Spring 2023-2024 GBSJ Editorial Board:
Gretta Komperda, Editor-in-Chief
Gretta Komperda is a 2024 Wilbur Wright College graduate and plans to transfer to
Amherst College in the fall where she will study English Literature. She is excited for
what the future of her education holds but is extremely grateful for the transformative
relationships she created during her time at Wright. At Wright, she has been the
president of the Great Books Student Society and editorinchief of the Great Books
Symposium Journal since 2023. She is thankful for the amazing opportunities of these
past two years, such as the Star Scholarship, Presidential Scholarship, and the
CCCTU Union Scholarship. Gretta hopes that her academic career will end in a job
that allows her to help others while also being intellectually challenging. She enjoys
biking, basketball, reading literary classics, and most importantly, vanquishing her
opponents in Super Smash Brothers Ultimate.
Jessica Gramajo, Art Director
Graci Komperda, Assistant Editor
Graci Komperda was born and raised in the Chicago area and currently attends
Wilbur Wright College. Graci is a secondyear student pursuing an Associate in Arts.
She was the club treasurer of Great Books Club Student Society and hopes to take on
a leadership position in the upcoming academic year. Graci also earned a certification
for Exemplary Contribution to the Diplomacy Lab Project for the U.S. Dept. of State:
Mapping Multicultural Identity & Strengthening U.S.Singapore Cultural Ties. Also,
her artwork has been published in the Project S.A.F.E. zine. Graci also aspires to
become a constitutional lawyer, further pursuing her education at a 4year university
to earn her J.D. degree. Some of her hobbies include writing short fictional excerpts
and creating macabre art. She is enthused to continue her journey through this next
academic year with her friends and family by her side.
Robin Lopez, Assistant Editor
Robin Lopez currently attends Wilbur Wright College while pursuing an Associate ofArts. She was born in San Diego, California but has lived in Chicago since she wasfour years old. She has been a member of the Great Books Student Society sinceShe aspires to study aviation following her education at Wright College, but shealso has a great passion for literature. She is very grateful for all that the Great BooksStudent Society club has brought to her last school year and is looking forward tofurther interacting with it going forward.
Luis Luciano, InDesign Assistant Editor
Luis Luciano is a second year student at Wilbur Wright College in pursuit of an
Associate of Arts. He plans to transfer to a fouryear university after he graduates,
where he will work towards a future in graphic design.
Connor O’Reilly, Assistant Editor
Connor O’Reilly is a 2024 Wilbur Wright College graduate. He plans to transfer to
the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, majoring in environmental economics.
Michael Petersen, Faculty Advisor and Editor
Michael Petersen has been a professor at Wright College since 1999. He teaches literature and composition and is interested in Shakespeare studies, medieval and early modern literature, nineteenth- and twentieth-century British and American literature, and film. He received his Ph.D. from Northern Illinois University, and his dissertation discussed couplets and sententia in Shakespeare’s Sonnets.
Eleanor Reft, Journal Adjutant and Associate Editor
Eleanor Reft is a 2024 Wilbur Wright College graduate and Chicago native. She was
the vice president of the Great Books Student Society from spring of 2023 to spring of
2024, a member of the Alliance Club, and a member of PTK. Having now received
her associate degree, Eleanor intends to pursue a bachelor’s degree in anthropology
and later obtain a master’s degree in library science to become an archivist. She
enjoys literature, social science, media analysis, and queer studies. Her hobbies
include chicken keeping, playing electric guitar, and doll collecting
Sergio Romero, Journal Adjutant and Associate Editor
Sergio Romero was born in Colombia and has lived in Chicago since 2022. That
same year he began his education at Wilbur Wright College, from which he graduated
in the spring semester of 2024. He served as the club treasurer and secretary of the
Great Books Student Society during the 20232024 school year. He will continue his
education at Elmhurst University, seeking to obtain a bachelor’s degree in public
policy and administration. He aspires to work with nonprofit and government
organizations to promote cultural and language initiatives. Sergio speaks Spanish,
Polish, and English; his main interests are history and languages. He is grateful to all
the amazing faculty members and students who made his time at Wright an
unforgettable experience.
Ariana Salgado, Assistant Editor
Ariana Salgado is from Chicago and plans to graduate from Wright in 2025 with an
associate degree in English, concentrating in education. She is currently serving as an
assistant editor for this year’s Great Books Symposium Journal. Ariana is very
passionate about teaching and aspires to start her career as a teacher, eventually
moving into administrative positions within the educational system. Some of her
hobbies include reading and writing, and she will soon begin illustrating a children’s
book inspired by her fouryearold brother. Overall, she is very delighted to be a part
of this academic journey.
Arianna Vasquez, Assistant Editor
Arianna Vasquez was born and raised in Chicago and is a firstyear student at Wright
College in pursuit of an Associates in Art. She is a current member of the Great Books
Student Society, where she hopes to take on a leadership position for the 202425
year. She enjoys video games and anything fantasy! While she is not entirely sure
what her future holds, she is grateful to have met people who will help her figure out
her goals and aspirations.
Spring 2024 Faculty Editorial Panel:
Elizabeth Bobo, English Department, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Lorena Iribe Bracho, Humanities Department
Helen Doss, English Department
Justin Holt, Former Professor in Humanities Department
Lillian Huerta, Humanities Department, Austin Community College (TX)
Jean Lauer, Humanities Department, Austin Community College (TX)
Allen Loomis, Ph.D. Candidate, English Department, Binghamton University (NY)
Michael Mauritzen, English Department, Oakton Community College
Jose Moctezuma, English Department
Anna Proffit, Humanities Department
Suzanne Sanders, Articulation Officer, University of San Diego
Natasha Todorovich, English Department
Brendon Zatirka, English Department
Spring 2024 GBSJ Web Development:
Jeff Jiriot, Director of IT
Gretta Komperda, Web Development
Robin Lopez, Web Development
Amanda Jiang, Web Design
Allen Loomis, Creator of Online Journal
Previous Editorial Boards:
Symposium Editorial Board 2022-2023
Symposium Editorial Board 2021
Symposium Editorial Board 2020
Symposium Editorial Board 2019
Symposium Editorial Board 2018
Symposium Editorial Board 2017