KENNESAW, Ga. | Jul 24, 2020

Aspiring novelist Mezi Mulugeta is completing one chapter at Kennesaw State and beginning another, as she earns her bachelor’s degree in English and enrolls in the Master of Arts in Professional Writing program.

Mulugeta already has made her mark at KSU, as the editor-in-chief who revived the university’s literary magazine. As an undergraduate, Mulugeta sought an outlet where she and fellow students could share their written works, and she found that Kennesaw State’s literary magazine was no longer being published. With the help of faculty mentors and other students, Mulugeta rekindled the magazine under the new title Waymark, and the first issue was published this spring.

“I believed that we need to have this back at KSU, that it needs to be alive for the generations that come here,” Mulugeta said. “I’m so grateful to all the people who got on board because, without them, it would not have been possible.”

Waymark considers for publication original works of fiction, literary nonfiction, poetry and art such as photography, painting, comics and sculpture. As editor, Mulugeta oversaw the creative content and production of the magazine, assisted by two faculty advisors – Jenny Sadre-Orafai, professor of English and executive director of the Georgia Writers Association, and Lynn Washington, lecturer of English.

“I am in awe of Mezi’s drive and passion for revisioning the undergraduate literary journal,” Sadre-Orafai said. “Her love of literature and of lifting up fellow writers makes her the best kind of writer and editor – a thoughtful and generous one. I have no doubt that she'll continue to do amazing work once she leaves KSU.”

Mulugeta began college as a pre-medicine student at the University of Georgia, but she determined that her true passion was writing. She found the right fit close to her home in Kennesaw and pursued a major in English and minor in professional writing in KSU’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

“I love language, and that’s what I most wanted to pursue,” Mulugeta said. “I’ve always been writing, always been traveling to different worlds – creatively, in my mind – since I was young.”

Mulugeta is considering a number of career possibilities once she completes her master’s degree, including working for a literary magazine or being an English professor. However, she said that her “true goal” is to write novels.

In fact, for her capstone project in KSU Journey Honors College, Mulugeta wrote the first chapters of her novel titled The Wishgrant. Without giving away details, Mulugeta described it as a fantasy novel with “a mystery that needs to be solved.”

Mulugeta also shared her writing and editing proficiency through working in the KSU Writing Center. She gave one-on-one assistance to students on any type of writing projects, including essays, creative works, reports, proposals and dissertations.

“It means so much because it is an equal exchange of them helping you as you’re helping them,” Mulugeta said. “You learn together, and that really helps you to improve your own self.”

– Paul Floeckher

Submitted photos

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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 45,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.