Board Of Directors

**Brooklynn Hubbard | President**
Pronouns: She/Her
Brooklynn is a junior studying Advertising with a minor in Business. As Chapter President, she helps ensure that all of AAF is working together and running smoothly between all of our events, socials, agencies, and executive roles. Outside of AAF, Brooklynn works for Campus Recreation, and loves going on scenic walks around campus, going to the gym, and watching movies with her besties.
Favorites: Brew Lab, Clairo, Letterboxd, making Pinterest Boards, thrifting, and Red Bull Strawberry-Apricot

**Chris Edison | Vice-President**
Pronouns: He/Him
Chris is a junior studying Advertising. As Chapter Vice President, he supports the leadership team by overseeing operations, guiding members, and ensuring the chapter runs smoothly while fostering a positive, fun, and welcoming environment. Outside of AAF, Outside of AAF, Chris is a leasing agent for Seven07 Apartments, as well as a freelance photographer and videographer on campus.
Favorites: Hanging out with friends, watching YouTube, meeting new people, yapping 24/7, and procrastinating

**Gabriella Marquez | CEO**
Pronouns: She/Her
Gabriella is a junior studying Advertising. As the Chief Executive Officer, she co-manages AAF's Executive Board to ensure that AAF is providing a productive and welcoming environment for its members. Outside of AAF, she is a Marketing Intern for Ellie Mental Health. She also loves to cook and spend time with friends!
Favorites: Diet Coke, sunsets, Pinterest crafts, pickles, and cooking for her friends and family

C-Level Officers

**Lindsay Bitner-Mitchell | Chief Client Services Officer**
Pronouns: She/Her
Lindsay is a junior studying Communications with minors in Public Relations and Critical Film Production. As Chief Client Services Officer, she manages and delegates the entire client portfolio of AAF at Illinois for our agencies, ensuring clear communication and work priorities for our members. She is a freelance video editor who loves anything film and popular culture!
Favorites: Pickleball, movies, music, and traveling

**Kiran Kumar | Chief Digital Officer**
Pronouns: She/Her
Kiran is a junior studying Advertising with minors in Political Science and Public Relations. As Chief Digital Officer, she ensures that the website stays properly updated and informative for current and prospective members. Outside of AAF, she helps run events at State Farm Center and loves exploring new hiking spots with friends.
Favorites: Watching movies at AMC, her Kindle, antique shops, Limoncello La Croix, listening to soft rock, writing, and drawing

**Rhia Thakkar | Chief Fundraising Officer**
Pronouns: She/Her
Rhia is a senior studying Advertising. As Chief Fundraising Officer, she comes up with innovative, fun, and realistic ways for AAF to raise money that enable us to continue supporting general and executive members alike with exciting opportunities and engaging events. Outside of AAF, she is a Portfolio Marketing Co-Op for Motorola Solutions this fall, a continuation of her summer internship. In her free time, she enjoys going for long walks, trying new cafes and watching sitcoms and true crime documentaries.
Favorites: Strawberry matcha, sushi, friends and HIMYM, true crime docs, the NBA

**Cathryn Carpenter | Chief Member Experience Officer**
Pronouns: She/Her
Cathryn is a senior studying Advertising with a minor in Business and Communications. As Chief Member Experience Officer, Cathryn ensures that all members are registered and accounted for, while also organizing the Mentor Mentee Program. Outside of AAF, Cathryn is a mentor for the Society of Women in Business and also enjoys hanging out with friends, working out, and watching reruns of America's Next Top Model.
Favorites: Pink of all shades, Pinterest boards, Diet Coke, my CD collection, The Sundays, 7 Brew, and Beat studio pro’s shade sandstone

**Cara Choi | Chief Social Media Officer**
Pronouns: She/Her
Cara is a senior studying Advertising. As Chief Social Media Officer, she manages AAF's social accounts, ensuring they're up-to-date, active, and in adherence to our branding guidelines. She uses Adobe Creative Suite to design graphics and stories that keep current and potential members informed of our events and activities. Outside of AAF, she loves going to the gym, taking long walks, and listening to podcasts.
Favorites: McLaren Formula 1 Team, working out, nutrition, hot dogs, small utensils, Beli, short almond gel-x nails, and Greg's Frozen Custard.

