Linda Russo’s work engages and explores the forces that shape understandings of land and biotic community. Poetry and other kinds of making are her primary means of connecting with others. She is the author or several books of poetry and other writings, and has taught for the English Department at Washington State University for over a decade, currently serving as the Director of Creative Writing. Visit her faculty profile here. Russo founded EcoArts on the Palouse in 2017 and is honored to work with the students who take an interest in helping to shape and grow this endeavor.

Liz Webb, spring/summer '21 Intern, recently completed her BA in English from Washington State University with a Major in Creative Writing. She grew up in a heavily forested and beautiful area, Cle Elum, Washington, deep in the heart of the cascades. She spent more time outside with the trees and plants than with other people and as a writer many of her pieces were inspired by the company she kept. In addition to working on the Plant Poems Project, she Interned with EcoArts on the Palouse in pursuit of an Editing and Publishing Certificate offered by the English Department.

Aidan Barger, contributor to the Plant Poems Project (Spring '21) and Fall '20 intern, graduated with a BA in English and minored in Political Science. His hometown is East Wenatchee, Washington. He loves writing poems, especially ones which try to evoke a strong sense of place, as exhibited in this series of Haibun Postcards. “EcoArts fascinates me because it shines a light on bioregional aspects of the Palouse which are easily overlooked but tremendously important. I want to learn more about this unique space and the organisms (specifically insects!) which inhabit it.”  

Arabelle May, contributor to the Plant Poems Project (Spring '21), is an undergrad at WSU-Vancouver studying for a BA in English with a minor in Creative Writing. She

grew up adventuring between Northwest Arkansas and the Cascades of the Pacific Northwest. When she’s not writing, she can probably be found reading Joy Harjo or Ada Limón, or tending her small herb garden. She is a poetry and nonfiction intern at Blood Orange Review, and has work forthcoming in Salmon Creek Journal.

Contributing Writer Rachel Clark writes about the interconnection between humans and the planet that sustains or diminishes all Life. She is the author of The Blackfish Prophecy, and her work has appeared in Nature News Online, Psychology Today, The Revelator, Harper’s Bazaar, The Joint Fire Science Program, Salon, Mental Floss, Farmer’s Almanac, Earth & Sky Radio, Mom.me, The Dodo and more. You can connect with Rachel's work at rachelclarkauthor.com.

Alexander Jensen, Summer '20 Intern, has been communing with nature in the Palouse ever since the Palouse River near Reaney Park claimed the life of his Nokia in a fitting poetic moment. He is a Honors undergraduate at Washington State University, majoring in Psychology and English, and minoring in Queer Studies and Women’s Studies. In these interconnected fields, the natural world serves as a point of intersectionality that Alexander enjoys exploring. “It is important to back and stand behind resources and information that is quite literally grounded in our world, and to me, that is what the mission of EcoArts reflects.”

Allyson Pang, Summer '20 Intern, is a double-major in Creative Writing and Multimedia Journalism. Her hometown is Honolulu, Hawaii. She loves creating, whether it’s video editing or writing a new slam poem. At Washington State University, she is the editor-in-chief of the literary arts journal, LandEscapes, and co-president of the Palouse Poetry Society. Allyson is very excited to be in collaboration with Hannah Levy on her choreographed piece, "In the Pause" (which she edited), through EcoArts.   

Lindsey Shannon, Fall '19-Spring '20 Intern, graduated from Washington State University with a major in English Teaching and an Editing and Publishing Certificate. In addition to her role as Communications Director, Lindsey undertook fieldwork and learned about the urban-wild river ecology of Missouri Flat Creek. "I was drawn to EcoArts and the exploration of Palouse edge spaces because it was something I knew very little about, and I wanted to challenge myself to be part of something outside of my literary comfort zone."

Caitlyn Smith, Spring '20 Intern, graduated from the English Department (majoring in Creative Writing) at Washington State University where she also pursued an Editing and Publishing Certificate. She worked on website design, and her fieldwork took her to local cemeteries to search for lichen. “I was drawn to EcoArts because I knew pretty much nothing about it and needed to know more. I think that it is super interesting to focus on both local art and the environment. I think it’s important to stop and look at the life that surrounds us.”

Kathlene Roberts, Fall '19 Intern, graduated with a BA from Washington State University and majored in psychology and creative writing. She designed the webpage of Dennis DeHart's photos and wrote a highlight article about Gerry Sayler's mandalas.

Coleman Davis, Spring '19 Intern, graduated with a BA from Washington State University and majored in creative writing. He designed the webpage for Gerri Sayler's mandalas and write a highlight article about John Walton's poems.

Darcy Greenwood, contributor to the Plant Poems Project (Spring '21), loves playing with the Palouse. After living in the brick wilds of Chicago, she feels more passionate than ever about the vast, quiet beauty of her homeland, as well as the gifted creators within it. Darcy is a writer and editor for Brilliant Star, an award-winning children’s magazine, and enjoys writing everything under the literary sun. She graduated cum laude from Washington State University with a BA in Creative Writing, a minor in Digital Technology and Culture, and an Editing and Publishing Certificate. “To me, the wild edge spaces of the Palouse are sacred places of beauty, reflection, and creativity. I hope everyone will fall in love with them as deeply as I have.”