Amanda Jiang is a rising senior at Smith College. A Kahn Liberal Arts Institute Fellow, she is investigating bio-psycho-social risk factors for combat-related PTSD and TBI among military personnel and veterans. During her spare time, she enjoys writing poetry, exploring data mining, and meditating by the waterfall at Smith.
Izaki Metropoulos grew up in Chicago, Illinois. His areas of interest include Medieval Literature, Romanticism, Class Politics, Psychoanalysis, and Occultism. He is a member of the All-Illinois Academic Team and the recipient of multiple literary awards at Wright College– including the Styne Award and the Matthew Arnold Award. After graduation, he will attend Williams College to pursue a major in English Literature. Outside of school, Izaki plays traditional Greek and Balkan music professionally and frequently travels across the United States as a multi-instrumentalist. In his spare time, he loves to learn new languages, strike up conversations about controversial topics, and endlessly surf YouTube.
Maria Nguyen grew up in Chicago, Illinois and currently attends Truman College. She became the first in her family to pursue a college education. Her academic interests include Biology, Mathematics, and Foreign Languages. Throughout her academic life, she has enjoyed volunteering for non-profit organizations (e.g., Hana Center and Alliances with the Great Lakes). Along with her studies, she is active in Student Government as Head of Marketing & Communications, Phi Theta Kappa as VP of Fellowship, and the Environmental Club as Secretary. She will transfer to Loyola University Chicago in the fall of 2019 to study Biostatistics.
Allison Dell Otto was born and raised in Evanston. She is an avid book lover and has spent her academic career studying queer theory, critical race studies, and twentieth-century American literature. She is currently working toward an degree in teaching and couldn’t be more excited to become a high-school English teacher. When she’s not studying or reading, Allison can be found listening to old jazz records, running, or playing with her dog, Ripley.
Roberto Pacheco is returning student to Wright College. He is the vice-president of the Great Books Student Society and the Vice-President of Fellowship at Phi Theta Kappa. A former promoter and tour manager of the local metal and punk scenes, Roberto is now focused on obtaining an undergraduate degree in Business and Philosophy with aspirations to attend law school in the future.
Julia Borrell Pozo grew up in Barcelona and came to the United States in August of 2017 to pursue her interest in international relations. Julia can speak five languages fluently and has a special interest in traveling and exploring other cultures. She participated in two exchange programs with AFS (American Field Service) and four international European projects with the Erasmus+ initiative. She also has a professional violin degree and is currently a member of the Northwest Chicago Symphony Orchestra. After graduating from Wright College, Julia will attend the University of Amsterdam to study Psychology.
Gabby Sotelo was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. The daughter of a single immigrant parent, Gabby is the youngest of four kids and a first-generation college student. She aims to pursue a degree in the interdisciplinary fields of psychology, political science, literature, and law. Gabby enjoys participating in elections, serving her community, and being an avid activist. She also loves spending quality time with her family, as they are everything to her. Despite being shy, she loves getting to know people and exploring other cultures through food, music, entertainment, and religion.
Alisa Scott is a Wright College student currently pursuing a career in journalism. In late 2018, she participated in her first collaborative mural projects in Humboldt Park. As of now, Scott is exploring other art forms as she approaches the completion of her degree; she hopes to transfer, explore photojournalism, and continue creating art. Her ideas and opinions on literature are shaped by a protagonist’s internal conflict or external struggles which force them to overcome their flaws.