Meet the Scholars

Tyler Albanese

Hometown: West Hartford, CT
Major: Biology
Minor:
Career Goals: Doctor, not set on a specific specialty yet
Research_interests: Biology and Chemistry
Community Involvement: I’m looking to get involved with lots of different programs like catholic noles, relay for life, and amsa
Last Book, Show, or Movie: Shutter Island
Favorite Meal: Steak

Sofia Arango

Hometown: Miami, FL
Major: Political Science
Minor: Sociology and Psychology
Career Goals: Lawyer
Research_interests: Politics and Communications.  Sofia served as a  Research Assistant, Dr. James Strickland in FSU's Depart of Political Science, and for Dr. Sindy Chapa, in FSU's College of Communication.
Community Involvement: Diversity and Inclusion Institute (SGA), Center for Hispanic Marketing, College of Communications, and the Florida Democratic Party.  She has also worked as a Legal Intern at the Law Office of Anabelle Diaz P.A. in Tallahassee.
Last Book, Show, or Movie: Me Before You
Favorite Meal: Bandeja Paisa 

Brock Bole

Hometown: Tampa, FL
Major: Finance
Minor:
Career Goals: Find a career I can both enjoy and become successful in.
Research_interests: Business and Stem
Community Involvement: Attending events such as Catholic Noles and going to the food pantry.
Last Book, Show, or Movie: Interstellar
Favorite Meal: Steak

Anthony Braun

Hometown: Pompano Beach, FL
Major: Nursing
Minor: Child Development
Career Goals: Nurse --> Nurse Practitioner; Anthony hopes to be a communal link between resources for people who need treatment within and beyond the body. 
Research_interests: Nursing-related, Underserved populations, and Alcohol Use Disorder/Similar Conditions.  Through UROP, Anthony conducted research under the supervision of Latika Young, and their project utilized narrative inquiry to investigate the impact of study abroad on first-gen in college student recipients of the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship 5-10 years "post-Gilman."
Community Involvement: iGEM, UROP, Presidential Scholars, Camp Kesem, CRU, ReachFSU Ministry, Hall Council, and the Freshman Leadership Institute.  Anthony has also volunteered for The Goat Farm, EngageTLH, Springwood Elementary School Education, and FFTP Walmart Pickup Assistance.
Last Book, Show, or Movie: The Lego Movie
Favorite Meal: Breaded chicken cutlets. Xtra crispy.

Charlotte Brown

Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Major: Civil Engineering
Minor: Art Entrepreneurship
Career Goals: To own an Environmental Consulting Firm
Research_interests: Sustainability, Microplastics, Construction, Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Structural Engineering.  Charlotte worked under Dr. Farner in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in a lab where she modeled the transport of microplastics through the Floridan Aquifer system. The Floridan Aquifer supplies about 90% of Florida’s drinking water but is highly vulnerable to contamination, including microplastics—plastic particles smaller than 5 mm. This study examined whether microplastic transport through aquifer sediments can be consistently modeled using column experiments and UV-Vis analysis. While standard tracers behaved predictably, microplastics showed inconsistent movement due to adhesion and sensitivity to flow conditions. These results suggest that microplastics do not behave like traditional solutes, making them difficult to predict and a potential risk to water quality, highlighting the need for further research.
Community Involvement: Seminole Minority Leadership Institute, Black Student Union, Eco-Reps, Student Government, National Society of Black Engineers, NAACP, Food for Thought Pantry, Food Recovery Network, Seminole Organic Garden, Sustainable Campus, and Spoonbill Society.
Last Book, Show, or Movie: Severance
Favorite Meal: Pad Thai

Nick Collazos

Hometown: Land O' Lakes, FL
Major: Behavioral Neuroscience
Minor: Psychology
Career Goals: To attend medical school and become a psychiatrist.
Research_interests: Psychology and Neuroscience.  Under Landon Heller and the Department of Psychology, Nicholas conducted meta analyses on research studies focused on the effectiveness on text-to-speech and its ability to help students with dyslexia better comprehend text. 
Community Involvement: Nicholas is involved with ARSA (Argentina Student Association),PorCol (Colombian Student Association), Neuroscience Undergraduate Association, NuRhoSci Neuroscience Honor Society, and the Psychology Club.  He has also volunteered with the Seminole Organic Garden and the Food for Thought Pantry.
Last Book, Show, or Movie: Psychology of the Unconscious: Carl Jung
Favorite Meal: My mom's milanesa napolitana (Te amo mamá)

Camden Crum

Hometown: Hopkinton, MA
Major: Business Management
Minor:
Career Goals: I hope to go to business school sometime after graduating FSU and eventually own my own business someday.
Research_interests: I am mainly interested in mental health research and learning more about how the brain works in general.
Community Involvement: Outside of Presidential Scholars I am a member of Catholic Noles and I also hope to get involved in more community service opportunities
Last Book, Show, or Movie: Dexter: New Blood
Favorite Meal: Pizza

Matteo Darcy

Hometown: Fair Haven, NJ
Major: Finance
Minor:
Career Goals: Risk Analyst; Entrepreneur; Private Equity
Research_interests: Entrepreneurship; Behavioral Economics; Labor Economics
Community Involvement: UROP; I am looking to get involved more on campus
Last Book, Show, or Movie: The Iron Claw
Favorite Meal: A double chicken chipotle bowl

Kelan Dennis

Hometown: Margate, FL
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Minor: Math
Career Goals: Kelan wants to get a Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering and his FE & PE License. Concentrate my knowledge in Nanotechnology or Aerospace.  Kelan intends to utilize engineering, nanotechnology, and other innovations in STEM to develop technology that aids developing countries, such as Jamaica, with their infrastructure and/or environmental needs. Kelan is also a poet and an orator who plans to strengthen his skills and expand his audience.
Research_interests: Kelan's research interests include but are not limited to Nanotechnology, Aerospace, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Materials Science, Quantum, and Nanomaterials.
Community Involvement: Theta Tau Professional Engineering Fraternity, National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Engineers Without Borders (EWB), GRiP (Generational Relief in Prosthetics), and the Writing Club.  Kelan also volunteered for the FAMU Food Pantry.
Last Book, Show, or Movie: "Sonso: Our Journey" by Hua Nigma
Favorite Meal: My mom's BBQ Fried Chicken.

