Board Of Directors

Cooper Haynes | President

Pronouns: He/Him

Cooper is a junior studying Advertising. As President, he manages the executive board and 12 agencies. Cooper is super excited to set a new standard as to what AAF Illinois is all about. Outside of AAF, Cooper works with the Campus Rec Marketing Team and hangs out with friends in his free time.

Favorites: Video games, Spider-Man, Star Wars, letterboxd

Milla Kutsin | Vice-President

Pronouns: She/Her

Favorites: Sushi, Lana Del Ray, Chit-Chatting, Spending Money, Spamming Private Story

Nora Lozar | CEO

Pronouns: She/Her

Nora is a junior studying Advertising. Outside of AAF you can find Nora at coffee shops, hanging out with friends, and cooking!

Favorites: Ceramics, Chatting, Sonic Diet Cherry Limade, Caffe Paradiso, Cats!

C-Level Officers

Jack Durante | Chief Client Services Officer

Pronouns: He/Him

Rawan El-Bawab | Chief Digital Officer

Pronouns: She/Her

Riley Brandhorst is da best, shoutout MO

Rawan is a Senior studying Computer Science + Advertising. As the Chief Digital Officer, her job is to update and oversee the digital online presence of AAF's webpage. She is also responsible for updating the various agencies’ websites with new content. When not working on the AAF website, Rawan be found

Favorites: Sitcoms, everything involving coffee, Spotify playlists, Arabic, curly hair products

Lauren Kissane | Chief Fundraising Officer

Pronouns: She/Her

Lauren is a senior, majoring in Advertising with a minor in Business. As the Social Officer of the American Advertising Federation, she ensures that all club events run smoothly, coordinating logistics and fostering a welcoming atmosphere for all members. Her role involves organizing engaging events, managing communications, and working with other club officers to create experiences that strengthen the AAF community. Outside of AAF, Lauren loves to work out, sing, try out new restaurants, and spend time with friends.

Favorites: Taylor Swift, Sushi, Halloween, Musicals

Edelynn Zaripova | Chief Member Experience Officer

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Cara Choi | Chief Social Media Officer

Pronouns:

Megan Krok | Chief Communications Officer

Pronouns: She/Her

Megan is a junior studying Journalism with a minor in public relations. As AdBuzz President, Megan helps guide members to develop their skills in public relations as they work with clients throughout the semester. In her free time, she loves to go thrifting, search for trinkets and treasures at antique shops, go to concerts, and watch movies. Outside of AAF, Megan is also a member of the Delta Zeta sorority, Phi Alpha Delta pre-law fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity, and works as a TA for JOUR 200.

Favorites: The Beatles, the Blackhawks, Antique and Record shops, the Color Pink, and Reality TV

Sonia Gutkowski | Chief Diversity Officer

Pronouns: She/Her

Sonia is a senior studying advertising. As the Chief Diversity Officer, Sonia assists with maintaining diversity, equity, and inclusion and helps oversee the applicants for MPMS and MAIP! Sonia is excited to help others learn more about diverse opportunities and advocate for themselves and others. Outside of AAF, she really enjoys hanging out with friends, making art, and listening to music. Additionally, Sonia is also involved with UIUC NAMI, a club that caters towards de-stigmatizing mental health.

Favorites: Being with Friends and Family, Costco Taquitos, Making Spotify Playlists, Nature, Painting, Traveling, Lifting Weights, Dancing

Karys Boeriu | Chief Industry Engagement Officer

Pronouns:

Eduardo Quintana | Chief Operations Officer

Pronouns: He/Him

Caroline Pulford | Chief Social Officer

Pronouns: She/Her

Emily Gonzalez | Chief Community Engagement Officer

Pronouns: She/Her

Emily is a senior studying Advertising with a minor in Informatics. Outside of AAF, she really enjoys reading, practicing yoga, going on walks, and hanging out with friends. Additionally, Emily is also involved with Illini4000 where she serves as the Director of The Portraits Project.

