Contributor Biographies 2021

Lily Braden is a junior studying English Education in the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Education. She was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. Lily is passionate about educating her peers on mental health, planning OAD events, and working with first-year students.

Kate Brennan was born and raised by the Jersey Shore. She is currently enrolled in the Newhouse School of Public Communications as a Newspaper & Online Journalism major. She loves writing, rock climbing, snowboarding, and coffee.

Pearl Cadigan is a senior studying Magazine, News, and Digital Journalism at the Newhouse School of Public Communications. She is an avid reader and writer, and is currently the editor-in-chief of Jerk Magazine.

Anika Carlson is a junior at Syracuse University majoring in International Relations and Information Management & Technology and minoring in Italian. Anika is from just outside of Chicago, Illinois. Besides school, she is involved with a social sorority on campus, a member of U100, a member of Dean’s Team (the ambassador program for College of Arts and Sciences) and she also works in Recreation Services here on campus.

Aquinnah Crosby is a first-year who enjoys art in all aspects. Their true objective with their art is to invoke emotion in people that words cannot.

Dakota Chambers is a senior studying Television, Radio, & Film and Sociology. She’s originally from Brooklyn, New York, but lives in South Jersey with her family and new puppy. She loves screenwriting and is working on a TV script for her Honors thesis, but she also practices journalism as an assistant copy editor at the Daily Orange!

Devon Drabick is a senior studying History in the College of Arts & Sciences. In her free time, she can be found outdoors, cuddling her cats, or with close friends. 

Taylor Drabick is a senior studying Biology, with minors in History and Spanish. She has two cats and loves plants and gardening. She enjoys writing poetry and creative fiction. 

Valerie Goldstein is a freshman Policy Studies major with a passion for ​performing. She wrote this song in response to the anti-Asian hate she has seen and experienced during the pandemic and hopes that others can find comfort in this song.

Zoe Glasser is a junior Magazine, News, and Digital Journalism major and U.S. History minor. When she’s not writing and editing for Jerk Magazine and 20 Watts Magazine, she’s spamming her Instagram story with song recommendations. 

Alyssa Gregg is a freshman from Kingsport, Tennessee. She is majoring in Broadcast and Digital Journalism in the Newhouse School of Public Communications. 

Alexandra Hodge is a sophomore studying Graphic Design and Information Management & Technology born and raised in The Bronx, NYC. When she’s not the design director of the Black and Latinx Information Science and Technology Society here on campus, she’s creating nail art and listening to music.

Connor Lawrence Johnson is a senior Acting Major in the VPA Drama program at SU. He is a student actor, writer, producer, musician, director, and sometimes, a ceramicist.

Katarina Kelly is a junior Musical Theatre major from the Bay Area who dabbles in songwriting in her illusive spare time.

Lacey Kenworthy is from Indiana and majoring in Political Science. She wanted to submit to TYSW because she never had an opportunity to share her photos with anyone, where they mostly just reside on phone. She took this opportunity to show where she’s from to people who have never been there before, and present to everyone how simple yet beautiful it is. She finds that most people never go to Indiana in their lifetimes, so she wanted to show the peacefulness especially when in a place like college with stress and a fast paced lifestyle. 

Odelia Lalehzarian is a senior studying Political Philosophy and Communications and Rhetorical Studies on the Pre-Law Track. Outside of her studies, she is involved with several Jewish organizations as well as cooking and swimming.

Kaitlin LaRosa is a sophomore double-majoring in Policy Studies and Environment, Sustainability, and Policy from Poughkeepsie, New York. She is a firm believer in writing to commemorate people, places, and things in life. 

Jenna Lee is a junior studying Biochemistry on a pre-dental track. Outside of class, she can be found getting involved in a variety of student organizations, especially with her sorority hosting cultural events and doing volunteer work. 

Rachel Lin is a Neuroscience and Biochemistry major (undeclared) in the class of 2025. She enjoys watching dramas and eating food, especially dumplings.

Samantha Lindell is a sophomore studying Broadcast and Digital Journalism in the Newhouse School of Public Communications. She is from Darien, CT, and although she is a journalism major, she loves to freewrite!

