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  • Amelia Benson profile picture

    Amelia Benson

    Program Director

    Benson is a sophomore Journalism and Spanish major with a minor in East Asian Languages and Cultures. She joined WPGU her freshman year as a correspondent for WPGU News, and then served as News Director for one year. If she had more free time, she would spend it reading memoirs and translated works, playing indie video games and cooking new recipes. Her favorite artists are The Pillows, Japanese Breakfast and beabadoobee.

  • Grace Avila profile picture

    Grace Avila

    On-Air Director

    Avila is a freshman majoring in English and Political Science with a minor in Creative Writing. She joined her freshman year as a news correspondent, on-air host, and assistant engineering director. When she's not in the studio, Avila is elbow-deep in Jstor articles. Her favorite artists include The Magnetic Fields, Cocteau Twins, and Mitski.

  • Nick Roacho profile picture

    Nick Roacho

    Operations Director

    Roacho is a junior majoring in Media and Cinema Studies with a minor in Critical Film Production. He joined WPGU his freshman year as a news correspondent and on-air host. When he’s not in the studio, he’s more likely than not at the local movie theater. His favorite artists include Gorillaz, Billy Joel and Low Roar.

  • Cooper O’Kelly profile picture

    Cooper O’Kelly

    Sports Director

    O’Kelly is a junior majoring in both journalism and English. He's been a member of WPGU since his sophomore year, currently hosts Illini Drive and was Production Director for a year. In his free time, O’Kelly loves to cheer on his favorite Chicago and Illini sports teams and spend time with his loved ones. His favorite artists at the moment are Dave Matthews Band, America and Drake.

  • Naomi Cortes profile picture

    Naomi Cortes

    Promotions Director

    Sorry for the late response for the bio but here it is: Cortes is a Junior majoring in Graphic Design She joined WPGU last semester as a member of the marketing team. Outside of the studio, Cortes spends much of her creating art with involving different kinds of media, whether that be digital or physical.

  • Gavin Westlake profile picture

    Gavin Westlake

    News Director

    Westlake is a freshman majoring in Psychology and Journalism. He joined WPGU last semester as a news writer, music intern, and on-air host. He has been proclaimed to be the number one National Geographic reader. His favorite artists include Tom Waits, Chris Cornell, and David Bowie.

  • Mack Jones profile picture

    Mack Jones

    Assistant News Director

    Jones is a freshman majoring in Journalism and Mathematics with a minor in French. He joined WPGU last fall to extend his self-branded style of "turkey journalism" to WPGU News. He has been marginally successful in that respect; his most notable WPGU creations are "Carl Turkey" and "Amplified." His favorite artists are The Arms of Someone New, The Beatles, Philip Glass and anyone who makes Christmas music.

  • Larimar Rivera profile picture

    Larimar Rivera

    Production Assistant

    Rivera is a freshman majoring in Advertising with a minor in Public Relations and Critical Film Production. She joined WPGU last semester as a member of the Production department. Fun fact: she is named after a rare gemstone! Her favorite artists include Lana Del Rey, Pinkpantheress, beabadoobee, Gorillaz, and The Garden.

  • Neo Martin profile picture

    Neo Martin

    Production Assistant

    Martin is a Sophomore majoring in Psychology with a concentration in the clinical field. He joined WPGU this semester as a member of the News team and now is working with production to help students develop more professional projects. He has been making music since he was 15 and his favorite artists are King Krule, Mk.gee, Talking Heads and Björk.

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