Favorites: Swimming, Pop Culture, Avocados, Horror films, cats, and Peanut M&Ms

Miguel Mora | Chief Financial Officer

Pronouns: PIZZAAAA

Antonia Hon | Chief Intelligence Officer

Pronouns: She/Her

Antonia is a junior studying Advertising with a minor in Computer Science. As Chief Intelligence Officer, she is responsible for tracking chapter trends and providing insights that support chapter growth, as well as offering academic/industry resources to members. Outside of AAF, Antonia enjoys playing Hay Day, baking bread, and spending time with friends.

Favorites: Chicken nuggets, drawing, crossword puzzles, watching YT, matcha ice cream, long walks

Reis Glover | Chief Outreach Officer

Pronouns: She/Her

Reis is a senior majoring in Advertising with dual minors in Informatics and Public Relations. As President of RSVP, she fosters a creative and positive environment where individuals can develop their skills within an experiential marketing agency focused on crafting memorable experiences for clients. Outside of her work with AAF, Reis serves as Treasurer and Fundraising Chair for Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, a prominent D9 organization. She also works as a PR/Strategic Communication Intern for a luxury magazine based in Atlanta, Georgia. In her free time, Reis enjoys shopping, spending time with friends, and listening to music.

Favorites: Reading #BookTok Books, Traveling, Coloring, Playing Tennis, Being chronically online, and watching true crime.

Agency Executives

Neive McInerney | AdBuzz President

Pronouns: She/Her

Amy Choi | AdLab Vice President

Pronouns: She/Her

Sarah Sepahdari | Build-It President

Lily Dahlborn | Carousel President

Pronouns: She/Her

Rhia Thakkar | CTRL+V Vice President

Pronouns: She/Her

Brooklynn Hubbard | Hyperlink President

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Lily Garski | Midnight Oil President

Pronouns: She/Her

Ruby Checke | OTH Account Director

Pronouns: She/Her

Ruby is a junior studying Advertising with a minor in Business and Spanish. As AdLab Vice President, she is responsible for creating slideshows, overseeing projects, and assisting the president. Additionally, she helps manage team members and provides a positive work environment. Outside of AAF, she enjoys socializing with friends, traveling, and listening to music.

Favorites: Yogurt Bowls, ASAP Rocky, NYT Sudoku, Running

Kara Yoo | NSAC President

Pronouns: She/Her

Kara is a Junior studying Advertising with a minor in Art & Design. As Chief Executive Officer, she is responsible for co-managing the operations of our 13 agencies and committees and represents AAF Illinois as one of the Board of Directors. Kara is dedicated to running the executive board with clarity, timeliness, and realistic expectations while cultivating a social, relaxed environment for AAF Illinois as a whole. She enjoys photography, videography, cooking, hiking, and being creative in any way possible! Outside of AAF, Kara holds positions as a Marketing/Communications Intern at The Career Center, Student Photographer/Videographer at the Illini Union, and a freelance photographer through her website, Kara Yoo Media.

Favorites: Orchids, DePop, 35mm film, Notion Productivity Software, Bangkok Thai, Sony, Frank Ocean, TV Girl, Garamond Clasico SC, ambient lighting, digis, badminton

Jacklynn Cartwright | NSAC Creative Director

Pronouns: She/They

Amanda Barry | AdBuzz Account Director

Pronouns: She/Her

Kyle Ehrenhaft | ADVenture President

Pronouns:

Grace Philip | Build-It Strategy Director

Pronouns: She/Her

Grace is a senior studying Advertising and Business. As Build-it VP, Grace is responsible for overseeing agency teams, communications, and guiding the process to eventually create an amazing pop-up display at the end of the year! Outside of AAF, she loves to spend quality time with friends, learn new things, and exercise. Grace is also involved in AAF's newest agency Mosaic, the Society of Women in Business, and Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.

Favorites: Shopping, Pasta, Fun Coffee, Country Music Concerts, Sports, Harry Styles

Nikki Buczkowski | Carousel Strategy Director

Pronouns:

Odi Ogbuefi | Pangaea President

Pronouns: She/Her

Odi is a senior studying Advertising with minors in Informatics and Public Relations. As Pangaea President, she leads the agency and teaches members how to advocate for themselves and for others within the Advertising industry. When she is not at AAF, you can find her at her other RSOs, Creators of Color Association and Minority Business Student Association, or volunteering around campus!

