People

Richeler Aladin

Film Professor/Producer

Richeler Aladin is an award-winning independent filmmaker, educator, and proud Texas State University alumnus, where he graduated with honors and completed his thesis Script to Screen: A Production Story Trimillennial. As the founder of Aladin Studios, he has directed and produced Evinced, distributed by Gravitas Ventures, and two ShortsTV-featured short films, while earning recognition from KVUE Austin, CBS Austin, and The Austin Chronicle. Aladin seeks to inspire students as a film professor at Texas State University, blending industry experience with practical filmmaking techniques.

Richeler Aladin

Michael Alexandersson

Singer/Musician

Coming from a musical family, music has been a central part of Michael’s life. His great-grandfather, Paul Alexandersson, had three hits in Sweden in the 1930s. His father played alongside legends such as Fats Domino and Percy Sledge and was the original frontman for the Blue Eyed Soul Revue. Michael began accompanying his dad to gigs at a young age, sometimes joining him on stage. At 16, Michael was discovered by a modeling agent and soon found himself walking the catwalk for Yves Saint Laurent in Paris. The fashion industry’s instant success and fast-paced lifestyle overwhelmed him, leading him down a dark path. Michael’s modeling career ended within a few years, but it was a wake-up call that prompted him to get clean. In 2022, Michael was profoundly impacted when his Uncle Pauly lost his battle with addiction and tragically passed away. Michael is pursuing his dreams honoring his uncle’s life and love of music. Michael was a contestant on the most recent season of NBC’s THE VOICE.

Michael Alexandersson

Michael Archer

Conflict Journalist

Michael Archer is a conflict journalist from Cork, Ireland. His undergraduate degree is in Law and Political Science at Trinity College Dublin. He is currently pursuing an MA in International Journalism at City, University of London. He has reported from Northern Ireland, Transnistria, Lebanon, and Ukraine.

Michael Archer

Antoine Brimbal

Conflict Journalist Founder & Editor-in-Chief, The Modern Insurgent

Antoine Brimbal is a conflict journalist from France and Serbia. He began his career in conflict journalism by founding and developing The Modern Insurgent without any former contacts, investments, or experience in the world of journalism. Thanks to the outlet’s success, he then joined international crews to film documentaries around the world, ranging from the hiding spots of Maoist war criminals in Nepal to reporting on Hezbollah in Lebanon. He is also a student of International Relations at IE University in Madrid, Spain. Antoine is fluent in 5 languages and his interest in politics, conflict/security studies, and diplomacy have led him to combine his on-the-ground experience in conflict zones (obtained via conflict journalism) with more diplomatic/political efforts (through his work in international organizations). Antoine’s background also involves academic debates, public speaking events, and analytical research.

Antoine Brimbal

Sabrina Chapa

Founder and Executive Director, Ties To La Tierra

Sabrina is a Xicana/Mexica from the Gulf Coast and Southern Plains of Texas. Sabrina is a proud “Earth Protector at the intersections of just practice, biocultural ecology, and radical transformation”. She has a Master of Science in Ecological Justice, Indigenous Studies, and Environmental Policy as well as, a Bachelor of Science in Geography and Environmental Resources. Sabrina likes to spend her time outdoors, hunting, fishing, dancing, and side questing.

Sabrina Chapa

Adrian Cornejo

Head of Internal Relations The Modern Insurgent

Adrian Cornejo is a junior at Texas State University majoring in Political Science with a minor in International Studies. Originally from Dallas, Texas, he is a Latino student passionate about political and global issues. Adrian is currently working at the Texas Capitol in Austin for a state representative. As Head of Human Resources at The Modern Insurgent, he handles internal operations, including managing paperwork such as contracts, coordinating team recruitment and development, supervising editors and writers, and supporting team members with questions and concerns. He is an aspiring attorney and plans to attend law school after completing his undergraduate studies.

