The inspiration to do an honors thesis came from one of her professors, not herself, says Caitlin Bisaccio ’08. “When I found out that I could graduate a year early, thanks to college courses I had taken in high school,” she explains, “I approached Professor Peter Bailey and asked him if I could do an independent study with him.” To her delight, Bailey, who is also English department chair, “one-upped” her and asked if she would be interested in applying for an honors project, according to Bisaccio.

Bisaccio, of Manlius, NY, and a graduate of Fayetteville-Manlius High School, is writing a series of short fiction pieces focusing on endings and creative writing.

“Ever since high school I have loved creative writing, she says. When I came to St. Lawrence, I took Techniques of Fiction with Professor Bailey,” says Bisaccio. “He really inspired me to write again. He had more faith in me than I did!”

Since last fall, Bisaccio has written a 15-page story and a 50-page novella that is “still in the works.”  Bisaccio adds that she has “loved challenging my inner writer again” and enjoys reading her pieces aloud because “they seem to come alive.” 

An English major, Bisaccio works in the admissions office and is a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.  Her advisor is Associate Professor of English Mary Hussmann.