Mallory Hellman (she/her) has served as the Director of the Iowa Youth Writing Project since 2015. Prior to that, she received an MFA in fiction from the Iowa Writers' Workshop and a BA in English and American Literature from Harvard. Mallory's nonfiction has appeared in Tuesday Magazine, Forbes, and elsewhere. She has taught creative writing at the University of Iowa, the Duke University Talent Identification Program, and at K-12 schools, community centers, residential rehabilitation facilities, and shelters throughout the Midwest. Mal's favorite part about life with the IYWP is hearing students read their work aloud. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, cooking, solo (or group!) dance parties, and cooing to the nightshades in her garden. Her favorite word is "robust."

Favorite childhood book: The Velveteen Rabbit

Favorite childhood book: Owl Babies by Martin Waddell Advice to younger self: look for joy + let things go

Favorite childhood book: Ronia the Robber's Daughter

Favorite childhood book: Madeline

Favorite childhood book: Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief

Gwyneth Forsythe graduated from the University of Iowa in 2019 with BAs in Theatre Arts and History, honors in both. In 2020, she worked as a Development Intern at Cartel Pictures (Los Angeles). In the spring of 2021, she completed her MFA in Writing for the Stage and Screen from Northwestern University, where she won the Krevoy Screenwriting Prize for her television pilot, White Dog Rises. While in Chicago, Gwyneth produced several theatre productions, worked as a freelance writer, teaching artist, and adjunct faculty for the City Colleges of Chicago. Recently, she has returned to Iowa City to work with the IYWP and to write and produce more plays.