Adrian Cornejo

Liam Coyle

Photojournalist

Liam Coyle is a photojournalist from South Florida who has been actively practicing photography since 2016. Although he is formally educated in automotive technology from Universal Technical Institute’s Ford program, Liam developed an interest in geopolitics and OSINT after learning about the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea. Influenced heavily by the works of Cathrine Leroy, Christopher Morris, Hunter S. Thompson, and heightened political tensions in 2020, Liam decided to leave the automotive industry and work towards a career in conflict journalism. Liam began building his portfolio by documenting political actions such as the March For Our Lives rallies and Pro-Abortion protests as well as writing for the Modern Insurgent team. Now, he finds himself as the Head of Photojournalism for The Modern Insurgent and the Director of Photography for numerous projects on the frontlines, such as his work in Lebanon and Ukraine.

Liam Coyle

Mela Sarajane Dailey

Musician/CEO/Founder

Mela Sarajane Dailey is a Grammy-winning international vocal performer celebrated for her versatility, artistry, and profound ability to connect with audiences. With a career spanning opera, oratorio, musical theater, jazz, gospel, country, and popular music, she has captivated fans and critics alike with her dynamic stage presence and vocal mastery.

In addition to her distinguished performance career, Dailey serves as the CEO and founder of American Artists Project (AAP), a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding and creating opportunities for underrepresented artists. Under her leadership, AAP has developed and produced programs such as The Greg Easley-Bryant Young Artist Program, Somos, Broadway Brunch, Sing Joy, and Variations, all designed to nurture emerging talent and bring diverse voices to the forefront of the arts community.

Mela Sarajane Dailey

Meggie Emerick

Artist/Photographer

Meggie Emerick is an artist and photographer living in San Marcos, Texas. She discovered her obsession for photography early on, spending hours a day riding her bicycle around her hometown and stopping to photograph anything that caught her eye (often crouched in the grass taking larger-than-life photographs of bugs and nature).

The excitement that photography brought her led Meggie to a decade-long career in photography. Her appreciation of nature, wildlife, and the planet sparked her to pursue further education at Texas State University where she received her B.S. in Resource and Environmental Studies.

Meggie currently manages a film lab in San Marcos and hosts a local photography club that encourages exploration, education, and community through cameras.

Entranced by the magic of the river that brings her community together, Meggie is deep diving into a multi-year project documenting life along the San Marcos River on 35mm film

Meggie Emerick

Naveen Farrani

Writer/Organizer

Naveen Farrani is a former theatre kid, current communications professional, and (hopefully one day) future Jeopardy champion. They hold a BA in English from Fordham University and an MA in Interdisciplinary Studies from NYU. Naveen enjoys talking about gender, diaspora angst, and how many Scorpio placements are in their birth chart. They have pancakes for dinner more often than they care to admit.

Naveen Farrani

Sepidah Farsi

Writer/Filmmaker

Born in Tehran, Sepideh Farsi moved to Paris to study mathematics but soon drifted towards cinema. After some short films, her documentary HOMI SETHNA, FILMMAKER won several awards. Followed by HARAT and TEHRAN WITHOUT PERMISSION, which both premiered in Locarno. Her first two features DREAMS OF DUST and THE GAZE premiered at the Rotterdam film festival. She then directed THE HOUSE UNDER THE WATER (Fipresci Prize in Moscow IFF), followed by RED ROSE, which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in 2014, followed by DESPO, LABROS, SPYRIDOULA & PAPANDREOU. Her last documentary 7 VEILS won the Grand Prix of the French Competition in FID Marseille festival (2017). In 2019, she shot “I will cross tomorrow” in Greece. Her latest film “THE SIREN” (animation feature) was the opening film in Berlinale (Panorama) and has won a dozen of awards ever since amongst which the Asia Pacific Screen Award for the Best Animation and the Best Music award (Annecy). Her latest film “Put your soul on your hands and walk” is a documentary, exploring the abyss of the war in Gaza.

Sepidah Farsi

Tommy Florio

Songwriter/Producer

LOUD HOUND is the indie project of singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Tommy Florio. Known for his hazy blend of surf rock, dream pop, and alternative influences, LOUD HOUND crafts music that evokes the carefree essence of summer with a tinge of nostalgic introspection. Hailing from Philadelphia, LOUD HOUND has amassed millions of streams across platforms, resonating with listeners around the globe through his signature mix of laid-back melodies and honest, emotive lyricism.

