Meet the Fellows
Fina Dooley
Campus Life
Fina Dooley is from St. Simons Island, Georgia, and graduated magna cum laude from Wake Forest University with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Art History. Fina is passionate about exploring how culture, creativity, and community intersect, both inside and outside the classroom. Her academic experiences have strengthened her commitment to fostering meaningful relationships and creating spaces where students feel supported, valued, and empowered to grow.
Throughout her time at Wake Forest, Fina has sought opportunities to invest in the student experience through leadership and service. As a Deacon Camp Director, she oversaw educational programming, mentored student leaders, and helped new Deacs build lasting connections before the academic year began. Fina’s leadership extends across many campus organizations that embrace Pro Humanitate through creativity and collaboration. She served as an Event Coordinator for Wakeville, Wake Forest’s annual interdisciplinary arts festival and as President of Artivists, a collective for socially engaged art on campus and in the Winston-Salem community. As a Team Lead at the WakerSpace, she enjoyed giving workshops to students, faculty, and staff to develop collaborative design projects. She has also held positions in designing merchandise for Alpha Delta Pi Sorority and directing marketing initiatives for DESK as well as been a member of the Interdisciplinary Arts Council, Ceramics Club, and Fiber Arts Club.
She graduated with honors in Spanish, with her thesis merging her passion for learning Spanish with food and cooking. During studies abroad, Fina interned with the Cultural Activities Department at the University of Salamanca. By working alongside museum professionals and living with a Spanish family, she has achieved high proficiency in her Spanish language skills.
As the Campus Life Fellow, Fina hopes to cultivate a welcoming and engaging community where every student has the opportunity to thrive. She believes that connection and relationships on campus are integral to the college experience and student success. She is excited to help create an environment where students can grow academically, personally, and professionally during their time at Wake Forest.
Sydney Calabrese
Office of the Board Secretary
Sydney Calabrese is from Raleigh, North Carolina. She is a 2026 graduate of Wake Forest University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Health and Exercise Science with a minor in Psychology. Sydney was drawn to Wake Forest for its strong sense of community and commitment to the Pro Humanitate motto, values that shaped her academic, leadership, and service experiences throughout her time on campus.
At Wake Forest, Sydney was deeply involved in student leadership and campus engagement. She served as a President’s Aide, representing the university at high-level events and engaging directly with senior leadership, strengthening her professionalism and attention to detail. Sydney also played a key role in campus philanthropy as the Entertainment Director for Hit the Bricks, Wake Forest’s largest student-run fundraising event benefiting the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund. In this role, she led outreach efforts, coordinated entertainment logistics, and contributed to creating a high-energy and impactful campus-wide experience. She was also involved in the Pre-Dental Student Association as Philanthropy Chair and Liaison, further demonstrating her commitment to service and community impact.
Beyond campus, Sydney gained valuable experience in healthcare through over 110 hours of shadowing in hospital operating rooms and dental offices, where she developed a strong understanding of patient care, clinical environments, and professional communication. Sydney’s commitment to service extended beyond her academic and professional roles. She is the founder of Blankets for Blair, a nonprofit organization inspired by her sister’s experience as a premature infant, which provides essential items to neonatal intensive care units. Through this initiative, she has demonstrated long-standing dedication to giving back and supporting vulnerable populations.
Sydney is honored to serve as a Fellow in the Office of the Board Secretary, where she looks forward to gaining direct exposure to university governance, Board of Trustees operations, and high-level institutional decision-making. She is eager to contribute to Wake Forest’s strategic priorities while further developing her leadership.
Amaya Williams
Office of the CEO (Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist)
Amaya Williams is from Morrisville, North Carolina. She was drawn to Wake Forest University’s commitment to Pro Humanitate and its emphasis on global learning, which aligned with her commitment to both service and cultural understanding. As a Stamps Scholar and Leadership and Character Scholar, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and a minor in Bioethics, Humanities, and Medicine on the pre-medical track.
At Wake Forest, Amaya found her passion in leadership centered on student voice and community engagement. As Student Body President, she worked with students, faculty, and senior administrators to advocate for student needs and strengthen campus life. Amaya also served as a President’s Aide in the Office of the President, representing the University at official events and strengthening connections between students and administration. Beyond campus, she served as the North Carolina Social Action Coordinator for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, leading statewide civic engagement initiatives, and remained active in service through Alpha Phi Omega.
Her interest in medicine has been shaped by clinical, research, and global experiences. As a volunteer at the Community Care Clinic, Amaya supported patients during triage, communicated with Spanish-speaking patients to help bridge language barriers, and trained new volunteers. Through Trellis Supportive Care, she provided weekly companionship to hospice patients and shared observations with the care team to support patient-centered care.
