Spring 2021 Staff

The Burr is the first student-produced magazine for Kent State University, the city of Kent and anyone looking for strong, journalistic storytelling.

We strive to provide our readers with interesting, humorous and hard-hitting stories that tap into current events, trends and the lives of those who have made a home in Kent.

Editorial Board

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
SARA CRAWFORD

Sara Crawford is a senior journalism student from Lakewood, Ohio, with minors in public relations and political science and is in her last semester of college. She is the editor-in-chief for The Burr, with this being her fifth semester. In addition to working for The Burr, she is the opinions editor for The Kent Stater. When not working for The Burr, she is typically under the covers, binge-watching a new show of choice or restarting “New Girl” for the sixth time. You can follow her on Twitter at @sara_crawford1 to learn more about her journey in journalism!

MANAGING EDITOR
ANNIE ZWISLER

Annie Zwisler is a junior journalism major with a minor in pre-law from Green, Ohio. She is the managing editor, and this is her second semester working for Tthe Burr. She has written political news for Tthe Kent Stater and was a public relations assistant for Teleproductions. She is the president of Flash Harmony acapella group and was a participant in the St. John’s Law School summer law program. She hopes to attend law school after undergrad and eventually become an attorney. In her free time, she enjoys frequenting the Goodwill, spending time with her family and perfecting her Pinterest account.

ART DIRECTOR
ELLIOT BURR

Elliot Burr is a senior visual communication design student who will be graduating this spring. They have worked for The Burr for three years, and this is their second semester as art director. Elliot is interested in pursuing illustration as a profession upon graduating. They are also passionate about creating work for nonprofit organizations, and they currently raise money through their artwork with proceeds donated to nonprofits. They have a strong love for frogs, strawberries and cozy blankets. Autumn, in their opinion, is the superior season, because who doesn’t want to wear sweaters all the time and step on crunchy leaves? Elliot’s social media showcases the variety of work they create professionally, pro bono and art simply made for the joy of it. You can follow them on Instagram @elliot_design. 

PHOTO EDITOR
ANNA LAWRENCE

Anna Lawrence is a junior majoring in photography. She is the photo editor, and this is her fifth semester working for The Burr. She has been practicing photography for five years, and her favorite subjects to photograph are people, fashion and nature. She especially loves to stage photos into stories of her own. Besides dedicating her time to photography, Anna also loves to cuddle with her two goldendoodles whenever she gets the chance. In her free time, she loves to watch movies, play games and listen to music. Anna tries to find inspiration in everything that she does. You can follow her journey on Instagram @annatl_photos. 

WEB EDITOR
AUGUSTA BATTOCLETTE

Augusta Battoclette is a senior journalism major and business management minor with a passion for music journalism. This is her third semester working for The Burr, and she is excited to work with an amazing staff. She has been writing since before she knew how to read and has been a journalist since seventh grade. You can find more of her work here.

COPY DESK CHIEF
ABIGAIL BOTTAR

Abigail Bottar is a junior at Kent State. She is pursuing a major in political science with a concentration in American politics and minors in history and women’s studies. This is Abigail’s fourth semester working for The Burr and second as copy desk chief. She also is an intern at WKSU. In her free time, Abigail enjoys going to Trader Joe’s, listening to copious amounts of public radio and trying new cookie recipes. You can follow her on Twitter @AbigailBottar to see more of her work. 

SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR
KAITLYN FINCHLER

Kaitlyn Finchler is a sophomore journalism major with a minor in public relations from Delaware, Ohio. She is the promotions director this semester, but in the past, she has been a writer, blogger, photographer and social media assistant. Aside from The Burr, she is the photo editor and a reporter for KentWired. She is also a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority. Kaitlyn can be reached on Instagram and Twitter @kaitlynfinchler and by email at [email protected]. 

WRITING SENIOR EDITOR
HOLLY LIPTAK

Holly Liptak is a junior journalism major with a minor in design from Green, Ohio. She is the senior editor for the writers and an assigning editor for The Kent Stater. When she isn’t editing, Holly can be found watering her plants, advocating for the Oxford comma or enjoying copious amounts of pasta. You can find her on Instagram @h.liptk.

ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR
EMMA GREATHOUSE

Emma Greathouse is a visual communication design major with a minor in user experience design from Buffalo, New York. This is her first semester working for The Burr, and she is very excited to gain experience as the assistant art director. When she isn’t doing schoolwork or working at one of her three jobs, you can find Emma talking to her friends, spending time with her family building LEGO kits, playing board games or doing crafts. Emma is set to graduate in the fall, so she is hoping to return to Kent for her final semester. You can follow Emma on Instagram @emgphotos_.

ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
PEIYU LIU

Peiyu Liu is a junior photography major with a design minor at Kent State. This is her first semester as an assistant photo editor blogging for The Burr. While she usually focuses on portrait, still life, architectural and food photography, she also has a passion for design. Her photography works have been selected for the 2020 juried student show’s photography category. Fall is her favorite season since she likes to collect different shapes and colors of fallen leaves as her bookmarks. You can follow her on Instagram @pei_pycy to see more of her photography.