Tommy Florio

Joe Gallagher

Writer/Actor

Joe Gallagher is a New York-based actor and film producer. His feature film acting credits include PLEDGE directed by Daniel Robbins and written by Zack Weiner, ABJECT directed by David R Williams, and CITIZEN WEINER, for which Joe also co-wrote the story. Since graduating from Fordham University with a degree in Economics, Joe has worked Off-Broadway in New York, as well as produced a handful of feature films under the banner of Manhattan Movie Studio, a start-up production/distribution house that he co-founded in 2021.

Joe Gallagher

Rowan Glass

Anthropologist, Journalist, Editor, and Filmmaker

Rowan Glass is an anthropologist, journalist, editor, and filmmaker from Oregon. His research and reporting have taken him from Indigenous territories in Colombia and Mexico to primary schools in Senegal, Kurdish restaurants in Greece, music festivals in Morocco, and anarchist gatherings in the Pacific Northwest. In all his work, Rowan endeavors to help tell engaging stories about underreported people and places through incisive research and creative endeavors. Whether at a keyboard, behind a camera, or in the field, Rowan is always looking for the next chance to apply his skills to creative and impactful ends. Rowan holds a BA in cultural anthropology from the University of Oregon and is currently an MA student in folklore at Indiana University Bloomington.

Rowan Glass

Asher Ixba

Organizer/Psychology major

Asher Ixba is a Psychology student and member of the Honors College at Texas State University. They are the treasurer of Allied Scholars for Animal Protection @ TXST, a national animal rights organization with a vision for the complete abolition of speciesism and cruelty to human and nonhuman animals. Asher has been involved in the activism space since beginning a club in high school, and they have an immense passion for achieving real change in communicative and intentional ways.

Asher Ixba

Tara Joyce

Writer/Zinemaker

Tara Joyce is an independent San Marcos based artist whose work is primarily distributed through homemade zines when not scrawled on bar bathroom walls. She is a creator of the DIY-focused San Marcos Kitchen Collective where she shares her own satirical newspapers, clown cartoons, and short form literature. The Collective also facilitates the self-publication of authors and artists of varied backgrounds with a thrifted printer, pirated editing programs, and an inherited sewing machine.

Tara Joyce

Lucas Kraft

Photographer

Lucas Kraft is a photography BFA major at Texas State interested in using photography to contrast people with their environments and document the subjects’ identities. Lucas works primarily in black and white and utilizes film as well as digital. His other hobbies include collecting found photographs and he maintains a blog in which he writes about various artists and art movements.

Lucas Kraft

Ashley Lewis

Rural Regional Organizer, MOVE Texas

Ashley is the Rural Regional Organizer at MOVE Texas. She works to mobilize communities in rural areas by engaging residents in local initiatives and advocating for their needs. She puts on weekly tablings where she is able to hear directly from community members on issues that they care about and impact them.

Ashley Lewis

Evelyn Lopez

DJ & Co-Director, KTSW Music Department

Evelyn Lopez is a music enthusiast and first-generation student at Texas State University. She is a co-director for the music department at the on-campus radio station. At KTSW, she has coordinated live coverage, written for their blog, and developed an on-air radio show called “Tapped In.” She will be graduating in May 2025 with a major in psychology and double minoring in human development & family sciences and mass communication. Evelyn has a passion for unraveling her favorite albums and utilizing music to bridge people together.

Evelyn Lopez

Regina Macias

Law Student/Alumna

Since growing up in El Paso, Texas, Regina has been deeply aware of the struggles faced by marginalized communities. This awareness blossomed during her undergrad and law school, where she found a calling in advocating for equitable access to justice. Regina, a student dedicated to public interest law, has worked to analyze how policies disproportionately affect communities of color and has supported legal initiatives to address these disparities while working at the Texas Workforce Commission and San Antonio Legal Services Association. Her passion for this work has primarily focused on labor law. This summer, Regina will intern at Community Legal Services of Philadelphia, where she will work directly with low-income clients. By using the law to dismantle barriers and uplift marginalized voices, Regina hopes to continue building a future where justice is accessible to all.

