Spring 2023 Staff
Faculty Advisor
Susan Varnot
Since joining UC Merced in 2007, Susan Varnot has been active in Writing Studies, including founding the UC Merced Creative Writing Collaboratorium, a multi-campus conference, and curating the Write! Look! Listen! reading and workshop series. She has also been active in general education, assessment and review processes, the UC Merced Undergraduate Research Journal, student clubs and events, as well as other campus initiatives and projects. These areas of engagement and inquiry stem from her teaching and research interests in collaborative, integrative, anti-racist, and empowering pedagogy and praxis, creative writing, interdisciplinarity, poetry, and creativity studies.
Editor-in-Chief
Kyle Magro
Kyle is a 4th-year Human Biology major. After graduation, he hopes to join a research lab in the Bay Area before pursuing a PhD in Biochemistry. In his free time, he enjoys writing poetry, hiking, and reading.
Managing Editors
Managing Editor of Outreach
Alexia Wasson
Lex is a 4th-year Sociology major with a Writing Studies minor, and a first-generation student expected to graduate Spring 2023. Some of her hobbies include going on mini road trips and adventures, creative writing, and learning! She looks forward to expanding the URJ both digitally and socially.
Managing Editor of Editorial Team
Maxwell Vanderbilt
Max is a 4th-year student double majoring in Human Biology and Biochemistry and will graduate in May. He is 22 years old and he and his twin are the youngest of 25 siblings. He is originally from Greece and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and immigrated to the states in 2013. He is currently working as an EKG Tech at Sutter Hospital in Clovis, CA and as a tutor for an after-school program in Atwater serving local schools. He is an aspiring dermatologist and a fun fact about him is that he speaks 3 languages besides English. He enjoys reading new interesting material whether it’s creative or academic and working on the URJ is definitely a great way for him to gain a lot of skills and expand on what he likes to do.
Section Editors
Section Editor: Humanities
Christopher Finley
Christopher is a 3rd-year English major with aspirations to continue on to graduate school. He enjoys cooking and rare moments of peace with his cat.
Section Editor: Social Sciences
Fernanda Vilchis
Fernanda is a first-generation college student majoring in Sociology with a minor Psychology. She is a 21-year old 3rd-year transfer student, originally from Mexico and currently living with her family in Merced County. She is a Capricorn and loves listening to music, drawing, painting, spending time with her loved ones, helping others, traveling, and vintage shopping. This is her first semester at UC Merced and she is very excited about continuing her education.
Section Editor: Social Sciences
Sarah Ford
Sarah is a 4th-year Cognitive Science major with a minor in Writing and Management and Business Economics. Her interests are in the brain and her education has allowed her to develop a love for Neuroscience and neurodivergent children, especially those with ADHD. She believes working in the URJ will develop her writing skills. She enjoys time outside of classes with her two children who inspire her to work hard for the future.
Section Editor: Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
Maxwell Vanderbilt
Max is a 4th-year student double majoring in Human Biology and Biochemistry and will graduate in May. He is 22 years old and he and his twin are the youngest of 25 siblings. He is originally from Greece and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and immigrated to the states in 2013. He is currently working as an EKG Tech at Sutter Hospital in Clovis, CA and as a tutor for an after-school program in Atwater serving local schools. He is an aspiring dermatologist and a fun fact about him is that he speaks 3 languages besides English. He enjoys reading new interesting material whether it’s creative or academic and working on the URJ is definitely a great way for him to gain a lot of skills and expand on what he likes to do.
Digital & Web Operation Directors
Digital & Web Operation Director
Jorge Coria
Jorge is a Psychology major, and he believes that life is an adventure, so he is always searching for the next one. Lover of coffee, music, and all things chocolate.
Digital & Web Operation Director
Emily Hu
Emily is from San Diego, California. Her major is Economics, and she is also pursuing a minor in Psychology. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, shopping, listening to music, and cooking. She has a passion for looking at art, although she says she hasn’t had much experience with the subject. She has 6 pet guinea pigs, and she loves them so much. Her favorite movie is Everything Everywhere All At Once and her favorite song is “Heat Waves by Glass Animals.”
Social Media & Publicity Manager
Social Media & Publicity Manager
Ruby Arceo
Ruby is a 4th-year Sociology major with a Writing minor. She is looking forward to being a part of the URJ as she has been a part of the UROC-H program in 2022. Doing research with the Race, Law, and Capitalism (RLC) Lab has been impactful in her undergraduate experience, and has taught her so much about the research process. She is interested in working in public policy and public health. Her ultimate goal is to be able to provide resources and services to underserved communities.
Campus Outreach & Event Coordinator
Campus Outreach & Event Coordinator
Rosario Lopez
Rosie is a 4th-year at UC Merced majoring in Psychology with a Writing minor. She enjoys reading articles and research, and writing for fun when she can. She is also a certified EMT in the county of Merced and would like to pursue a career in the medical field to help and comfort others. She is a firm believer in the saying “it’s about the journey and not the destination.” Her journey here at UC Merced has taught her a lot, and one of the lessons is to be patient. She hopes to achieve her goals and continue adding to her knowledge even after she graduates from UC Merced.
Art Director: Photography & Design
Art Director: Photography & Design
Darah Carrillo
Darah is a Mexican-born student artist raised in Merced, CA. She is excited to be on the URJ during her last semester at UCM as an English student. She is passionate about giving back to her community, taking care of her family and developing a wide range of skills as a scholar and an independent artist.