Emily Dorman

Hometown: Orlando, FL
Major: Political Science & Editing, Writing, and Media
Minor: Human Rights & Social Justice (Pending)
Career Goals: Emily hopes to pursue a career in political journalism.
Research_interests: Emily is particularly interested in the voting patterns and civic participation of young people in the United States. She also explores global human rights trends, with a focus on how countries engage with one another through the United Nations and international diplomacy. Additionally, she is interested in examining how the arts can be integrated into political discourse as a tool to foster dialogue and bridge divides in polarized communities.
Community Involvement: Emily is a part of on-campus organizations like the Student Government Association's Office of Governmental Affairs, People Power for Florida, the FSView, FSU Democrats, the Society of Collegiate Journalists, the Presidential Scholars' Education & Unity Board, Freshman Leadership Institute, and Students Demand Action.  Emily has done service through donating to FSU Food for Thought Pantry, transporting food through the Food Recovery Network, and community trash cleanups through Beautify FSU. 
Last Book, Show, or Movie: The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green
Favorite Meal: Ice Cream.

Robert Dyer

Hometown: Tampa, FL
Major: Behavioral Neuroscience
Minor:
Career Goals: My career goal is to become a neurosurgeon, and hopefully establish my own private practice.
Research_interests: My research interests focus on how the biology and chemistry of the brain give rise to behavior. Particularly, I am interested in the ways the makeup of the brain influences psychological disorders. I would also like to explore the mechanisms involved in learning, sleep, and memory.
Community Involvement: I am involved in Catholic Noles, Kesem FSU, UROP, and AMSA
Last Book, Show, or Movie: The Godfather Part 2
Favorite Meal: A porterhouse steak

Bridnie Ezai

Hometown: Pompano Beach, FL
Major: Finance
Minor:
Career Goals: My goal is to build a meaningful career in finance, with a focus on risk management, asset management, and financial regulation.
Research_interests: Finance and risk management, economic inequality, healthcare, sustainable investing, behavioral economics, and the historical and social development of communities.
Community Involvement: UROP and Black Student Union
Last Book, Show, or Movie: Lovely War by Julie Berry
Favorite Meal: Lasagna

Kathryn Fjelland

Hometown: Spearfish, SD
Major: Biology (double major in criminology)
Minor:
Career Goals: I would like to go to med-school to become an emergency medicine physician
Research_interests: My research interests are sports medicine and biological development, as well as WWII history.
Community Involvement: I have participated in events for Catholic Noles and the Out of State Student Organization. I plan on getting involved in many other clubs, organizations, and sports throughout the year.
Last Book, Show, or Movie: The last book I read was Robert Galbraith's "The Cuckoo's Calling." The last movie I watched was Speed.
Favorite Meal: My favorite meal is my moms meatball ratatouille.

John Gardner

Hometown: Winter Park, FL
Major: Finance
Minor:
Career Goals: John wants to work in a field in finance. He's considering wealth/asset management or or private equity, but recognizes that that may change.
Research_interests: Currently, John is especially interested in the stock market from the perspective of long term value by looking at company's 10k reports. This summer he will switch my research focus to financial modeling because he has an internship based in Africa that requires this skillset.  He want to establish a base before the trip, so that I can improve upon it while he's there. 
Community Involvement: The Finance Society.  John has also volunteered for the Second Harvest of the Big Bend.
Last Book, Show, or Movie: A Bronx Tale
Favorite Meal: Probably some kind of pasta

Jaiden Giron

Hometown: Miami, FL
Major: Civil Engineering
Minor:
Career Goals: My career goals are simple but are driven by very personal intentions. My goals revolve around returning to my hometown of Miami and seeking employment in my field. Once there, I would like to use the skills and experience in the areas such as where I grew up. Allapattah is one of many low-income areas in Miami that lack the necessary personnel or passionate people to create change for these residents.
Research_interests: My research interests follow traveling and visiting areas where either engineering is heavily focused on or where it is most needed. One of the ideas I am already pursuing is studying abroad in one of FSU’s international campuses. Specifically, the one in Panama or Spain.
Community Involvement: Recently, I haven’t been as involved as I would like to be. However, I have been waiting for Market Wednesday to explore various clubs on campus. Besides extracurriculars, I am an Honors student, and this has allowed me to branch off with other peers, allowing me to grow as a person and begin to make early connections.
Last Book, Show, or Movie: The last show I watched was Dexter: Resurrection.
Favorite Meal: My favorite meal is shrimp alfredo.

Sophie Guillet-Robertson

Hometown: New Orleans, LA
Major: Humanities
Minor:
Career Goals: Film Industry
Research_interests: Interested in researching incarceration in the United States and what reforms can be made to make the system more humane and less exploitative. Exploring racial and socioeconomic aspects as they relate to incarceration as well.
Community Involvement: UROP
Last Book, Show, or Movie: The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong
Favorite Meal: Crawfish Strudel or Gumbo

Will Haag

Hometown: Orlando, FL
Major: Finance
Minor:
Career Goals: Business law
Research_interests: Will conducted research as part of the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program. The research was conducted internally in the Psychology department at FSU. The supervisors were Dr. Ashby Plant and Ayanna Brewton, M.S. The research focused on whether and why people perceive existing structures, such as laws, the legal and education system, and government influence power differentials between groups, as well as how participants are motivated to respond when asked about their existence. Will had an active part in the project, as he ran in-person data collection for the project and communicated and scheduled with participants. The project was presented at the Undergraduate Research Symposium. 
Community Involvement: Bowling Club/Bowling IM, Catholic Student Union, Freshman Leadership Institute, Honors in Action, Honors Student Association, Omicron Delta Kappa, Phi Alpha Delta, Presidential Scholars Service Board, Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP).  Will also volunteered with the Seminole Organic Garden, the Food for Thought Pantry, the Food Recovery Network, Noles for Neighbors, and  Lott's Community Garden (part of Second Harvest of the Big Bend).
Last Book, Show, or Movie: Argo
Favorite Meal: Cedar plank salmon with a side of homemade mac and cheese!