Regina Macias

Rosa Martinez

Writer/DJ/Activist

Rosa Martinez is a writer, activist, and DJ living in New York City. Their background in film studies informs their DJing, as their sets are sonic voyages infused with characters, motifs, and social critique, just like some of their favorite films. Over the last year, they have been involved in mutual aid efforts with displaced refugees from Palestine in Cairo, Egypt.

Rosa Martinez

Grant McCarty

Co-Director/Co-Founder, Bitcoin Policy Institute

Grant McCarty is the co-founder and co-director of the Bitcoin Policy Institute, a non-partisan think tank researching the intersection of cryptocurrency, US public policy interests, financial inclusion, energy, and the future of money. McCarty comes from the world of education, working to address inequities and inequality in higher ed by helping students from rural areas and underprivileged backgrounds both get into college and figure out how to pay for it. McCarty received his undergraduate degree in History from the University of Alabama and his MBA from Johns Hopkins University.

Grant McCarty

Mallory McHenry

Musician/Educator

Dr. Mallory McHenry, NCTM is a vibrant musician and educator located in Austin, Texas where she serves on the University of Texas at Austin, Butler School of Music faculty as Lecturer of Harp. At UT, Mallory teaches harp lessons and harp pedagogy to both undergraduate and graduate students, beginning harp, and is the director of the University of Texas Harp Ensemble. Mallory completed her Doctoral studies at the University of Texas in Austin where she also obtained her Master of Music degree with a concentration in Harp Performance. Mallory also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Oakwood University, a Historically Black College and University located in Huntsville, Alabama.

Mallory McHenry

Eric Morales

Artist/Photographer

Eric Morales lives and works as a multidisciplinary artist whose mediums include photography & other visual arts, movement, and music.

His portrait photography work has taken him all over the country and beyond. Eric has had the wonderful fortune to have met and photographed countless people of various professional fields including artists, authors, educators, scientists, Olympic athletes, dancers, entertainers and celebrities, and makers and creators of all kinds.

Each portrait is a learning experience and every interaction offers inspiration, connection, and valuable lessons in being human.

Eric Morales

Ophélie Omnes

Founder, OMNES Legal & Positive Lobbying

Ophélie Omnes has always juggled between her work and her associative functions. After 10 years of working as a lawyer in international law firms – among which Linklaters – she started her own business, combining expertise and commitment, to these two paths. Specialized in public affairs, she is committed to the idea of positive lobbying, thanks to which she advises NGOs and companies wishing to increase the impact of their advocacy with political decision-makers and the general public. Passionate about the debates around social and environmental justice in our societies, she’s an adviser to European and international organizations in their reflections on creating a more inclusive and respectful work environment. As a trainer and lecturer in both public and private universities, she has developed effective teaching methods to convey her knowledge in a playful way.

Ophélie Omnes

Dorothy Peña

Food Systems Director, Ties To La Tierra

Dorothy has ancestral ties to so-called South Texas and is of mixed descent from Europe. She is tied to Kapulli Papalotl and is a ranked Huehuetera. She feels called to make connections with all Beings, to nourish the soil, and to save seeds. Dorothy has worked on an urban mini farm for the past 3 years to support Elder knowledge of food and health, works with several organizations around social and environmental issues to reduce harm to Mother Earth, communities, and self, and does coalition building with farmers, ranchers, and land stewards. When she is not working she enjoys sharing stories, singing, dancing, playing the Huehuetl, growing plants, spending time with community, family, and friends, walking long distances in solitude in nature, and cooking.

Dorothy Peña

Diego Vila Peña

Writer/Photographer/Researcher

Diego is a first-generation Cuban-American immigrant and Texas State University’s class of 2023 graduate. Born in 1998 in the province of Las Tunas, Cuba, he was raised in the middle of the country’s biggest economic crisis known as the “special period.” Through his honors capstone project, “Once the Sun Comes Up, ” Diego utilized storytelling and photojournalism to narrate his experience navigating indoctrination within the Cuban education system before the internet became widespread on the island. During his time as an undergraduate student, Diego worked as an honors student coordinator and researcher for the Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory under the mentorship of Dr. Carmen Westerberg.