**Amelia Woody | Chief Communications Officer**
Pronouns: She/Her
Amelia is a junior studying Advertising. As Chief Communications Officer, she is responsible for producing the weekly newsletter and upholding AAF's LinkedIn presence. Outside of AAF, Amelia is in Partner for Pitties, an organization that volunteers at animal shelters and advocates for pitbulls. She also loves to read!
Favorites: Reading, Minecraft, sushi, baking, spending money, 7 Brew, and planes

**Destiny Plata |** **Chief Inclusion Officer**
Pronouns: She/Her
Destiny is a junior studying Graphic Design. As Chief Inclusion Officer, she fosters and expands inclusive spaces in AAF while serving as a resource for underrepresented students on campus. Destiny loves painting with oil paints, planning social events, spending time with her cats and spending quality time with friends!
Favorites: Centurylibrary.com, her favorite place to find inspiration for her graphics

Robert Black | Chief Operations Officer

Pronouns: He/Him

Robert is a senior studying Advertising. As Chief Operations Officer, he creates the agency schedule and books our agency meetings. Outside of AAF, Robert works at the U of I Golf Course, where he spends time playing during the school year. He also enjoys music and is always looking to expand his vinyl collection.

Favorites: Golf, movies, music, pizza, Wii Sports, and caffeinated beverages

**Sydney Young | Chief Social Officer**
Pronouns: She/Her
Sydney is a senior studying Media & Cinema Studies and Advertising. As Chief Social Officer, Sydney organizes AAF's bonding events like Barn Dance, Semi-Formal, and other fun opportunities for members to connect and build relationships.

**Sherwin Batula | Chief Community Engagement Officer**
Pronouns: He/Him
Sherwin is a senior studying Advertising. As Chief Community Engagement Officer, he helps strengthen the connection between AAF Illinois and the Champaign-Urbana area. This includes creating volunteer opportunities and collaborations with local non-profits that foster belonging in our community. Outside of AAF, Sherwin is a Marketing Intern for the College of ACES, Director of Membership for Design for America, and a part of Alpha Phi Omega.
Favorites: Fashion, seafood, chess, playing guitar, and watching sports

**Antonia Hon | Chief Financial Officer**
Pronouns: She/Her
Antonia is a senior studying Advertising with a minor in Informatics. As Chief Financial Officer, she manages AAF's finances to ensure our funds support programming that provides the best possible experience to our members. Outside of AAF, she enjoys playing Hay Day, baking bread, and spending time with friends.
Favorites: Chicken nuggets, drawing, plants, crossword puzzles, watching YouTube, matcha ice cream, and long walks

**Roger Taub | Chief Intelligence Officer**
Pronouns: He/Him
As the Chief Intelligence Officer, Roger is responsible for tracking, collecting, and analyzing data in various ways to make educated suggestions that improve our chapter. Outside of AAF, he is on the executive board for Phi Kappa Tau fraternity. This summer, he interned at the Crohn's & Colitis foundation.
Favorites: World travel, movies, chess, poker, electronic music, learning new skills, and meeting new people

**Anthony Merlo | Chief Content Creation Officer**
Pronouns: He/Him
Anthony is a sophomore studying Advertising and Political Science. As Chief Content Creation Officer, he elevates AAF Illinois' overall brand through creative content creation. He is responsible for producing and developing content ideas, video editing, and managing our video content. Outside of AAF, Anthony is a Digital Media Intern for the College of Media and a Marketing Committee Member for the Association of Latino Professionals for América. He also does AMS captioning for Disability Resources and Educational Services.
Favorites: Dance, content creation, shopping, fashion, fragrances, city, and interior design

Agency Executives

**Tess O'Brien | Spotlight President**
Pronouns: She/Her
Tess is a junior studying Advertising. As Spotlight President, she aims to provide members with hands-on experience in the Public Relations industry and opportunities to build their professional network. She also leads weekly agency meetings and helps support client teams. Outside of AAF, Tess is involved with Alpha Gamma Delta, Hive Society Improv, and ISTAR.
Favorites: Diet Coke with lime, Sex and the City, cowboy music, Jimmy John's, Hairspray, musical theatre, and Chili's