Sabri Hanley

Hometown: Tallahassee, FL
Major: Pre-Linguistics and Languages
Minor:
Career Goals: Linguistics research and instruction
Research_interests: Language birth and language death
Community Involvement: FSU Women's Soccer - Content production, UROP, Linguistics Club, Film Club
Last Book, Show, or Movie: Apocalypse Now - Francis Ford Coppola
Favorite Meal: Döner Kebab

Zara Jaffe

Hometown: Tallahassee, FL
Major: Art History
Minor:
Career Goals: I want to become an architect.
Research_interests: I am interested in more hands-on research, a project that helps boost creativity.
Community Involvement: I want to get involved with art clubs, an art magazine on campus, and a digital design program.
Last Book, Show, or Movie: Just Kids by Patti Smith
Favorite Meal: Sweet Potato Fries

Ada Jones

Hometown: Hickory, NC
Major: International Affairs
Minor: English
Career Goals: Diplomacy and Ambassadorship
Research_interests: History and Social Science, specifically Welfare Reform
Community Involvement: I am a CRU member and involved in a number of volunteer organizations on campus.
Last Book, Show, or Movie: Show: Madam Secretary
Favorite Meal: Chicken Alfredo

Hudson Khan

Hometown: Tampa, FL
Major: Finance
Minor:
Career Goals: My goals are to start my own investment fund after going to grad school.
Research_interests: I am interested in researching about the psychology behind financial decisions and transactions.
Community Involvement: Once it begins, I'm looking to get involved with FSU's Finance society.
Last Book, Show, or Movie: The last show I watched was game of thrones which I loved.
Favorite Meal: My favorite meal is a steak.

Kate Khvorostiana

Hometown: Miami, FL
Major: International Affairs
Minor:
Career Goals: Kate wants to pursue law school after completing her undergraduate studies with a desire to work in international law or corporate law.
Research_interests: Kate is extremely interested in pursuing research in the legal field, primarily combining national policy as well as the intersection on the international stage. Her Ukrainian heritage has prompted her interest in studying events of war and global cooperations, identifying the main actors who are responsible for carrying out agreements. However, she is also very interested in learning about policy on a state level about the criminal justice system as well as the ICC (International Criminal Court).  Kate also had the special opportunity of working on a UROP project that aligns heavily with personal experiences, as she was a long time volunteer at the Miami-Dade Teen Court which she now had the chance to research from an academic angle. 
Community Involvement: For the past year, Kate has been involved in various opportunities across campus, both to enrich her academic and social experience at Florida State and beyond. Kate serves as a co-founder of a nonprofit “Bridging Borders for Ukraine" which aims to provide cost-free English tutoring to high school students affected by the war. Started alongside her classmates, Kate has stayed involved in the nonprofit despite going to college and has contributed to a team effort of raising over $5000 for war reparations. At Florida State, Kate joined Delta Zeta sorority, where she has been immensely involved with their philanthropy of Speech and Hearing, carrying out direct impacts on the local Tallahassee community. Recently, Kate traveled to the Regional Delta Zeta conference held in Atlanta, Georgia, where she connected with fellow sorority sisters and learned about how to make a greater impact post-graduation. Following her aspirations of becoming a lawyer, Kate also joined Kappa Alpha Pi, a pre-law fraternity, where she connects with a network of students aspiring to work in the legal field as well as engages with a multitude of impactful speakers. Additionally, Kate was chosen to be a part of the Spring 2026 Seminoles Engaged in Politics cohort, as part of which she has gotten to lobby at the Florida Capitol and take advantage of opportunities that help jumpstart a career in public service.
Last Book, Show, or Movie: Ocean's 11
Favorite Meal: Sushi, especially spicy tuna crispy rice

Alyssa Leon

Hometown: Hialeah, FL
Major: Political Science and History
Minor: Law and Philosophy; General Business
Career Goals: She plans to pursue a career as an intellectual property attorney, with a strong interest in the intersection of law, innovation, and creativity. She is also exploring the possibility of entering legal academia as a law professor, where she can contribute to scholarly conversations and mentor future students. Ultimately, she hopes to use her legal career as a platform to advocate for others and to protect the ideas that drive progress in society.
Research_interests: From Summer 2025 through Spring 2026, she participated in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) as a Research Assistant at the Florida State University College of Law under faculty supervision by Assistant Dean of Student Affairs Dean Busch. Her research focused on disability accommodations in legal education, examining how ABA-approved law schools structure, implement, and evaluate their accommodations processes. She contributed to the project by helping develop institutional contacts and distributing a 16-question national survey to law schools across the United States, ultimately supporting data collection from ~73 institutions. She also assisted in organizing and analyzing the data, including creating data visualizations and helping develop interpretive arguments that identified trends in how accommodations are managed, including the widespread outsourcing of accommodations processes and its implications for consistency and accessibility in legal education. The research was conducted internally at Florida State University within the College of Law. She co-presented the findings at the 26th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium hosted by the Center for Undergraduate Research and Academic Engagement on April 1st. The project’s broader implications center on improving equity and effectiveness in disability accommodations within law schools, emphasizing the need for context-driven, student-centered policies that better align with the academic and professional demands of legal training.
Community Involvement: Honors Student Association Member; CARE QUEST Scholar; Women in Pre-Law Society Member; EngageTLH Volunteer; Undergraduate Law Review Editor; Senate Legislative Certification Program Participant; FSU College of Social Sciences and Public Policy Student Leadership Council Member; Seminoles Engaged in Politics 2026 Cohort Member; Presidential Scholars' Professional Development Board & Incoming Class Committee Member; Garnet and Gold Key Torch Night Recipient; Student Government Association Inter-Residence Hall Council; Statewide 501(c)(3) Virtutem Populo, Inc. civic education nonprofit; University Housing
Last Book, Show, or Movie: The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Favorite Meal: Poke Bowls