Diego Vila Peña

Taylor Powell

Director/Cinematographer, Texas State Alumnus

Documentary and commercial filmmaker Taylor Powell has traversed the globe capturing intimate stories of human connection, vibrant unseen microcosms, and cultural expression. With experience directing and shooting across six continents, Powell brings a uniquely empathetic lens to both commercial and artistic projects. His work for international brands, the Olympics, various governments, and individuals all draw out authentic moments from subjects across language and cultural barriers.

Taylor Powell

Jordi J. Reese

Independent Researcher

Born in Chicago IL, Jordi moved to and was raised in North Austin since age 5. In his downtime, he loves to be with his family and friends as they mean the world to him. Reading and researching history, literature, or geography are also some of his favorite interests. Jordi is majoring in International Studies, concentrating in European Studies at Texas State University.

Jordi J. Reese

Daniel Robbins

Director

In his films, Daniel Robbins takes exciting concepts and grounds them with authentic performances, surprising humor, and propulsive energy. His breakout film PLEDGE was a hit at the Fantasia Film Festival, won “Best Director” at Screamfest, and sold to IFC Midnight as well as a streaming deal with Hulu. His comedy feature CITIZEN WEINER was boarded by Abso Lutely and Village Roadshow and was called “the political comedy of the decade” by AM New York. His other comedy feature BAD SHABBOS won the Audience Award at Tribeca and is currently in select theaters.

Daniel Robbins

Deandra Sanchez

Family Relations and Workforce Director, Ties To La Tierra

Deandra Sanchez was born in so-called Corpus Christi, Texas, and is a descendant of the Karankawa and Lipan Apache. Deandra enacts their passion for multigenerational skills sharing for the future of generations simultaneously with the respect of ancestral wisdom from elders. Through the course of Deandra’s life, they have been integrating spirit with Indigenous events planning, leading youth protests, and relationship building with community and local mutual aid initiatives. Deandra likes to spend their time in solitude, with nature, and nurturing their connection to the land by growing plants

Deandra Sanchez

Hannah Shepard

Archival Researcher/Producer

Hannah Shepard studied writing at Sarah Lawrence College and received graduate degrees from the National University of Ireland and Fordham University. She has worked with libraries, museums, and theaters in the U.S. and Ireland, and in the documentary film world for the past decade. As an archival producer, Hannah has had the pleasure of working with directors such as Nancy Buirski, Brett Story, Joe Brewster, and Michèle Stephenson. Her credits include documentaries that have won the Sundance Grand Jury Prize and a Primetime Emmy.

Hannah Shepard

Texas State Cello Choir

Musicians

The Texas State Cello Choir is comprised of music majors in music education, performance, and the BA degree program. This ensemble rehearses weekly and performs both on and off campus.

The cello choir performers are the following:

Skyler Campbell, Nadia Diaz DeLeon, Eloy Gonzalez, Zoey Jackson, JJ Miller, Erika Money, Travis Ortiz, Emilee Reyes, Kaeden Taylor, Cailyn Young. The Texas State Cello Choir is under the direction of Dr. Karla Hamelin.

Texas State Cello Choir

The Trips

Musicians

The Trips are a rock band comprised of triplets, Sammy, Marshall, and McKenna Wells out of San Marcos, Texas. Since 2021, the three-piece have performed their melodic and energized set throughout the Austin area, and in the Summer of 2023, began work on recording their debut album of 12 original songs. With producer Hayes Howard and mastering done by Adam Odor, The Trips released their first single, “Falling Asleep”, on June 1st, 2024, as well as 3 other singles ahead of their debut album, Gotta Start Somewhere, which was released on November 1st, 2024

The Trips

Andrew Tran

Musician/Songwriter

Sixteen-year-old singer-songwriter Andrew Tran was born in Austin, Texas in 2008. In the same year, America elected its first African-American President Barack Obama whilst across the pond, British teen Ed Sheeran covered Ginuwine’s “Pony.” Andrew believes both to be significant events impacting his life and perspective as examples of hope and the relentless pursuit of big dreams. During the pandemic, Andrew learned to play the guitar and wrote his first song. Andrew hopes to positively impact the world around him through his music. He believes that music and art unite us and can be driving forces of understanding, compassion, and change. Andrew has played all around Texas, California, New York City, London, Sydney, Tokyo, and Melbourne. He was featured on We Are Austin’s Best of 2022 show on CBS. Superman and Mr. Rogers are his favorite superheroes.

