Shane Hawk (left) and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.

Tribal College Journal is pleased to announce that authors Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. and Shane Hawk will serve as guest editors for the 2026 edition of TCJ Student. They join an esteemed cadre of writers, poets, and artists who have served in that capacity, including Daniel H. Wilson, Tommy Orange, Tiffany Midge, Gwen Westerman, Kelli Jo Ford, Richard Van Camp, and Linda LeGarde Grover.

Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. (Mackinac Bands of Chippewa and Ottawa Indians) is the author of the award-winning story collections Sacred Smokes and Sacred City. His final book in the trilogy, Sacred Folks, was published by the University of New Mexico Press in October 2024. He is the co-editor of the bestselling Never Whistle at Night from Vintage/Penguin Random House. His debut novel, The El, was recently published by Vintage/PRH in August 2025. His work has appeared in Southwest Review, Chicago Review, The Journal of Working-Class Studies, Red Earth Review, Massachusetts Review, and Indian Country Today.

Shane Hawk (Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma) is a horror writer and contributing editor at Counterpoint Press. His debut collection, Anoka, was released in 2020 and contributed to the growing wave of Indigenous horror, reshaping the genre. Hawk is widely known as the co-editor of the bestselling anthology series Never Whistle at Night. He has also co-written a horror stage play titled The Land Has Spoken and has an original television series in development. He lives in San Diego, California, with his wife and daughter.

“This coming year we have not one, but two guest editors for TCJ Student so it’s sure to be a special issue,” says TCJ publisher Bradley Shreve. “Van Alst and Hawk are two of the most exciting writers out there so look out! It’s a great opportunity for tribal college students to have their work read and reviewed by these two.”

TCJ Student is currently soliciting short stories, poetry, memoirs, artwork, and short films from tribal college students for the 2026 contest. TCJ will be giving $1000 in prizes and will publish the winning entries in the 2026 edition of TCJ Student and online at TCJStudent.org. The deadline for writing submissions is February 6, 2026. The deadline for art and film submissions is March 13, 2026. For contest guidelines and the official entry form, visit: tcjstudent.org/contest/.

TCJ Student helps foster creative writing and highlights the talents of tribal college students. Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. and Shane Hawk will announce the winners in March 2026.