Caden Lindsay

Hometown: Memphis, TN
Major: Excercise Physiology
Minor: Chemistry and Spanish, with the Global Seal of Biliteracy (Spanish)
Career Goals: After completing his undergraduate studies, Caden hopes to attend medical school and become a physician.
Research_interests: Caden's research interests are sports performance, sport supplementation, endurance running, and respiratory and skeletal muscle function.
Community Involvement: Phi Delta Epsilon pre-medical fraternity, Catholic Noles, Presidential Scholars Executive Board, and the Institute of Sport Sciences and Medicine.  Caden also volunteered for the Food for Thought Pantry and The Big Event of Tallahassee.
Last Book, Show, or Movie: Unbroken
Favorite Meal: Chicken Pasta.

Kendra Ludeman

Hometown: Miami, FL
Major: Criminology
Minor:
Career Goals: Still unsure however forensic psychology has peaked my interest
Research_interests: The justice system, family dynamics, inequality and racial bias
Community Involvement:
Last Book, Show, or Movie: Whiplash
Favorite Meal: Arroz con pollo

Julia Luetje

Hometown: Kansas City, MO
Major: Sport Management
Minor: Communication
Career Goals: Julia’s career goals are to earn her master’s degree in Sport Management in her fourth year at Florida State University while hopefully having an internship or position with FSU Athletics or one of the teams on campus. After graduating with her master’s, Julia would ideally like to work on the corporate side of a professional sport organization, specifically a professional football, baseball, or soccer team. She wants to create the excitement she experienced at sporting events for others, especially since she views sports as a way to connect people and share culture, while also creating a larger impact. Julia hopes to lead projects and make strategic decisions that expand the representation and inclusivity at sporting events, including the accessibility of the event for fans of different backgrounds and the representation on the field/court. Additionally, she is interested in attending law school to study sports law in order to further her impact in the sport industry. 
Research_interests: Julia’s research interests include sports and their societal relationships and impacts, communications, and advertising. She enjoys researching and bettering her understanding of the dialectic relationship between sports and the media, economy, family, politics, and societal structures. Additionally, Julia likes learning about the strategies and rhetorics people use in order to persuade their audience, and she was able to explore this in multiple classes this year as well as in her Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) project. Her UROP project also allowed her to pursue her interest in researching advertising strategies as she researched historical commercial postcards to understand how companies advertised their products on postcards, which is a unique and multi-use form of advertising. Julia is excited to engage in more research throughout her time at FSU and beyond, and she is open to doing research in other areas and fields.
Community Involvement: Julia was an Inspiring New Leader for Dance Marathon at FSU, the largest student-run, philanthropic organization at FSU, which raised over $1.5 million for children’s hospitals, including UF Health Shands Children's Hospital and the FSU College of Medicine. She also was an active member of Women in Sports Association, which raises awareness of the influential role women play in the sport industry and provides members the opportunity to network and discuss their experiences in sport with each other. She was an active member of the Torch Society a prestigious, student-run organization that engages high-achieving members in academic, professional, and personal development throughout their careers. Julia actively participated in Hillel and the Jewish Student Organization. During Fall 2025, she enjoyed participating in CHAARG, a female workout club that allowed her to attend workouts across Tallahassee while meeting other women on campus who share her interest in staying active. In Spring 2026, Julia joined Alpha Chi Omega, which empowers women to live as their true selves, to reach their potential, and to be the real, strong women they are meant to be.
Last Book, Show, or Movie: Teen Beach Movie
Favorite Meal: Poke bowl with chicken

George McMaster

Hometown: Athens, GA
Major: Exercise Physiology
Minor:
Career Goals: I'd either like to be a physical therapist or go into professional strength and conditiong coaching of some sort
Research_interests: Nutrition, Kinesiology, Health and Human Sciences
Community Involvement: I'm looking to join the FSU Weightlifting Club and explore the other groups on campus, but right now I'm involved in Presidential Scholars and UROP
Last Book, Show, or Movie: One Piece
Favorite Meal: Chicken and Rice

Brendan McNamara

Hometown: Massapequa, NY
Major: Cell & Molecular Neuroscience
Minor:
Career Goals: Physician
Research_interests: Cancer Biology. In Fall 2026, Brendan will begin working in the Sang Lab, a lab focused mainly on drug discovery for Pediatric cancers. He will do this by investigating the biochemical bases of drug actions, and will utilize methods such as cancer cell modeling, cytotoxic assays, and drug screenings in order to investigate potential drug candidates for pediatric brain cancer.
Community Involvement: Relay for Life, Catholic Noles, FSU Food for Thought Pantry, Seminole Organic Garden.
Last Book, Show, or Movie: The Sopranos
Favorite Meal: Chicken francese with pasta

Jack Mikutel

Hometown: Palm Coast, FL
Major: Economics, Pre Med track
Minor: Classical Civilizations
Career Goals: Jack just wants to get into medical school and then become a doctor of some sort of specialization (whatever ends up being his favorite subset of medicine) 
Research_interests: Jack's primary research interests pertain to Clinical Medicine.  However, through UROP, he completed a research project on the portrayal of female characters in movies directed by women.  This UROP project was done internally at FSU, under the supervision of Dr.Rebecca Peters. 
Community Involvement: Jack has involved himself on campus by going to a multitude of on-campus events, participating in UROP, and joining an array of club organizations, such as pickleball and tennis.  He has also worked at the Seminole Organic Garden.
Last Book, Show, or Movie: Invincible
Favorite Meal: Goat Curry

Zoe Miner

Hometown: Melbourne, FL
Major: Classics
Minor: Religion
Career Goals: Classics Professor
Research_interests: Ancient history, religion, and literature.
Community Involvement: Presidential Scholars, UROP, planning on joining Eta Sigma Phi (classics honors society), student archaeology club, and FSU art society.
Last Book, Show, or Movie: If We Were Villains by M.L Rio
Favorite Meal: Poke bowls

Julia Montero

Hometown: Eagle River, AK
Major: Neuroscience
Minor: I hope to double major with finance or minor with business.
Career Goals: I wish to become an orthodontist and eventually evolve into office/business ownership.
Research_interests: I am interested in research surrounding the STEM or psychology disciplines. I am excited to be hands-on with whichever research project I assist with.
Community Involvement: I have not yet taken the opportunity to become involved, but I plan to join the Pre-Dental Society and Relay for Life organization.
Last Book, Show, or Movie: Last book- I who have never known men
Favorite Meal: Anything my mom cooks!