Our Spring 2021 Team

GRACE MARIE BURTON
WEB ASSISTANT/WRITER

Grace Marie Burton is a sophomore journalism major. Aside from The Burr, she also works for Black Squirrel Radio and other independent publications. She’s a pop culture junkie with a deep love of music and writing about music. 

LILLIANNA DIFINI
SOCIAL MEDIA ASSISTANT

Lillianna DiFini is a second-year student at Kent State pursuing her education in communication studies with a concentration in relational and workplace communication. In addition, she is working toward earning her minor in public relations and is also involved with Kent State’s Public Relations Student Society of America. With a passion for journalism, Lillianna immersed herself into The Burr her first year of college and now has previous experience creating content for the magazine through online blogs and as a writer. To further explore her interests in both journalism and public relations, she is now a part of The Burr spring 2021 staff as an addition to the social media and promotions team. 

SARAH MCGINNIS
WRITER

Sarah McGinnis is a senior from New Jersey, studying fashion merchandising with a minor in fashion media. In addition to writing for Tthe Burr for her second semester, she is also a web writer for A Magazine. Sarah was previously a writing intern for Bruised Knuckles and a contributor for Her Campus Kent State. She plans to one day work as a fashion writer with a focus in sustainability. When Sarah isn’t writing or studying, you can find her watching horror movies, crocheting or starting her fifth cup of coffee. You can contact her at [email protected] and follow her on Instagram @veggiegrl.

BRIE CAMP
WRITER

Brie Camp is a junior journalism major who hails from an inconsequential little town in Pennsylvania known only for its local liberal arts college and its overwhelming amount of pizza joints. Brie switched majors from English to journalism, but has always held a passion for words and their many sneaky ways of stringing together to create meaningful stories. This is their second semester at The Burr. They also work as an intern for WKSU and as a writer for Fusion Magazine. In their minimal spare time, Brie enjoys cooking, spending time with their girlfriend and their dogs Samson and Buddy, caring for their plants and watching great films. You can usually catch Brie on campus working at the Student Center or grabbing a coffee to keep them and their laptop company. You can contact Brie via email at [email protected], or you can follow them on Instagram @_b_a_n_a_n_a_g_r_a_m_s.

GRACE CHRISTOPHER
WRITER

Grace Christopher is a second-year graduate student pursuing her master’s degree in journalism and mass communication. Grace has her bachelor’s degree in history and political science from Youngstown State University. This is her second semester as a staff writer for The Burr. In her free time, she enjoys reading, watching TV and walking her goldendoodle, Belly. 

JULIA DUANETTO
WRITER

Julia Duanetto is a non-binary, Brazilian, sophomore neuroscience major currently pursuing an associate’s degree in liberal studies. A first semester writer, Julia’s motivation to take part in The Burr was set in motion by their favorite types of writing, which include feature stories and opinion pieces. In addition to The Burr, Julia is a writer for Fusion Magazine and the secretary for the Thirst Project at Kent State. Outside of university, Julia enjoys practicing yoga, reading and spending time with their dog, Styx. Julia is very passionate about social justice and environmental awareness, which you can check out in their future writings. To follow Julia’s journey, you can find them on Instagram @jds.xv.

HOPE MCGUIRE
WRITER

Hope McGuire is a sophomore at West Branch High School. She is a part of the College Credit Plus program at Kent State Salem and is very interested in writing and journalism. She wrote competitively in seventh and eighth grade, achieving a multitude of accolades. Last year, she won a $250 scholarship for winning an essay contest held by Aultman Hospital. In her free time, she enjoys playing tennis, walking her goat, writing and reading. Hope wants to have a career in writing, specifically screenwriting and horror novels. She would also like to have a degree in early childhood education. You can follow her on Instagram @mcguireisonfire or on Twitter @hope_says_hello.

MOLLY HEIDEMAN
WRITER

Molly Heideman is a senior journalism major from Avon, Ohio. This is her second semester writing for The Burr, and she currently serves as the managing editor for The Kent Stater. Molly has always had a passion for writing and would write short stories and poems growing up. Molly is graduating this semester and hopes to work in the journalism field after graduation. When she’s not writing or reporting, you can find her making a new Spotify playlist, crocheting or taking walks around campus. You can contact her at [email protected] or follow her on Instagram @mollyheid.

CASSIDY GLADIEUX
BLOGGER

Cassidy Gladieux is a sophomore journalism major from Toledo, Ohio, pursuing a minor in criminal justice studies. This is her second semester blogging for The Burr and she also writes articles for Her Campus. When she’s not writing, Cassidy enjoys reading, listening to true crime podcasts and spending time with her dog, Maggie May. In the future, Cassidy hopes to write opinion-based pieces for a women’s magazine with a focus on empowering and inspiring women to embrace all parts of themselves. To follow Cassidy’s writing journey, you can follow her on all social media @cgladieux04 or follow her Instagram dedicated to her writings @cassidy.blogs.

