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Author Biographies

Stefnie Cerny-
Stefnie Cerny is an honors junior at Virginia Tech, 
located in Blacksburg, Virginia. She majors in 
Studio Art and Theatre Arts Design and hopes to 
pursue Cinema Production and Prop Design upon 
completion of her undergraduate studies. Stefnie 
resides in Southwest Virginia but is a native of 
Northern Michigan and often ties her admiration for 
both locations in her work. Her experience includes 
commissioned artwork, children’s book illustration, 
film production assistance, and theatre stage 
decoration. Art was an interest that began young and 
stayed constant throughout her life. Being an artist 
gives her the chance to challenge herself in unusual 
ways and branch out into other fields, such as theatre 
and cinema.

Benjamin Davis-
Benjamin P. Davis is a student of philosophy and 
international studies at the University of North 
Dakota, where he is also a member of the Honors 
Program. His research engages phenomenology, 
liberation theology, postmodern philosophy, the 
philosophy of education, and the life and works of 
Simone Weil. He hopes to pursue graduate studies 
in Continental philosophy, as well as to promote 
philosophy as a way of life.

Leah Huls-
Leah Huls is a sophomore at the University of 
Minnesota Duluth.  She is in the University 
Honors program and is majoring in Teaching 
Communications, Art, and Literature and English, 
Literary Studies.  She plans to student teach abroad 
in Ireland and graduate with her teaching degree 
in December 2017.  Her dream is to have a life split 
between the classroom and a career as a fiction writer.  
Currently, Leah is a Resident Advisor and spends her 
rare moments of free time reading fiction, going on 
walks, and enjoying long coffee dates with friends. 

Jessica King-
Jessica King, from Stafford, Virginia, is a sophomore 
Stamps Scholar at Virginia Tech. She is majoring 
in Communication Studies and International 
Studies and pursuing minors in German and 
Religion. Jessica is a Resident Advisor at the Honors 
Residential College at East Ambler Johnston. She is 
passionate about issues of social justice and equality. 
In her spare time, Jessica enjoys hiking, listening to 
music, community service work, and cheering on the 
Hokies in Lane Stadium. After graduation, she hopes 
to pursue a Master’s and then a PhD. She conducted 
her research as a part of Dr. Paul Heilker’s Language, 
Violence, and Nonviolence Research Group.

Sreekar S. Kuchibhatla-
Sreekar S Kuchibhatla is a undergraduate honours 
freshman at UNC Chapel Hill, majoring in Business. 
He was born and brought up in India, did his 
Intermediate education at FIITJEE and IGCSE -ICE 
from Oakridge International, Hyderabad. Sreekar is 
Founder CEO of ‘Quid Faciam,’ an innovative skill 
based volunteerism for the new millennials, at 15. 
With his audacity to envision and eagerness to impact, 
he inspired hundreds taking to volunteerism and 
impacted thousands of underprivileged. Sreekar is a 
6th grade guitarist from the Trinity College London, 
who pioneered community outreach through music 
in India. Besides, he is an environment champion, an 
avid photographer, and an active tennis player. 

Matthew McDermott-
Matthew McDermott is a Junior at the University 
of Minnesota Duluth studying Civil Engineering.  
While at UMD, he works as an undergraduate 
research assistant in the department’s environmental 
research laboratory assisting graduate students 
with their research.  After graduation he plans on 
attending graduate school with an emphasis in 
structural engineering.  Originally from the Twin 
Cities, Matthew enjoys outdoor activities including 
running and cross-country skiing, as well as flying.



Author Biographies

Aisthesis      Volume 7,  201659

Bailey Murawski-
Bailey Murawski is a first-year student at the 
University of Minnesota-Duluth. She received her 
Associate of Arts degree during her senior year of 
high school and is now working towards a Bachelor’s 
degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. She 
hopes to attend medical school in the future. Bailey 
enjoys her free time coaching gymnastics, spending 
time with friends and family, and exploring Duluth.

Hannah Neukircher-
Hannah Neukircher is a sophomore at the University 
of Minnesota Duluth. She plans to double major 
in Criminology and Psychology. After college she 
hopes to investigate criminal cases with the hopes 
of eventually working for the FBI. In her spare 
time, Hannah enjoys reading, traveling, and playing 
soccer.

Caitlin Pederson-
Caitlin Pederson is a senior at the University of 
Minnesota Duluth, and will be graduating with 
a Bachelors of Science degree in Chemistry with 
a Mathematics minor.  She is a member of the 
University Honors Student Association, a member of 
the Scholars Club, and is involved in a computational 
chemistry research lab at the University of Minnesota 
Duluth.  Her future plans are to attend University of 
Minnesota’s College of Pharmacy and acquire her 
PharmD degree.

Rachael Prozinski-
Rachael Prozinski is a junior at the University of 
Minnesota Duluth. She plans on majoring in Business 
Marketing with a minor in Communications. After 
college she plans to work in the Sales Marketing field 
and acquire her Master of Business Administration. 
In her spare time she enjoys playing hockey, reading, 
and partaking in numerous outdoor activities.

Patricia Shorter-
Patricia “Pat” Shorter is sophomore studying 
Biology with an emphasis in Entomology. She is an 
undergraduate researcher in the insect systematics 
lab, where she photographs and digitizes preserved 
bees and other pollinators. She is also a curator at 
the Virginia Tech Entomological Collection. Pat 
wrote her first complete work, a fantasy novel, as her 
senior project at Gloucester High School and now 
competes in NaNoWriMo and presents her short 
works at open mic nights sponsored by her honors 
residential community. She is a Gloucester, Virginia 
native working towards a BS at Virginia Tech.

Tahnee Trenberth-
Tahnee Trenberth is from a small northern town 
called Chisholm, MN. Currently, she is attending the 
University of Minnesota-Duluth working toward her 
Bachelor of Arts degree as a communications major 
with a journalism minor. In her free time she enjoys 
writing, reading, taking photographs, listening to 
music, site-seeing, stargazing, & spending quality 
time with her parents, pets, and best friends.