Isabella Moraes

Hometown: Weston, FL
Major: Biological Science
Minor: Chemistry and Psychology
Career Goals: Veterinarian
Research_interests: Isabella conducted undergraduate research under Dr. Matthew Patience.  Her project, The Role of Skill and Cognitive Differences in Pronunciation Development, looked at how different skills affect how people learn Spanish pronunciation.  She worked with students in SPN1120 and helped run different tasks that measured things like memory, focus, listening ability, and speech skills. She then compared those results to how much the students’ pronunciation improved over time.  This research was done at FSU and focused on understanding why some students improve faster than others.  The goal is to help make language learning more personalized so students can learn in ways that work best for them.  Through this experience, Isabella learned how to collect and analyze data, work on a research team, and explain her findings clearly.  It also gave her experience working in a field outside of her major.
Community Involvement: Animal Society, Pre-Veterinary Club, Honors Student Association, The Dosie Does Line Dancing Club, Conservation Collective, and Crazy 8 Ranch.
Last Book, Show, or Movie: The Pitt
Favorite Meal: Mediterranean food

Francesca Muscarella

Hometown: Buffalo, NY
Major: Finance
Minor:
Career Goals: CEO of Marriott International or Royal Caribbean
Research_interests: The effects of music therapy, economics of healthcare, ethical implications of using AI in business practices, sustainable practices in the hospitality industry
Community Involvement: UROP and I plan on getting involved in more this upcoming year!
Last Book, Show, or Movie: Jane the Virgin
Favorite Meal: Buffalo-style pizza

Saisloka Naidu

Hometown: Jacksonville, FL
Major: Dual Degree in Public Health and Business Administration
Minor:
Career Goals: Healthcare Administration/Hospital CEO
Research_interests: Health systems & management, health policy, community & population health etc.
Community Involvement: I am involved in UROP, and I intend to join SGA and Alpha Kappa Psi.
Last Book, Show, or Movie: We Were Liars
Favorite Meal: Pad Thai

Luke Napolitano

Hometown: Charleston, SC
Major: Finance
Minor:
Career Goals: To become a Physician.
Research_interests: Artificial Intelligence, biology, nutrition, and sports physiology.  Under the mentorship of Erik Rawls, here at FSU, Luke conducting research on how education research on Specific Learning Disabilities can be shared more clearly with teachers, policymakers, and other non-academic audiences. They studied what makes certain studies easier to turn into strong public-facing stories, like clear real-world impact and practical relevance.
Community Involvement: Luke is involved with the virtual Reality Club, and IM bowling, and is working on creating a Battle Bots Club.  Luke also volunteered with the Food for Thought Pantry.
Last Book, Show, or Movie: Attack on Titan
Favorite Meal: Rigatoni a la bolognese at Fratellis in the Bronx

Sophia Ocfemia

Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Major: Bachelor of Music in Music Theatre
Minor:
Career Goals: Sofphia would like to be a performer on Broadway or involved in the musical processes for them. She is also passionate about working with children in hospital settings and using the power of the arts to support healing, comfort, and resilience. She hopes to help in healthcare settings, and potentially do something related to music therapy. 
Research_interests: Sophia's research interests lie mostly with Neuroscience and music. She would love to dive deep into research that discovers the impact of music on neurological development, combining both her passion for music theatre and neuroscience. She would also love the opportunity to assist in cancer research, as she has always been an advocate to fight against cancer. 
Community Involvement: Sophia has been involved with Camp Kesem, the Presidential Scholars' Education & Unity Board, the Fountain of You Production (a premiere musical at FSU, one of six to play in it), and the Sweeney Todd Mainstage Production.  She has also volunteered with Hillel International, the FSU Food for Thought Pantry, The Big Event, Kearney Center, Goat House Farm, and UROP.
Last Book, Show, or Movie: Blink Twice
Favorite Meal: Munggo or Sinigang (Filipino dishes) cooked by my dad!

Alexandra Odom

Hometown: Pensacola, FL
Major: Philosophy and Classical Civilizations
Minor: British Studies
Career Goals: Alexandra is currently pursuing a future in environmental law, hoping to someday practice in London. She believes that the ecosystem is a beautiful and powerful balance that is often exploited by manmade structures that deplete the earth of its resources, ones that need to be preserved so they too can be enjoyed by posterity. As such, her goals are to promote environmental stewardship, advise corporations on how best to manage their emissions and waste practices, and assist in maintaining nature in a healthy and sustainable way.
Research_interests: She would like to explore anything related to philosophy, ancient history, mythology, and the classics.
Community Involvement: Alexandra has actively participated in the Presidential Scholar Executive Board, Catholic Noles, The Women in Pre-Law Society, The FSU Animal Society, UROP, the FSU Comic Book Club, and the ASLC film committee.
Last Book, Show, or Movie: An enjoyer of all things spooky, Alexandra's last book was Dracula by Bram Stoker, her last tv show was Daredevil, and her last movie was Wake Up Dead Man.
Favorite Meal: A tomato caprese sandwich with a slice of strawberry cheesecake.

