Meet Our Staff
Sarah Martinson
Managing Editor
After I graduate in May, I want to work at a business publication in Chicago or New York City. In addition to being a business reporter, I want to write novels and a memoir about searching for my biological mother. As managing editor, one of the biggest challenges for me was turning my grandiose idea for a website into a doable project for a small team of editors and writers. I am full of big ideas, and big ideas are useless unless you can execute them and turn them into something tangible.
Gabrielle Brown
Multimedia Editor
I’m a freelance photographer focusing on lifestyle portraiture and at this point in time I’m seeing where that takes me. With a background in graphic design, my goal is to go into publication design. Animal rights are what I’m most passionate about. I’m a vegan and try to be as active as possible in the animal rights community. I love the idea of telling someone’s story, whose story may not otherwise be told. I’m working on a website (which I’m coding myself) called Wish You Were Here, it combines travel photography and narrative journalism.
Christian Hines
Social Media & Content Editor
A career goal of mine is to work for a published magazine that focuses on fashion and entertainment. Something that I learned while working on this website is that everyone has the opportunity to be a leader and everyone’s input is just as valued as the next person. I love journalism because I love people. I love informing people on what’s new and what’s happening in our world. I want to be that vessel of information that people need and should have. A motto that I live by is, “Just breathe,” I am thee most calm and collected person that I know and this quote helps me achieve that.
Laura Grunke
Writer
Some career goals of mine are to write for a magazine, run a company or run a publications social media department. While working on this website I’ve learned the value of connecting personally with a source and how beneficial that can be to a story. A fun fact about myself would be that I have a sweet tooth that has taken over my life and a motto that I live by is “Take it as it comes.”
Brittany Jordan
Writer
I would like to either work at a magazine as a writer turned editor or work at a book publishing company. I also plan to write fiction novels. Something that I learned while working on this gallery is how passion drives people. I thought I would learn how to be more comfortable around people that I’m not sure how to approach, but I’ve learned that I’m already comfortable around people with disabilities, not only because of the people in my family with similar disabilities, but because I see everyone as a person at the end of the day, regardless of limitations.
Camille King
Writer
I’ve learned a great deal about handling difficult topics with ease, and tackling a topic that may seem intimidating while working on this project. Our gallery centers around a very sensitive subject matter, so really all the challenges were about being as appropriate as possible, but still telling the story accurately. I love that feeling of accomplishment when I really do a story justice and my sources are pleased with the outcome. During my career, I would like to start my own online magazine, centering on Black Women traveling the world.
Katlyn Tolly
Copy Editor
I’ve gained a greater understanding of all of the moving parts it takes to successfully complete an in-depth profile while working on the website. To my surprise, I found that a good writer and editor may spend weeks or even months on a piece depending on the story. I hope to be able to work on more in-depth articles later on in my career. I love how journalism provides a platform for open discussion on important topics.
Tyler Jones
Web Editor
I’ve learned that as an editor, I find it easy pointing out corrections to my writer without having drama. The associate editor of Seventeen Magazine once told me, “If you walk into a room and think that you’re the smartest person, you’re not.” I think that makes a lot of sense and makes me feel comfortable about the field that I am entering.
Sara Graves
Writer
Through this profile gallery, I've had the opportunity to get a broader perspective on what it's like to live day-to-day with a disability. I think of myself as a pretty informed person when it comes to people and all of our differences, but hearing about the struggles people with disabilities have to overcome has shown me that there is a lot more that I don't know. My career goal is to make a living doing something that doesn't feel like work. If I could have the opportunity to be creative and make a difference in some way, I would be very happy.