Meet the Staff

Mira LaNasa (She/Her) – Managing Editor
Mira is the managing editor of Influx magazine. She’s a senior majoring in
journalism, with a focus in multimedia. Her dream biome would be a cityscape
near the mountains. Her favorite nature emoji is the chick, because it’s little, cute and looks kind of clueless.
“Do you know what I mean?” – Mira LaNasa

Bel Moran (She/They) – Writing and Editing
Bel is the leader of our writing team. They’re a senior majoring in journalism.
Their dream biome would be a small New England city, so that they could be
near every other biome and get them all at once. Their dream exotic pet would be a massive whale so they could fulfill their dream of being a sea hag who lives in a shack on the beach and rides their whale to distant islands.
“Despite everything, it’s still you” – Toby Fox, Undertale

Megan Phillips (She/Her) – Writing an Editing
Megan is the editing leader and copy editor of the writing team. She is a senior majoring in Journalism. Her dream biome is a cityscape, and her favorite nature emojis are the sea animals, because she has a cat named Squid.
“Work smarter, not harder” – Allen Morgenstern

Amanda Christensen (She/Her) – Writing and Editing
Amanda is a member of our writing and editing team. She’s a senior majoring in
Journalism. Her dream biome to live in would be a coastal city, and her dream
exotic pet would be a sea otter!
“I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! — When I have a
house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.” –
Jane Austen

Thomas Koslovsky (He/Him) – Writing and Editing
Thomas is a member of our writing and editing team. He is a senior majoring in
Journalism. His dream biome to live in is along the coasts, and his favorite nature emoji is the monkey covering its ears, because it’s useful in a variety of situations and seems the most friendly.
“The ones who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are
the ones who do” – Steve Jobs

Peter Nomeland (He/Him) – Writing and Editing
Peter is a member of our writing and editing team. He is a junior majoring in Journalism. His dream biome would be somewhere coastal, and his favorite nature emoji is the chicken because he seems chill.

“It’s ya boy.” – Jay-Z

Taylor Rivera (She/Her) – Writing and Editing
Taylor is a member of our writing and editing team. She is a senior majoring in Journalism. Her dream biome to live in would be a flowering saguaro field, as she is originally from Goodyear, Arizona. Her dream exotic pet would be a toucan.
“When you are doing something important, make sure you have a smile
on your face and a shine on your shoes.” – Katie Couric

Audrey Pickering (She/Her) – Writing and Editing
Audrey is a member of our writing and editing team. She’s a graduating senior
with majors in Journalism, English and a Certificate of Editing and Publishing.
Her dream biome to live in is a pine-filled forest, and her favorite nature emojis are the swan, the fern and the mushroom. “It’s the emoji retelling of swan lake”.
”I’ve never let schooling interfere with my education” – Mark Twain

Ivana Truong (She/Her) – Writing and Editing
Ivana is a member of our writing and editing team. She’s a sophomore majoring in Journalism and Biochemistry. Her dream biome would be the mountains or the coast because whenever she’s there she feels like she’s in a postcard. Her dream exotic pet would be nudibranchs (sea slugs) because they’re cool and very low maintenance.
“Girls, come on! Leave the saving of the world to the men? I don’t think so.
I don’t think so.” – Elastagirl, The Incredibles

Emily Sizen (She/Her) – Writing and Editing
Emily is a member of our writing and editing team. She is a senior majoring in English and journalism. Her dream biome to live in would be out in the forest somewhere, and her favorite nature emojis are the Earth emoji and the poodle emoji, because it reminds her of her dog.
“Embrace uncertainty” – Uncertain

Anna Short – Writing and Editing

Owen Radke (He/Him) – Photo and Video
Owen is the leader of the photo team. He is a senior majoring in theatre arts and journalism with a focus on visual media. His dream biome would be a city, but a city with some trees would be nice. His dream exotic pet would be a raccoon.
“I hope you don’t take this the wrong way, but I think your inside is your
best side.” – Sophie Xeon

Caroline Smith (She/Her) – Photo and Video
Caroline is the leader of our video team. She is a senior majoring in . Her dream biome is somewhere coastal, and her dream pet is her current dog, Georgia. Her favorite nature emojis are the tidal wave and creepy smiling moon.
“Ugh, as if!” – Cher Horowitz, Clueless

Darby Davis (She/Her) – Photo and Video
Darby is a member of our photo and video team. She’s a senior majoring in
broadcast journalism with a minor in sports management. Her dream exotic pet would be a lemur, and her favorite nature emoji is the cactus because she loves the south, where she hails from.
“I’ll never pass up a chance to be in the spotlight” – Darby Davis

Olivia Knowles (She/Her) – Photo and Video
Olivia is a member of the photo and video team. She is a senior with majors in journalism and sport management with a focus in sport law. Her dream biome would be a coastal forest and her favorite nature emoji is the otter because he’s big chilling.
“Shake and bake” – Unknown

Adriana Dominguez (She/They) – Photo and Video

Adriana is a member of our photo and video team. They’re a junior majoring in
Journalism & English and minoring in Fashion Studies. Their dream biome to live in would be a small mountain town near a lake and their favorite nature emoji is the Mushroom, in their words, “because mushroom”.