Favorites: Baking, Sweet treats, Sitcoms (Abbott Elementary, New Girl, B99), Anything Potatoes, Mitski

Chris Edison | Hyperlink Creative Director

Pronouns:

Cooper Anderson | Midnight Oil Account Director

Pronouns: He/Him

Sarina Mehdi | RSVP President

Pronouns:

Trevor Benos | NSAC Research Director

Pronouns: He/Him

Trevor is a junior studying Advertising with a Public Relations minor. As the Media Director for NSAC, he is responsible for coordinating NSAC's media plan. Outside of AAF, he enjoys listening to music (Childish Gambino is his favorite), watching basketball, and photography. He is also involved in Amnesty International and Fossil Free Illinois!

Favorites: Childish Gambino, Alex Caruso, Chicago Bulls, South Park

Elie Dixon | NSAC Media Director

Pronouns: She/Her

Elie is a junior in Advertising with a PR minor and serves as NSAC Media Director for AAF this year. Outside of AAF, she enjoys being with friends, gugging through Pinterest, and tying her shoes.

Favorites: Small dogs, Instagram Stories, Bossa Nova, The Blue Jolly Ranchers

Hugh McKee | AdLab President

Pronouns: He/Him

Hugh is a junior studying Advertising with hopes to add a minor in business. As the president of AdLab, Hugh is responsible for regularly leading a group of 30-50 students in lessons to build professional skills they will employ in their school work and in their future careers. Besides his involvement within AAF, he enjoys going to the gym, drawing and working on personal logo projects, and being with friends. Additionally, Hugh is the Vice President of Sigma Nu, a sales representative with a startup web development company, and works at KAMS.

Favorites: Energy Drinks, Bon Fires, Fall Weather, Grunge Rock, Sand Bars, Road Trips

Gabriella Marquez | ADVenture Project Manager

Pronouns:

Morgan Garcia | Build-It Creative Director

Pronouns:

Sydney Young | CTRL+V President

Pronouns: She/Her

Sydney is a junior studying Media and Cinema Studies with a minor in Advertising. As Vice President of CTRL+V, she helps to lead weekly meetings and teach members important techniques within videography, while also overseeing creative work. She loves traveling, hanging out with her friends, and watching movies, of course. Sydney hopes to becoming a videographer for an advertising agency in the future.

Favorites: Sushi, Tim Burton Films, Fantasy Books, Videography, Psychological Thrillers, and Watching TikTok Mukbangs

Bruktawit Yigzaw | Pangaea Vice President

Pronouns: She/Her

Justin Meyers | Hyperlink Project Manager

Pronouns: He/Him

Justin is a senior majoring in Advertising with minors in Business and Public Relations. As Hyperlink Project Manager, his responsibilities include managing the productivity and progress of all projects within the agency to ensure they are completed promptly while adhering to the brand standards of AAF Illinois. At the same time, he oversees several agency teams and provides content creation resources, tips, lessons, and advice to ensure their success. Outside of AAF, Justin likes to work out at the ARC and spend time with friends in Alpha Epsilon Pi, where he previously served as the Secretary for the fraternity.

Favorites: Classic Rock, Country Music, Barn Dances, Raising Cane’s, Chopstix, Yapping

Alec Sellers | OTH President

Pronouns: He/Him

Alec is a junior studying Marketing and Information Systems. As President of ADVenture, Alec is responsible for creating slideshows, running weekly meetings, as well as ensuring that group projects progress properly and in a timely manner. Outside of AAF, he enjoys discussing psychology/philosophy, long bike rides, watching standup comedy, and hanging out with friends. Alec is also involved with American Marketing Association as well as the Club Dodgeball team.

Favorites: Debating About Hypothetical Scenarios, Biking, Collecting Coins, Call of Duty, Puzzles

Shae Morrison | RSVP Account Director

Pronouns:

Kyle Park | NSAC Strategy Director

Pronouns: He/Him

Kyle is a junior studying Advertising with a plan to minor in Informatics.

Favorites: Enjoys Cooking/Baking, Playing Stardew Valley, Going On Insane Side Quests.

Bella Brown | NSAC Art Director

Pronouns: