Executive Board
Kiersten Hacker – Editor-in-Chief
Kiersten is a senior at the University of Maryland majoring in journalism and minoring in public leadership. She is also a Merrill College Ambassador helping prospective students in their college search journey. During the summer of 2022, Kiersten got to study abroad in Rome, Italy to take a food writing course and it was an amazing experience. From there, she interned with Montgomery Community Media and the Chesapeake Bay Magazine, where she found a new love for the Bay. She is also a reporter for Capital News Service in the Annapolis bureau covering the governor’s office. Kiersten calls herself an observer and has a special interest in human connection and story, which, when combined with her love for writing, inspired her to become a journalist. She hopes to continue growing her skills and fearlessly reporting. You can find more of her work here.
Minnie Stephenson – News Editor
Minnie is a senior journalism major at the University of Maryland. Minnie is passionate about writing, editing, photography and more. She is currently interning at the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism, where she is a part of the reporting team. Minnie is also a Merrill Correspondent for the Philip Merrill College of Journalism, helping incoming freshmen that are planning to major in journalism. In her free time, she sings with the University Chorale.
Cooper Fojas – Multimedia Editor
Ilana Williams – Features Editor
Allison Seidel– Co–General Assignment Editor
Allison is a junior journalism major at the University of Maryland. Her main focuses include writing and editing, but she is also interested in audience engagement. Allison started as a staff writer for Stories Beneath the Shell in the fall of 2022 and has enjoyed it ever since. In her free time, she likes to hang out with her friends and visit Washington, D.C.
Ela Jalil – Co-General Assignment Editor
Christina Walker – Co-General Assignment Editor
Adelia McGuire- Social Media Editor
Morgan Leason – Copy Chief
Morgan Leason is a junior at the University of Maryland. She studies journalism and public policy and is interested in pursuing a career that combines the two. She is a member of both the University of Maryland Club Tennis Team and Phi Sigma Sigma. Currently, she interns at Time4Coffee and Literally Media, in an attempt to narrow down her career interests, and now she has been named copy chief for Stories Beneath the Shell.
Stories Beneath the Shell 