Staff

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• Lilianne Fernandez

  Lilianne is a first-year English student and the University desk's Spring 2026 Santa Fe reporter. In her free time, she enjoys going on runs, hanging out with friends, or listening to music. 

• Aaliyah Evertz - The Avenue General Assignment reporter

  Aaliyah is a second-year journalism student in her second semester at the Alligator. She is the Avenue's spring 2026 entertainment reporter. In her free time, she enjoys reading and baking.

• Aaron Zagal Yaji

  Aaron Zagal Yaji is a Public Relations and Economics freshman in his first semester at The Alligator. He covers El Caimán's metro beat. In his free time, he enjoys going to the beach (or reminiscing about it), cooking Peruvian food, and squandering his money on golden shiny things.

• Adrian Carmona - Baseball reporter

  Adrian is a senior journalism major and the baseball reporter for the Spring of 2026. He previously served as the soccer reporter in the fall of 2025. He enjoys playing Sporcle quizzes and ranting about South Florida sports.

• Alabama Weninegar

  Alabama Weninegar is a first-year journalism major and The Alligator's Spring 2026 University General Assignment Reporter. She also works a part-time job at Wyatt's Coffee downtown. In her free time, she enjoys watching her favorite shows on a rainy day or re-reading the Twilight series. 

• Alanna Robbert - Data reporter

  Alanna is a journalism senior and the Fall 2025 data reporter for The Alligator's Enterprise desk. She was previously a general assignment reporter for metro. Outside of reporting, she is found either with a book, in the gym or with friends playing pool.

• Alannah Peters

  Alannah Peters is a junior majoring in journalism and minoring in public relations. In her spare time, she can be found trying new coffee shops with friends, traveling the U.S. or going on hot girl walks at Lake Alice. 

• Alejandra Agustin
• Alexa Ryan - Politics Reporter

  Alexa is a second-year journalism and international studies student and The Alligator's Spring 2026 Enterprise Politics Reporter. She previously served as the Fall 2025 Criminal Justice Reporter. In her free time, she enjoys running, traveling and going on random side quests. 

• Alissa Gary - Editor-in-Chief

  Alissa is the Fall 2025 editor-in-chief of The Alligator. She has previously been engagement managing editor and university editor, and she has covered stories across UF and Gainesville. She was also an intern at the Orlando Sentinel and The Chronicle of Higher Education. In her free time, she likes to spend time with her cat and take care of her plants.

• Alligator Staff report
• Amanda Roman - Assistant Sports Editor

  Amanda is The Alligator's Assistant Sports Editor and a senior sports journalism student. She previously worked as the soccer and women's basketball reporter. She also interned at Fort Lauderdale United FC. In her free time, she enjoys weight lifting, shopping and reading.

• Angelique Rodriguez - Graduate School reporter

  Angelique is a first-year journalism major and the Fall 2025 graduate school reporter. In her free time, she'll probably be reading, writing, hanging out with her friends or looking through the newest fashion runway shows on Vogue.

• Ariana Badra - El Caiman reporter

  Ariana is a first-year journalism major and an El Caimán reporter for the Fall of 2025. In her free time, she enjoys reading, spending time with friends and scouring for new songs to play on repeat to an absurd degree.

• Ariana Pedraza
• Ava DiCecca - Sports Editor

  Ava is a sophomore sports journalism student and the Spring 2026 sports editor. Previously for The Alligator, she covered volleyball and did sports enterprise. Ava enjoys watching and playing sports in her free time and has been a Boston sports fan all her life. (Brad Marchand is still everything.)

• Ava Walsh
• Avery Parker - Caimán Editor

  Avery Parker is an English and History senior and the Spring 2026 El Caimán editor for The Alligator. He previously worked as The Alligator's University desk editor, as well as a reporter for the University and Enterprise desks. He doesn't know the meaning of the word "freetime," but he can usually be found deep in an archive reading 19th century documents or tending to his four cats.

• Bailey Diem - Engagement Managing Editor

  Bailey Diem is a journalism junior and The Alligator's Spring 2026 metro editor. She spent previous semesters as engagement managing editor and as part of the metro and university desks. In her free time, she enjoys playing guitar or getting lost in a good book.

• Bart C. Knowles
• Benjamin Hebblethwaite
• Brooke Bastedo - Golf reporter

  Brooke is entering her third semester as The Alligator's golf reporter. She is a sophomore sports journalism student with a passion for international sports. She enjoys trying as many new hobbies as possible, spending time with friends and watching Detroit sports (Go Lions!).

