Class of 2027
Gavin Fisk
Gavin Fisk, who comes from Franklin, Indiana, has majors in Journalism and American Studies, as well as a minor in English Literature. He is interested in studying the pervasion of propaganda into cultural media, especially as it pertains to the construction of masculinities. Fisk writes for campus media groups like North by Northwestern and Scene + Heard and enjoys reading, going for runs and playing guitar in his free time.
Kira Hughes
Kira Hughes is a Journalism and American Studies major from Clovis, California. Her research focus is centered on the role of women in alt-right organizations in the U.S. Outside of academics, she is a member of the Northwestern Mock Trial Team, Delta Gamma, the Undergraduate Law Journal and Northwestern's fashion magazine, Stitch. She enjoys movies, scrapbooking and Margaret Atwood novels.
Simon Olshan-Cantin
Simon Olshan-Cantin is a first year American Studies and History double major from Westport, Connecticut. He cares about music, movies, and his friends, and is interested in studying how solidarity is created around and across nationality, ethnicity, and class. He wants to understand why things are the way they are, and how they could be better.
Tahlia Margulies
Tahlia Margulies is a sophomore majoring in Theatre and American Studies with a minor in Legal Studies. She is a member of Northwestern's Mock Trial team, Kappa Delta sorority, and participates in musicals every quarter. She is very excited to be a part of American Studies because she loves its discussion based approach to discuss difficult but important topics within a small cohort.
Darby Martinez Stapelton
Darby is a double major in History and American Studies, hailing from Seattle, WA, and Denver, CO. Her research focuses on illuminating histories that are not traditionally told, with particular interest in the intersection of race and religion in the United States, the racist origins of gun laws and their contemporary implications, and the relationships between women of color and true crime media. On campus, Darby is an active member of the Women's Rugby Team and serves on the Library Student Advisory Committee. As a Leopold Fellow under Professor Kathleen Belew, she is currently researching significant historical events in Colorado during the 1990s. In her free time, Darby enjoys exploring Chicago via the "L," tackling the New York Times crossword, and lounging in nearby coffee shops.
Dina Miranda
Dina Miranda is a second-year from Long Beach, California, studying American Studies and English Literature. Her research interests lie in the intersections of race, labor, and the environment in 20th century America and their representations in media. She is currently a URAP research assistant under Prof. Shana Bernstein, researching California's toxic strawberry industry. Dina is also a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow and an incoming Leopold Fellow. Outside of class, she sings with University Chorale and is active in Kaibigan, NU's Filipino Students Association. You can find her at Philz Coffee.
Jamie Neiberg
Jamie Neiberg is a rising junior from downtown Manhattan, double majoring in journalism and American studies. She remains curious, whether that be about different historical movements or just completing a crossword puzzle. In addition to her role as a senior features editor on North by Northwestern, participating in the Sanders Scholars program and serving as a Leopold Fellow for Professor Kathleen Belew, she likes to read and hang out with her friends. If you see her on her phone, she'll probably be playing Spelling Bee or reading the recipes on New York Times cooking (though she never actually makes them).
Ashley Wong
Ashley Wong is a American Studies and Journalism double major from Singapore. She is most interested in American urbanism, counterculture movements, and visual cultures. As a curious non-citizen in the American Studies department, Wong looks forward to utilizing that tension to explore matters of cultural assimilation and an increasingly international Americana. Prior to attending Northwestern, she was a creative professional in Singapore, working in advertising agencies and the music business.
Clara Wood
Clara Wood is an American Studies major with a minor in Dance. Her interests lie in history through pop culture, media, and the environment as a social construct. Wood plans to explore the relationship between historical events and social change through mainstream media, with a concentration on gender dynamics. Outside of academics, Wood is the music director of Northwestern's "X-factors-" an Acapella group on campus- as well as a dancer in Northwestern's Latin American dance group, "Dale Duro." In her free time, Wood loves spending time with her dog, playing piano, and watching the sitcom "Friends."