Amaya also pursued research at the intersection of science, ethics, and culture. Through Wake Forest’s Center for Bioethics, Health, and Society, she conducted research which culminated in a scoping review accepted for publication in The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy. She also conducted chemistry research on sulfinamide reactivity and presented her work at the Southeast Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society. She further expanded her perspective through independent research in Taipei, Taiwan, examining the integration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western medicine.
Amaya is honored to serve as a Fellow in the Office of the CEO at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist. She is particularly interested in understanding how health systems make strategic decisions that influence patient access, quality of care, community health outcomes, and how innovative systems can expand their impact locally and globally while advancing equitable care.
Mary Hauser
Dean of the College
Mary Hauser is originally from Kennebunk, Maine. She attended Wake Forest University on a Nancy S. Reynolds Scholarship, one of the University’s merit-based, cost-of-attendance “Signature Scholarships”. She was also a Leadership and Character Scholar and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry.
Throughout her undergraduate education, Mary demonstrated her passion for learning through her dedication to her studies and her research. Mary was awarded the Harton Scholarship for Chemical Industry from the Chemistry faculty. During her junior and senior years, Mary enjoyed working as a tutor in the Chemistry Center because of the opportunity it afforded her to help younger students on their academic journeys. As a member of the T. Michael Anderson Lab, Mary studied the ecology of the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. Mary was awarded funding from the Wake Forest Richter Scholarship, supplemented by summer funding from her Reynolds scholarship, which allowed her to visit the Serengeti twice during her time at Wake Forest.
Reflecting her dedication to the Pro Humanitate motto of Wake Forest, Mary was deeply committed to the Leadership and Character program throughout her time at Wake Forest. As a member of this program, Mary engaged with rigorous coursework, personal reflection, specialized programming, individual mentoring, weekly community service, engagement with distinguished speakers, and global study of leadership and character in Oxford and London.
Mary is committed to working towards the betterment of the communities of which she is a part. She has demonstrated this through service work and leadership roles. She volunteered as a tutor for Syrian refugees as part of the Student Association for the Advancement of Refugees. She also volunteered with the student organization, Elemental Explorers, by teaching chemistry experiments to elementary school students in under-resourced schools. Mary also regularly volunteers with Habitat for Humanity by doing construction work. In her senior year, Mary organized construction service days for both the Signature scholars and the Leadership and Character scholars to foster community engagement. Mary has demonstrated her leadership through her roles as a President’s Aide and member of the Dean’s Student Advisory Panel. She was also a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society.
Driven by her desire to uphold the dignity of others, Mary is pursuing a career in medicine. Due to the generosity of the Rusty Johnson Scholarship, she was able to spend her second summer of college working in hospitals in Cape Town, South Africa. This experience confirmed her intention to become a physician because of the fulfillment she derived from serving others coupled with the inspiration she derived from observing the knowledge and compassion of the doctors with whom she worked.
Mary is honored to be the Wake Forest Fellow in the Office of the Dean of the College for this upcoming year. She is eager to learn about the inner workings of the university and excited to work towards the betterment of the institution that she is so grateful to have attended.
Sam Stinson
Information Systems
Samantha (Sam) Stinson spent her childhood in Shanghai, China, before attending Wake Forest University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and a minor in Psychology and East Asian Studies, earning Dean’s List recognition for much of her academic career. She was drawn to Wake Forest’s small class sizes, dedicated faculty, and unique standing as both a research institution and a liberal arts school.
On campus, Sam served in leadership positions for multiple cultural organizations,and spent a semester studying psychology in Vienna, Austria, to further broaden her global perspective.
Sam is thrilled to join Information Systems as a Wake Forest Fellow, eager to bring her communication skills and adaptability to a new professional setting while giving back to the university she now calls home.
Alfredo Diaz
Leadership & Character
Alfredo Diaz is from Miami, Florida, and graduated from Wake Forest in 2026 with a Bachelor of Science in Finance. He chose Wake Forest for the Program for Leadership and Character, the university’s motto of Pro Humanitate, and the close community he found among students, faculty, and staff.
A Leadership and Character Scholar throughout his four years, Alfredo is the first Scholar to return to the program as a Fellow. As a senior, he served as a student moderator for the Face to Face Speaker Forum, leading the student conversation for former Senator Mitt Romney’s appearance on campus.
As Student Director of LEAP (Leadership, Ethics, and Purpose), the program’s pre-orientation program, he helped welcome a cohort of thirty incoming students to Wake Forest. During his senior year, he also served as a research assistant for the course Commencing Character, studying and analyzing commencement speeches for the practical lessons they offer on how character is formed. In February 2026, he was selected as a Senior Orator and delivered his oration before the university community.