**Abbey Clarke | AdLab Vice President**
Pronouns: She/Her
Abbey is a junior studying Communications with minors in Public Relations and Comparative Literature. As AdLab Vice President, she helps instruct a creative learning agency that supports members in building portfolio-ready projects and improving technical proficiency in industry-standard creative tools. Outside AAF, Abbey works as a Residential Advisor and loves thrifting and watching movies.
Favorites: Instagram reels, dirty chai lattes, and AMC A-list

**Sarah Sepahdari | Build-It President**
Pronouns: She/Her
Sarah is a junior studying Advertising with a minor in Global Markets & Society. As Build-it President, Sarah ensures that teams remain focused and on track, guiding them from initial ideas to finalized, polished pop-up shops. Outside of AAF, Sarah serves as an ambassador for a few programs and enjoys staying active in all aspects of life. On sunny days, you’ll find her outdoors, but otherwise she loves trying new recipes and planning her next trip.
Favorites: collecting records, supporting her favorite teams, lifting, exploring museums, playing the piano and electric guitar, hiking, finding new music, tea, baking, traveling, and her digital camera

**Sarina Mehdi | Carousel President**
Pronouns: She/Her
Sarina is a senior studying Advertising with minors in Business and Public Relations. As President of Carousel, she leads the team in creating meaningful sponsored social media content while guiding members through workshops that build personal and professional skills.

**Alisha Zachariah | Co-President**
Pronouns: She/Her
Alisha is a junior studying Neuroscience with a minor in Advertising. As Focus Vice President, she helps create an accessible, hands on space for members to explore and develop their passion for photography and videography. She encourages members to build their portfolios through weekly activities and instructional sessions that are shaped specifically for those interested in the advertising field. Outside of AAF, she serves as the President of a campus ministry called Design and loves spending time with her friends and family. When she’s not in class, you can often find her around campus doing henna, usually with a cup of coffee in hand.
Favorites: Photography, baking, The Chicago Bears, Mario Cart 8, peppermint tea, and rainy days

**Alfredo Martinez | Hyperlink President**
Pronouns: He/Him
Alfredo is a junior studying Advertising. As the Hyperlink President, he leads members in producing creative work that upholds AAF’s brand image, and shares updates on agencies and the organization as a whole.

Julia Walczak| OTH Account Director

Pronouns: She/Her

Julia is a sophomore studying Advertising with a minor in Business. As On the House Account Director, she helps keep projects organized by connecting real clients with agency members, ensuring everyone is on the same page and that deadlines are met. Outside of AAF, she is on the NASCAR Marketing Team and serves as the Marketing Brand Strategist for Mu Sigma Lambda, a professional sports business fraternity. She enjoys traveling, trying new food, and watching F1!

Favorites: An excessive amount of Mike's Hot Honey (extra hot), Carlos Sainz, the movie Elvis, Fragonard perfume, taking long walks with her dog, watching SATC, and quad shot lattes

**Kyle Park | NSAC President**
Pronouns: He/Him
Kyle is a senior studying Advertising with a minor in Business and Information Science. As NSAC President, he will lead our NSAC Illinois competition team through its 2026-2027 Rocket Mortgage campaign, handling organizational logistics, sub-team management, and anything else that requires additional technical assistance. Outside of AAF, Kyle does design and illustration work for HackIllinois and runs a design agency with two other students on campus. Additionally, he has been training calisthenics for a few years and recently transitioned into doing low-level gymnastics with friends.
Favorites: Chudding out, cooking fresh meals, untouched powdery snow with a compact layer underneath, sitting for extended periods of time, and his appendix (R.I.P)

**Milla Kutsin | NSAC Creative Director**
Pronouns: She/Her
Milla is a senior studying Advertising with a minor in Art & Design. As the Creative Director, Milla guides the creative process and oversees the production of finalized assets for submission to the National Student Advertising Competition. Outside of AAF, Milla is pursuing a career in Art Direction. She enjoys minimalism, neutral colors, and fun fonts. She loves thrifting, yapping with her roommates, trying new foods, and her death row meal is a spicy tuna roll.
Favorites: Banana matcha, the color brown, sushi, purchasing excessive amounts of clothes

**Aiden Villa | Spotlight Account Director**
Pronouns: He/Him
Aiden is a junior studying Advertising. As AdBuzz Account Director, he serves as the primary point of contact for AdBuzz's clients. He works closely with them to understand their business goals, challenges, and brand vision while guiding client teams in building successful campaigns through creative initiatives and integrated PR strategies. Outside of AAF, Aiden is involved in Sigma Nu Fraternity. You might find him at the gym, on the pickleball courts, playing video games, or spending time with his friends and family.
Favorites: Fitness, navy blue, pickleball, Game of Thrones, and video games