TAYLOR GAY
BLOGGER

Taylor Gay is a sophomore journalism student with a minor in fashion media from Canton, Ohio. This is her first semester with The Burr, and she is also a web writer for A Magazine. She always loved writing but found her niche this past year writing for her own blog LifeWithTaylorG. Along with The Burr and A Mag, she is an active member of Sigma Sigma Sigma and a South by Sea campus manager. You can follow Taylor @taylor_gay15 on Instagram to look a little more into her life!

KATHRYN HUDNELL
BLOGGER

Kathryn is a junior English major with a concentration in professional writing and a creative writing minor from Louisville, Ohio. This is her first semester blogging for The Burr. She is working on pursuing a career in freelancing and bringing people together with shared stories. She began embracing her love of writing during her senior year of high school and can’t wait to see where it takes her (hopefully to the top of The New York Times Bestseller List). Kathryn is a member of Sigma Tau Delta and has been a student success leader. In her free time, she can be found walking her dog, working on her latest embroidery project or scanning Goodreads for a book to read. You can follow her on Instagram @_katiehudnell__.

JENNA BAL
BLOGGER

Jenna Bal is a freshman journalism major with a design minor. This is her first semester blogging for The Burr. When she’s home in Toledo, Jenna enjoys working as a barista and spending time with her younger sisters. Her hobbies include reading, hiking and journaling, and her current favorite read is “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn. After graduation, she hopes to write for a magazine and eventually pursue her master’s degree in library sciences. Keep up with her work  on Twitter @bal_jenna. 

SHANE MCGINNIS
BLOGGER

Shane McGinnis is a sophomore visual communication design major. This is his first semester working for The Burr, and he is excited to explore a new side of creativity and writing.  He also works for the Kent State Recreation in Operations and the Adventure Center.  When he’s not writing his blog or struggling to climb up the wall at the rec center, he likes running and riding his bike around Kent. He also has a love of NPR and Radiolab podcasts. You can follow him on Instagram @shane_mcginnis.

ALYSSA LAMBO
BLOGGER

Alyssa Lambo is a senior communication studies major with a concentration in applied communication. In her first semester as a blogger for The Burr, she is excited to be working with a unique group of people and to be able to share her unique blog ideas with the Kent State community. Alyssa is also a member of the Alpha Phi sorority on campus and was previously active in various campus events. Her go-to writing companion is a cup of coffee and good music! You can follow Alyssa on Instagram and Twitter @alyssalambo. 

SIERRA SEVERT
BLOGGER

Sierra Severt is a freshman dance performance major with minors in arts entrepreneurship and professional and technical writing. She has been dancing since she was three years old, is a company member of the Kent Dance Ensemble and hopes to join a professional dance company in the future. Alongside her dance career, she loves reading and writing, and she aspires to write for a dance magazine someday. When she is not dancing, writing or studying, Sierra loves listening to music, doing yoga, baking and drinking chai lattes. This is Sierra’s second semester working for The Burr, and she is excited to see what opportunities this semester brings. You can follow her on Instagram @sierra_s__ or email her at [email protected]. 

NICOLE SALEM
BLOGGER

Nicole is a senior visual communication design major with a double minor in user experience design and marketing. This is her first year working for The Burr, and she is so excited to be able to express herself through writing, which is something she’s never done publicly before. Nicole has a passion for art and writing and finds a lot of her inspiration from connecting to nature. In her free time, she loves reading, watching horror movies, exploring nature and visiting new coffee shops. You can follow her on Instagram @nicoleesalem.

EMMA ANDRUS
COPY EDITOR

Emma Andrus is a sophomore journalism student from Olmsted Falls, Ohio, pursuing a minor in public relations. This is her third semester with The Burr. In addition, Emma is a copy editor for The Kent Stater/KentWired. She has been passionate about storytelling and the power of the written word ever since she could read and write, and she is looking forward to seeing what The Burr will accomplish this spring. When Emma is not pursuing her passion for words, she can be found reading, making and listening to music or enjoying good pasta. You can follow her @EmmaBAndrus on Twitter to keep up with her journalism-related endeavors. 

KATIE FLACK
COPY EDITOR

Katie Flack is a freshman English major from Temecula, California. Minoring in creative writing, she aspires to be published as a young adult author in the years after college, a dream she has had since first writing creatively in middle school. When not reading or writing, she can be found obsessing over “Star Wars,” getting lost in the Marvel Cinematic Universe or hanging out with whatever animal she can find. She is a copy editor for The Burr in her first semester on staff and is excited to see where editing takes her. You can follow her writing and editing journey on Twitter @katieflack2187.

EMMA FISHER
PHOTOGRAPHER

Emma Fisher is a freshman nursing major from Navarre, Ohio. This is her first year as a photographer for The Burr, and she is very excited to see where this journey takes her. Emma’s passion for photography began in her freshman year of high school when it was between getting either a goat or a camera. As a photographer, Emma enjoys taking photos of the junior hockey team back home. She also enjoys finding new coffee shops and driving long distances for her favorite fast food coffee, Tim Hortons. You can follow her on her personal Instagram account @emmarosef5 to see a look into her life or on her photography Instagram account @erfphotography_ to see her passion for hockey photography and her favorite photo of one of her favorite foods, lemons. 

