Mary Velazquez

Fulbright-Manchester Metropolitan University Award in Creative Writing

Coming from a Puerto Rican household, Mary’s cultural background has greatly influenced her creative endeavors. A fan of reading and writing fantasy and science fiction literature, Mary intends to write a collection of short stories in these genres spotlighting Latino characters, culture, and folklore. She attended Loyola University of Maryland where she earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in Writing, and minored in Studio Arts. During her time at Loyola, Mary was a dedicated member of the university’s Writing Center, serving as a tutor there for two years. The unwavering support and guidance of the Loyola writing department encouraged her to go forth and pursue a MA in Creative Writing, where she will continue developing her highly fantastical, passion project stories focused on Latino representation. 

Having become very close and involved with her undergraduate writing community, Mary hopes to do the same during her time at Manchester Metropolitan University. She is thrilled to be earning an education and honing her literary skills at this prestigious institution with such admirable faculty. Additionally, Mary looks forward to connecting with fellow creatives and learning about the stories of others. Outside of her written work, Mary loves to paint, go bike riding, and explore new places.