• Bruna Arnaes Baptista Moreira
• Cameron Countryman

  Cameron Countryman is a second-year journalism major and The Alligator's Spring 2026 Graduate School reporter. In her free time, she enjoys reading, paddle boarding and researching her next travel destination.

• Caroline Walsh - Staff Photographer

  Caroline is a freshman sports journalism student in her second semester at The Alligator. She is a photographer for the Multimedia desk. In her free time, she enjoys running and watching hockey.

• Celine Taragjini
• Chloë Smith
• Christopher Rodriguez - The Avenue Music reporter
• Colby Kistner - Golf Reporter

  Colby is a junior sports journalism student in his first semester with the Alligator covering golf. He has experience covering Buchholz and Santa Fe High School sports. He also worked in UF's innovation center where he wrote and created radio content for WRUF. He is an avid hockey fan with his teams being the Seattle Kraken and Florida Panthers. He is looking to minor in business administration.

• Cole Kruger
• Coral Uzgiden - Lacrosse Reporter

  Coral is a sophomore Sports Journalism student in her first semester with the Alligator covering Lacrosse. She also has experience writing for WRUF and covering beats such as high school football and Gators swim and dive. She is an intern for the Women of the Lowcountry and in her free time enjoys playing waterpolo, going to the gym and being outside.

• Corey Fiske - the Avenue Editor

  Corey Fiske is a journalism senior and the Spring 2026 Avenue editor. He previously served as opinions editor, as well as food reporter for the Avenue. Over this past summer, he was a reporting intern at the Portland Press Herald. In his free time, Corey enjoys watching new TV shows, eating chocolate fudge brownie ice cream and traveling to new places.

• Curan Ahern - Football Reporter

  Curan is a junior sports journalism student in his fourth semester at The Alligator. He is currently the sports desk's football and enterprise beat writer, and previously served as a reporter for men's tennis, sports enterprise and football. He is currently pursuing a public relations minor and is an avid Duval sports fan. (#DTWD)

• Daniela Ortiz - Sports Enterprise and Hockey Reporter

  Daniela is a junior sports journalism student and the enterprise/hockey beat reporter for Fall 2025. When not writing an article, you can catch her drawing or playing with her roommates' cats.

• David Arreola
• Dulce Rodriguez-Escamilla

  Dulce Rodriguez is a sophomore Journalism Major with a Public Relations minor in her first semester at The Alligator, working as El Caimán's general assignment reporter. She loves to dance and bake in her free time, and she also enjoys watching murder mysteries and documentaries. 

• Dylan Santana
• Eli Neelands
• Elise Nascimento
• Elliana Boyarshinov
• Emily Moreno - Columnist
• Ethan Feinberg - Mens Tennis Reporter

  Ethan Feinberg is a senior sports journalism student and the Spring 2026 men’s tennis reporter. He has previously written stories and produced audio sessions for WRUF, covering high school football. Ethan enjoys watching and playing sports like football and basketball, working out, fishing, cooking, and having a good laugh with his friends and family. His favorite sports teams are the New England Patriots, Miami Heat, Florida Panthers, and the Miami Marlins. (Drake "Drake Maye" Maye is the GOAT.)

• Evelyn O’Carroll

  Evelyn O’Carroll is a junior Political Science and Social Policy student from Trinity College Dublin, currently on international exchange for this semester. She writes a column documenting her experiences of studying abroad at the University of Florida.

• Garrett Shanley - University Editor

  Garrett Shanley is a fourth-year journalism major and the Spring 2025 university editor for The Alligator. Outside of the newsroom, you can find him watching Wong Kar-Wai movies and talking to his house plants.

• Gleda Kronen
• Grace Anderson
• Grace Larson - City and County Commission reporter

  Grace Larson is a first-year journalism student, currently serving as K-12 education reporter. She has previously served as city/county commission reporter for The Alligator's metro desk. In her free time, she enjoys staying active and hanging out with her family.

• Grant DuVall
• Hailey Kon - Alligator Contributing Writer
• Harrison Hove
• Harvey Ward
• Hunter DeLauder
• India Houghton

  India Houghton is a graduate student studying Business Management and a member of the UF women’s tennis team. She is the sports opinion columnist for The Alligator. A Northern California native, India completed her undergraduate studies at Stanford University in Science, Technology and Society, competing for the Cardinal women’s tennis team. She enjoys playing the piano, taking ice baths, and rooting for her hometown 49ers. 

