Assistant Production Editor[/caption] Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society Member Anthony J. Brown is a Radio–Television major, Creative Writing minor at the University of Central Florida. He enjoys analog and digital photography, musical curation, graphic design, poetry, and historical artifacts. When not creating in some form, he can be found spending time with family, playing sports and video games, or researching music, history, and watching television. His favorite shows are The Cosby Show, Martin, The Office, and 30 Rock. He can often be heard holding friendly debates with his loved one’s; but if you ask them, it’s always a lost cause. ID: Anthony stands in a suburban yard. He wears an orange Miami Dolphins jersey—number 91—over a white t-shirt. He has short dark brown hair, dark brown eyes, and deep brown skin.

Anthony J. Brown


Marisa Lafontaine, Copy Editor, Assistant Promotion/Circulation Editor, and Fiction Reader
[caption id="attachment_803" align="alignleft" width="200"]Marisa Lafontaine, Copy Editor, Assistant Promotion/Circulation Editor, and Fiction Reader Marisa Lafontaine, Copy Editor, Assistant Promotion/Circulation Editor, and Fiction Reader[/caption] Marisa Lafontaine is a Junior at UCF, majoring in Technical Communications, with an Editing and Publishing Certificate. When she’s not working or reading, she spends her time listening to the same songs over and over again and trying to find the best peanut butter smoothie. Her favorite books are any books that make her cry, and her favorite movies are any movies that make her laugh so hard that she starts to cry. Marisa is currently working as a Copy Editor at The Cypress Dome Magazine. ID: Marisa smiles and stands with her hand on her hip in front of a sign. She wears a green and gray striped shirt. She has long dark brown hair, dark brown eyes, and dark golden brown skin.

Marisa Lafontaine


Lindsey Zakula, Assistant Production Editor and Assistant Fiction Editor
[caption id="attachment_802" align="alignleft" width="200"]Lindsey Zakula, Assistant Production Editor and Assistant Fiction Editor Lindsey Zakula, Assistant Production Editor and Assistant Fiction Editor[/caption] Lindsey Zakula is a senior majoring in English Literature, with a minor in Linguistics. She loves words and was happy to learn of The Cypress Dome literary magazine and to join the team as an Assistant Fiction and Production Editor. Her journey with the magazine taught her about teamwork, communication, and how to put plans into action. On top of her love of books and editing, Lindsey loves art; as a photographer and a painter, she sees the world through a different eye. After graduation, she plans to enter the publishing industry while maintaining her photography business at the same time. Lindsey on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ambrosia-Photography-106637857989921 ID: Lindsey stands in front of tropical foliage. She wears a leopard print top and long gold earrings. Her medium brown hair is pulled back and she has a medium-light complexion.

Lindsey Zakula



Copy Editor, Fiction Amara Keizer-Quintanilla, Reader, and Art Screener
[caption id="attachment_789" align="alignleft" width="200"]Copy Editor, Fiction Amara Keizer-Quintanilla, Reader, and Art Screener Copy Editor, Fiction Amara Keizer-Quintanilla, Reader, and Art Screener[/caption] Amara Keizer-Quintanilla is a junior majoring in Creative Writing, with a minor in Writing and Rhetoric and a certificate in Editing and Publishing. She's thrilled to be a fiction editor for The Cypress Dome, since her favorite thing is helping writers make their stories the best they can be. Currently a tutor at UCF's writing center, she hopes to go on to become a professional editor in the future. Since she's an avid fan of movies from the 40s and 50s, and TV shows from the 70s, she dreams to work with books or magazines pertaining to those. Social Media: @amaralizabeth on Instagram, @amaralizabeth on twitter ID: Amara smiles in front of tan blinds. She wears a black t-shirt, a necklace, and glasses. Her hair is short and dark brown with pink tips. She has brown eyes and pale skin with rosy cheeks.

Amara Keizer-Quintanilla


Candela Rivero, Managing Editor, Poetry Reader, and Cypress Dome Society Vice President
[caption id="attachment_794" align="alignleft" width="200"]Candela Rivero, Managing Editor, Poetry Reader, and Cypress Dome Society Vice President Candela Rivero, Managing Editor, Poetry Reader, and Cypress Dome Society Vice President[/caption] Candela Rivero is a senior majoring in Creative Writing, with a minor in Writing and Rhetoric, and a certificate in Editing and Publishing. She first heard about The Cypress Dome during her freshmen year in one of her English classes. Since then, she knew she wanted to be part of the Editorial Staff. After graduation, she will go to graduate school and become an editor for a publishing house. Even though she self-published a poetry collection, she hopes to one day publish through her dream publishing house. Social Media: IG: @cande.rivero IG poetry account: @c.r.words ID: Candela sits in front of a blurred white background. She wears a navy blue top and two necklaces. She has a heart tattoo on her left shoulder. Candela has long straight brown hair, brown eyes, and light skin.

