iris (n.)

  1. a flat, colored, ring-shaped membrane behind the cornea of the eye, with an adjustable circular opening (pupil) in the center.

  2. a plant with sword-shaped leaves and showy flowers, typically purple, yellow, or white.

  3. the goddess of the rainbow and the messenger of the Olympian gods.

  4. a literary magazine publishing student work at James Madison University.

Fall 2025 Iris Staff

Faculty Advisor: Erica Cavanagh

Editor-in-Chief: Lucy “Luce” Sampson

Managing Editor: Michaela Powell

Assistant Editors: Josh Black and Jacob Dinman

Lead Designer: Matthew Antolick

Social Media Marketing Assistant: Georgia Pinkston

Assistant Designers: Lucy Sherrier, Lily Perkinson, Sirena Alvarez, Ethan Mercer, Josie Satterfield, Annabella Myers, Francesca Mehegan, Alejandro Lopez, Nhung Huynh, Elizabeth “Libby” Pumphrey

Prose Evaluators: Alexis Crosen, Alin Freitag, Doria Guadagnoli, Emily Hamrick, Fabio Rocabado, Sienna Lardizabal, Tirayan Bartlett, Wren Griner

Poetry Evaluators: Addison Kalina, Ava Grace Son, Copper Muething, Mila Leeson

Visual Art Evaluators: Balin Hunt, Tess Kelley

At Iris, we celebrate creative endeavors of all kinds. We strive to publish the best student work on campus. We publish fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and visual arts.

We produce two print issues a year: a fall issue in December and a spring issue in May.

Interested in joining the Iris team? Send an email of introduction to jmu.irismagazine@gmail.com and we will be in contact about the application process.