Meet the Team
2026-2027
News Editor | 2023 – present
Christine Herman
Christine Herman is an independent audio editor and health journalist. She got her start in public radio at Illinois Public Media in 2015 as a founding producer for The 21st show and went on to become a reporter for IPM News, and later, the managing editor of Side Effects Public Media based at WFYI in Indianapolis. Herman is vice president of the Association of Health Care Journalists. She received the 2023 Media Award from Mental Health America and is a 2018-19 Rosalynn Carter Mental Health Journalism Fellow. She got her Ph.D. in chemistry and M.S. in journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Associate Professor | 2025 – present
Stretch Ledford
An associate professor of journalism at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Professor Ledford specializes in transmedia journalism and immersive, cross-cultural pedagogy. With a career spanning 40+ years and more than 55 countries, Ledford has produced and supervised award-winning stories using audio, photographs, and video. He directs the Illinois Partnership for African Women’s Health Narratives, fostering global collaborations in documentary, VR, and cross-cultural collaborative storytelling. Ledford has received numerous teaching awards, including the 2020 Illinois Student Government Teaching Excellence Award and the 2014 Associated Press Media Editors Innovator of the Year for College Students.
Reporter | 2026 – present
Macy Medendorp
Macy Medendorp is a junior studying journalism and philosophy from Bartlett, Illinois. Outside of Illinois Student Newsroom, Medendorp is a senior news reporter for The Daily Illini. In her free time, she loves testing out new recipes or cozying up with a good book. Medendorp is excited to step into the world of audio journalism.
Reporter | 2026 – present
Isabella Lazansky
Isabella Lazansky is a senior journalism student from Rockford, Illinois. She previously attended Rock Valley College, where she earned an Associate of Arts degree and served as editor-in-chief of the student newspaper. In addition to her work with the Illinois Student Newsroom, Lazansky is a member of Alpha Omicron Pi Women’s Fraternity, a sports reporter for The Daily Illini and helps produce UI7 Newsroom’s hockey program, Powerplay. In her free time, she can be found in the stands at an ice arena or curled up in bed with a crossword puzzle.
Reporter | 2026 – present
Olivia Taylor
Olivia Taylor is a junior studying journalism from Peoria, Illinois. Taylor is a transfer from Illinois Central College and previously played college basketball. Outside of the Illinois Student Newsroom, Taylor is a member of the Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law fraternity. In her free time she loves to crochet and go to sporting events.
Student Editor | 2025 – present
Sam Rink
Sam Rink is a senior journalism major from Tolono, IL. They joined the Illinois Student Newsroom in 2025, and they follow stories involving environmental science and LGBTQ+ issues. Outside of the newsroom, Rink is the senior photographer for The Daily Illini and Illio Yearbook, and they are constantly pursuing new projects in all forms of media. Rink is passionate about bringing accessible news to underserved communities.
Reporter | 2026 – present
Shalini Manchi
Shalini Manchi is a sophomore studying journalism from Bengaluru, India. Outside of the Illinois Student Newsroom, Manchi is an arts and entertainment reporter at the Daily Illini. In her free time, Manchi enjoys playing the cello and sketching. Manchi is looking forward to learning more about journalism.
Reporter | 2026 – present
Amelia Benson
Amelia Benson is a junior studying journalism and Spanish from Oak Lawn, Illinois. After beginning to explore audio journalism as the News Director for WPGU 107.1 FM, she is excited to learn more through the Illinois Student Newsroom. She is now the Program Director at WPGU, the student run radio station, and she plays cymbals in the Marching Illini Drumline.
Reporter | 2026 – present
Abby Timm
Abby Timm is a senior studying journalism from Joliet, Illinois. Timm transferred from Joliet Junior College, where she was previously a co-editor for its student newspaper, The Blazer. Outside of the Illinois Student Newsroom, Timm is a senior news reporter and on-air DJ for WPGU 107.1 FM, and a copy editor and reporter for The Daily Illini. In her free time, she enjoys live music events and creative writing.