Candela Rivero


Christelle Jean Denis, Assistant Promotion/Circulation Editor and Art Screener
[caption id="attachment_796" align="alignleft" width="200"]Christelle Jean Denis, Assistant Promotion/Circulation Editor and Art Screener Christelle Jean Denis, Assistant Promotion/Circulation Editor and Art Screener[/caption] Christelle Jean Denis is a senior majoring in Creative Writing with a minor in Early Childhood Education. She combined her passions of writing and working with young children into her degree, and this has made for transformative college experience. After graduation, Christelle plans to get into the children's book publishing industry so she can continue working with what she loves. ID: Christelle smiles and poses in front of a gray background. She wears a blue top and pearl earrings. She has dark brown hair pulled back into a bun, dark brown eyes, and warm brown skin.

Christelle Jean Denis



LeAnn Hennis, Art Director
[caption id="attachment_801" align="alignleft" width="200"]LeAnn Hennis, Art Director LeAnn Hennis, Art Director and Fiction Reader[/caption] LeAnn Hennis is a senior Integrative Studies major at the University of Central Florida. She is the art director for The Cypress Dome. Outside of school, she is the librarian and art teacher at a local elementary school and has an interest in contemporary writing. ID: LeAnn sits before a white background. Her mouth is open and a black heart is drawn digitally over each cheek. She has light pastel pink hair and pale skin with rosy cheeks.

LeAnn Hennis


Gustavo Padron, Website Manager, Copy Editor, and Assistant Fiction Editor
[caption id="attachment_798" align="alignleft" width="200"]Gustavo Padron, Website Manager, Copy Editor, and Assistant Fiction Editor Gustavo Padron, Website Manager, Copy Editor, and Assistant Fiction Editor[/caption] Gustavo Padron is a Puerto Rican student working towards an English B.A. with a focus in Creative Writing at the University of Central Florida. He often writes fiction, mostly dark fantasy, and horror, and dabbles in non-fiction. He is passionate about the impact of storytelling in society and their philosophical implications. When he isn’t writing, he spends time playing video games with compelling lore and chess. ID: Gus sits on a green bench in front of a window. He looks to his right. He has short dark brown hair, a short and styled beard, dark brown eyes and light brown skin. He wears a dark green jacket over a black shirt.

Gustavo Padron


Samantha Sawyer, Script Editor, Art Screener, Fiction Reader, and Copy Editor
[caption id="attachment_804" align="alignleft" width="200"]Samantha Sawyer, Script Editor, Art Screener, Fiction Reader, and Copy Editor Samantha Sawyer, Script Editor, Art Screener, Fiction Reader, and Copy Editor[/caption] Samantha Sawyer is a senior at UCF, graduating a year early this spring 2021. She will be earning her bachelor’s degree in English - Creative Writing with an Editing and Publishing Certificate. She is incredibly grateful to be the first Script Editor for the Cypress Dome Magazine and she hopes to set a precedent for future script editors. After she graduates, Samantha plans on slowly working her way up to becoming a screenwriter herself. Besides writing, she loves watching horror movies and spending time with her family in Naples, FL. Find Samantha on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_samsawyer ID: Samantha smiles in front of a bookshelf against a green wall. She wears a black shirt, and has long wavy brown hair and brown eyes. Her skin is light and rosy.

Samantha Sawyer



Jade Beth Jemison, Assistant Creative Director and Assistant Creative Nonfiction Editor
[caption id="attachment_799" align="alignleft" width="200"]Jade Beth Jemison, Assistant Creative Director and Assistant Creative Nonfiction Editor Jade Beth Jemison, Assistant Creative Director and Assistant Creative Nonfiction Editor[/caption] Jade Beth Jemison is a senior at UCF studying creative nonfiction writing. She's published several essays and was a mentee in the Pitch Wars Class of 2020. Jemison writes in several fiction genres as well; speculative fiction, romance, paranormal, and literary fiction. She will be attending graduate school at USF with plans to one day be a professor. ID: Jade smiles in front of a gray background. She wears a black shirt and a pink wrap around her dark brown hair. She has dark brown eyes and golden brown skin.