HAYLEY VITALE
PHOTOGRAPHER

Hayley Vitale is a sophomore majoring in photography with a minor in marketing. This spring, she will be working as a photographer for The Burr for the second time. She has been taking photos for about eight years, but she really found a passion in photography a few years ago when she was chosen to take athletic photos for her high school and started a small business taking senior portraits. Hayley hopes to gain more photography experience with The Burr so she can leverage it and her degree to pursue a career in her field someday. She is really excited this semester to engage in new photo assignments and experience working for a student-run magazine. You can follow her on Instagram @hvphoto.graphy.

CEEJAY SCOTT
PHOTOGRAPHER/VIDEOGRAPHER

CeeJay Scott is a sophomore majoring in digital media production. From Cleveland, Ohio (let’s go Browns!), this is his first semester working for The Burr. He has never worked for a magazine before, so he is excited for the experience. As an upcoming photographer and videographer, it is essential to CeeJay that he works with team members in order to tackle projects. Therefore, he is looking forward to working with the staff. CeeJay currently works for Teleproductions, which broadcasts sports and events held on Kent State’s campus. He also does freelance work as a photographer and videographer for various clients. He is very skilled in his field of work and is learning new things everyday. You can follow CeeJay on Instagram @SV.Snipe and onTwitter @SV_Snipe. You can find more of his work here. 

ABBEY PICKENS
ILLUSTRATOR

Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Abbey Pickens is ecstatic to be joining The Burr team as an illustrator. Abbey is a sophomore majoring in visual communication and design and minoring in user experience design. Harboring a lifelong passion for illustration, Abbey is excited to bring her technique and style to The Burr team! She loves exploring many different avenues of artist expression in addition to illustration, such as painting and jewelry making to name a few. In her free time, you can find her at a local thrift store or playing with her two pet ferrets. Stay up to date on Abbey’s art and other creative endeavors by following her on Instagram @xabbeypickensx. 

PAIGE GASKINS
ILLUSTRATOR

Paige Gaskins is a sophomore from Ravenna, Ohio majoring in visual communication design and French. This is her first semester working for The Burr. Additionally, she works at the Design Innovation Hub as a DI crew member and as a recording assistant at the Performing Arts Building. In her free time, she listens to audiobooks and illustrates either digitally or with a pencil and paper. She loves learning French, and she is excited to grow as an artist this semester with The Burr! You can see some of her artwork on Instagram @art_by_the_paige. 

PRESTON RANDALL
ILLUSTRATOR

Preston Randall is a junior design student from Columbus, Ohio, focusing primarily on illustrative design with a minor in studio art. This is his first semester working for The Burr as a member of the illustration team. Alongside his studies at Kent State, he is taking multiple online illustration and art courses to further his talent as an illustrator as well as taking commissions for character designs, storyboards and comic strips, all in hopes to one day make a career out of his art. Some of his other passions include reading graphic novels, hiking and exploring the fields of astronomy and history. You can find more of his work on Instagram @parof98.

MIRANDA SEPÚLVEDA
ILLUSTRATOR/DESIGNER

Miranda Sepúlveda is a sophomore from Meadville, Pennsylvania, studying visual communication design with a minor in Spanish. This is her second semester working for The Burr. Additionally, she works as the event programmer for the Spanish and Latino Student Association (SALSA) and is a subject tutor at the Academic Success Center. In her free time, she can usually be found drawing or reading anything from novels to poetry. Some of her other passions include yoga and meditation, foreign languages and mindfulness. You can see more of her artwork on Instagram @miranda_sepulveda or @mirando_a_miranda6. 

EMILY ASLANIS
ILLUSTRATOR/DESIGNER

Emily Aslanis is a senior majoring in visual communication design and will be graduating this spring. This is her first semester designing and illustrating for The Burr, and she is also a designer and illustrator for A Magazine. Emily has a strong passion for illustrating, music and adventuring outdoors. 

WES KOOGLE
DESIGNER

Wes Koogle is a senior visual communication design student graduating this spring. This is his third semester designing for The Burr. He is also the art director for Fusion Magazine. Some of his favorite parts of design are typography, layout and print design, which is why he keeps coming back to designing for the magazines on campus. He is the cat dad of Apollo, who will be one year old in March. Apollo has been keeping him sane for the past few months. Wes has an interest in skiing and is a ski instructor at Boston Mills in the winters. His favorite colors happen to be blue and gold, unrelated to any particular university around these parts.

The Burr is the first student-produced magazine for Kent State University, the city of Kent and anyone looking for strong, journalistic storytelling.

We strive to provide our readers with interesting, humorous and hard-hitting stories that tap into current events, trends and the lives of those who have made a home in Kent.