Keanu Parsa

Hometown: West Palm Beach, FL
Major: Biological Sciences
Minor: N/A, built in chemistry minor
Career Goals: Keanu aims to become a physician (specifically a Cardiologist).
Research_interests: Sport/Human Performance, neurology, athletic training.  Through UROP, Keanu conducted neurological training research in the Sports Psychology lab under Dr. Brady DeCouto utilizing i-Braintech, a BCI.
Community Involvement: Phi Delta Epsilon Pre-Medical Fraternity, Strike Magazine, Student Department of Academic Affairs, SLANG, the Seminole Organic Garden, and the Food for Thought Pantry.
Last Book, Show, or Movie: Despicable Me 2
Favorite Meal: Chicken Tikka Masala with Bullet Naan.

Paulina Pilati

Hometown: Louisville, KY
Major: Political Science
Minor:
Career Goals: Paulina wants to graduate FSU and attend law school.
Research_interests: International Relations, Psychology and human behavior, and Sociology
Community Involvement: Kappa Delta Sorority, Kappa Alpha Pi (Pre-Law Fraternity), Honor Student Association, Hispanic/Latine Student Union, and Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society.  She has also been involved with FSU Sustainability Garden, Champs Chance, and the Children's Home Society.
Last Book, Show, or Movie: The last book I read was From Generosity to Justice by Darren Walker
Favorite Meal: Steak and sweet potatoes

Joseilys Quinones

Hometown: Kissimmee, FL
Major: Meteorology and Music
Minor: Math
Career Goals: Working with hurricanes/making music!!
Research_interests: Hurricane modeling, specifically understand how hurricanes can be predicted.
Community Involvement: Have not gotten involved with much past UROP and campus orchestras, but hoping to get into more in the near future!
Last Book, Show, or Movie: I watched Whiplash at the ASLC before school started, it was amazing!
Favorite Meal: Stewed chicken with white rice, sweet plantains, and fried pork skins!!

Jakub Rey Yash

Hometown: Cinncinnati, OH
Major: Math
Minor:
Career Goals: Work as a math professor
Research_interests: Math, Chemistry, and History
Community Involvement: UROP and volunteering through pschols.
Last Book, Show, or Movie: The last book that I read was the count of monte christo
Favorite Meal: Pizza

Cole Robinson

Hometown: Tallahassee, FL
Major: Environmental Science and Policy
Minor: Likely pursuing double major/dual degree in economics
Career Goals: Potentially conduct climate change research/advocacy; economic positions at an environmental firm
Research_interests: I'm interested researching economic trends, specifically as it relates to things like wildlife and climate restoration.
Community Involvement: I will be involved in UROP, and I plan to join Students Demand Action, environmental advocacy clubs, outdoors clubs, and potentially the WVFS radio station.
Last Book, Show, or Movie: Open, Heaven by Sean Hewitt; Adults on Hulu
Favorite Meal: Buffalo Chicken Dip

Silvia Rodriguez

Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Major: Economics
Minor: History
Career Goals: International Lawyer and Economist
Research_interests: Legal Research, Political Science, International Relations, Ethics and New Technology.
Community Involvement: Silvia is involved in SGA Legislative Certification Program, Seminoles Engaged in Politics, Woman Student Union, and is a founding member of the Honors Research Society.  She has also volunteered with the Food For Thought Pantry.
Last Book, Show, or Movie: The Idiot by Elif Batuman
Favorite Meal: Shawarma

Tristan Sambrano

Hometown: Homestead, FL
Major: Biological Sciences
Minor: Chemistry
Career Goals: As of now, Tristan hopes to pursue a career in pharmacy; however, he is getting involved in a more hands-on approach to healthcare next semester, which he may find more interest in.
Research_interests: Anything science related, mainly biology.
Community Involvement: Tristan is involved with the Diversity & Inclusion Institute, the Presidential Scholars Education & Unity Board, and the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program.  He has also volunteered for the Food for Thought Pantry, the Seminole Organic Garden, and the Tallahassee Goat Farm.
Last Book, Show, or Movie: Everything Everywhere All at Once
Favorite Meal: Chicken Tikka Masala & Naan.

Emma Schlotthauer

Hometown: Jacksonville, FL
Major: Cell and Molecular Neuroscience
Minor: Chemistry
Career Goals: Emma aspires to become a pediatric anesthesiologist.
Research_interests: Emma's research interests include gut biome interaction with health and pathology, as well as its role in shaping biological and neurological interactions in health models. She has been a research assistant in the Gut Biome Lab at FSU where she has worked collaboratively in researching the effects of ultra-processed foods on the gut and oral microbiome as well as the metabolic health of young adults.  Emma enjoys researching the dynamic interactions in the gut and investigating the complex interactions between the gut microbiome and systemic health.
Community Involvement: Emma has been involved in Inter Residence Hall Council, serving as a Vice President for the Broward-Landis-Gilchrist residence complex. Additionally, she was an Inspiring New Leader (INL) for the internal team of Dance Marathon at Florida State University as well as a member of the Catholic Student Union. Aspiring to pursue a career in medicine, she is an active member of the Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre Health Honor Society and has served as a Remote Area Medical Clinic Volunteer.  Emma has also volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, The Big Event, Relay for Life at FSU, Dance Marathon, The Goat Farm in Tallahassee, and the FSU Food for Thought Food Pantry.
Last Book, Show, or Movie: The Fault in Our Stars
Favorite Meal: Chicken Rockefeller Pizza from The Moose's Tooth Pizzeria in Anchorage, Alaska