Jade Beth Jemison


Zohra Qazi, Production Editor adn Poetry Reader
[caption id="attachment_806" align="alignleft" width="200"]Zohra Qazi, Production Editor adn Poetry Reader Zohra Qazi, Production Editor and Poetry Reader[/caption] Zohra Qazi is an English Literature major at the University of Central Florida with minors in Cinema Studies and Middle Eastern Studies. They are the current Production Editor for The Cypress Dome where they work with the Production team to create the final layout and design for the magazine. Their main interests lie in avant-garde and experimental poetry, prose, and film. They are also the Editor in Chief for Sparks Magazine. When not writing or reading, they can be found playing Fire Emblem or Animal Crossing or re-watching Chungking Express for the millionth time. ID: Zohra smiles behind a black mask and stands in front of a white wall. She has brown eyes and long curly brown hair and light brown skin. She wears a multicolored jacket over a black turtleneck.

Zohra Qazi


Brandon Bradley, Promotions/Circulations Director, Creative Nonfiction and Scripts Reader, and Cypress Dome Society Treasurer
[caption id="attachment_792" align="alignleft" width="200"]Brandon Bradley, Promotions/Circulations Director, Creative Nonfiction and Scripts Reader, and Cypress Dome Society Treasurer Brandon Bradley, Issue 32 Promotions/Circulations Director, Creative Nonfiction and Scripts Reader, and Cypress Dome Society Treasurer[/caption] Brandon Bradley is a senior Creative Writing student and aspiring educator and young adult author born and raised in Central Florida. He encountered The Cypress Dome unintentionally but is happy to have found a home as a Promotions/Circulations Direction, treasurer, and nonfiction and script reader with the magazine. After graduation, Brandon plans to continue studying writing in the fall as a fiction Creative Writing MFA student. When Brandon isn’t writing, he enjoys reruns of The Parker’s or spending time with his niece and nephews. Brandon's Links: https://readthebword.com; https://www.instagram.com/branbradley/; https://twitter.com/branbradley ID: Brandon smiles and stands against a dark yellow stucco wall. He wears a green shirt with abstract art. His hair is in short locs and is dark brown, and he has a short-styled beard. He has dark brown eyes and deep brown skin.

Brandon Bradley



Katie Valenta, Fiction Reader and Copy Editor
[caption id="attachment_800" align="alignleft" width="200"]Katie Valenta, Fiction Reader and Copy Editor Katie Valenta, Fiction Reader and Copy Editor[/caption] Katie Valenta is a senior majoring in English—Creative Writing and in Writing and Rhetoric and minoring in Psychology. She is so grateful that her Creative Writing degree required her to intern with some publication, and that she was able to do that at Cypress Dome. It has given her a great community and wonderful experiences that she can carry into her future career. After graduating in just over a month and a half *ah! * she plans on entering the book publishing industry as an editorial assistant and continue along that journey wherever it may take her. You can find Katie on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100012822669278 ID: Katie stands under a flowering tropical tree. She has wavy brown hair, and smiles as she looks up at the sky.

Katie Valenta


Aliya Gough, Copy Chief and Cypress Dome Society Historian
[caption id="attachment_788" align="alignleft" width="200"]Aliya Gough, Copy Chief and Cypress Dome Society Historian Aliya Gough, Copy Chief and Cypress Dome Society Historian[/caption] Aliya Gough is the Chief of Copy, where she creates and upholds the style guide while making final copy edits and proofreads of manuscripts and other materials. She is majoring in Creative Writing and minoring in Writing and Rhetoric. She also has a certificate in Professional Editing. She collects classic literature and vinyl records, and she's found that there’s no happiness greater than from being on the open road! She plans to travel the world while teaching literature and history remotely as a university professor. ID: Aliya smiles against a black background. She has long white-blond hair and pale skin with rosy cheeks.

Aliya Gough


Devyn Lee, Assistant Poetry Editor
[caption id="attachment_797" align="alignleft" width="200"]Devyn Lee, Assistant Poetry Editor Devyn Le, Issue 32 Assistant Poetry Editor and Art Screener[/caption] Devyn Le is the Assistant Poetry Editor and art screener for the Cypress Dome Magazine. She is earning her undergraduate degree in English Literature and a certificate in Editing and Publishing. She hopes to become a copyeditor in the publishing industry while exploring her interests in memoirs, poetry, and fiction. When she isn’t working as an editorial intern for Orlando Style Magazine and GenZ Publishing, she is spending time with her Goldendoodles, Penny and Baxter. For more in the life of Devyn, follow her on instagram @devyn.le and explore her e-portfolio at https://ledevyn.wixsite.com/eportfolio. ID: Devyn sits in a restaurant booth, her hand is against her chin. She wears a white long-sleeved shirt. Her long straight hair is brown, she has brown eyes, and rosy brown skin.

Devyn Le