Emily Gomez-Adames (She/Her)

Editor-In-Chief
Senior

Emily is a senior at George Mason University, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in Film & Media Studies. She enjoys reading, writing, and watching movies in her free time. While she has always been interested in science fiction and fantasy, she never imagined the rich experience and joy she would gain from working with The Forge. In the future, she hopes to pursue a career in editing, with a particular passion for publishing fiction novels that inspire and captivate fellow book lovers.

Ann Rodriguez (She/Her)

Editor, Illustrator
Junior

Ann is a junior at George Mason University, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Animation. Her concentration is in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience. She enjoys enriching her creative side by illustrating, painting, and writing. She is also currently a Peer Consultant for The Writing Center. Her love for Science Fiction and Fantasy goes hand in hand with her love for Psychology, as the combination allows you to explore the complexities of the human mind through mystical worlds; there are unlimited reflections of real-world psychological theories everywhere in this genre, which is what interests her the most.

Lorien Espino (She/Her)

Illustrator, Marketing
Junior

Lorien is a junior at George Mason University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology. Her concentration is Web Development. Ever since she was a child, her favorite hobby is drawing and admiring all types of art of every genre and medium. She is passionate about using art alongside marketing and technology to enhance all three fields, which makes working with The Forge a great and fun experience.

Nawaal Nackerdien (She/Her)

Editor, Marketing Director
Junior

Nawaal is a junior at George Mason University pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing with a minor in Professional and Technical Writing. Her concentration is in fiction. She enjoys both writing and reading, dabbling in the arts and more. At present, she is playing around with nonfiction. She is currently the Editor-in-Chief for the Fourth Estate, Mason’s student-run newspaper. She hopes to go into the publishing field, focusing on fantasy and sci-fi. She is ecstatic to work with The Forge, both with her passion in editing and managing The Forge’s outreach.

Samantha Gerken (She/Her)

Art and Design Director, Managing Editor
Junior

Samantha is a junior at George Mason University pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art and Visual Technology, with a Graphic Design concentration. She enjoys making art and design work, reading, and creative writing. Her love for storytelling and fiction has been able to flourish with her time at The Forge, and she finds joy in working on the publication’s art and editing. In the future, she hopes to work as a professional graphic designer and illustrator.