phoenix kai vaughan-ende, a 2024 alumnus of the 糖心vlog视频鈥檚 Master of Fine Arts program in Creative Writing and Poetics, has had to conquer a number of obstacles to get to where they are today.
As a queer person with anxiety, depression and ADHD, vaughan-ende said, 鈥淚 understand that I am different. I am made to understand it daily when medications require more water, but there are few gender-neutral restrooms 鈥 and entering either binary restroom prompts wary looks or confrontation; or when it is common to be the only trans person in a room and an introduction is a 鈥榗oming out,鈥 a 鈥榮potlighting,鈥 a chance my mere existence could be challenged.鈥
These are just two examples of many where vaughan-ende said they have had to alter their existence to be able to fit 鈥渋n a world built for binary people.鈥 鈥淥ur institutions,鈥 they said, 鈥渁re built normatively: constructed under the assumption that being cisgendered, binary-gendered, white, heterosexual, neurotypical, able-bodied 鈥 I could go on 鈥 that these are the baseline, the standard.鈥
vaughan-ende said this is far from the truth, which is why their life goal is 鈥渢o change the world, no matter how cheesy it sounds. I plan to ignite new pathways within the long lineages of social justice movements, to create equitable futures for humanity, specifically those forced into the margins.鈥
In recognition of contributions they made to the campus and larger queer community, vaughan-ende has been named .
Classroom to community
Every year, the University of Washington recognizes 100 undergraduate and graduate students from the Bothell, Seattle and Tacoma campuses who have made the most of their time at the UW 鈥 inside and outside the classroom.鈥疶hese Husky 100 students actively connect the dots between what they learn in their studies with what they want to do to make a difference on campus, in their communities and for the world.鈥痸aughan-ende is .
As a student, vaughan-ende was heavily involved on campus, working at the Writing & Communication Center as well as the Student Diversity Center. At the latter, they led a number of programs, including queer writing workshops and Queer and Trans Time, a bimonthly affinity group.
After graduation, vaughan-ende plans to use their degree to write trans futures into existence because, 鈥渢hrough words, anything is possible.鈥
鈥減hoenix stands out as an exemplary member of the MFA and UW Bothell communities. They have created development workshops for writers and students; they hold space for nonbinary and transgender students seeking support; and they contributed to student well-being and success in their roles at the Writing Center and the Diversity Center,鈥 said Dr. Ted Heibert, professor in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences. 鈥淚n addition to these roles, phoenix also engages with the community outside of the university, holding themed writing workshops at public library and community center locations.
鈥淭his is noteworthy because it鈥檚 exactly the kind of outreach that one might want from an ambassador 鈥 carrying the values of the UW out into the local community. I can think of no better representative of the future-facing, community-minded, inclusive and creative spirit toward which the UW aspires.鈥
“I plan to ignite new pathways within the long lineages of social justice movements 鈥 to create equitable futures for humanity, specifically those forced into the margins.”
phoenix kai vaughan-ende, MFA 鈥24
Conversation and collaboration
Working as the LGBTQIA+ student advocacy coordinator, vaughan-ende was responsible for creating long lasting relationships, supports and programs for LGBTQIA+ student communities on campus. One of their initiatives was the development of a queer writing workshop which they later expanded to the Kingsgate Library in summer 2023.
鈥淚 have a very radical idea of what poetry or writing can be,鈥 vaughan-ende said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 see it as a solitary act. I actually see it as the exact opposite. It鈥檚 a very communal process, and it鈥檚 about conversation and collaboration.
鈥淚t is also a way to imagine futures for marginalized communities, so when I write, the idea is that it will create liberation for all because when you think of humanity, no one can be free, and no one can be liberated without the most oppressed being liberated and free. And so I think part of that is about writing and imagining freedom and a future.鈥
Expanding on this belief, vaughan-ende created a workshop that focused on queer collage-poetry. It introduced participants to the core concepts of collage as a queer practice. 鈥淐ollage as a medium has been used often in queer communities as a practice of refashioning and reshaping the 鈥榥ormal鈥 鈥 almost like creating your own representation,鈥 vaughan-ende explained.
Participants in the workshop looked at examples from poets Jennifer Tamayo, Jordan Abel and Douglas Kearney; images from photographer Erica Baum; and snippets from the Cut Ups: Queer Collage Practices exhibit. Attendees then spent the majority of their time creating, sharing space and listening to music while they worked.
Safe, supportive spaces
vaughan-ende also engaged in community building by hosting Queer and Trans Time, a bimonthly meeting on campus centering queer conversations. 鈥淭he idea is for queer and trans folks to just be in community together and to share space and stories,鈥 they said. 鈥淲e often do coloring and art; it鈥檚 just a very chill and rewarding time.鈥
Whether leading workshops or QT Time, vaughan-ende said their goal is to 鈥渇acilitate space where people can feel safe and comfortable and feel like they belong. I think belonging is a really necessary feeling,鈥 they said. 鈥淎nd as someone who鈥檚 experienced feelings of not belonging, I think it鈥檚 been really important and impactful to feel that I belong and to be able to create space for other people to feel that, too.鈥
Their involvement on campus extended to the Writing & Communication Center, working as a lead peer consultant to help students to become stronger, more confident writers and communicators.
鈥減hoenix works to engage students in the mentoring and tutoring process,鈥 said Erik Echols, assistant director of the WaCC. 鈥淭heir world view and unique academic background that combines creative writing and historically marginalized populations makes them especially adept in the collaborative aspects of the WaCC.
鈥淭hey have adeptly taken on the challenges of mentoring tutors, supporting students and bringing their passions and interests with them.鈥
Living their dream
As a writer, vaughan-ende鈥檚 MA thesis delves into issues of nonbinary gender identity and technology, exploring metaphors of binary code and querying the possibilities for nonbinary thinking that can creatively emerge when holding together questions of technology and identity.
Heibert, vaughan-ende鈥檚 thesis adviser, said, 鈥渢heir work as an artist and writer meets the highest standards of engagement and excellence; it is philosophically deep, socially meaningful and highly original in its creative vision.鈥
Looking beyond their thesis and to their goals post-graduation vaughan-ende said, 鈥淚鈥檝e been given so much by my mentors and peers, and I plan to take that fire and pass it along.
鈥淢y time at the University has affirmed that anything is possible 鈥 and this is only the beginning.鈥