Editorial Board

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
SARA CRAWFORD

Sara Crawford is a senior journalism student from Lakewood, Ohio, with minors in public relations and political science and is in her last semester of college. She is the editor-in-chief for The Burr, with this being her fifth semester. In addition to working for The Burr, she is the opinions editor for The Kent Stater. When not working for The Burr, she is typically under the covers, binge-watching a new show of choice or restarting “New Girl” for the sixth time. You can follow her on Twitter at @sara_crawford1 to learn more about her journey in journalism!

MANAGING EDITOR
ANNIE ZWISLER

Annie Zwisler is a junior journalism major with a minor in pre-law from Green, Ohio. She is the managing editor, and this is her second semester working for Tthe Burr. She has written political news for Tthe Kent Stater and was a public relations assistant for Teleproductions. She is the president of Flash Harmony acapella group and was a participant in the St. John’s Law School summer law program. She hopes to attend law school after undergrad and eventually become an attorney. In her free time, she enjoys frequenting the Goodwill, spending time with her family and perfecting her Pinterest account.

ART DIRECTOR
ELLIOT BURR

Elliot Burr is a senior visual communication design student who will be graduating this spring. They have worked for The Burr for three years, and this is their second semester as art director. Elliot is interested in pursuing illustration as a profession upon graduating. They are also passionate about creating work for nonprofit organizations, and they currently raise money through their artwork with proceeds donated to nonprofits. They have a strong love for frogs, strawberries and cozy blankets. Autumn, in their opinion, is the superior season, because who doesn’t want to wear sweaters all the time and step on crunchy leaves? Elliot’s social media showcases the variety of work they create professionally, pro bono and art simply made for the joy of it. You can follow them on Instagram @elliot_design. 

PHOTO EDITOR
ANNA LAWRENCE

Anna Lawrence is a junior majoring in photography. She is the photo editor, and this is her fifth semester working for The Burr. She has been practicing photography for five years, and her favorite subjects to photograph are people, fashion and nature. She especially loves to stage photos into stories of her own. Besides dedicating her time to photography, Anna also loves to cuddle with her two goldendoodles whenever she gets the chance. In her free time, she loves to watch movies, play games and listen to music. Anna tries to find inspiration in everything that she does. You can follow her journey on Instagram @annatl_photos. 

WEB EDITOR
AUGUSTA BATTOCLETTE

Augusta Battoclette is a senior journalism major and business management minor with a passion for music journalism. This is her third semester working for The Burr, and she is excited to work with an amazing staff. She has been writing since before she knew how to read and has been a journalist since seventh grade. You can find more of her work here.

COPY DESK CHIEF
ABIGAIL BOTTAR

Abigail Bottar is a junior at Kent State. She is pursuing a major in political science with a concentration in American politics and minors in history and women’s studies. This is Abigail’s fourth semester working for The Burr and second as copy desk chief. She also is an intern at WKSU. In her free time, Abigail enjoys going to Trader Joe’s, listening to copious amounts of public radio and trying new cookie recipes. You can follow her on Twitter @AbigailBottar to see more of her work. 

SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR
KAITLYN FINCHLER

Kaitlyn Finchler is a sophomore journalism major with a minor in public relations from Delaware, Ohio. She is the promotions director this semester, but in the past, she has been a writer, blogger, photographer and social media assistant. Aside from The Burr, she is the photo editor and a reporter for KentWired. She is also a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority. Kaitlyn can be reached on Instagram and Twitter @kaitlynfinchler and by email at [email protected]. 

WRITING SENIOR EDITOR
HOLLY LIPTAK

Holly Liptak is a junior journalism major with a minor in design from Green, Ohio. She is the senior editor for the writers and an assigning editor for The Kent Stater. When she isn’t editing, Holly can be found watering her plants, advocating for the Oxford comma or enjoying copious amounts of pasta. You can find her on Instagram @h.liptk.

ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR
EMMA GREATHOUSE

Emma Greathouse is a visual communication design major with a minor in user experience design from Buffalo, New York. This is her first semester working for The Burr, and she is very excited to gain experience as the assistant art director. When she isn’t doing schoolwork or working at one of her three jobs, you can find Emma talking to her friends, spending time with her family building LEGO kits, playing board games or doing crafts. Emma is set to graduate in the fall, so she is hoping to return to Kent for her final semester. You can follow Emma on Instagram @emgphotos_.

ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
PEIYU LIU

Peiyu Liu is a junior photography major with a design minor at Kent State. This is her first semester as an assistant photo editor blogging for The Burr. While she usually focuses on portrait, still life, architectural and food photography, she also has a passion for design. Her photography works have been selected for the 2020 juried student show’s photography category. Fall is her favorite season since she likes to collect different shapes and colors of fallen leaves as her bookmarks. You can follow her on Instagram @pei_pycy to see more of her photography.

Our Spring 2021 Team

GRACE MARIE BURTON
WEB ASSISTANT/WRITER

Grace Marie Burton is a sophomore journalism major. Aside from The Burr, she also works for Black Squirrel Radio and other independent publications. She’s a pop culture junkie with a deep love of music and writing about music. 