As the Fellow for Programming and Advancement, Alfredo looks forward to contributing to the program that shaped his time as a student. In the years ahead, he hopes to build a business of his own.
Lulu Clark
President’s Office
Catherine (Lulu) Clark is from Greenwich, Connecticut. In May 2026, Lulu graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Critical and Creative Media and a minor in Marketing Communication. At Wake Forest, Lulu built meaningful connections, gained valuable knowledge, and created lasting memories that have shaped both her personal and professional growth. Lulu attended study abroad programs in London and Oxford, England and Florence, Italy, along with the Summer Management Program through Wake Forest’s School of Business.
When Lulu wasn’t in class she was working as a Student Assistant at Z. Smith Reynolds library where she regulated library resources and aided faculty, students, and members of the community across a variety of needs, including resource search, study room reservation, and general facility use guidance.
Lulu is a Leadership & Character Ambassador and frequently attended Wednesday Night Dinners, guest lectures, discussion groups, and weekend retreats. She also assisted Dr. Michael Lamb with his research on the correlation between country music and character.
As President of Wake Studios, Lulu oversaw the production of short films as a producer, managed 10-person sets, scouted locations, created shooting schedules, and assisted with shot lists and script development. She also led their recruitment process and management of over 50+ members across all class years. Before becoming President, she was the Events Coordinator and Social Media Manager.
Lulu is a member of two honor societies: Lambda Pi Eta National Communication Association Honor Society and Delta Alpha Pi International Honor Society. Additionally, Lulu is a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. Through these communities she has developed meaningful friendships, strengthened her leadership abilities, and cultivated a deep commitment to service and lifelong learning.
Lulu is thrilled to continue her affiliation with Wake and to begin her professional career working as Fellow to incoming President Peter Rodriguez. She is particularly excited to apply her coursework in marketing and communications to further the goals and objectives of the President’s office to enhance her personal learning and experience in the field of higher education.
Carter Dow
Provost’s Office
Carter Dow is from Chicago, Illinois. In May of 2026, Carter graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Health & Exercise Science and a minor in Chemistry on the pre-medical track. He was drawn to Wake Forest University because it allowed him to build on his previous Montessori education, where he learned the values of kindness, empathy, and respect for the community around him. His time at Wake was guided by Wake Forest’s motto of Pro Humanitate, motivating him to seek meaningful opportunities to lead, serve, and make a positive impact on those around him.
During his time at Wake Forest, Carter made many meaningful connections and contributions through his involvement across campus. He continued his passion for sports by playing Club Baseball all four years where he served as President in his final year with the team. As President, he helped lead the team to a 23-2 record, earning a top-five national ranking.
Driven by a desire to become a physician, Carter actively sought out opportunities to explore medicine during his time at Wake Forest. In his sophomore year, he was accepted into the American Cancer Society CARES organization where he supported cancer patients in need at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital. He will always cherish the small interactions he had with patients and staff because they allowed him to give back to the community that became his home while at Wake. Carter was also selected for a summer research fellowship, where he worked with members of the Wake Forest School of Medicine to detect the true prevalence of workplace violence in hospital care settings. This work culminated in a poster presentation and the submission of an abstract at a regional research conference.
Carter is thrilled to continue his time at Wake Forest, where he will leverage his interpersonal skills and leadership experience to contribute to the academic and strategic initiatives of the Provost’s Office this year. He is honored to be able to learn and work alongside an amazing group of Wake Forest Fellows.
Jane Alexander (Year 2)
Jane Alexander is a Winston-Salem local who was raised around Wake Forest’s campus. She entered Wake Forest with a presidential scholarship in visual art and graduated with double honors in Studio Art and Mathematics.
In her time at Wake, Jane has been involved with the departments of art and mathematics. After TAing with the math and stats center, she went on the student acquisitions trip in her junior spring semester, a part of a group of students who bought eight works for the University’s Reece Collection. She went abroad to the Venice Biennale in summer 2024 and worked with Hanes Gallery as an intern her senior year. Her math honors thesis focused on Schur functions and representation theory.
Jane has also had close relations with stArt Gallery; she exhibited a solo show, mtf.zip, in January 2024, and an honors show, mommy whats brainrot, in May 2025. In her spare time, she enjoys painting, geometric modeling, and playing in her band SCOBY.
This is her second year as the stArt manager, and she is excited to continue putting on exhibitions and programming with the gallery!
