Volume 3: Dreams
Executive Team
Ayla Baig
Co-President, Editor-in-Chief
Ayla is a fourth-year Sociology major at the University of California, Irvine, which is based on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Acjachemen and Tongva peoples. Through Echolalia, she aims to cultivate an environment which cherishes strong community bonds and highlights an importance for self-expression using various forms of writing and visual art. As a writer herself, Ayla’s own work evolves around the child-of-immigrant identity and strives to promote messages of growth, love, and empowerment. Outside of work and school, you may find her thrifting with friends, enjoying copious amounts of boba and chai, and cozied up with her laptop to write.
Cailey Niandrea Pasco
Co-President, Editor-in-Chief
Cailey Niandrea is currently a third year pursuing an English major and creative writing minor at the University of California, Irvine, which is based on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Acjachemen and Tongva peoples. As an avid writer and reader, Cai is constantly searching to expand her knowledge and understanding of identity and culture, especially geared towards the Filipino American community in California. Additionally, Echolalia has provided a space for her to pursue her passion for both writing and aiding others in creating a space for them to share their own art. Outside of school, you can find Cai compiling playlists of her favorite music, spending time with her friends, or journaling or crocheting while watching her favorite movies.
Cynthia Wang
Treasurer, Winter & Spring
Cynthia is a second year English major at University of California Irvine. Typically seen at home on her laptop grinding out her latest hyperfixation through writing, when she’s not doing that, she’s probably out on a walk in the park on call with one of her friends, and in the case that she is doing neither, she is most likely on the bus to somewhere in Irvine where she can make an impulse purchase or get a “sweet treat”. Cynthia hopes that through Echolalia this year she will be able to improve her writing and get to know more people like her, and continue to grow in the community.
Yen Nhi (Leyna) Hoang
Print Team Manager, Social Media Manager
Leyna is a 3rd year Civil Engineering student at UC Irvine, a university situated on the shared lands of the Acjachemen and Tongva Native Tribes. When Leyna isn’t solving complicated equations related to infrastructure design or spending copious amounts of hours working on an AutoCAD sketch of a building, she is mostly pondering how life would be if she pursued a humanities degree instead. Becoming an editor and print team member for Echolalia allowed a creative outlet for her literary and artistic endeavors— an arts and crafts project of sorts. Leyna is a firm believer in the power of creation, of expression, and, subsequently, of love. Everyone has a story they want to tell, and she hopes that she can have a part in helping people share a piece of themselves, as well as the love and experiences they have to offer. Leyna indulges in media of all kinds, building an impressive collection of clutter: books, manga, CD albums, DVDs, figures, and trinkets of various assortments. This year in Echolalia, she hopes to expand her collection of memories and wonderful experiences involving everyone in the club, along with her physical memorabilia.
Ryan Meadows
Print Team Manager, Events Coordinator
Ryan is a second year at the University of California, Irvine, majoring in Game Design and Interactive Media with a Creative Writing minor. He considers himself a creative person and likes to express himself through music, visual art, and writing. He hopes to employ one or multiple of these mediums if he is able to work in the games industry after getting his degree.
Board Members
Harsh Lakhani
Treasurer, Fall
Harsh is a 4th-year Business Economics Major at the University of California Irvine studying statistical models and financial analysis. With his degree, Harsh hopes to work with corporate finance divisions on either long-term financial advising or project management. Using creativity to fuel new ideas to problem solve, Harsh balances imagination and reality to think outside of the box when it comes to problem-solving and thinking of solutions. In his free time, he enjoys listening to music, playing video games and out trying new restaurants enjoying different cultures of the world!
Ashley Thornton
Events Coordinator
Ashley Thornton is a current 2nd-year at UC Irvine pursuing a double major in English and Chinese Studies (Language Emphasis). UC Irvine is built on the lands of the Tongva and Acjachemen nations and their people. An aspiring interpreter, Ashley seeks to bridge the gap between China and the United States of America, building a friendship and mutually beneficial relationship where they respect each other’s differences and use each other’s strengths to improve more lives, making work interactions both more meaningful and fun. A writer since she could hold a pencil, she spends her time writing things ranging from her main passions of poetry and novels to other projects like screenplays and short story collections. She loves to write about the relationships we have with one another and how they act as our muses since, in this isolated planet, sometimes the relationships we make are what set us apart and fulfill us. It has been her goal to work on a literary journal since high school, and she is beyond thrilled to finally work on such an important project. Outside of her career-centered endeavors, Ashley loves writing, listening to music, watching YouTube, hanging out with friends, napping, reading, and playing with her cats! UC Irvine was Ashley’s dream school in high school, and Ashley is both proud and grateful to participate as a representative of her campus in day-to-day life. In addition to these hobbies, Ashley is also looking to try new things like UCI’s dance team LVO as well as eventually study abroad in a Chinese-speaking country. Ashley is honored to be a UCI student contributing to the art and literature scene on campus and hopes that you enjoy Echolalia.
Marianne Corpuz
Social Media Manager
Marianne, who also goes by Mari, is in her 3rd year currently majoring in Public Health Sciences on a Pre-Pharmacy track with a Creative Writing minor at University of California, Irvine. They are passionate about working in healthcare being a volunteer at the UCI Medical Center as an inpatient intern – emphasizing quality patient care and hospitality to those that come through its doors. She is also currently going through classes to get her Pharmacy Technician license and looks forward to potential compounding experience and making sure customers and patients get their medications in a timely manner. Even with the schedule and interests of a STEM major, Mari has a huge love for a variety of creative mediums in her spare time. She first joined Echolalia with the hope of sharing her writing and art to a wider audience, soon joining the print team hoping that her previous digital art experience would translate, and fell in love with graphic design and wanted a bigger role in it by becoming one of two of Echolalia’s social media managers. As most of their hobbies are centered around creative work – she is also President of the Creative Writer’s Club at UCI, and writes poetry and short stories in her spare time! When she finally gets her hand off a computer you can find her journaling, going on short walks/runs, cafe hopping, or making lattes themselves!
Manelle Aruta
Overseer (Managing Editor)
Manelle is currently in her 4th year pursuing a Psychology major and Comparative Literature minor at the University of California, Irvine, which is located on the homelands of the Kizh (Gabrieleño), Acjachemen (Juaneño) and Payómkawichum (Luiseño) peoples. She is one of three Overseers (Managing Editors) for this year and they’re excited to foster communities within editor-contributor pairs throughout the year! She’s previously worked as an editor for New U, and knows her way around planning socials and making ridiculously meticulous reference sheets for editing. In her studies, she aims mainly to be able to support the social psychology of adolescents and families in differing home environments through micro-level social work. Beyond that, she tends to explore interpersonal relationships and personal and cultural identity in her writing. Outside of work, you can find her being a menace on the road (finally took the driver’s test!), writing in some coffee shop, talking at length about whatever game she just played, reading poetry, and making coffee!
Ariana Vargas
Overseer (Managing Editor)
Ariana (she/her) is a fourth year majoring in English and Asian American studies at UCI. A lifelong fan of fiction and poetry, she joined Echolalia to meet others with similar interests and was able to participate as a member of the editorial team for Volume 2. As a managing editor for Volume 3, Ariana hopes to support, engage with, and uplift the diverse perspectives found in student work, as well as contribute to Echolalia’s welcoming community environment. In her free time, she enjoys reading, needlework crafts, and Minecraft YouTube videos.
Ella Wu
Overseer (Managing Editor)
Ella is a second-year student in University of California – Irvine. She is currently double majoring in Comparative Literature and Literary Journalism. Greek Mythology and gender studies are two fields of studies that are of academic interest to Ella. Through her studies, she explores, mostly, the feminine presentation in various mythological texts from the ancient Greece. Passionate about art and literature from a young age, Ella always loves working with people on creative projects. She finds it very meaningful to engage in the creation of art and literature. In her free time, you can find Ella curl up at home with her books, shows, and music!
Editorial team
Alexandra Eloise Kogan
Alexandra (she/her) is a third-year English Literature student. She is from the UK and studies at the University of Edinburgh – she is at UCI this year as an exchange student. Her research interests include postmodern fiction, female Modernist authors, and Yiddish theatre. Her favourite authors are Milan Kundera, Edith Wharton and Franz Kafka. She hopes to write her dissertation on the intersections of material culture and gender performance in fiction of either the Gilded Age or midcentury postwar America. As an experienced editor, she adores the collaborative process of building a publication, and is excited to be a part of Echolalia’s creative vision for Volume 3, “Dreams.”
Annika Lee
Annika is a second year Environmental Science and Policy major at UC Irvine who primarily writes short stories and poetry. They joined Echolalia to be a part of a supportive community for creators, and are super excited to see what people create! When not writing, they can be found baking, going on walks, rock climbing, or staring longingly out to sea.
Caleb Azu
Caleb is currently in his 4th year, majoring in Game Design at the University of California, Irvine. Through his studies, Caleb aims to create games that allow people to recreate fond memories, bridging cultural, generational, and experiential boundaries. He is passionate about using game design as a medium to evoke nostalgia and connection, fostering shared experiences that resonate across diverse backgrounds. An active and curious student, Caleb collects a wide range of hobbies, spending most of his free time reading, playing video games, or going out to explore. Outside of school, he’s often spotted at spontaneous events around campus, balancing his love for new experiences with a deep appreciation for his alone time. Caleb is incredibly grateful for his time at UCI, where the experiences and connections he’s made have profoundly shaped his personal and professional growth.