Ali Schulz

Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Major: Political Science
Minor: Criminology
Career Goals: After attending FSU for undergrad, Ali plans to take a gap year. It will be her sister's senior year of high school, so she plans to move back home to support her sister. While home, she wants to boost her resume and begin applying to law school, with the goal of attending law school at The University of Texas-Austin. After law school, Schulz wants to begin work in a legislative career, hopefully making her way up to Congress. She is inspired to do this because she has seen the impact that issues such as gun violence, climate change, discrimination, and more have on her communities. As a legislator, she wants to work towards enacting meaningful change and establish liberty and justice for ALL.
Research_interests: Anything political!  Ali is also interested in environmental policy research. Basically, if it has to do with law she's probably already signed up!
Community Involvement: FSU Dems, Women's Leadership Network, FSU Diversity & Inclusion Institute, Pi Gamma Mu Social Science Honor Society, Omicron Kappa Delta Honor Society, Hope Leader through FSU Relay for Life, Global Citizenship Certificate Program, Honors Student Association.  Ali has volunteered with the Second Harvest of the Big Bend, FSU SGA, and FSU Relay for Life.
Last Book, Show, or Movie: Project Hail Mary
Favorite Meal: Chicken Paprikash

Kayra Serpenguzel

Hometown: Miami, FL
Major: Political Science
Minor: I'm going to double major in Creative writing
Career Goals: I plan to pursue a career in law and public service, with the long-term goal of serving as a politician for Florida.
Research_interests: I am interested in researching the intersections of civic engagement, political communication, and public policy, with a focus on how youth activism and education shape democratic participation.
Community Involvement: I plan to contribute to the Undergraduate Law Review, join the Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity and ForwardFSU, and compete with the FSU Club Sailing Team.
Last Book, Show, or Movie: Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr
Favorite Meal: Turkish food, specifically dolma and borek.

Matt Shedd

Hometown: Inverness, IL
Major: Finance & STEM Entrepreneurship
Minor: Environmental Science
Career Goals: Matt Shedd is interested in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and pursuing a career as a Consultant/Analyst specializing in sustainable business strategy.
Research_interests: Intersection of Sustainability & Business and/or Business Ethics
Community Involvement: Matt Shedd is involved with the Presidential Scholars Program, Honors College, Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP), Torch Society (including serving as a tour guide), Homecoming Executive Council, Student Foundation Fundraising Team, Finance Society, EcoReps, Honors Student Association (HSA), and the Professional Development Board of the Presidential Scholars Program. He is also a recipient of the Garnet & Gold Key Torch Night Award and has contributed as a Sustainable Campus Volunteer.  Matt also participated in Sustainable Campus from September 2025 to April 2026, collaborating with campus sustainability initiatives through the Food Recovery Network and the Seminole Organic Garden to recover excess food and support sustainable food production, advancing waste reduction and local food systems. He also volunteered with Leon County Schools and Goat House Farm, further contributing to community-based sustainability and service efforts.
Last Book, Show, or Movie: Hunger Games
Favorite Meal: Mediterranean or Mexican Bowls (CAVA/Chipotle/Fresh Kitchen) 

Shaelyn Taylor

Hometown: North Port, FL
Major: Environmental Science
Minor:
Career Goals: Shaelyn wants to become a Sustainability Coordinator in South Florida.
Research_interests: Shaelyn is interested in research on sustainability strategies, the Everglades, wetlands, and ecology.  Under the mentorship of Dr. Andrew Frank, Shaelyn worked on the ongoing research project "The Seminoles and Miccosukees and the Transformation of the Florida Everglades". Her specialized aspect of the project aimed to map the geographical interaction between documented Seminole territories and both the historical and altered watershed of the Everglades to better visualize the repercussions of drainage projects and expand upon the incomplete records of Seminole history.
Community Involvement: Shaelyn has been involved with Sustainable Campus, Garnet and Gold Goes Green, the Seminole Organic Garden, the FAMU Walk for Education, and the Food Recovery Network.  She was also a docent at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens and has volunteered as a gardener at Historic Spanish Point.
Last Book, Show, or Movie: Severance
Favorite Meal: Pancakes

Dashell Tellez

Hometown: Miami, FL
Major: Behavioral Neuroscience on the pre-med track
Minor: Chemistry and Child Development
Career Goals: Get into med school and become a neurologist
Research_interests: Memory performance, history of public health and medical science, social psychology
Community Involvement: TBD: Cuban American Student Association, Honors Student Association, Med Life, Nole Med, HLSU, Neuroscience Undergraduate Student Association
Last Book, Show, or Movie: perks of being a wallflower
Favorite Meal: Arroz con pollo en fricase

Lexi Tomaselli

Hometown: Moorestown, NJ
Major:
Minor:
Career Goals: Biological Sciences
Research_interests: Dental Field (Orthodontics)
Community Involvement: How oral hygiene can affect your gut health
Last Book, Show, or Movie: Interstellar
Favorite Meal: Steak with truffle mac and cheese

Camille Twitchell

Hometown: Zionsville, IN
Major: Management
Minor:
Career Goals: Not 100% sure but definitely something people-oriented.
Research_interests: Psychology, marketing, business, communications.
Community Involvement: Kappa Kappa Gamma, Seminole Student Boosters, FSL LineDance, Honors Student Association, HSMAI, FSU Food for Thought Pantry, Food Recovery Network, Seminole Organic Garden, and Wesson Early Learning.
Last Book, Show, or Movie: People We Meet on Vacation, a novel by Emily Henry
Favorite Meal: Chipotle bowls.