Alaina Wheeler
Wake Downtown
Alaina Wheeler is a Washington, D.C. native and now resides in Waldorf, Maryland. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a minor in Bioethics on the pre-med track. During her undergraduate career, she explored her passion for research by coding to analyze axolotl behavior, helping predict their environmental success, and supporting species conservation. Alaina is currently studying for her MCAT and applying to Master’s programs as she pursues her dream of becoming a dermatologist.
Deeply committed to the Winston-Salem community, Alaina has dedicated much of her time to local service and clinical exposure. She served on the executive team for Campus Kitchen through the WFU Office of Civic and Community Engagement during the 2025-2026 school year. She helped manage food distribution and coordinate volunteers to help provide fresh meals to community members in need. Her passion continues where she volunteers at Cancer Services and has shadowed at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Dermatology to learn more about patient communication and advanced bedside manner.
On campus, Alaina has fully immersed herself in all aspects of leadership and student life. She has mentored incoming first-year students for multiple years as a SPARC (Students Promoting Action and Responsibility) Pre-Orientation Leader. Helping students embody the university’s Pro Humanitate motto. Additionally, she is a Spring 2024 Initiate of the Pi Omicron Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., where she served as a Treasurer and Fundraising Committee Chair. She is also an active member of Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity. She has worked as a student employee at ZSR Library for the past three years, where she also served on the academic library planning committee.
Alaina is thrilled to be the 2026-2027 Wake Forest Downtown Fellow, where she will continue to give back to the place she calls home: Winston-Salem and the Wake Forest community. She is excited to coordinate many STEM outreach programs and service events. Go Deacs forever!
Hannah Reynolds
ZSR Library
Hannah Reynolds is from Hastings, Nebraska, and graduated summa cum laude from Wake Forest with a double major in Theatre and Critical and Creative Media. During her time at Wake, Hannah was heavily involved in both the Theatre and Film departments, utilizing her passions for creativity and community in all of her artistic endeavors. She is also a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Omicron Delta Kappa.
As a Presidential Scholar for Theatre, Hannah frequently played roles both on and off stage in theatrical productions at Wake Forest. During her senior year, she served as the Music Director and played the role of the “Gramophone” in Failure: A Love Story, and had the opportunity to assist the director and designers with incorporating ukulele and percussion music into the show. Hannah has also received widespread recognition for her work as a playwright. She was a winner of the New South Young Playwrights Festival in 2024, and her original play, Roses Fading, received an Honorable Mention at the Region IV American College Theatre Festival. Roses Fading explores how memory loss and grief impact the lives of individuals trapped in a mysterious small town, and Hannah presented a staged reading of the piece in collaboration with other Wake Forest students as her senior honors thesis.
When she wasn’t in the theatre, Hannah could often be seen walking away from Carswell Hall with a camera and a boom microphone, preparing for one of the numerous student film projects she directed and produced. In 2025, Hannah directed a full-length documentary about The 24 Hour Musical Project, and she recently finished work on her original narrative short film, Stargazing. Several of her films have been featured in Wake Screens, Wake Forest’s annual showcase of outstanding student films.
Hannah is thrilled to be returning to Wake Forest for another year, and cannot wait to help serve the community that has given her so many wonderful opportunities.
Ashleigh Hampson
Campus Life
Ashleigh Hampson is originally from Alpharetta, Georgia, and graduated cum laude from Wake Forest University with a Bachelor of Arts in Politics & International Affairs and Religious Studies. Her senior seminar thesis bridged both disciplines, exploring the use of Christian nationalist rhetoric in Donald Trump’s recent U.S. presidential campaigns. She graduated with honors in Politics & International Affairs and was inducted into Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society, and Theta Alpha Kappa, the religious studies honor society. She was also inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa, the national leadership honor society, in the fall of her junior year. Upon graduation, Ashleigh received the J. Allen Easley Award in Religious Studies, presented to the most outstanding graduating senior in the department.
Drawn to Wake Forest by its motto, Pro Humanitate, Ashleigh immersed herself in initiatives and organizations that reflected its spirit. She was actively involved in the Office of Civic and Community Engagement, serving as a director of its pre-orientation programs SPARC and Deacon Camp, and contributing to the virtual tutoring and Civic Scholars programs. She served as Director of Philanthropy for her sorority, Kappa Delta, during her sophomore and junior years. Ashleigh also held roles as student manager of the Benson University Center’s Information Desk, co-chair of the Student Conduct Advising group, and was involved with the Episcopal Student Fellowship, Traditions Council, and served as a campus tour guide. Across all these experiences, she consistently worked to foster inclusive, supportive communities, even in times of transition or conflict.
Ashleigh’s summers further reflected her commitment to service and justice. She worked as a Servant Leader Intern at the Wake Forest Freedom School, helping prevent summer literacy loss in local elementary schools. She also interned at the Baptist Joint Committee (BJC) in Washington, DC, supporting interfaith initiatives and promoting the separation of church and state in pursuit of a pluralistic society.