LILLIANNA DIFINI
SOCIAL MEDIA ASSISTANT

Lillianna DiFini is a second-year student at Kent State pursuing her education in communication studies with a concentration in relational and workplace communication. In addition, she is working toward earning her minor in public relations and is also involved with Kent State’s Public Relations Student Society of America. With a passion for journalism, Lillianna immersed herself into The Burr her first year of college and now has previous experience creating content for the magazine through online blogs and as a writer. To further explore her interests in both journalism and public relations, she is now a part of The Burr spring 2021 staff as an addition to the social media and promotions team. 

SARAH MCGINNIS
WRITER

Sarah McGinnis is a senior from New Jersey, studying fashion merchandising with a minor in fashion media. In addition to writing for Tthe Burr for her second semester, she is also a web writer for A Magazine. Sarah was previously a writing intern for Bruised Knuckles and a contributor for Her Campus Kent State. She plans to one day work as a fashion writer with a focus in sustainability. When Sarah isn’t writing or studying, you can find her watching horror movies, crocheting or starting her fifth cup of coffee. You can contact her at [email protected] and follow her on Instagram @veggiegrl.

BRIE CAMP
WRITER

Brie Camp is a junior journalism major who hails from an inconsequential little town in Pennsylvania known only for its local liberal arts college and its overwhelming amount of pizza joints. Brie switched majors from English to journalism, but has always held a passion for words and their many sneaky ways of stringing together to create meaningful stories. This is their second semester at The Burr. They also work as an intern for WKSU and as a writer for Fusion Magazine. In their minimal spare time, Brie enjoys cooking, spending time with their girlfriend and their dogs Samson and Buddy, caring for their plants and watching great films. You can usually catch Brie on campus working at the Student Center or grabbing a coffee to keep them and their laptop company. You can contact Brie via email at [email protected], or you can follow them on Instagram @_b_a_n_a_n_a_g_r_a_m_s.

GRACE CHRISTOPHER
WRITER

Grace Christopher is a second-year graduate student pursuing her master’s degree in journalism and mass communication. Grace has her bachelor’s degree in history and political science from Youngstown State University. This is her second semester as a staff writer for The Burr. In her free time, she enjoys reading, watching TV and walking her goldendoodle, Belly. 

JULIA DUANETTO
WRITER

Julia Duanetto is a non-binary, Brazilian, sophomore neuroscience major currently pursuing an associate’s degree in liberal studies. A first semester writer, Julia’s motivation to take part in The Burr was set in motion by their favorite types of writing, which include feature stories and opinion pieces. In addition to The Burr, Julia is a writer for Fusion Magazine and the secretary for the Thirst Project at Kent State. Outside of university, Julia enjoys practicing yoga, reading and spending time with their dog, Styx. Julia is very passionate about social justice and environmental awareness, which you can check out in their future writings. To follow Julia’s journey, you can find them on Instagram @jds.xv.

HOPE MCGUIRE
WRITER

Hope McGuire is a sophomore at West Branch High School. She is a part of the College Credit Plus program at Kent State Salem and is very interested in writing and journalism. She wrote competitively in seventh and eighth grade, achieving a multitude of accolades. Last year, she won a $250 scholarship for winning an essay contest held by Aultman Hospital. In her free time, she enjoys playing tennis, walking her goat, writing and reading. Hope wants to have a career in writing, specifically screenwriting and horror novels. She would also like to have a degree in early childhood education. You can follow her on Instagram @mcguireisonfire or on Twitter @hope_says_hello.

MOLLY HEIDEMAN
WRITER

Molly Heideman is a senior journalism major from Avon, Ohio. This is her second semester writing for The Burr, and she currently serves as the managing editor for The Kent Stater. Molly has always had a passion for writing and would write short stories and poems growing up. Molly is graduating this semester and hopes to work in the journalism field after graduation. When she’s not writing or reporting, you can find her making a new Spotify playlist, crocheting or taking walks around campus. You can contact her at [email protected] or follow her on Instagram @mollyheid.

CASSIDY GLADIEUX
BLOGGER

Cassidy Gladieux is a sophomore journalism major from Toledo, Ohio, pursuing a minor in criminal justice studies. This is her second semester blogging for The Burr and she also writes articles for Her Campus. When she’s not writing, Cassidy enjoys reading, listening to true crime podcasts and spending time with her dog, Maggie May. In the future, Cassidy hopes to write opinion-based pieces for a women’s magazine with a focus on empowering and inspiring women to embrace all parts of themselves. To follow Cassidy’s writing journey, you can follow her on all social media @cgladieux04 or follow her Instagram dedicated to her writings @cassidy.blogs.

