Spring 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 editor in chief 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.
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.
Connor O’Reilly, Associate 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.
Graci Komperda, Assistant Editor
Graci Komperda was born and raised in the Chicago area and currently attends Wilbur Wright College. Graci is a second-year 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 of Arts. She was born in San Diego, California but has lived in Chicago since she was four-years-old. She has been a member of the Great Books Student Society since 2023. She aspires to study aviation following her education at Wright College, but she also has a great passion for literature. She is very grateful for all that the Great Books Student Society club has brought to her last school year and is looking forward to further interacting with it going forward.
Stefania Nicola, Assistant Editor
Stefania Nicola was born in Chicago and raised by a family of Romanian immigrants. She currently attends Wright College and is pursuing an associate degree in science. They were the art director of the Great Books Student Society during the 2023-2024 school year. They intend to transfer to a four-year university to pursue a medical doctorate degree in the future, as well. They have enjoyed every moment of GBSS and will continue to support future members, writers, and poets of the Great Books Student Society.
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 four-year-old 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 first-year 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 2024-25 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.
Jessica Gramajo, Art Director
Jessica Gramajo was born and raised in Albany Park and currently attends Wright College as she pursues an associate’s degree in English. She was the club secretary of Great Books Student Society during the 2021-2022 school year and was part of the editorial staff in spring of 2024. She aspires to transfer to a four-year university and continue her academic path in literature and psychology. Her hobbies include writing, getting dubs on Fortnite and pursuing her small crochet business. Jessica is forever grateful to the GBSS Club, Professor Moctezuma and Professor Petersen for another enlightening semester of great literature and rich discussions.
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 four-year university after he graduates,
where he will work towards a future in graphic design.
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.
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, Instructor, University of California, San Diego Extension
Natasha Todorovich, English Department
Brendon Zatirka, English Department
Spring 2024 Graphic Design Board
Jessica Gramajo, Art Director
Graci Komperda, Cover Design
Stefania Nicola, Cover Design
Spring 2024 GBSJ Web Development:
Jeff Jirout, Director of IT
Gretta Komperda, Lead Developer
Robin Lopez, Web Design
Amanda Jiang, Web Design
Allen Loomis, Creator of the 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