Michael “Sebastian” Alderman is an Anthropology and History double major on the pre-medical track at Johns Hopkins University. Their work centers around post-modern indigenous health and identity in the Cherokee nation (where their current research focuses) and beyond. In Sebastian’s free time they like to travel, canoe, visit restaurants around Baltimore, and write lighter stories for the Johns Hopkins Newsletter.

Bryson Carroll is a junior majoring in History at Johns Hopkins University. He has experience undertaking historical research projects and is in the process of his senior thesis, a work focusing on social circumstances within the mid-twentieth century American south. In his spare time, Bryson enjoys taking road trips, hiking and volunteering around the Baltimore area.

Kylah Chacko is a senior at Johns Hopkins University studying International Studies and History on a Pre-Law track. Her research focuses on governance, legal frameworks, and human rights, with a particular interest in how law shapes everyday experiences and influences social growth. Drawing on both legal analysis and social context, her work examines how states define, regulate, and respond to forms of harm that fall outside traditional legal boundaries. In this piece, she explores the challenges of addressing street harassment within the constraints of First Amendment protections, highlighting the gap between legal standards and lived realities within the public sphere.

Amelia (Mia) Desalos (she/her) is a sophomore studying Anthropology and Political Science at Johns Hopkins University. With her work she explores the intersection between human rights and political movements, currently focusing this study with her research in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She is also interested in more broad discussions about capitalism’s effect on our day-to-day lives, something she explores specifically in this article.

Lemon Doroshow (they/them) is a sophomore studying Applied Mathematics and Statistics. They’re interested in the overlap between environmental sciences and public policy, and how human- and nature-centered perspectives can inform policy and management decisions. In their free time, Lemon enjoys playing bass and guitar, wildlife and landscape photography, and going on runs.

Jasmine Ilyas is a third-year student studying Political Science and Anthropology at Johns Hopkins University. Her research is focused on studying power dynamics and understanding how they work in everyday life, and throughout history. In her free time, Jasmine enjoys reading, journaling, and exploring cafes around the city.

Nithya is a freshman majoring in Medicine, Science, and the Humanities at Johns Hopkins University. She explores the intersection between medical sciences and the often overlooked historical, political, and cultural infrastructure informing them. In her free time, Nithya devotes herself to classical indian dance training and western flute. She also enjoys world literature, Sanskrit poetry, detective fiction across mediums, and spending time with her friends.

Finnigan Keane (he/they) is a sophomore Archaeology and Environmental Studies double major at Johns Hopkins University. Recently, his work “Reshuffling the Deck: Feminist and Queer Interventions in the Patriarchal Tarot” was presented at the Richard Macksey National Undergraduate Humanities Research Symposium. Outside of academics, Finnigan is an active member of theatre as Executive Producer of Witness Theater and Secretary for the JHU Barnstormers.

Erinn Luo is a freshman Molecular and Cellular Biology major with a bioethics minor. She’s passionate about eye care and ophthalmology. In her free time, she enjoys exploring different bakeries, reading, going on walks, and visiting different cities.

Perry Maddox is a socio-cultural anthropologist working at the intersections of indigeneity, climate politics, and millenarian religiosity in Latin America and the Caribbean. He is currently a PhD candidate in the Department of Anthropology at Hopkins. His dissertation, Burnt Earth and the Smell of Rain, traces the social and political life of climate change by moving between the UN climate process and Ngäbe campesino communities Indigenous to Panama. Perry has worked in Panama since 2016, in a sustained collaboration initiated by the grassroots Ngäbe environmental organization AAMICRO. Before coming to Hopkins, he completed an MA in anthropology at McGill University and two bachelors degrees (in environmental studies and music performance) at the University of Michigan. Apart from academic work, Perry maintains ongoing collaborations in experimental improvisation and sound arts, and enjoys climbing and spending time with water.

Nuhamine is a fourth-year student at Johns Hopkins University studying Neuroscience and Psychology. The Mirrored Sheep is a braided essay that intertwines her personal experiences growing up between Ethiopia and the United States with her interpretation of Rosa Bonheur’s Sheep by the Sea. Through this structure, she reflects on identity and growth, showing how art can mirror and make sense of one’s inner world.

Clara Pan is a sophomore majoring in Molecular & Cellular Biology at Hopkins. Clara is passionate about geriatric populations, where she works with and does research for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. In her free time, Clara loves to play tennis, binge Survivor with her friends, and listen to music (especially Bruno Mars), which her submitted paper is a reflection of.

Vaibhav Patel is a freshman majoring in Neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University. His research focuses on the cellular and cognitive mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases, with a particular interest in serving underprivileged populations. In his free time, Vaibhav enjoys traveling, baking, volunteering, trying new foods, and spending time with his family and friends. 

Katheryn Serrano (she/they) is a sophomore double majoring in Psychology and Cognitive Science at Johns Hopkins University. She is passionate about mental health and public policy on ensuring equal access to resources for everyone in order to receive proper care. In her free time, Katheryn loves to hang out with friends, go to cafes, and loves listening to music of all genres.

Johnny Sheng is a freshman at Johns Hopkins University. He is from Maryland and interested in political science, public health, and how statistics can be applied to real-world issues. He is a fan of Skibidi Toilet, a world-famous web series.

Crista Zepeda is a sophomore majoring in English and Writing Seminars at Johns Hopkins University. She is passionate about reading and writing and teaching younger generations to find their own passions while sharing hers. In her free time she enjoys reading, drinking boba, and learning new things. Her piece, “Place and Personhood” was created after learning about Mesoamerican cultures and art.