Emily Ferguson
Emily is a 4th year English major, preferred pronouns she/her/hers. She joined Echolalia for a like-minded community, to make friends, and to gain experience for her future career in the publishing industry. She is super excited to see this upcoming publication in its final printed version. Outside of Echolalia, you can find her hanging out with friends, reading or listening to music!
Erica Leal
Erica (she/her) is a fourth-year Literary Journalism major and English minor at the University of California, Irvine. Driven by a love for storytelling, she seeks to highlight unheard voices and unseen perspectives, diving into the nuance of experiences in our vastly diverse world. As an editor in Echolalia, Erica is excited to aid writers in developing their own unique pieces and bringing their stories to fruition. Outside of her academic endeavors, you can find Erica reading, journaling, or baking some homemade cookies.
Frank Granda
Hello, my name is Frank Granda, I use he/him pronouns and I am a fourth year political science and international studies double major. The reason why I am interested in joining as an editor for Echolalia is because I want to have a platform to share my creative work with the world and I think Echolalia is a great place to start. One fun fact about me is that I am involved with another literary journal on campus.
Gitsell Dominguez
Hi! I’m Gitsell (yit-sell) and my pronouns are she/her. I’m in my second year as a transfer studying English. I joined Echolalia because I enjoyed reading the diverse range of student stories during a UCI club event. I wanted to be more involved on campus and thought about Echolalia. Now, I’m excited to work with such welcoming and kind people. Fun facts about me: I like to crochet clothes and I can write Japanese hiragana and a bit of Korean Hangul as well. I’d love to learn multiple languages. When I was younger, I tried learning Italian.
Hanna Yang
Hi, this is Hanna Yang, a freshman contributor and editor. As an experienced storyteller throughout various activities and internships, I would love to discuss interesting topics in Echolalia. My writings discover inspiration in daily life, turning my thoughts and feelings into words. Writing is a method for sharing what I’m curious about and engaging with readers about what makes us “us.”
Jeralynn Querubin
Jeralynn is a third-year transfer student majoring in Literary Journalism. With her previous experience writing for other school news publications, she joined Echolalia to expand into creative writing and to be a part of a community. A few of her favorite hobbies include journaling, crocheting, and watching movies.
Jocelyn Jimenez
Hi! My name is Jocelyn but you can also call me Jocy. I use she/her pronouns and I’m currently double majoring in Film & Media and English with a minor in Creative Writing. I joined Echolalia because I wanted to improve my writing skills by working with other writers/creatives here at UCI and getting to see different writing styles and creative processes. I love the concept of dreams and all of the different connotations attached to the word which is why I’m so excited for this edition in particular. I’m looking forward to seeing all of the different ways people interpret it and make it their own. A random fact about me is that I’m obsessed with lip tints!
Jordan Magee
Hi everyone! My name is Jordan (she/her), and I’m a 5th year student studying English and History at the University of California, Irvine. I joined Echolalia because it is full of passionate people who enjoy literature and different creative forms of expression. I love that Echolalia’s Volume 3 is about dreams because our hopes and fears often dictate our lives, so it is important to share these experiences with others to better understand each other. Outside of academics, I love listening to all kinds of music, watching films and anime, and playing badminton!
Megan Chan
Megan is a third year English major who joined Echolalia because she loves that they create a welcoming platform for every one of various art and writing styles to express vulnerable parts of themselves. She’s excited to explore this upcoming journal’s theme of “Dreams,” and can’t wait to help make contributors’ “Dream” pieces come true! Outside of her studies she enjoys cooking, reading rom-coms, going to the beach, and watching cat videos.
Sam Beknazarova
Sam (she/her) is a 3rd-year transfer student from LA, majoring in English with a minor in Education. She previously worked as a peer writing tutor and has contributed two short stories to local anthologies. Sam joined Echolalia in search of community and relevant editing experience in her field, particularly looking forward to working collaboratively with other writers! Outside of class and work, you can find her painting, practicing guitar, and watching movies. Sam hopes to pursue a PhD in English with the goal of becoming a professor.
Shazfa Khatri
Shazfa (she/her) is a fourth-year undergraduate student at the University of California, Irvine, majoring in cognitive science with aspirations of attending medical school. In her free time, she enjoys enhancing her Japanese skills and exploring other languages and cultures, fueling her passion for language and all forms of creative expression. She is honored to be part of Echolalia‘s editorial team, and is excited to connect with writers from diverse backgrounds and experiences. She can’t wait to see Echolalia‘s next volume and what the writers will bring to the table! When not juggling school assignments, she can be found working out, savoring a Thai tea, and engaging in spirited philosophical debates.