In its more than a century-long history when Lordsburg Academy became La Verne College and then today's University of La Verne, there have been many attempts to start a literary journal as an outlet for the creative writing, photography and artwork of the ULV community. In 1977 Dr. Esther Davis suggested the idea of "PRISMS," a magazine dedicated to such a purpose, and advisor Kathleen Irace heralded the first journal into production. Since then many faculty at ULV have provided advising services to the student editorial board including Catherine Henley Erickson, Kenneth Scambrey, Ann Fisher, Carol Fetty, and Janice Johnson. The production value of the magazine has changed with each faculty advisor, staff, and funds. The many incarnations of the magazine have gone from hand-typed and photocopied chapbook-sized stapled issues to an outstanding array of magazine-sized, full color, saddle-stapled issues through the Spring of 2004. When Janice Johnson left the University after celebrating Prism's 25th anniversary in May of 2004, the magazine became Prism Review and its production attached to the Introduction to Creative Writing class as part of a newly-designed Creative Writing minor curriculum.

In Fall 2004 the faculty of the Modern Languages Department reevaluated the mission and goals of Prism Review and took steps to make the literary journal more community oriented, striving to showcase the artistic talents of not just the Faculty and Students at ULV, but Alumni, Administrators and community member. The first Issue of 2005, advised by Kirsten Ogden, was square-bound for the first time, and showcased not only photography and illustrations, but a wider array of genres including prose poetry and literary non-fiction. A new website offered an online companion issue with full-color artwork and photography and more creative writing by students, faculty and alumni. The literary journal's budget was expanded and the journal once again began accepting donations and advertisements to help pay for a more polished and professional aesthetic.

In Spring 2005 Prism Review published a second time on the web-- a full and complete on-line issue. Because production costs in the past had limited the magazine to only one issue per year, this year's unprecedented fostering of a second issue was a welcome addition. The goal for the online issue, however, was a focus upon diverse-discourse and multi-media writing, genres difficult to showcase in a print edition of the literary journal. Under the advising of Professor Steven Westbrook and the design composed by Alexis Carillo as a senior thesis, the issue themed itself around Absurdity, Dissent and Identity, offering a surprising twist on the myriad ways in which writers place their work in the world.

After 2005, Prism Review sought consistency, and instituted an editorial staff of professional writers; the issues have been expanding their range of work, featuring solicited submissions from established writers, and also showcasing unsolicited submissions from the best high school student writers, undergraduate writers, and professional writers in the US and beyond. Welcome additions to the permanent staff include Elizabeth Pietrzak, Poetry Editor, who received her MFA from Antioch University; and Sean Bernard, Fiction Editor, who received his MFA from the Iowa Writer's Workshop. Students continue to learn and grow by participating in the magazine's production, and the work continues to service Prism Review's mission: to be a creative outlet that engages its readers and writers in a dialogue about the importance of art and writing in understanding our deeper humanity.