TAYLOR GAY
BLOGGER

Taylor Gay is a sophomore journalism student with a minor in fashion media from Canton, Ohio. This is her first semester with The Burr, and she is also a web writer for A Magazine. She always loved writing but found her niche this past year writing for her own blog LifeWithTaylorG. Along with The Burr and A Mag, she is an active member of Sigma Sigma Sigma and a South by Sea campus manager. You can follow Taylor @taylor_gay15 on Instagram to look a little more into her life!

KATHRYN HUDNELL
BLOGGER

Kathryn is a junior English major with a concentration in professional writing and a creative writing minor from Louisville, Ohio. This is her first semester blogging for The Burr. She is working on pursuing a career in freelancing and bringing people together with shared stories. She began embracing her love of writing during her senior year of high school and can’t wait to see where it takes her (hopefully to the top of The New York Times Bestseller List). Kathryn is a member of Sigma Tau Delta and has been a student success leader. In her free time, she can be found walking her dog, working on her latest embroidery project or scanning Goodreads for a book to read. You can follow her on Instagram @_katiehudnell__.

JENNA BAL
BLOGGER

Jenna Bal is a freshman journalism major with a design minor. This is her first semester blogging for The Burr. When she’s home in Toledo, Jenna enjoys working as a barista and spending time with her younger sisters. Her hobbies include reading, hiking and journaling, and her current favorite read is “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn. After graduation, she hopes to write for a magazine and eventually pursue her master’s degree in library sciences. Keep up with her work  on Twitter @bal_jenna. 

SHANE MCGINNIS
BLOGGER

Shane McGinnis is a sophomore visual communication design major. This is his first semester working for The Burr, and he is excited to explore a new side of creativity and writing.  He also works for the Kent State Recreation in Operations and the Adventure Center.  When he’s not writing his blog or struggling to climb up the wall at the rec center, he likes running and riding his bike around Kent. He also has a love of NPR and Radiolab podcasts. You can follow him on Instagram @shane_mcginnis.

ALYSSA LAMBO
BLOGGER

Alyssa Lambo is a senior communication studies major with a concentration in applied communication. In her first semester as a blogger for The Burr, she is excited to be working with a unique group of people and to be able to share her unique blog ideas with the Kent State community. Alyssa is also a member of the Alpha Phi sorority on campus and was previously active in various campus events. Her go-to writing companion is a cup of coffee and good music! You can follow Alyssa on Instagram and Twitter @alyssalambo. 

SIERRA SEVERT
BLOGGER

Sierra Severt is a freshman dance performance major with minors in arts entrepreneurship and professional and technical writing. She has been dancing since she was three years old, is a company member of the Kent Dance Ensemble and hopes to join a professional dance company in the future. Alongside her dance career, she loves reading and writing, and she aspires to write for a dance magazine someday. When she is not dancing, writing or studying, Sierra loves listening to music, doing yoga, baking and drinking chai lattes. This is Sierra’s second semester working for The Burr, and she is excited to see what opportunities this semester brings. You can follow her on Instagram @sierra_s__ or email her at [email protected]. 

NICOLE SALEM
BLOGGER

Nicole is a senior visual communication design major with a double minor in user experience design and marketing. This is her first year working for The Burr, and she is so excited to be able to express herself through writing, which is something she’s never done publicly before. Nicole has a passion for art and writing and finds a lot of her inspiration from connecting to nature. In her free time, she loves reading, watching horror movies, exploring nature and visiting new coffee shops. You can follow her on Instagram @nicoleesalem.

EMMA ANDRUS
COPY EDITOR

Emma Andrus is a sophomore journalism student from Olmsted Falls, Ohio, pursuing a minor in public relations. This is her third semester with The Burr. In addition, Emma is a copy editor for The Kent Stater/KentWired. She has been passionate about storytelling and the power of the written word ever since she could read and write, and she is looking forward to seeing what The Burr will accomplish this spring. When Emma is not pursuing her passion for words, she can be found reading, making and listening to music or enjoying good pasta. You can follow her @EmmaBAndrus on Twitter to keep up with her journalism-related endeavors. 

KATIE FLACK
COPY EDITOR

Katie Flack is a freshman English major from Temecula, California. Minoring in creative writing, she aspires to be published as a young adult author in the years after college, a dream she has had since first writing creatively in middle school. When not reading or writing, she can be found obsessing over “Star Wars,” getting lost in the Marvel Cinematic Universe or hanging out with whatever animal she can find. She is a copy editor for The Burr in her first semester on staff and is excited to see where editing takes her. You can follow her writing and editing journey on Twitter @katieflack2187.

EMMA FISHER
PHOTOGRAPHER

Emma Fisher is a freshman nursing major from Navarre, Ohio. This is her first year as a photographer for The Burr, and she is very excited to see where this journey takes her. Emma’s passion for photography began in her freshman year of high school when it was between getting either a goat or a camera. As a photographer, Emma enjoys taking photos of the junior hockey team back home. She also enjoys finding new coffee shops and driving long distances for her favorite fast food coffee, Tim Hortons. You can follow her on her personal Instagram account @emmarosef5 to see a look into her life or on her photography Instagram account @erfphotography_ to see her passion for hockey photography and her favorite photo of one of her favorite foods, lemons. 