Andrew Tran

Jonas F. Tuttle

Artificial Intelligence Researcher

From a young age, Jonas has always been intrigued by creation and innovation; every year, young Jonas would watch Apple unveil the newest iPhone technologies, fascinated by human ingenuity. Many years later, inspired by his love of both technology and science fiction, Jonas found himself at Texas State pursuing a degree in computer science. A student in the Honors College, Jonas was offered in his freshman year the opportunity to conduct research in machine learning for medical applications in China. Since then, he has set his sights on researching the energy efficiency of large language models, with two papers published on the topic thus far. This summer, he will intern at Dell Technologies for the Infrastructure Solutions Group, continuing to learn the cutting-edge of invention. With technology as the tool, Jonas finds hope in a sustainable future for all.

Jonas F. Tuttle

Zack Weiner

Writer/Actor

Zack Weiner is a New York Screenwriter, producer, and amateur dentist. This is his third film. Zack’s next project is a docu-comedy about his unsuccessful bid for New York City council.

Zack Weiner

Madison Woodrom

Historian

Madison Woodrom is a graduate student in the Public History program at Texas State. Her studies pertain to the taboos of history, such as the occult, accumulation of power, and cannibalism in Renaissance Europe. In her free time, Madison enjoys making little trinkets for her friends and summoning dark forces beyond our comprehension.

Madison Woodrom

Athene Yowell

Video Game Developer President/Founder of Game Developers Society at TXST

Athene Yowell is a Computer Science and Honors student at Texas State University. They are the president and founder of the Game Developers Society @ TXST, a professional society and community space for student game developers, where they have organized Game Jams and other events for students. Athene has been creating and designing games since childhood and has a passion for the way games can meaningfully impact people’s lives.

Athene Yowell

People

Richeler Aladin

Film Professor/Producer

Michael Alexandersson

Singer/Musician

Michael Archer

Conflict Journalist

Antoine Brimbal

Conflict Journalist Founder & Editor-in-Chief, The Modern Insurgent

Sabrina Chapa

Founder and Executive Director, Ties To La Tierra

Adrian Cornejo

Head of Internal Relations The Modern Insurgent

Liam Coyle

Photojournalist

Mela Sarajane Dailey

Musician/CEO/Founder

Meggie Emerick

Artist/Photographer

Naveen Farrani

Writer/Organizer

Sepidah Farsi

Writer/Filmmaker

Tommy Florio

Songwriter/Producer

Joe Gallagher

Writer/Actor

Rowan Glass

Anthropologist, Journalist, Editor, and Filmmaker

Asher Ixba

Organizer/Psychology major

Tara Joyce

Writer/Zinemaker

Lucas Kraft

Photographer

Ashley Lewis

Rural Regional Organizer, MOVE Texas

Evelyn Lopez

DJ & Co-Director, KTSW Music Department

Regina Macias

Law Student/Alumna

Rosa Martinez

Writer/DJ/Activist

Grant McCarty

Co-Director/Co-Founder, Bitcoin Policy Institute

Mallory McHenry

Musician/Educator

Eric Morales

Artist/Photographer

Ophélie Omnes

Founder, OMNES Legal & Positive Lobbying

Dorothy Peña

Food Systems Director, Ties To La Tierra

Diego Vila Peña

Writer/Photographer/Researcher

Taylor Powell

Director/Cinematographer, Texas State Alumnus

Jordi J. Reese

Independent Researcher

Daniel Robbins

Director

Deandra Sanchez

Family Relations and Workforce Director, Ties To La Tierra

Hannah Shepard

Archival Researcher/Producer

Texas State Cello Choir

Musicians

The Trips

Musicians

Andrew Tran

Musician/Songwriter

Jonas F. Tuttle

Artificial Intelligence Researcher

Zack Weiner

Writer/Actor

Madison Woodrom

Historian

Athene Yowell

Video Game Developer President/Founder of Game Developers Society at TXST

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