Aimee Morgan is an art, technology and emerging communication major with a concentration in media studies. Guided by her passion for journalism and storytelling, Aimee started in student media as a staff writer for Dallas College’s Brookhaven campus at The Courier, working her way to her final position as Editor-in-Chief. Now a transfer student in her junior year at UTD, she is News Editor at The Mercury. When Aimee is not seen huddled in a corner with a book or laughing too loud at her own jokes, she enjoys working out, developing her interpersonal relationships and advocating for human rights. Aimee aspires to attend law school, pass the bar and as an attorney, advocate for underserved communities and groups.

Paola Martinez is a literature major with a creative writing concentration. She joined The Mercury in September 2023 and started as Life & Arts Editor in spring 2024. As Life & Arts Editor, she loves to get to know other people and ask about their work and quirky interests. Paola enjoys going on long runs and reading — not simultaneously. She hopes to work in the publishing industry once she graduates.

Kavya Racheeti is a literature sophomore with a minor in biology. She joined The Mercury in January 2024 and is super excited to be your Opinion Editor this semester! When she is not indoctrinating the masses to convert to Glen Powell-ism, she’s most likely rewatching Derry Girls or curating the perfect “top 4 movies” list for her Letterboxd. She also loves taking long walks, everything bagels and chai. She hopes to go to medical school to pursue oncology.

Anika Sultana is a visual and performing arts senior with a concentration in art history. They are also a Fast-Track student in the fall 2024 master’s cohort at the Edith O’Donnell Institute of Art History. They joined The Mercury in October 2023 as a contributing artist, became Social Media Manager in January 2024, and now operate as The Mercury’s Graphics Editor. When she isn’t arguing with people over using pica boxes in InDesign, she can be found wandering around your local museum or watching House M.D. for the gazillionth time. She hopes to pursue her Ph.D. in art history after earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. After that, who knows?

Katya Zakar is a biomedical engineering and visual arts senior who cites her Kazakh and Armenian roots as a major inspiration for her work as a photographer. Katya has been a Student Media urchin since 2022, where she has worked as a RadioUTD DJ and is now Photo Editor at The Mercury. If she isn’t found in the Student Media office, however, she can be seen practicing at her ballet academy or recording music at a local studio. Despite working for the press for over nine years and never intending on stopping, Katya anticipates to professionally specialize in prosthetic development to improve the lives of disabled people around the world.

Rainier Pederson is a computer science and mathematics junior at UTD. This is his second year as Web Editor for The Mercury (and fifth year of being the web editor overall, counting his time in high school) and third year working as an artist for The Mercury (and seventh year overall). In his free time, he enjoys painting, reading and taking naps outside of jails during finals week.

Lulu Cheng is a business analytics sophomore. She used to be data science, but decided she was not a fan of doing homework. She enjoys yapping to anyone and everyone, and can’t stand being alone. Lulu loves baking dessert and playing piano, although she can never sit still long enough to actually learn a piece. With her responsibilities as Distribution Manager, you’ll probably see her riding around in a golf cart delivering newspapers, or at a booth in the Student Union on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Please stop by to say hi!

Carlotta Amalia Fernandez is a psychology freshman with plans to procure a Master of Social Work. She joined The Mercury in August 2024 as Social Media Manager and an occasional writer. Her favorite hobbies include obsessing over musicals, napping, eating absurd amounts of fruit, cuddling with her cat/biological daughter Delilah, and adding to her collection of 100+ stuffed animals. She hopes to marry rich in order to pursue her dreams of running a nonprofit children’s center and own hundreds of animals, both stuffed and breathing.

Fiyin Olajide is a literature junior with a creative writing concentration. She is responsible for copy editing the newspaper. She started working in her position spring 2024; she previously worked at The Mercury in fall 2022. Fiyin loves all forms of writing and was introduced to the world of journalism through competing in UIL in high school.