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One Book Ambassadors

Ryan Albelda

I am Ryan Albelda, a junior studying Industrial Engineering and minoring in Environmental Policy. I am from the western suburbs of Chicago, yet one of my favorite places is the Rocky Mountains. I am a proud owner of a cactus and a big fan the environment!  At NU, I am the Northwestern co-coordinator for Eye to Eye, part of Chi Omega, and NU Hillel. I am happy to be part of One Book for another year!

Meredith Belloni

I’m Meredith Belloni, and I’m a junior studying Cognitive Science and Linguistics. I’m from Lafayette, Louisiana, but I also call New Orleans home. You can usually find me painting, going to museums, or playing board games. Since transferring here last fall, I’ve been involved in Jones Residential College, research with the CogSci department, working at Special Collections in Deering Library, and representing Cognitive Science on the Student Advisory Board. I’m thrilled to be a One Book Ambassador and to help start important conversations on campus about what it means to be a revolutionary!

Melissa Calica

Hi there! I'm Melissa Calica, a rising senior in Sociology and am happy to be back as an Ambassador, having served as a Fellow for 2017-2017. On campus, I am involved with Greek life, Homecoming, and peer education for health and social justice. I am also an Ambassador for Off-Campus Life.

Ivy Chen

I am Ivy Chen, a rising sophomore studying History and Economics. I am from China and lived in Oklahoma for 7 years. On campus, I am the treasurer of Chinatown Health Initiative, an organization that does health advocacy for the Chinatown region; and a member of the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity. I enjoy spending time with my family, with myself, and drinking tea. As an One Book ambassador, I am excited to explore the intellectual history behind the Declaration of Independence and find ways to engage students through different topics of this book.

Matthew Guzman

I'm Matthew, and I'm a Weinberg senior studying Middle Eastern Studies, Economics, and Math. I'm from Boston, MA and I'm so excited to be a One Book Ambassador this year! On campus, I've been involved with the Northwestern Crew Team, Willard Residential College, and A Capella groups as well. I also work at the University Library and at the Block Museum of Art, and I can't wait to engage students on the topics of this book with an eye for art and academia too.

AnnElise Hardy

I am AnnElise Hardy, I am a junior pursuing a degree in Biomedical Engineering with a minor in Materials Science.  I grew up outside of St. Louis, MO and enjoy reading, movie marathons, and hiking.  On Campus, I am the VP of Outreach for Engineers Without Borders.  I am excited to work with One Book this year as an ambassador and engage the NU community!

Brian Ingersoll

My name is Brian Ingersoll and I am a junior in Weinberg studying Cultural Anthropology and Geography. I am from Phoenix, Arizona and I’m a huge Phoenix Suns fan. I’m a Family Ambassador and participate in Greek Life at Northwestern. I enjoy hiking, going to museums, and trying new food places. I’m excited to be a One Book ambassador this year and helping the Northwestern community engage in meaningful conversations.

Isaiah Raynal

My name is Isaiah Raynal and I am a senior double-majoring in Legal Studies & Spanish and minoring in Linguistics.  I've always lived in the Chicago-land area and currently commute from my home in the Northern suburbs.  I'm also a dual-citizen in Canada and go to our cottage in Ontario every summer.  On campus I tutor student-athletes and am a member of Phi Alpha Delta.  Off campus I work as a journalist and a as social media intern, and enjoy helping out at karate and my church's youth group.  In general I love spending time with family, being outside, working out, and following politics.

Alicia Wala

My name is Alicia Wala, and I am a sophomore in Weinberg who is currently super undecided. I am from the city of Chicago, and I love drinking coffee, spending time outdoors, and exploring my city.  On campus, I am involved in Spoon University and a member of Delta Zeta. I am so excited to be a One Book ambassador because I get to help out with the events that are connected with the book and hear people's thoughts and interpretations of it firsthand.