Ashleigh is excited to join the Campus Life team as a Fellow, where she looks forward to contributing to a vibrant, inclusive campus culture. She is eager to collaborate with and learn from her cohort as they work to ensure that every student feels seen, supported, and empowered to thrive at Wake Forest.
Lillie Sutton
Office of the CEO (Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist)
Lillie Sutton is from Clemmons, NC and grew up with Wake Forest just down the road from home. Lillie was drawn to Wake Forest’s commitment to the Pro Humanitate motto and sense of community in addition to many opportunities in her field of study. As a Guy T. Carswell scholar, she graduated magna cum laude from Wake Forest with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and a minor in Neuroscience on the pre medical track.
In her time at Wake Forest, Lillie had many meaningful campus and community involvements. Her time as a Leadership and Character Scholar instilled a passion for ethical leadership, mentorship, and exploration of global perspectives through intentional programming and cohort activities. Lillie continued to foster her love for music by performing as a violinist in the Wake Forest University Symphony Orchestra in each of the 7 semesters she was on campus and studied privately with Music Department Chair Dr. Jacqui Carrasco. Lillie was able to take on leadership roles as a founding member of the University Orchestra’s Board of Advisors, serving as President her senior year. She also played in Copenhagen’s Student Orchestra during her semester abroad in Denmark, rediscovering her love for music in a new international setting.
Lillie was able to explore the field of medicine in a variety of ways in her time at Wake Forest, solidifying her plans of becoming a physician. From volunteering in the NICU and ED at Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital to assisting laboring mothers as a Deacon Doula with Wake Forest’s School of Medicine, she is passionate about creating positive patient experiences and serving her communities through intentional care. Lillie worked for two years in an immunology lab at the School of Medicine, exploring macrophage activation in atherosclerosis and multiple sclerosis rodent models. She additionally completed research during a summer internship at Boston Children’s Hospital’s Department of Rheumatology, publishing and presenting a first author abstract about treatment outcomes for refractory uveitis patients.
Lillie is excited to combine her research and clinical skills, as well as continue to learn from exceptional physicians and administrators during her time with Atrium Health. She is honored to serve her Wake Forest community in her upcoming year as a Fellow.
Jackson Brown
Office of the Dean of the College
Jackson Brown is from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He chose Wake Forest University because he knew it would challenge and push him both academically and personally. He was also drawn by a deeper purpose recognizing the importance of being part of the change he wished to see at a predominantly white institution (PWI), he committed himself to building a more inclusive and supportive campus community.
Jackson graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science, complemented by minors in Sociology and Entrepreneurship. His academic path reflects his unique interest in the intersection of people and technology: how human interactions are shaped by and can shape digital spaces.
Beyond the classroom, Jackson was deeply engaged in student life and service. He served as a Resident Advisor, supporting and mentoring fellow students in the residential community. He worked as a student worker in the Office of the Dean of the College, gaining first hand insight into the academic and administrative life of the university. Jackson was also the women’s basketball team manager, and spent time at the Wake Forest Tennis Center teaching children the fundamentals of tennis.
Jackson’s leadership extended into cultural and community spaces on campus. He became a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated, a historically Black fraternity committed to service and achievement. He also held leadership roles in the Black Student Alliance, where he contributed to advocacy, programming, and community building efforts.
Looking ahead, Jackson is excited to pursue a career as a software engineer, where he hopes to apply his technical skills to projects that make a meaningful impact. Whether through tech, mentorship, or community involvement, he aims to continue building connections and driving positive change wherever he goes.
Rujing Fan
Information Systems – AI Intern
Rujing Fan grew up in Shenzhen, Guangdong—a vibrant and fast-paced city in southern China that nurtured her curiosity for technology, data, and innovation. She was drawn to Wake Forest University for its small class sizes and the meaningful connections formed between students, faculty, and staff. These close-knit relationships helped shape her academic and personal growth throughout her undergraduate journey.
Rujing sought for opportunities to be the bridge that makes students’ voices heard more directly. After her freshman year, she found fulfillment in mentorship. She served as a student advisor for incoming freshmen and transfer students, giving advice, and helping them navigate their transition to college life.
During the summer following her sophomore year, Rujing interned at a local television station in China. There, she helped design algorithms to boost the popularity of short video clips offering legal advice to local residents. This experience deepened her interest in data modeling, content strategy, and using technology to offer more personalized service for users.
Rujing graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Statistics. In the fall of her senior year, she participated in research focused on sports analytics. Her research was based on raw data from Major League Baseball to build predictive models of swing types, seeking strategy improvement for coaches and players. This experience opened the window for her to use her data analysis skills to solve real-world problems.