Reporter | 2026 – present
Audrey Sturwold
Audrey Sturwold is a junior studying journalism from Huntley, Illinois. Sturwold transferred from DePaul University, where she had been a host for Radio DePaul. She now is a news reporter at WPGU 107.1 FM and serves as the membership director for the Society of Professional Journalists at UIUC.
Reporter | 2026 – present
Billy Bold
Billy Bold is a senior from Wilmette, Illinois studying journalism with a minor in political science. He joined the Illinois Student Newsroom in August 2026. Outside of the Student Newsroom, he is a reporter for UI7 Newsroom’s Good Morning Illini and WPGU 107.1 FM. In his free time, Bold likes to learn how to make and design clothes. Bold is excited to learn more from professionals in the industry.
Senior Reporter | 2026 – present
Lyric Roy
Lyric Roy is a junior from Chicago, IL majoring in journalism with minors in political science and art and design. She joined the newsroom in January 2026 and primarily reports on local civics coverage, as well as cohosts WILL Call with Sam Rink. Outside of the newsroom, she works as a consultant at the Writers Workshop on campus and is the associate editor of Sweet Angel Baby Magazine, a creative lifestyle publication.
Senior Reporter | 2026 – present
Fernanda Romero
Fernanda is a junior studying journalism from Wheeling, Illinois. She joined the Illinois Student Newsroom in 2026, and primarily reports on local housing issues. Fernanda is a TA for Introduction to Journalism for non-majors, and also works for UI7 Newsroom as the producer of Contigo Ahora — a Spanish-language broadcast show — and a reporter for The Quad. When she’s not in the newsroom, you can find her going for a walk with her friends, or reading a new book.
Senior Reporter | 2026 – present
Knox Mynatt
Knox Mynatt is a Junior studying journalism from Urbana, Illinois. He joined the Illinois Student Newsroom in 2026, and primarily reports on local civics coverage. Outside of the newsroom, Mynatt photographs sports for the University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics, and is an on-air host at WPGU, the student radio station. You can often find him at a house show or walking around local parks enjoying nature.
Senior Reporter | 2026 – present
Annisyn Krebs-Carr
Annisyn is a senior journalism student from Edwardsville, Illinois. She joined the Illinois Student Newsroom in 2026, and primarily reports on local housing issues. Annisyn is also the Managing Editor of The Daily Illini, and helps lead a dedicated team of student journalists. Outside the newsroom, she is very passionate about animals and is currently working towards an animal sciences minor. Annisyn is looking forward to contributing to the Illinois Student Newsroom this year and further immersing herself in the topics and issues of Champaign-Urbana.
Student Newsroom alumni
Elissa Eaton (2026), Adelyn Mui (2026), A. Oishii Basu (2026), Jenny Lin (2026), Giuliana Means (2026), Diana Zhang (2026), Layli Nazarova (2026), Jakia Hines, Cooper O’Kelly (2026), Nathan Gonzalez (2025), Adrien Reetz (2025), Anna Koh (2025), Stephanie Orellana (2025), Brendan Gallian (2025), Brittany Prempin (2025), Kaitlyn Devitt (2025), Michael Sweeney (2025), Madison Holcomb (2025), Anulika Ochuba (2024), Farrah Anderson (2024), Nour Longi (2024), Piotr Fedczuk (2023), Jacqueline Barba (2022), Ariyelle Edwards (2022), Sydney Wood (2023), Owen Henderson (2023), Piper Pascarella (2023), Lillie Salas (2023), Mae Antar (2023), Hannah Lonergan (2022), Emily Richie (2022), Miranda Zanca (2022), Carolina Garibay (2022), Eunice Alpasan (2022), Eva Bein (2022), Neshmia Malik (2022), Zainab Qureshi (2022), Emilio Reyes (2022), Gwyn Skiles (2022), Vivian La (2021), Marissa Plescia (2021), Cesar Sanchez (2021), Mona Alrazzaq (2021), Haley Bickelhaupt (2021), Charrice Jones (2021), Sydney Justin Malone (2021), Olivia Vamos (2021), Gavin Good (2020), Tatiana Perry (2020)
Chris Evans | Founder and Executive Producer (2020-2023)