Jen Dotson
Executive Director
Age: 26
Hometown:
Mt. Vernon, Iowa
Jen Dotson, executive director, is fairly certain that life is best viewed through a lens of imagination. As such, she lives in a world where playgrounds are meant for adults and cartwheels are a commonplace occurrence on city streets. She takes her greatest inspiration from her 92-year-old grandmother who taught her that the most effective way to get a new perspective on life is to climb a tree.
Nicolle Westlund
Managing Editor
Age: 23
Hometown:
Mounds View, Minnesota
Nicolle Westlund, managing editor, thinks that "Island Caretaker" sounds like the best job in the world, especially if the island is off the coast of Australia. She wishes she knew how to surf, but thinks her intense fear of sharks may prevent her professional surfing career from becoming a reality.
Jamie Millard
Development Director
Age: 23
Hometown:
Dallas, Texas
Jamie Millard, development director, agrees with Demetri Martin, who thinks that “when you get dressed in the morning, sometimes you're really making a decision about your behavior for the day. Like if you put on flip-flops, you're saying: ‘Hope I don't get chased today.’” Jamie grew up in Dallas and attended the University of Minnesota, where she received her degree in English.
Abby Zimmer
Executive Assistant
Age: 23
Hometown:
Princeton, Minnesota
Abby Zimmer, executive assistant, is a St. Joseph Worker living in community with five other women in Minneapolis. She enjoys taking the time to bike to work, to walk to local coffee shops, and to read into all hours of the night. Abby looks forward to exploring the city’s bike trails this summer.
Cheyenne Kirkpatrick
Outreach Coordinator
Age: 21
Hometown:
Buffalo, Minnesota
Cheyenne Kirkpatrick, outreach coordinator, has grown up in Minnesota but continues to be utterly shocked by the weather. She is studying media communication and psychology at Crown College. She loves to write, has a habit of smiling and singing to herself, and is best friends with the sun and the color pink.
Kelin Loe
Poetry Editor
Age: 23
Hometown:
Denver, Colorado
Kelin Loe, poetry editor, graduated from St. Olaf in the spring of 2008. She has spent one year finding beauty in grunt work, and will attend the M.F.A. Program for Poets and Writers at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst next fall. Until then, she lives in Dinkytown, Minneapolis.
Allison Bratnick
Graphic Design Intern
Age: 23
Hometown:
Westlake, Ohio
Allison Bratnick, graphic design intern, spends her time either trying to break the world record for hula hooping or taking a long walk on the beach with her cat, Louis. She can laugh her way out of any awkward situation and will be the first to offer advice for a successful prank call.
Lindsey Giaquinto
Editorial Intern
Age: 21
Hometown:
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Lindsey Giaquinto, editorial intern, is a senior at St. Olaf College. She grew up in New Mexico, but has come to call Minnesota home. She is addicted to coffee, dreams of traveling the world and believes that life should be an adventure.
Marit Hanson
Editorial Intern
Age: 21
Hometown:
Red Wing, Minnesota
Marit Hanson, editorial intern, thinks that Willy Wonka had the right idea inventing a river of chocolate. When not seeking out new and creative ways to take a nap, she enjoys traveling, hiking and indulging her "Twilight" obsession.
Meghan Hanson
Graphic Design Intern
Age: 23
Hometown:
Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Meghan Hanson, graphic design intern, loves exploring Minneapolis for art in unexpected places, yet it is hard to leave her apartment now that she has her new cat Pippi Longstocking and a blank canvas waiting for her at home. She is still trying to understand why short stories are rarely illustrated by their authors.
Nicole Heinz
Development Intern
Age: 22
Hometown:
Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Nicole Heinz, development intern, loves traveling. Even though she's been to Michigan's upper peninsula several times, it never ceases to amaze her with its breathtaking beauty. Nicole has a passion for children and delights in the privilege of mentoring children at her church.
Maya Iginla
Editorial Intern
Age: 21
Hometown:
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Maya Iginla, an editorial intern and a Cancer, thinks that personalities can be determined by zodiac sign. One book she read claimed that Cancers love chocolate and baked goods, which is so accurate for her that she took it as solid proof that astrology really works.
Lydia Metzger
Graphic Design Intern
Age: 21
Hometown:
Hudson, Wisconsin
Lydia Metzger, graphic design intern, is studying graphic design and advertising at Drake University. She resides in western Wisconsin but has an identity crisis as a Minnesotan. She believes that it is better to live and learn, rather than to sit and always wonder.
Kate Rhody
Public Relations Intern
Age: 24
Hometown:
Toronto, South Dakota
Kate Rhody, public relations intern, thoroughly enjoys a good solid sneeze. In the summer, frolf and grilling are an endless way of life, and in the winter the name of the game is snowboarding. She will be traveling as much as she can for the rest of her life and strongly believes that the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies are the greatest classics of all time.
Regan Smith
Public Relations Intern
Age: 22
Hometown:
St. Paul, Minnesota
Regan Smith, public relations intern, hopes to one day fulfill her lifetime goal of making the next great American movie, an all-girls version of "The Mighty Ducks." She dances like Elaine from Seinfeld and wouldn't mind becoming the canine version of a crazy cat lady.