In her final semester, Rujing completed two Computational Statistics projects. The first involved implementing Adaptive Acceptance-Rejection Sampling, a modified Monte Carlo technique for generating random samples from complex probability distributions, while she used both a mathematical derivation of key algorithmic steps and a full code implementation in R, showcasing her interest in adapting and extending statistical methods. The second project focused on Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE)—a method used to model correlated data such as repeated measures or clustered observations. Working collaboratively with her group mates, Rujing applied Newton’s method to estimate regression coefficients, conducted simulation studies to explore the effects of within-group dependence, and implemented the approach in C++, demonstrating her strong coding skills and applied statistical understanding.
Rujing looks forward to using her analytical, statistical, and data modeling skills as a member of the Information Systems Office to design, develop, and deploy innovative AI-powered solutions that drive adoption and enhance productivity for Wake Forest students, faculty, and staff.
Leanna Bernish
The Program for Leadership and Character – Fellow for Research, Assessment, and Programming
Leanna Bernish grew up in Winston-Salem and Clemmons, North Carolina. Wake Forest spoke to her because of its emphasis on meaningful dialogue between students, faculty, and staff, something of great value to her as an undergraduate, and which she fosters in her Fellowships. As someone involved in both the sciences and the arts, Leanna explored her passions for critical thinking, meaning-making, community service, and storytelling through research and her roles in multiple campus organizations. As a Stamps Scholar, she graduated magna cum laude with honors in psychology and a minor in health and human services.
Her honors thesis focused on the predictive validity of post-traumatic growth on mental health and well-being outcomes. In addition to her thesis, she studied the roles and perceptions of music within the Wake Forest community during the COVID-19 pandemic with Dr. Donovan Livingston. She examined the uniting language of nature and art across the United States, Austria, and Italy through an original visual art exhibition after her time abroad at the Flow House in Vienna, Austria. As a Leadership and Character Ambassador, she collaborated with fellow students to write a collection of essays, Performing Character: From Stage to Page, on how the COVID-19 pandemic affected their identities as artists and their sense of character. As a brother of Alpha Phi Omega and a DJ for Wake Radio throughout her four years at Wake, she met numerous fellow Deacons with whom she connected over new and shared passions, such as the agriculture of the Campus Garden and radio shows on the weekends. She grew in her appreciation and love for dance through her involvement in the Wake Forest Dance Company, classes with the dance faculty, and an original piece for Wakeville 2024 with her Campus Life predecessor, Gretchen Castelloe.
As the Campus Life Fellow, she dedicated her focus to the mental health and public health of Wake Forest students, faculty, and staff, planning outreach events, serving on multiple advisory groups, and conducting institutional research to identify action steps for the betterment of Wake Forest. She is excited to continue her work at Wake Forest as part of the Program for Leadership and Character, a community of scholars who work to help people thrive. Leanna will also be conducting additional psychology research with Dr. Eranda Jayawickreme and Dr. Veronica Cole. She is grateful for the continued support of her family, friends, and mentors who helped her get here.
Michaela Re
President’s Office
Michaela Re is from Sayville, New York. In May 2025, Michaela graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and International Affairs and minors in History, Italian Language and Culture, and Dance. At Wake Forest, Michaela engaged with students, faculty, staff, and members of the Winston-Salem community and, through establishing and cultivating lifelong friendships, discovered her Wake Forest family. During her undergraduate summers, Michaela attended Study Abroad Programs in Genoa, Italy, and at Casa Artom in Venice, Italy, and worked as a legal clerk at a New York law firm advocating for the elderly and people with special needs.
Embracing Wake Forest’s commitment to Pro Humanitate, Michaela actively participated in leadership, community engagement, and service projects. As President of the Wake Forest University Italian Club, she organized Italian language and culture events. Michaela served as Vice President of the Wake Forest Catholic Community and planned weekly social and religious events. Michaela also served as Vice President of Pi Sigma Alpha (National Political Science Honor Society) and arranged meetings with the Office of Personal and Career Development, hosted panelists, and moderated presentations of career opportunities for members. As Vice President of Omicron Delta Kappa (National Leadership Honor Society), Michaela led Service Days and reviewed membership applications. Michaela contributed to academic life as a Student Advisor on the Politics Department Advisory Board by interviewing and evaluating teaching candidates. Additionally, Michaela was a member of the Wake Forest University Chapter of Mortar Board, Gamma Kappa Alpha (National Italian Honor Society), Pi Delta Chapter of Delta Zeta Sorority, Wake Forest University Dance Company, and Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, International.