“Chaos is what killed the dinosaurs, darling” – JD, Heathers

CJ Larson (She/They) – Design and Graphics
CJ is the leader of our design team. She is a senior majoring in journalism with a
focus in UI and UX design. Her dream biome to live in would be by the beach,
and her dream exotic pet would be a snowy owl. Coincidentally, her favorite
nature emoji is also the owl.
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams” –
Eleanor Roosevelt

Heather Selleck (She/Her) – Design and Graphics
Heather is the leader of our graphics team. She is a senior majoring in journalism and biology, society and the environment. Her dream biome to live in would be a forest, possibly in the northwest where there are also coasts and mountains. Her dream pet would be a snow leopard.
“You can never be overdressed or overeducated” – Oscar Wilde

Jaimee Kretsch (She/Her) – Design and Graphics
Jaimee is a member of our design and graphics team. She is a senior majoring in journalism. Her dream biome to live in would be the mountains, and her favorite nature emojis are the little squid and the mushroom, because they’re both very cute.
“If you follow your dreams, you are capable of anything” – Unknown

Pasia Vang (She/Her) – Design and Graphics
Pasia is a member of our design and graphics team. She’s a senior majoring in journalism with a minor in Asian American studies. Her dream biome to live in would be a cityscape, and her favorite nature emoji is the sparkle because of its versatility. It can be used for emphasis, to compliment, as general sparkle, and it always gives what it needs to.
“Peed myself. Explains the drip.” – Unknown

Jessica Gordon (She/Her) – Design and Graphics
Jessica is a member of our design and graphics team. She is a senior majoring
in strategic communication. Her ideal biome to live in would be the mountains, and her favorite nature emoji is the two paw prints because she is a huge dog person.
“I decided to try really hard.” – Colin Jost

Paige Bremer (She/Her) – Design and Graphics
Paige is a member of our design and graphics team. She’s a senior majoring in journalism. Her dream biome to live in would be either the forest or the coast, and her favorite nature emoji would probably be the little sprout because it’s cute.
“I carried a watermelon.” – Baby, Dirty Dancing

Kate Atkinson (She/Her) – Social Media and PR
Kate is the leader of our social media and PR team. She is a senior majoring in journalism. Her dream biome to live in would be a cityscape, and her favorite nature emoji is the hedgehog, because she loves the animal and the emoji has a goofy little grin.
“I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring.”–David Bowie

Shemarr Kilgore (He/Him) – Social Media and PR
Shemarr is a member of our social media and PR team. He is a senior in the journalism school. His dream biome to live in would be a cityscape, and his
favorite nature emoji is the dog, because it’s the dog emoji. His dream exotic pet would be a small monkey.
“Always try to create change” – Unknown

Marlee Louden (She/Her) – Social Media and PR
Marlee is a member of our social media and PR team. She is a senior majoring in Journalism. Her dream biome would be on the coasts, and her favorite nature emojis are the frog, giraffe, monkey, palm trees and sun. The frog is so cute, she loves monkeys and giraffes, and the palm trees and sun remind her of warmer weather.
“Be your own kind of beautiful” – Unknown

Josephine Meinert (She/Her) – Social Media and PR
Josie is a member of our social media and PR team. She is a junior majoring in
strategic communications with minors in leadership and digital media studies.
Her dream biome to live in would be somewhere coastal, and her favorite nature emoji is the three twinkling stars because it can be used in many contexts, but it’s especially funny in ironic contexts and adds a bit of spice.
“Discomfort is the price of admission to a meaningful life” – Susan David

Eva Metz (She/Her) – Social Media and PR
Eva is a member of our social media and PR team. She is a senior with majors in retail merchandising and journalism. Her dream biome to live in is a cityscape, concrete jungle all the way. Her favorite nature emoji is the flamingo because they’re chic, flirty and kind of random. She was and still is obsessed with them.
“I like my money right where I can see it…hanging in my closet” – Carrie
Bradshaw” – Eva Metz

Camilla Breen (She/Her) – Innovation Team
Camilla is one half of our innovation team. She’s a junior majoring in Journalism with a focus in Media Design. Her dream biome to live in would be the frozen tundra because she “could make it work”. Her favorite nature emoji is the shrimp because it’s just a little guy, look at that little guy!
“I can’t really explain it. I haven’t got the words” – Billy Elliott, Billy Elliott

Carly Quast (She/Her) – Innovation Team
Carly is the other half of our innovation team. She’s a senior majoring in
journalism. Her dream biome would be somewhere coastal, and her dream exotic pet would be the koala bear. Her favorite nature emoji is the chick coming out of the egg, because it is too cute not to like.
“Get in loser, we’re going to Kung Fu Tea” – Carly Quast

Tosin Faseemo (She/They) – Web and Design
Tosin is our web and digital editor and web team leader. They’re a senior
majoring in Journalism and minoring in Sociology. Their dream biome to live in
would be a tropical rainforest, and their favorite nature emoji is the monkey
covering its eyes because it can be used in a variety of contexts and is very
cheeky!
“Horses don’t stop, they keep going.” – Young Thug

Carter Fry (He/His) – Web and Design
Carter Fry is a member of our web and digital team. Originally from Maryland, He’s a senior majoring in Journalism at the University of Minnesota. He has two pet cats and loves all animals. His favorite hobbies are watching sports and playing video games.
“Go Chargers!” – Keenan Allen – Carter Fry

Sara Quinn – Publisher

Mark Porubcansky- Publisher