Staff

TAB: The Journal of Poetry & Poetics logo

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Anna Leahy (she/her) is the author of the poetry books If in Some Cataclysm, Gloss, What Happened Was:, Aperture, and Constituents of Matter and the nonfiction book Tumor. Her essays have won top prizes from Mississippi Review, Los Angeles Review, Ninth Letter, and Dogwood. She directs the MFA in Creative Writing program at Chapman University, where she edits Tab Journal, curates the Tabula Poetica reading series, and directs the Health Humanities program. See more at amleahy.com and @AMLeahy on Twitter.

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Claudine Jaenichen (she/her) is co-editor of Design for Emergency Management. She specializes in information design, advocates for inclusion through design, and is especially intrigued by the relationship between design and cognition. Her research underpins the approach of Tab Journal. Jaenichen continues to pursue interdisciplinary work with projects like TsunamiClear, which engages deeply with other specializations and impacts the public. She is an associate professor in Art at Chapman University and serves on the executive board of directors for three international design and communication associations. See more at jeanichendesign.com.


CRITICISM EDITOR

Brian Glaser (he/him) has published essays on poetry and poetics as well as several book of poems, including Difficult Joy from Shanti Arts. He has been the recipient of Berkeley’s Eisner Prize for Poetry, a Fulbright award to Germany, a DAAD fellowship, Chapman University’s award for Curriculum Innovation in Sustainability Education, and a 2019 Faculty Excellence Award in Teaching, Scholarship, and Service. See more at his faculty webpage.


COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

Henneh Kyereh Kwaku (he/him) is a health educator from Ghana and author of Revolution of the Scavengers from African Poetry Book Fund x Akashic Books. He was a 2022 resident at the Library of Africa and the African Diaspora and a two-time recipient of the Samira Bawumia Literature Prize. He is founder and co-host of the Church of Poetry on Twitter Spaces. His poems/essays/hybrids appear in the Academy of American Poets’ Poem-A-Day, Poetry Magazine, Prairie Schooner, World Literature Today, Lolwe, Agbowó, Tupelo Quarterly, Air/Light Magazine, Poetry Society of America, Praxis Magazine, Lunaris Review, CGWS, New South Journal, and Olongo Africa. He is earning his MFA in Creative Writing at Chapman University. Follow on Twitter/Instagram at @kwaku_kyereh.


ASSISTANT EDITORS

Anthony Alegrete (he/him) is a poet and writer located in Orange, California, where he is enrolled in Chapman University’s MFA in Creative Writing program. He earned his BA in English and Communications at Santa Clara University. He has headlined and performed at spoken word events throughout the Silicon Valley area and is now performing in Orange County. 

Miles Enriquez-Morales (he/him) is a writer and amateur boxer from Whittier, California. He is an MFA in Creative Writing student at Chapman University and earned his BA from Colorado State University. He is a member and facilitator of the all LGBTQ+ writing group WriteNow! He can be found on Instagram as @menriquezmorales.

Laila Shikaki teaches writing and literature classes at Birzeit University in Palestine. Her poems have been featured in many literary magazines including TAB: The Journal of Poetry & Poetics, SequoyaNazzar LookPomona Valley Review, Metrics Conversions Poetry of our Time, and We Chose Everything; a bilingual poetry anthology that features over 50 Arab poets published in Lebanon. She holds a Ph.D in English Literature from St. John’s University in New York City and an MFA in Creative Writing from Chapman University in California.

Daniel Miess (he/him) graduated from Chapman University’s Dual MA/MFA program. His work has been published in Mud Chronicles: A New England Anthology, Anastamos: Library Edition, and Adelaide Independent Literary Magazine.

Vesper North (they/them) is a writer, artist, English instructor, and candidate for an MA in English and MFA in Creative Writing from Chapman University. Their poetry has been published in Meditating Cat Zine and Ourousbours Magazine, and their short fiction can be read in Creation and Kaleidoscope. As well, they are a contributor at the Los Angeles Review of Books. 

Emily Velasquez (she/her) is a writer in Santa Ana, CA, and a Dual MA/MFA student at Chapman University. She earned her BA in English from California State University Fullerton. Her work has been published in Soapberry Review.

Tryphena Yeboah (she/her) graduated from Chapman University’s MFA in Creative Writing program and is now a PhD student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She is the author of the poetry chapbook A Mouthful of Home from University of Nebraska Press in 2020. Her work appears in Narrative, among other outlets. See more at https://www.tryphenayeboah.com.


GUEST BOOK REVIEWER

Ian Koh (he/him) moved to California for studies from Singapore several years ago. He is an Dual MFA/MA student at Chapman University. His work can be found in Forth MagazineInkslinger, and others.


OPERATIONS MANAGER

Julia Ainley (she/her) holds a BS in Human Services, Administration, and Community Practice. She has held several progressive roles, most recently at a non-profit organization, where she was a Membership Coordinator overseeing business development and operations. She joined Tab Journal in 2022, when she became the administrative assistant to Chapman University’s English department.

OPERATIONS ASSISTANT

David Krausman (he/him) joined Tab Journal in 2016 while completing his MFA in Creative Writing. He is the Graduate Programs Coordinator for Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at Chapman University and the go-to contact for MFA students.

GRANTS MANAGER

Allison DeVries (she/her) holds an MA in Organizational Leadership and a BA in Political Science and Communication. She joined the Wilkinson College Dean’s Office at Chapman University in 2011 after working in Research Planning and Government Relations at Scripps Institution of Oceanography.


ADVISORY BOARD at Chapman University

Joanna Levin, English Department Faculty
Samantha De La O, English Department Staff
Douglas R. Dechow, Digital Humanities Librarian


FANTASTIC STAFF OF THE PAST

Meg Boyles | Nick Dante | Natalie d’Auverne | Jay Dye | Cindra Fox | Jack Giaour | Alexis Gobel | Mike Gravagno | Liz Harmer | Breanna Henry | Meghan Kemp-Gee | Alicia Kozameh | David Krausman | Karen An-hwei Lee (Book Review Editor) | Adrianna Medina | Tori O’Leary | Jenni O’Rourke | Lydia Pejovic | Ruben Quesada (Collaborating Editor 2022-2023) | Sam Risak | Mariam Saïd | Robert Matt Taylor | Michael Tesauro | Lynne Thompson (Collaborating Editor 2022-2023) | Jason Thornberry | Matthew Wheatley


In 2009, Anna Leahy and Logan Esdale launched the Tabula Poetica Reading Series, which led to the formation of Tabula Poetica: The Center for Poetry at Chapman University. The center is directed by Anna Leahy and now houses both the reading series and Tab Journal.

TAB editorial staff at desk