Meet Our Students and Alumni
Who Are Our Students?
Our program includes students from various academic backgrounds including English, Anthropology, Education, Cultural Studies, Music, Theater, and Art. Program applicants are often recent graduates of undergraduate programs and/or individuals who have worked in secondary school education or government agencies or cultural institutions.
Students complete the program in both part time and full time capacities, depending on their needs.
Sarah Holland earned a certificate in Folklore Studies in 2022
Much of Holland's research throughout the program was around internet folklore: the Babadook as an identifier of queerness in virtual spaces, the memetic development of the W.A.P dance on TikTok, video games as folkloric objects through online fan and modding communities, and other, similar topics.
Amanda earned a Master's in English with a concentration in Folklore Studies in 2023
Amanda Ellard is a writing teacher and PhD in Creative Writing student at Ohio University. She's also the Prose Editor for Quarter After Eight literary journal. She achieved an MA in Folklore Studies in 2023. During her time in the Folklore program, she worked as the Editorial Assistant for the Journal of American Folklore: A Global Quarterly and focused her research on digital and East Asian folklore. Her thesis is titled, "Chinese Danmei Webnovels: Translation, Lockdowns, Masculinity, and Community-building." She was also the recipient of the Outstanding Folklore Student Award for the 2023-2024 year.
Olivia is currently an MA student in the Folklore Program
Originally from Michigan, Olivia is a graduate student in the Folklore Program, and has a deep passion for traditional and contemporary Appalachian music and art. Other research interests include trans-national migration and customs, and Northern Michigan and South Louisiana folklife and art.
Mark is currently an MA certificate student in the Folklore Program
A mostly retired professor of American History, Mark is working toward a Master’s Certificate in Folklore. He’s especially interested in the role of ghost stories and seances in shaping American popular culture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Charish earned a Master's in English with a concentration in Folklore Studies in 2022
Bishop (MA '22) works for the American Folklore Society as the Community Engagement Coordinator. Her chief responsibilities include creating and managing the AFS Community Hub, membership communications, section and prize/award management, public outreach, and volunteer engagement for the AFS annual meeting. Previously, she worked with the National Council of Traditional Arts and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Her thesis at Mason focused on the intersection of folklore and environmental topics. You can listen to her thesis project via a podcast she wrote and produced, titled The Currents of Folklore. She was also the recipient of the Outstanding Graduate Student in Folklore Award for the 2021-2022 year.
Jessica is currently an MA student in the Folklore Program
Jess Wheeler is a student in the M.A. Folklore program, where her research focuses on the reclamation of feminist pagan rituals by ex-evangelical women, with particular attention to Queen Medb of Irish folklore as a symbol of sovereignty and female power. In addition to her graduate studies, Jess teaches high school English and mythology, and serves as the Social Media Coordinator for the Folklore Roundtable.
Don Harmon
Don is currently an MA student in the Folklore Program
Stephanie Aitken
Stephanie is currently an MA student in the Folklore Program
Emma earned a Master's in English with a concentration in Folklore Studies in 2025
Inspired by almost a decade of living and working on the African continent, Emma decided to pursue a Masters in Folklore Studies to refine her skills and knowledge and gain professional experience within the field of folklore.
Ozzy earned a Master's in English with a concentration in Folklore Studies in Spring 2024
Ozzy's thesis focuses on the Appalachian musician experience and migration to DC. Other focus topics in her research are epistemology, ethnographic writing, cultural geography, and intersectional issues surrounding occupation, poverty, and social politics.
Ang DiNardo earned a Master's in English with a concentration in Folklore Studies in Fall 2024
Ang is an MA student in the Folklore Program. Their research interests center around gender and queer folklore.
Claire Denny earned a Masters in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Folklore Studies in 2021
Denny (MAIS ’21) is the Folk Arts Education Specialist at the Folk Arts- Cultural Treasures Charter School (FACTS) in Philadelphia, PA. She assists in sustaining and strengthening Folk Arts Education at FACTS through her collaboration with the school's administration, teachers, and students. Her primary responsibilities include coordinating folk arts residencies, training classroom teachers in folk arts education, playing a lead role in the implementation and continuous improvement of the Ritual Calendar Events, and grant writing. She thoroughly enjoys working with younger generations and using folk arts education as a tool to help students be proud of who they are.
Beana Olivia is currently an MA student in the Folklore Program
Beana Olivia is a Folklore graduate student, focusing her studies on dance both in theory and in practice. Having grown up dancing, she is excited to delve further into her studies and learn more about this worldwide phenomenon.
Kyah is currently an MA student in the Folklore Program
Kyah is a graduate student in the Folklore Master's Program, part of the Folklore Roundtable administration, and has a deep love of Foodways. She hopes to begin her thesis this summer and graduate in the fall of 2025.
Deena is currently an MA student in the Folklore Program
Originally from the Ozarks, Deena worked for Arkansas Folk & Traditional Arts where she grew to love public folklore and community scholars training. Deena is currently studying folk painting and shape-note singing traditions.
E.V is currently an MA student in the Folklore Program
E.V. is a graduate student in the Folklore Master's Program, part of the Folklore Roundtable Administration, and works as an archivist and public outreach coordinator. They are currently studying contemporary legends and digital lore.
Dr. Kristina Downs earned a Masters in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Folklore Studies in 2007
Downs (MAIS ‘07) is the Secretary-Editor/Executive Director of the Texas Folklore Society at Tarleton State University and Assistant Professor in the Department of English and Languages. In addition to teaching classes in folklore, she also coordinates the partnership between TFS and the Tarleton College of Liberal and Fine Arts.
Sarah Cleto and Brittany Warman earned their Masters in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Folklore Studies in 2012
Sara Cleto and Brittany Warman both earned their Masters in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Folklore Studies in 2012. After Mason, they went on to receive their PhDs in English and Folklore at The Ohio State University. Together, they founded The Carterhaugh School of Folklore and the Fantastic, where they teach creative souls how to re-enchant their lives through folklore and fairy tales. In 2019, The Caterhaugh School won the Dorothy Howard Folklore and Education Prize from the Folklore and Education Section of The American Folklore Society. Their first book, Fairylore, is coming out in February 2026 from Hachette.
Chrissy Widmayer earned a certificate in Folklore Studies in 2013
Widmayer (Certificate ‘13) directs “Community Powered,” a project of Wisconsin Humanities. She has spent the past decade teaching courses in folklore, writing, oral history, and religious studies, while also taking on positions in the public humanities. Widmayer is a founder, content creator, and education director at Folkwise, which seeks bring folklore to diverse audiences through public access-style new media programing on Twitch, YouTube, and social media.
Kim Stryker earned a Masters in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Folklore Studies in 2015
Stryker (MAIS ‘15) is an independent folklorist and recipient of the 2018 Archie Green Fellowship from the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress to document Virginia winemaking. Stryker is a frequent public speaker on topics of popular interest related to folklore such as holiday traditions, Mardi Gras, May Day, Wassailing, and the occupational culture of orcharding. She is now an instructor at George Mason's Folklore Program.
Kerry Kaleba earned a certificate in Folklore Studies in 2016
Kaleba (MAIS ‘16) is a Grants Associate at the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities. Kaleba also earned her MA in Arts Management from George Mason University and is a seasoned arts administrator with experience with festival and event management.
