Editor’s Note

Last year, Baily’s Beads explored the Pennsylvania wilds, and students submitted pieces focused on the pull of nature. This year’s catalog explores similar themes interwoven and connected like a vine, from ecological horror to eco sexual love. While the beauty of the world around us continues to be our muse, student, staff, faculty, and community work found ways to create an entirely new perspective of the outdoors. Baily’s Beads 2026 issue Environmental Connections delves into the ways nature plants its roots into our hearts. 

This edition of Baily’s Beads had a lot of hard work behind it, but the work was supplemented with giggles and collaborative effort that brought this project a new bud of appreciation and love. Thank you to our Baily’s Beads staff, our art advisor, Professor Daisy Wiley, Communication and the Arts Division Chair Kevin Ewert, Emeritus Professor of Writing and former advisor and Director of the Writing Program Dr. Nancy McCabe, Writing Center Assistant Director Catherine Kula, Communication and the Arts Division Administrative Assistant Shelley Whitman, Gina Prosch and Lohman Hills Creative, LLC, Pat Frantz Cercone Executive Director of Communications and Marketing and finally, and our advisor Karen Bell. 

My gratitude is unsurpassable, and the pride I feel for my fellow writers, artists and staff is something that I hope anyone who reads can feel, even a smidge. 

–Adriana Herrera