Michaela received the 2025 Student Impact Award for Outstanding Student Leader of the Year honoring a graduating senior who exemplifies leadership, collaboration, integrity, and a commitment to growth. Michaela has made a lasting impact through servant leadership– fostering inclusive community, organizing service projects, and uplifting others with purpose and care and is described by her professors and peers as a leader who leads with humility, warmth, and a deep dedication to others. In her home community, Michaela pursues her passion for community service through her involvement in local charitable organizations.
Guided by her core values of faith, community, and service, Michaela has grown through her academic and leadership experiences at Wake Forest and welcomes new opportunities and challenges. Michaela is honored to continue her journey at Wake Forest serving as the Fellow to President Wente and her staff. Michaela aspires to be a Double Deac and attend Wake Forest University School of Law in the Fall of 2026.
Sofia Trujillo
Provost’s Office
Sofia Trujillo is from Scottsdale, Arizona. A cum laude graduate from the Class of 2025, she completed her undergraduate education at Wake Forest with a Bachelors of Art in Studio Art and double minors in Creative Writing and Entrepreneurship. Sofia was drawn to Wake’s liberal arts philosophy, recognizing it as an ideal environment to cultivate her interdisciplinary interests.
During her senior year, Sofia achieved Honors distinction in Studio Art for her exhibition, “With,In”. This body of work explores the complex bodily experiences often overlooked by society, specifically those faced by people born with a uterus. Addressing topics from menstrual issues and birth control access to healthcare barriers and pregnancy complications, “With,In” uses mixed media and identifiable spaces to evoke shared memories, creating a foundation for human connection despite our different physical experiences. The installation encourages viewers to reflect both the desire for bodily autonomy and the biological realities that sometimes limit it, transforming individual struggles into collective understanding and reducing shame through empathetic dialogue.
Concurrently, Sofia completed a Creative Writing capstone, presenting a draft of her novel, Broken Continuum. This narrative delves into the journey of a young woman navigating a significant medical event and seeking answers in an emergency room. These two projects, while distinct in medium, showcase how Sofia maximized her liberal arts education to explore creativity, originality, and voice.
As an artist and writer, her work frequently examines intra- and interpersonal relationships, their inherent complexities, and their outcomes. As an innovator, Sofia is perpetually creating, embracing the challenges of bringing new ideas to life. Her greatest motivation is to spark conversations and break existing barriers that limit critical discussions.
Embracing Wake Forest’s Pro Humanitate motto, Sofia deeply connected with the university community and its offerings. As an undergraduate student, she was an active member of the Kappa Delta Sorority, served as a Campus Recreation Supervisor, and contributed to the Wake the Arts Community. Her interdisciplinary work has been featured in the 3to4 Ounces Literary Magazine and the Old Gold and Black, as well as multiple stArt Gallery and Hanes Art Gallery exhibitions. Notably, a pigment print from her earlier show, Remnants, was acquired into the John P. Anderson Collection of Student Art. A defining experience was her study abroad in Florence, Italy, where she navigated lineages of artistic practice and Renaissance history. She also interned at Tuscan Wedding Cakes, receiving mentorship from award winning cake designer Melanie Seccani on edible sculpture. This experience solidified Sofia’s belief in the importance of global exposure for undergraduate students during a pivotal time of self-discovery.
As the first student from her high school to attend Wake Forest, Sofia felt an immediate connection to the Deac identity upon visiting in 2019. A lifelong learner, she is excited to immerse herself further in the Wake Forest community for another year. Sofia is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be at Wake Forest as a staff member and gain a deeper, more personal understanding of the institution she cherishes.
Nelia Binder
School of Business
Nelia Binder is from Apex, North Carolina, and graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Japanese Language and Culture as well as Environmental Science. She ultimately chose Wake due to its variety of majors and emphasis on an interdisciplinary approach, and is forever grateful for the learning opportunities Wake has provided both inside and outside the classroom.
During her time as an undergraduate student, she presented in Japanese at the NC Japanese Language Student Conference for Atlanta’s Consulate-General of Japan, was chosen for the Outstanding Japanese Major of the Year honors award, and was awarded the Order of the Dogwood by the director of the North Carolina Japan Center. Her honors thesis focused on the revitalization and re-imagining of modern Japanese literature for contemporary audiences through supernatural detective anime. It was accepted for publication in the Johns Hopkins East Asian Forum & Review 2025 issue.
Outside of the classroom, Nelia devoted herself to the Spirit of the Old Gold and Black Marching Band (SOTOGAB) and Japanese Studies Club. As a member of drumline, she loved being at school events like football games and promoting school spirit. Her senior year, she was President of Japanese Studies Club and spearheaded the annual East Asian Spring Festival, which helped her hone her project management and event planning skills. Additionally, outside of Wake, Nelia Studied abroad in Tokyo at Temple University, Japan Campus for a semester. There, she honed her language and cultural skills, and realized she wanted to attend graduate school for Japanese.
