Aimee Burch is a first year MFA student who embraces her identity as a “native Illinoisan, adopted Iowan.”
Originally from Springfield, Illinois, Aimee has toured all the major Lincoln sites and eaten plenty of horseshoes (look it up if you’re curious). She graduated in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication (emphasis in mass media) and a minor in Political Science from the University of Illinois-Springfield, where she published (a few) articles in the campus newspaper. Because she wanted to spend time with her friends, Aimee joined the Model Illinois Government organization and served two years as Editor-in-Chief of the MIG Journal.
In 2011, Aimee came to Iowa State University to pursue a master’s degree in journalism. Her thesis, “Sourcing and Framing the 2012 Battle for the White House: A Student Media Analysis,” studied student newspapers from three swing states during the 2012 presidential election cycle. She received an ISU Research Excellence Award for her thesis and was published in the Newspaper Research Journal. She also served as a reporter and news editor for the Iowa State Daily.
Currently, Aimee teaches introductory English courses for ISUComm and plans to pursue creative nonfiction during her time as an MFA student.