Phil Lockitt is a sophomore studying Advertising in the Newhouse School of Public Communications. Outside of class, he can be found in a variety of student organizations across campus, such as the TNH student-run Ad Agency or Z89 Radio, where he co-hosts a Friday morning talk show.

Molly Matheson is a sophomore at Syracuse studying Environmental Engineering. She loves anything involving the outdoors, including writing about it.

Hannah Meyer is a sophomore Communication & Rhetorical Studies student at Syracuse University. She wrote her first poetry anthology Here Lies My Shattered Heart her senior year of high school and is excited for more of her work to be featured in TYSW.

Ivonne Millan is a freshman majoring in Psychology and Social Work. She was born in Colombia and lived in New Jersey for more than 7 years. She is passionate about making art, writing, filmmaking and film appreciation. She wanted to submit her artwork because she wanted to share my story with others, providing a diverse perspective. 

Sophia Moore is a first-year Sociology and Magazine, News, and Digital journalism student. She enjoys writing poetry and personal essays, though reporting is her biggest passion. In her free time, Sophia is always looking for new music to listen to or scrolling through Twitter. 

Yasmin Nayrouz is a sophomore studying English & Textual Studies and Magazine, News, and Digital Journalism. She enjoys reading, art, and exploring new places.

Nina Piazza is a Linguistics Major and a TESOL minor, and she’ll be graduating this Spring, a year early. She enjoys writing prose creative fiction the most, but following her participation in the TYSW Anthology class, she developed a new appreciation of creative nonfiction. 

Tessa Pulgar is a current Honors undergraduate in the Bandier program at Newhouse, and is set to graduate in 2023.

Aparajita Rao is a senior studying Psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Tara Sandlin is a junior classical voice Performance major with a minor in Music History and Cultures. A passionate and compassionate storyteller with an unquenchable thirst to create, she thrives on creating catharsis, connection, and care through innovations in fine arts, spiritual engagement, and community building.

Maggie Sardino is a junior studying Writing and Rhetoric in the College of Arts and Sciences as well as citizenship and civic engagement in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. She enjoys telling stories that invite self-reflection and ignite change. 

Alexandra Siambekos is a junior at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, pursuing a degree in Television, Radio and Film with a minor in Anthropology. Through her film, Yia Yia and Papou: A Story of Perseverance, she sought to highlight vulnerable communities impacted by COVID-19 and capture an intimate portrait of her grandparents. 

Tasfia Sultana is a sophomore studying Computer Science in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. On campus, she is involved with Innovate Orange (marketing), ECS Excelerators, Honors Advisory Board, Girls Who Code, and the WellsLink Leadership Program. During her free time she likes to paint and explore new places.

Dorbor Tarley is a senior Human Development and Family Science major on the pre-health track from Rhode Island.  During her free time she likes to read, travel, workout, try new food spots and hairstyles. 

Evelina Torres is a freshman Political Science and CCE major from Houston, TX. In her free time, she love to jam out to music, read books, and catch up on her favorite podcast. She also likes to write personal poetry and prose as she thinks it is very therapeutic, and she wanted to submit this story because the moment was acutely painful.

Alaina Triantafilledes is a sophomore in the Renee Crown Honors Program. She is on track to major in Creative Writing along with Writing and Rhetoric. Outside of class, she attends Write Out, the campus creative writing club, and also does undergraduate research to sponsor local reading series and writing workshops. Hopefully, all of this literary preparation will lead her to an editorial career and a freelance writing contract!

Jose Arturo Venegas is from Southern California. He is a first-year undergraduate student studying Civil Engineering and Energy and Its Impacts. He has never been much into writing; however, after taking a creative writing class, he found a new passion in expressing his feelings through descriptive scenes of his memories. Creative writing has become his favorite form of literature and is a great way for him to ensure he remembers core parts of his childhood.

Franklin Wang is a sophomore studying Magazine, News, and Digital Journalism in Newhouse and Information Management in the iSchool.

Hailey Williams is a junior studying Political Philosophy and Policy Studies. “Freeing yourself was one thing, claiming ownership of that freed self was another.”

Mel Wilder is a sophomore studying Information Technology and Policy Studies. She also loves being involved around campus. She is a Daily Orange Columnist, a student athlete, and is involved in Greek life. Her favorite thing to do in her free time is create.