Louis Viart

Hometown: Tampa, FL
Major: Computer Science
Minor: Mathematics
Career Goals: Louis Viart plans to pursue a career in the field of Cybersecurity. He aspires to break into the offensive side of the field where he can actively aid in preventing the exploitation of systems. One thing that particularly stands out to him is the opportunity to work with the authorities and law enforcement to help track down criminals. He wants to make an impact in cyberspace by creating a safer environment for everyone and teaching others how to keep themselves safe in their everyday lives. By studying computer science, he lays a solid foundation in understanding the fundamentals of how computer systems work, which will lead to the development of strong skills he can use to fulfill his aspirations.
Research_interests: Louis participated in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program where he had the opportunity to research the history of Florida during the American Revolution under research mentors Benjamin Gunter and Idy Codington. Being a broader concept, he was directed by his research mentors to pick a topic of “specialization” to narrow down on. Louis became interested with the use of black soldiers in defense of Florida in this period, so his research dived into black soldiers in East Florida in 1776. By transcribing and analyzing primary correspondence directly from the governor of East Florida at the time, Patrick Tonyn, Louis was able to gain a strong understanding of how black people were viewed and relied on in this particular region in 1776. The letter he dissected indicated black soldiers in a militia, and a surprising number of them, four companies, being raised to defend the “Province,” or St. Augustine. This research took place at FSU’s main campus. It is being used to recreate important scenes from this era in Florida in productions crafted by Theater with a Mission, a non-profit that focuses on exploring the history and culture of Florida.
Community Involvement: Louis has involved himself in a multitude of organizations. One of his most prominent involvements is with Big Brother Little Brother Mentoring Program Incorporated, a mentoring program with the goal of helping incoming freshmen with their transition from high school to college. He started as a “little”, or mentee, and received mentorship from a senior who was graduating that fall semester. The mentorship he received helped him with his professional and academic ventures, preparing him for the rest of his college journey. After an application and interview process, Louis completed the initiative to become a mentor himself for the organization. Some of his other involvements are with the Caribbean Student Association, which offers Louis a community to share his culture as a Caribbean descendant, Colorstack and Blacks in Computing, both of which aim to help minorities in the field of Computer Science excel, and the Cybersecurity Club, which provides a space for fostering cybersecurity skills.
Last Book, Show, or Movie: Snowfall
Favorite Meal: A Puerto Rican dish called "Arroz con Gandules y Bistec Encebollado," which is roughly just yellow rice and steak.

Mekhi Watkins

Hometown: Wimauma, FL
Major: Applied Mathematics
Minor:
Career Goals: My intention is to earn a Ph.D. in astrophysics after my bachelor's. From here, I will work as a researcher at a government organization like NASA, NSA or DoD or work as a mathematician for a private company.
Research_interests: I am interested in the applications of mathematics to other fields. In particular, I want to research the physics governing celestial bodies, combining my interest in the natural phenomena of space and mathematical analysis.
Community Involvement: I have volunteered with the Food for Thought Pantry, but I intend to get involved more with academic groups like the Society for Physics Students, the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics and Students for the Devleopment and Exploration of Space.
Last Book, Show, or Movie: The last book I read was The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. I greatly enjoyed its themes of capitalism-inflicting suffering and the struggles of immigrants in America.
Favorite Meal: Paratha Roti w/ Curry

Nick Weides

Hometown: Holdrege, NE
Major: Finance
Minor:
Career Goals: Nick plans to start his own business and use his pilot's license to his advantage in networking.
Research_interests: Nick is interested in researching topics related to private equity, financial markets, and the business side of aviation.
Community Involvement: Nick plans to rush a fraternity, join the Finance Society, and start an aviation club, or join any other clubs that interest him.
Last Book, Show, or Movie: The Office
Favorite Meal: Cheeseburger and Fries.

Sofia West

Hometown: Jacksonville, FL
Major: Biological Sciences
Minor: psychology
Career Goals: Sofia wants to go to medical school to become an interventional radiologist.
Research_interests: Biology, microscopy.  Sofia's research explores the intersection of biology and visual art through BioArt, using microscopic imaging to reveal the hidden beauty of marine life. Focusing on starfish specimens, she utilized a microscope equipped with a Nikon camera attachment to capture high-resolution images of structures not visible to the naked eye. These images were then digitally enhanced using DaVinci Resolve to amplify color, texture, and depth.  The final compositions highlight intricate patterns and surfaces, transforming biological forms into vivid, abstract works of art. Through this fusion of science and creativity, her project encourages viewers to appreciate marine life from a new perspective, emphasizing its complexity and aesthetic beauty.  Her research mentor was Dr. Jamel Ali who works for the FSU/FAMU college of engineering.
Community Involvement: Honors Student Association, Connecting Experimental Lab and Life Sciences (CELLS), the Food for Thought Pantry, and the Seminole Organic Garden.
Last Book, Show, or Movie: The Vampire Diaries
Favorite Meal: Southern Style Mac & Cheese

Henry Zoetewey

Hometown: Tampa, FL
Major: Accounting
Minor:
Career Goals: Public Accountant.
Research_interests: The social sciences as well as behavior.  Henry recently conducted a novel research project idea using pop-culture from the 80's. His abstract is as follows: "In this project, we underwent a pop-culture analysis of Garbage Pail Kids, a popular collectable in the 80s known most strongly for nationwide bans and vulgar content. It’s commonly noted as a satire parody to Cabbage Patch Kids. Its recent resurgence in popularity post-covid sparked interest on how the content depicted reflects on the creators who gestated these cards. In order to dive deeper, we used a mix of the Hermeneutic Method (deep reading) and Qualitative Coding to provide deeper insight. After sifting through unique markers on each card and repeatedly surveying each card to sift them, we didn’t accept data unless we hit 80% in researcher agreement. This unique analysis on a piece of American culture hopes to give a more thorough understanding of both the creators and the circumstances in which the media portrayed has thrived leading to a deeper understanding of this anachronism in modern day."
Community Involvement: Henry has been involved in a number of different institutions in a number of roles such as: an American Landmark leasing agent, an Undergraduate Researcher, an associate of the Accounting Honor Society, a member in the Freshman Leadership Institute, a member in the Torch Society, a participant in the Seminoles Engaged in Politics program, and a competitor in the Business Case Competitions. He is also taking part in the Thomas Howell Ferguson Leadership Program this upcoming summer.  Henry has volunteered with FSU Food Pantry, FSU Archives, Making Miracles Happen, Palmer Munroe,  Maiji Project, Alexus House, Fiddlehead Farm, and Garnet & Gold Goes Green. Most of these involvements have been eclectic and only in passing except for the FSU food pantry & FSU Archives where most of the work related was sorting and organizing. He started with both of these September and plans on continuing his involvement with these organizations. 
Last Book, Show, or Movie: The Correspondant
Favorite Meal: Indian Buffet!