**Heaven Watson | ADVenture President**
Pronouns: She/Her
Heaven is a junior studying Advertising. As ADVenture President, she leads an agency where members have freedom to try new things and build advertising skills through a semester-long passion project that leaves them with a final portfolio piece and room to express themselves creatively. Outside of AAF, she also advertises live shows through StarCourse and teaches people about the music industry with the Illinois Music Business Club. She loves listening to music, dancing, and cooking.
Favorites: Playing video games, trying new cafes, finding inspiration on Pinterest, and all things music

**Sarah Page | Build-It Strategy Director**
Pronouns: She/Her
Sarah is a junior studying Advertising with a minor in Psychology. As Build-It Strategy Director, Sarah oversees the strategic elements of each group’s products and promotional processes. Outside of AAF, Sarah is the artistic director for Legend Dance Company and plays the French horn in the Illinois Wind Orchestra.
Favorites: dance, plants, jewelry making, Interstellar, and her dog

**Larissa Soeun Kang | Carousel Strategy Director**
Pronouns: She/Her
Larissa is a sophomore studying Advertising with minors in Business and Public Relations. As Strategy Director of Carousel, Larissa guides the agency’s direction by keeping its goals in focus while creating engaging workshops that equip members with the tools and skills to build their personal brand. Outside of AAF, Larissa is a dancer and Social Media Chair for Velocity Dance Team, the Director of Social Media for Alpha Gamma Delta, and a content creator!
Favorites: Shopping, content creation, the color pink, dogs, makeup, nails, music, taking pics, and spending time with friends

Noela Al Ibrahim | Hyperlink Creative Director

Pronouns: She/Her

Noela is a sophomore studying Advertising with a minor in Business. As Hyperlink Creative Director, she oversees the creative direction of Hyperlink's projects and helps guide their photo, video, and design work. She collaborates with members to develop creative concepts, provide feedback, and ensure work aligns with AAF Illinois' brand and goals. Outside of AAF, Noela works as a Gallery Attendant at Krannert Art Museum and is a member of Delta Zeta. In her free time, she enjoys playing guitar, going to concerts, exploring antique stores, going on walks, and trying new food spots.

Favorites: Plants, thrifting, peanut butter banana smoothies, warm lighting, pickles, fall weather, spanakopita, and taking digi cam photos ceramics

**Ruby Checke | Midnight Oil Account Director**
Pronouns: She/Her
Ruby is a senior studying Advertising. As Midnight Oil Account Director, she oversees communication between real-world clients and internal teams to ensure projects remain aligned and on track. I also manage weekly team communications and assist the President with planning and organizing weekly meetings. Outside of AAF, Ruby loves to go on long walks, hang out on the quad with her friends, and have baking challenges with her roommates.
Favorites: Pinterest, hiking, The Beatles, Inn karaoke, bookstores, and dogs (her dogs)

**Shae Morrison | RSVP President**
Pronouns: She/Her
Shae is a junior studying Advertising with minors in Business and Public Relations. As RSVP President, she leads the operations of AAF's premier experiential marketing agency, RSVP. In this role, she oversees student teams to ensure both clients and members achieve the full experience of creating immersive, out-of-the-box events that connect brands directly with their audiences. Outside of AAF, Shae works as a tour guide for the University of Illinois and is an ambassador for the Division of Exploratory Studies. In her free time, she enjoys crafts, thrifting, and watching TikTok edits.
Favorites: Collaging, The Pitt, her leather jacket, PinkPantheress, pitbulls, Chicago, Star Wars, DJs, concerts, and banana bread

**Karys Boeriu | NSAC Research Director**
Pronouns: She/Her
Karys is a junior studying Advertising with a minor in Anthropology. As NSAC Research Director, Karys leads the first phase of the team's campaign, overseeing in-depth consumer, market, and client analyses, designing primary data collection strategies and concept testing, and identifying insights that will inform the campaign's creative direction. Outside of AAF, you'll find Karys interning at her family's cottage resort in Europe, working as a freelance photographer on campus, sipping a draft latte at La Colombe Chicago, and playing Ella Langley far too many times.
Favorites: Speaking German and Romanian, rock climbing, Fleetwood Mac, sparkling water with lime, the smell of old books, Pitch Perfect, blues festivals, and Jo Malone perfume