Nelia is ecstatic to be a Wake Forest Fellow, where she can apply her learning and continue to grow professionally at the School of Business. She is looking forward to using her time as a Fellow to prepare for her Master’s program at Georgia Tech in Advanced Language and Intercultural Studies (ALIS) while giving back to the university that has provided her with so much.
Jane Alexander
stArt Gallery
Jane Alexander is a Winston-Salem local who was raised around Wake Forest’s campus. She entered Wake Forest with a presidential scholarship in visual art and graduated with double honors in Studio Art and Mathematics.
In her time at Wake, Jane has been involved with the departments of art and mathematics. After TAing with the math and stats center, she went on the student acquisitions trip in her junior spring semester, a part of a group of students who bought eight works for the University’s Reece Collection. She went abroad to the Venice Biennale in summer 2024 and worked with Hanes Gallery as an intern her senior year.
Jane has also had close relations with stArt Gallery; she exhibited a solo show, mtf.zip, in January 2024, and an honors show, mommy whats brainrot, in May 2025. She is looking forward to continuing this relationship with stArt as its manager.
Alyssa Zaepfel
Wake Downtown
Alyssa Zaepfel was born and raised in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She graduated cum laude with a Bachelors of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and a minor in German on the pre-medicine track. She was inducted into the leadership honors society Omicron Delta Kappa during the spring of her sophomore year. She also wrote and successfully defended her thesis “Using a Phosphine-Based Probe to Evaluate HNO Production in Bacillus subtilis” to earn departmental honors. She is currently applying to medical school.
During her undergraduate career, Alyssa enjoyed finding ways to give back to the surrounding Winston-Salem community. She was a volunteer doula through the Deacon Doulas, a program within the WFU Women’s Center and Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist that aims to improve the maternal birthing experience for mothers from marginalized backgrounds or without support present. Through this program, Alyssa has aided in four births. She also volunteered weekly at Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center in patient transportation, helping patients navigate the hospital and moving patients by wheelchair to different departments within the hospital. She also incorporated her love of music into her volunteer work, playing calming flute solos in the lobbies of Forsyth Medical Center and participating in Musical Empowerment, a program to provide free, personally-tailored music lessons to underprivileged students in Forsyth County. Alyssa is very grateful to continue these volunteer opportunities during her fellowship.
Alyssa also immersed herself in the Wake Forest community. She participated in multiple musical ensembles on campus, including Wind Ensemble and Flute Choir. She was piccolo section leader for two years in the Wake Forest Marching Band and served as Recording Secretary for Kappa Kappa Psi as well. Alyssa was 2024 President of the Zeta Omicron chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta, where she thoroughly enjoyed building relationships within her sisterhood as well as her mentors in her chapter’s advisory board and the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Engagement.
Alyssa is thrilled to be the 2025-2026 Wake Downtown Fellow, where she will continue to give back to the Wake Forest and Winston-Salem communities through STEM outreach programs. Go Deacs!
Celina Seo
ZSR Library
Celina Seo is from South Korea and is thrilled to spend another year as a Demon Deacon by participating in the Fellows Program. She graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science, majoring in Business and Enterprise Management: Marketing and minoring in Communication.
During her undergraduate years, Celina explored a variety of academic disciplines— from Marketing, Communication, English, and East Asian Studies. In extension of her academic interest, she received a Richter Scholarship from Wake Forest’s Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Center (URECA) in the summer of 2023 to study the portrayal of 1970-80s Martial Law in Korean Cinema and how the themes of trauma and pain are perpetuated in different lenses.
Besides academics, Celina focused her time in the Wake Forest chapter of the Korean American Student Association (KASA), an organization focused on fostering the Korean and Korean American cultures within the Wake community. As the President of KASA, she was heavily invested in event planning, communication, and member recruitment.
Celina also worked as a student employee at ZSR public service desk for four years of her undergraduate studies. Over the years, she became familiar with ZSR’s rich resources available for students and the Winston Salem community, and this experience greatly inspired her to join the Fellowship.
Outside of work, Celina likes to watch movies, read, listen to music, and go on a nature walk. She is deeply grateful for the warm welcome from the ZSR Library and looks forward to contributing to its continued success.
Ellie Bruggen
Office of the Dean of the College
Where are they now?
Austin Offnick
Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
Clay Hamilton
Wake Downtown
Allie Chambers
Campus Life
John Idzik
Office of Personal & Career Development