HAYLEY VITALE
PHOTOGRAPHER

Hayley Vitale is a sophomore majoring in photography with a minor in marketing. This spring, she will be working as a photographer for The Burr for the second time. She has been taking photos for about eight years, but she really found a passion in photography a few years ago when she was chosen to take athletic photos for her high school and started a small business taking senior portraits. Hayley hopes to gain more photography experience with The Burr so she can leverage it and her degree to pursue a career in her field someday. She is really excited this semester to engage in new photo assignments and experience working for a student-run magazine. You can follow her on Instagram @hvphoto.graphy.

CEEJAY SCOTT
PHOTOGRAPHER/VIDEOGRAPHER

CeeJay Scott is a sophomore majoring in digital media production. From Cleveland, Ohio (let’s go Browns!), this is his first semester working for The Burr. He has never worked for a magazine before, so he is excited for the experience. As an upcoming photographer and videographer, it is essential to CeeJay that he works with team members in order to tackle projects. Therefore, he is looking forward to working with the staff. CeeJay currently works for Teleproductions, which broadcasts sports and events held on Kent State’s campus. He also does freelance work as a photographer and videographer for various clients. He is very skilled in his field of work and is learning new things everyday. You can follow CeeJay on Instagram @SV.Snipe and onTwitter @SV_Snipe. You can find more of his work here. 

ABBEY PICKENS
ILLUSTRATOR

Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Abbey Pickens is ecstatic to be joining The Burr team as an illustrator. Abbey is a sophomore majoring in visual communication and design and minoring in user experience design. Harboring a lifelong passion for illustration, Abbey is excited to bring her technique and style to The Burr team! She loves exploring many different avenues of artist expression in addition to illustration, such as painting and jewelry making to name a few. In her free time, you can find her at a local thrift store or playing with her two pet ferrets. Stay up to date on Abbey’s art and other creative endeavors by following her on Instagram @xabbeypickensx. 

PAIGE GASKINS
ILLUSTRATOR

Paige Gaskins is a sophomore from Ravenna, Ohio majoring in visual communication design and French. This is her first semester working for The Burr. Additionally, she works at the Design Innovation Hub as a DI crew member and as a recording assistant at the Performing Arts Building. In her free time, she listens to audiobooks and illustrates either digitally or with a pencil and paper. She loves learning French, and she is excited to grow as an artist this semester with The Burr! You can see some of her artwork on Instagram @art_by_the_paige. 

PRESTON RANDALL
ILLUSTRATOR

Preston Randall is a junior design student from Columbus, Ohio, focusing primarily on illustrative design with a minor in studio art. This is his first semester working for The Burr as a member of the illustration team. Alongside his studies at Kent State, he is taking multiple online illustration and art courses to further his talent as an illustrator as well as taking commissions for character designs, storyboards and comic strips, all in hopes to one day make a career out of his art. Some of his other passions include reading graphic novels, hiking and exploring the fields of astronomy and history. You can find more of his work on Instagram @parof98.

MIRANDA SEPÚLVEDA
ILLUSTRATOR/DESIGNER

Miranda Sepúlveda is a sophomore from Meadville, Pennsylvania, studying visual communication design with a minor in Spanish. This is her second semester working for The Burr. Additionally, she works as the event programmer for the Spanish and Latino Student Association (SALSA) and is a subject tutor at the Academic Success Center. In her free time, she can usually be found drawing or reading anything from novels to poetry. Some of her other passions include yoga and meditation, foreign languages and mindfulness. You can see more of her artwork on Instagram @miranda_sepulveda or @mirando_a_miranda6. 

EMILY ASLANIS
ILLUSTRATOR/DESIGNER

Emily Aslanis is a senior majoring in visual communication design and will be graduating this spring. This is her first semester designing and illustrating for The Burr, and she is also a designer and illustrator for A Magazine. Emily has a strong passion for illustrating, music and adventuring outdoors. 

WES KOOGLE
DESIGNER

Wes Koogle is a senior visual communication design student graduating this spring. This is his third semester designing for The Burr. He is also the art director for Fusion Magazine. Some of his favorite parts of design are typography, layout and print design, which is why he keeps coming back to designing for the magazines on campus. He is the cat dad of Apollo, who will be one year old in March. Apollo has been keeping him sane for the past few months. Wes has an interest in skiing and is a ski instructor at Boston Mills in the winters. His favorite colors happen to be blue and gold, unrelated to any particular university around these parts.

KERI FABRIZI
DESIGNER

Keri Fabrizi is a sophomore at Kent State. She is majoring in both marketing and visual communication design. This will be her first semester working for The Burr as a designer. Keri is currently volunteering for the Uhuru Solidarity Movement. She is assigned to their reparations project to create promotional materials for their events. Her hobbies include crocheting amigurumi and drawing. When she gets free time from studying, she can be found watching anime, reading fanfiction or petting her cat. You can follow her on Instagram @keri_fabrizi_19.