Meet the Team
Back row, left to right: Professor Mike Beaudet, Professor Carlene Hempel, Adarsh Bhat, Maaisha Osman. Middle row: Crystal Herrera, Ilana Gersten, Pavithra Rajesh, Kylee Hendrie, Simya Dickson, Ariana Bennett. Front row: Elisabeth Hadjis, Sofia Pérez, Maria Bonnemaison, Amanda LaRiviere
Adarsh Bhat
Adarsh Bhat is a first-year graduate journalism student. Adarsh is passionate about exploring the world and hopes to share narratives and cultures from his adventures through multimedia journalism. He dreams of bridging the worldwide sociocultural divide by creating video documentaries and short films that inspire audiences. He aspires to travel the world with a camera in his hand. In his free time, he’s vibing to good music, like the song “Ilahi.”
On Instagram: @travel.click.capture
Amanda LaRiviere
Amanda LaRiviere is a fifth-year undergraduate journalism major with minors in international affairs and Middle East studies. Eager to explore the world beyond her hometown on Connecticut’s shoreline, she has reported from Boston, Australia, Cuba, Israel and Panama. Amanda has written about a variety of topics including a Catholic nonprofit in Cuba, organic farming in Panama, a women’s march in Tel Aviv and local politics in Massachusetts. She has also written for Foundation Medicine, a cancer research laboratory. She is currently a freelance reporter for The Harvard Press.
On Twitter: @amandalariviere
Ariana Bennett
Ariana Bennett is a third-year undergraduate journalism and political science student from northern Maryland who now calls Boston home. As a journalist, she has particular interests in covering culture, the environment and the LGBTQIA+ community. Ariana spent a semester working with the Cairo Review of Global Affairs in Egypt, reporting on a variety of issues including Syrian-Lebanese relations, climate change and Egyptian domestic affairs. In her free time, she can be found working at a local coffee shop to save for her next adventure.
On Twitter: @ArianaJBennett
Crystal Herrera
Crystal Herrera is a third-year undergraduate journalism student who loves connecting with people and building community. She dances salsa among other styles, sings, plays guitar, writes film reviews, chews on questions and likes finding the meaning in things. Crystal is interested in stories that move and fascinate people, whether it’s about string theory, octopi or refugees. This is her first journalistic endeavor.
On Instagram: @intlplayerr
Ilana Gersten
Ilana Gersten is a third-year undergraduate journalism and political science student. Her goal in journalism is to provide people with the information they need to make informed decisions. Ilana previously worked at Retirement Daily on TheStreet and is currently one of the news directors at NUTV, Northeastern University’s video production club. When she’s not reporting, she loves taking time to see live theater.
On Twitter: @GerstenIlana
Kylee Hendrie
Kylee Hendrie is a second-year undergraduate journalism and media and screen studies student. She was born in Vietnam and raised with a keen passion for exploration. Kylee has worked for the NGO Education for Nature Vietnam to reduce illegal wildlife trafficking, designed Columbia Press award-winning magazines and now resides in Boston, where she is pursuing her next great endeavor. Fueled by a love for existential literature, Wes Anderson films and squash (the sport not the vegetable), she seeks to carve out a creative space in the world around her.
Portfolio: https://kyleephuong02.wixsite.com/portfolio
Elisabeth Hadjis
Elisabeth Hadjis is a first-year graduate journalism student from Ottawa, Canada. Before moving to Boston, Elisabeth earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in communications and political science from the University of Ottawa. Elisabeth spent her undergraduate years participating in study abroad programs, including exchanges to both Royal Holloway University of London in the U.K. and the University of the Peloponnese in Kalamata, Greece. As an assistant editor for The Scope and a contributing writer for The Global Observer, Elisabeth enjoys chasing stories about environmental policy, climate change resilience and local tourism.
On Twitter: @ElisabethHadjis
Maaisha Osman
Maaisha Osman is a graduate journalism student who has produced content for STAT, The Scope and Bay State Banner and is currently an editor for Storybench. She is passionate about creating interactive media, focusing on issues such as class struggle, education and healthcare inequality. A lifelong cinéphile, she also loves writing essays on avant-garde cinema and has published articles in Point of View Magazine and Deep Focus Review. She dreams of having an animal sanctuary someday.
On Twitter: @MaaishaO
Maria Bonnemaison
Maria Bonnemaison is a first-year graduate journalism student in Northeastern’s media innovation track. She was born in Venezuela and grew up in the heart of Miami, Florida. Her identity as a Latina immigrant inspired her passion for journalism. She received a bachelor’s degree in communications, with a major in journalism and a minor in French language and culture from Florida International University.
On Twitter: @mariajbonn
Pavithra Rajesh
Pavithra Rajesh is a third-year student majoring in journalism, minoring in theater and playwriting and working toward a master’s degree in media innovation. She was born in Chennai, India, but grew up moving around the world to Manila, Philippines; Bangkok, Thailand; Caracas, Venezuela; Mumbai, India; Bangalore, India; and finally, to Boston. Because of her travels and early exposure to many cultures and experiences, she quickly realized the power storytelling has to connect people. Aside from journalism, she enjoys long walks while listening to music, rock climbing and indoor cycling.
On Twitter: @pavirajesh07
Simya Dickson
Simya Dickson is a first-year graduate journalism student who currently calls Virginia Beach home but grew up all over the country as a “military brat.” Her frequent relocation inspired her passion for travel and journalism at a young age. She received a Bachelor of Arts in news media and political science from the University of Alabama in spring 2021. During her time in Alabama, Simya worked at WVUA 23 as a broadcast journalist and covered a variety of topics including COVID-19, natural disasters and local news. In the future, she hopes to continue to grow as a multimedia journalist and strives to work in a top 10 television market.
On Twitter: @SimyaDickson
Sofia Pérez
Sofia Perez is a graduate student in journalism who was born in Venezuela and grew up in the Dominican Republic and China. Their experience has allowed for a respect and deep interest in oral history, social movements and the untold stories of resistance from the most oppressed communities. Sofia’s work has a multimedia approach, proved by their experience in videography, photography, data visualization and design. While at Northeastern as an undergraduate, Sofia acquired a Bachelor of Science in neuroscience. Sofia is also a Boston-based community organizer who loves to guide political educational programming.
On Instagram: @sofiaperez.a
Special thanks to:
Mike Beaudet, NU professor of the practice, Luis Brens, CAMD’s media services manager, Franco Carrasco, Puerto Rico, Elizabeth Hudson, CAMD dean, Jonathan Kaufman, director, Northeastern’s School of Journalism, Brigid McMahan, Global Experience Office, Brent Osborn, NU information technology services, Andrea Raynor, CAMD associate dean, Christopher Rousseau, NU web developer, academic technology services, the Joe Thomas Family, for their generous support, Kylee Hendrie, web designer.