Four years for four books

By: Genamarie McCant

For McKenna Graf ’26, an English major with a writing concentration double majoring in film and media studies with a minor in documentary storymaking, her Lafayette experience has been measured not in semesters, but in stanzas. Each year, she has published a poetry book, and as a senior, she is preparing her fourth—the final chapter of her undergraduate journey at Lafayette.

Video by Genamarie McCant, Cecelia Sheldon ’26, and Jasmin Lara ’28

Graf is the author of the poetry collection An Archive of Adolescence, which includes writing over the word limit, Mortals, Myths, and Maybes, and The Depths. Her most recent book, The Depths, published in June, explores the preservation of artistic spirit while discovering one’s voice. Through her time at Lafayette, Graf is proud of how she’s evolved and changed, and wants her final book to reflect that. “I’m a different person and writer now, and this collection seeks to archive that,” Graf says.

Her second and third poetry books are published through Parisian Phoenix, a local publishing house in Easton founded by alumna Angel Ackerman ’13. For Graf, her connection with Parisian Phoenix went beyond simply finding a publisher. She recalls being moved to tears when Ackerman expressed interest in working with her after they met at ThreeBirds Coffee House in downtown Easton. “When that happened,” she recalls, “I thought to myself, ‘I’m a writer.’”

She first discovered the Easton alumni connection through Darrell Parry—a poet, artist, spoken-word performer, and the College Store’s assistant manager—while exploring Parry’s poetry collection, Twists: Gathered Ephemera. Noticing that Parisian Phoenix was listed as Parry’s publisher, Graf was drawn not only to the publishing house but also to its mission: Creating books that promote unique voices and diverse perspectives. Upon researching the publisher, she observed it was accepting manuscripts and thought to herself, ‘Cur Non’? 

Over the past several years, The College Store has collaborated with Lafayette’s English Club to host a variety of literary events, including open mic sessions and poetry workshops, for which Parry has served as the primary point of contact. “McKenna is a very motivated individual who is not afraid to go out and show the world who she is,” Parry says. “I have been at Lafayette a long time, and I have never seen anyone bring the campus into the local literary communities like she has. It’s great to see Lafayette students and local writers showing up in the same spaces and supporting each other like that.”

Looking back on the with Ackerman collaboration, Graf notes, “It’s become very natural working with Angel. I have a hard time processing that it’s a real thing.”

McKenna Graf ’26 | Photo by Genamarie McCant

“McKenna reached out to me in her sophomore year with a whole proposal of what she wanted to do with her archive of adolescence poetry series,” Ackerman says. “She impressed me with both her planning and her passion, not to mention her ambition of wanting to write a book of poetry every year during her college experiences. … She also embraced the poetry scene in the Easton area, which connected her to poets with various experiences, techniques, and backgrounds. I adore seeing her explore her options and share her energy with the world. I am honored to publish her.” 

One of the most significant shifts in her work came from an unexpected source: a geology study abroad course, GEOL 160: a field geology course in the desert southwest. Graf spent the summer exploring national parks—an environment that challenged her. Prof. David Sunderlin, John H. Markle Professor of Geology and department head, brought a passion for the landscapes and the stories they held, transforming her experience. From the outset, she committed to writing a poem every day of the trip, capturing her observations. As the journey progressed and the geological concepts became more complex, her poetry evolved. She recalled one poem, “Elegy of Erosion,” which wove together geological concepts. The experience challenged Graf in new ways, fundamentally shifting her approach to poetry. Her poetry developed into place-based writing, deeply rooted in environment, observation, and the connection between lived experience and literary expression.

Elegy of Erosion
When there is nothing I
am laid down.

Shuffling sediment sliding
on top of each other. I

am built until I break into
silt from flows of rivers rapid, I

rise. Carved out through down cutting I
crack. Until I lack the in between.

Opening for you to explore. I
forget to give any explanation more.

The shore is gone I
carve myself out.

But still you pour down ponderings
and hypothetical hypotheses into my caverns. I

drown in dry discussions. You
watch from above. You walk. I

wander. You wish I
would reveal a carcass you dropped.

Once lost, I lithify.
I become the layers of my body.

She has resided in the Arts Houses—a collection of three-person off-campus residences on Parsons Street—since her sophomore year at Lafayette College. Although Lafayette was her final college visit, she chose to apply Early Decision after learning about the Arts Living Groups. As a member of the Arts Houses, she serves on the steering committee of the Arts Society, where residents collaborate to organize programs and events that promote and enhance engagement with the fine and performing arts within the Lafayette community. “I’m at Lafayette because of the Arts Society and arts housing—I’m president of both,” Graf says. “Being part of arts housing has been wonderful because I’m constantly surrounded by other artists. I’ve truly found my home in this community.” 

Graf aims to complete her fourth book by summer 2026—a date that Ackerman has already marked on the calendar. Following graduation, she plans to pursue a master’s degree in arts administration, a decision she credits largely to her experience with Lafayette Gateway Career Center’s Externship Program.