About Ascendency

Humble Origins

Below is the current masthead for Ascendency. Everyone on staff reviews every work, coming with their own, conclusive opinion about the work before submitting whether or not we believe it to be a fit for our edition - be it flash or one of our biannual editions. We came together at the University of Georgia after dozens of our own rejections and decided to create Ascendency with a common goal: to promote similarly-minded authors, poets, and artists and give them the representation they deserve.

Masthead

Editor-in-Chief

Lauren "Prophet" Girod

Lauren “Prophet” Girod is a poet, artist, author, and narrative designer who received her BA in English from the University of Georgia with the intent to pursue further education in the study of video games. She serves as the current editor-in-chief for Ascendency. Her poetry has previously appeared in Stillpoint, Outrageous Fortune, The Crawfish, Bardics Anonymous, and 45th Parallel. Her poem I AM THE DEER AND THE DEER IS ME was named an honorable mention for the 2024 Virginia Rucker Walter Poetry Prize. Her art has been in Creative License and on the cover of Polishing Cloth. When not scrying the realms of the internet, she can be found cuddling her cat and several leopard geckos.

Her website and portfolio can be found here.

Senior Editor & Social Media Correspondent

Jamie Dicello

Jamie Dicello is a recent graduate of the University of Georgia with a bachelor's degree in English literature. She has had her poetry published in various literary magazines, and has presented her academic work at previous conferences - most recently at the 2025 International Conference on the Fantastic in the Arts with her work of Fairy Tales and Fear: The Power of Identity in Delia Sherman's The Evil Wizard Smallbone. She can be found in her personally curated library, connecting the dots to seemingly improbable curiosities and theories.

Senior Editor

Kayleigh Crews

Kayleigh Crews is a recent graduate from the University of Georgia with a BA in Entertainment and Media Studies as well as a BA in English. As an avid reader, she is currently working on the first draft of her untitled novel with an aimed debut of 2026. When she isn't reading, she can be found making commentary on cowboys - both western and space.

Senior Editor

Jason Hawkins

Jason Hawkins is a Creative Writing MFA Candidate and K. Leroy Irvis Fellow at the University of Pittsburg with a genre focus of poetry. He received his Bachelor's in English with a minor in Japanese at the University of Georgia in 2024 as a Foundation Fellow. His poetry has been published in several magazines and his poem, NIGHTSCAPE, was an honorary mention in the 2024 Virginia Rucker Walter Poetry Prize. When he is not writing, he can be found discussing and appreciating the social commentary of Koushun Takami's Battle Royale.

Senior Editor

Nico Houser

Nico Houser is an upcoming graduate from the University of Georgia with a double major in Criminal Justice and English with a focus of Creative Writing and Medieval Studies. He has committed to the University of Tennessee for his Masters in Literature, Criticism, and Textual Studies. His work has previously appeared online and in print, with his genre of choice as fiction. He is open to all forms and appreciates the detail that others can weave within their writing. When he isn't writing fantastic works of fiction, he can be found going into depth about the intricacies of Beowulf with an ice cold Diet Coke.

Senior Editor

Zara Saberi

Zara Saberi is an upcoming graduate from the University of Georgia studying Classics with an emphasis in Classical Archaeology and a minor in Korean. She is also working on her Masters in Historic Preservation. She has served on the senior staff of Stillpoint Literary Magazine. When not busy with her studies, she can be found discussing fashion, K-Pop, or engaging in psychological manipulation with her boba eyes.

Senior Editor

Morgan Shaver

Morgan Shaver is an upcoming graduate from the University of Georgia with a degree in English and an emphasis in Creative Writing. She has worked on several projects benefiting counties in the surrounding area of Athens, Georgia in the government and historical restoration sector. When she isn't studying poetry, she can be found with her family and her cat, Squidward.