**Nora Lozar | NSAC Media Director**
Pronouns: She/Her
Nora is a senior studying Advertising. As NSAC Media Director, she is responsible for the media budget, planning, and sequence of our campaign. Outside of AAF, she is a barista at Artmart, and she enjoys going on hikes, making art, and playing her guitar!
Favorites: Maple flavored anything, Pinterest, silver jewelry, cats

**Brodie Ward | AdLab President**
Pronouns: He/Him
Brodie is a junior studying Advertising. As AdLab President, he plans and leads weekly meetings focused on providing students with an accessible, hands-on environment to improve their software technical skills, strengthen their creative decision-making, and create portfolio-ready work. Outside of AAF, Brodie is a cosmetic creator on Roblox and a content creator on YouTube. He enjoys working out, listening to music, and chilling with friends.
Favorites: Tame Impala, cooking, doomscrolling IG, $5 meal deals at McDonalds, and the movie Real Steel.

**Walter Jackson | ADVenture Project Manager**
Pronouns: He/Him
Walter is a junior studying Advertising with a minor in Sociology. As ADVenture Project Manager, he ensures teams are efficient and timely as they work on campaigns during meetings. He checks in with students, keeps the schedule on track, and provides resources that help students prosper. Outside of AAF, Walter enjoys hooping, poetry, and social media management.
Favorites: Listening to music, old TV shows and movies, and spending time with friends

**Isha Mindanao | Build-It Creative Director**
Pronouns: She/Her
Isha is studying Graphic Design and Informatics. As Creative Director of Build-It, Isha helps equip members with creative confidence and strategies to turn their ideas into reality. She oversees creative decisions for all packaging, logos, and brand identities for their pop-up shop. Outside of AAF, Isha is a Marketing Intern for International Education at UIUC and a Publicity Chair and dancer for the Philippine Student Association. She also enjoys rock climbing, cooking, and photography.
Favorites: Designers Verdy and Jesse Nyberg

**Addison Petrinos | Focus Co-President**
Pronouns: She/Her
Addison is a junior studying Journalism with minors in Advertising and Business. As Focus Co-President, she leads members in hands-on activities to grow their photography and videography skillset. Outside of AAF, Addison works as a Production Assistant for B1G Documentaries and a Live Video Production Intern for Fighting Illini Productions.
Favorites: Scrolling on Pinterest, thrifting, playing cards, Letterboxd, and listening to music 24/7

**Katarzyna Bednarz | Pangaea Vice President**
Pronouns: She/Her
Katarzyna is a junior studying Advertising. As Pangaea Vice President, she supports Pangaea leadership to promote inclusion and help others understand the role identity plays in advertising. She works to foster belonging within the advertising community. Outside of AAF, Katarzyna is a seasonal worker at P.F. Changs and an active member of Polish Club. She also loves to read, go to the gym, take photos, and hang out with friends!
Favorites: The gym, Coach bags, makeup, music, Ross, 7 Brew raspberry truffle macchiatos, and Legos!!!

**Elisha Karottu | Hyperlink Project Manager**
Pronouns: She/Her
Elisha is a junior studying Advertising with a minor in Sociology. As the Project Manager for Hyperlink, Elisha serves as the liaison between the board and members, while also monitoring teams and their progress on projects throughout the semester. She enforces deadlines to ensure that projects are completed on time to guarantee efficiency and maintain consistency across all platforms to uphold AAF's brand image. Outside of AAF, Elisha is the Vice President of Flashpoint Photography, on the Marketing Team for Illini Student Musicals, and a photographer for the Illini Union. She also sings with the Women’s Glee Club.
Favorites: Photography, volleyball, Tame Impala, adventuring, game nights, cinnamon rolls, and hanging with friends

Will Blanchette | OTH President

Pronouns: He/Him

As On the House President, Will leads meetings and mentors members to grow the professional ability of young advertisers. On the House values teaching members to think creatively and work together. Outside of AAF, Will enjoys playing guitar and painting houses.

Favorites: The Chicago Bears and falling asleep to live concert videos on YouTube