• Isabel Kraby - The Avenue General Assignment reporter

  Isabel is the The Alligator's Spring 2026 music reporter. She is a junior studying journalism at UF and is from Ormond Beach, FL. In her spare time, she loves going to concerts, crafting and practicing guitar. 

• Isabella Cabrera

  Isabella Cabrera is an 18-year-old UF political science freshman.

• Isis Snow - Womens Basketball reporter

  Isis is a senior sports journalism student who is in her fourth semester at The Alligator. She previously has written for the Avenue desk and has covered the Florida volleyball beat. She also has experience in live broadcast reporting with WUFT. Despite hailing from Las Vegas, Nevada, she is a life-long Michigan and Detroit Lions fan. To make up for the emotional toll of being a fan of those teams, you will often find her in the gym weight lifting and playing basketball. 

• Jaime Blanco Pinto
• Jasmine Valcin
• Jayden Cáceres
• Jeffrey Serber - Mens Basketball reporter

  Jeffrey is the spring 2026 men's basketball beat reporter and a second-year journalism sports & media major with a media, management and production minor. In his free time, he enjoys hanging out with friends and family, and rooting for the Miami sports teams

• JP Dishinger
• Juan Caballero
• Julia Daniyar
• Juliana DeFilippo - Avenue Editor

  Juliana is a second-year journalism student and the Spring 2026 Enterprise environment reporter. This is her fourth semester on The Alligator, and she previously served as an Avenue reporter and the Fall 2025 Avenue editor. In her free time, she loves reading, updating her Letterboxd account and doing crosswords.

• Julianna Bendeck - Alligator Staff Writer

  Julianna is a first-year journalism student and The Alligator's Spring 2026 race and equity reporter. She was previously an editor for Eagle Media, Florida Gulf Coast University's student newspaper. In her free time, she enjoys playing video games and reading. She is hoping to attend law school in the future. 

• Kaitlyn McCormack

  Kaitlyn McCormack is a senior journalism student serving as the County Commission Reporter for The Alligator's Spring 2026 metro desk. In her free time she enjoys journaling and drinking too much coffee 

• Kaysheri Haffner - Politics Reporter

  Kaysheri is a junior journalism student and the Fall 2025 politics reporter for the enterprise desk at the Alligator. She previously worked as the criminal justice reporter. Off the clock she enjoys creative writing, and can always be found at either the gym or curled up with a good book.

• Kendall O'Connor
• Lara Caglayan
• Laura Manzor
• Laura Mariné
• Leona Masangkay - Santa Fe College reporter

  Leona is a second-year journalism student and the Spring 2025 University Administration reporter. They previously worked as the Santa Fe reporter. In their free time, Leona enjoys going to the gym, watching Marvel movies and traveling the country for music festivals.

• Liam Taylor King
• Lily Hartzema

  Lily Hartzema is a second-year journalism major. She is the Metro's spring 2026 General Assignment Reporter. In her past-time, she enjoys reading, exploring new trails and photographing anything that catches her eye. 

• Logan McBride - Track and Field Reporter

  Logan McBride is a journalism junior and a Spring 2026 track and field reporter. In his free time, he enjoys watching TV shows or playing basketball at Southwest Rec. He is also a big football fan and will die for Dak Prescott.

• Lucius Amill-Figueroa
• Luke Adragna - Sports Editor

  Luke is The Alligator's Sports Editor and is a senior sports journalism student. In his free time, he enjoys playing with his cat named Pete and going down a rabbit hole of niche professional athletes (shoutout Charles Sims).

• Madeline Herring - University General Assignment reporter

  Madeline is a first-year journalism and environmental science double major and the Fall 2025 general assignment reporter. In her free time she enjoys reading, binging new television series, and browsing the isles of target with her friends.

• Maria Arruda - Student Government reporter

  Maria Arruda is a second-year journalism and political science student, currently working as the City Commission reporter for The Alligator. Previously, she reported on Student Government under The Alligator's University desk. She enjoys running, reading and going to movie theaters!

• Maria Avlonitis - University Editor

  Maria is the Fall 2025 university editor of the Alligator. She previously worked as the university administration reporter Summer 2025. Maria enjoys walking her dog, and on the rare occassion she has free time, she loves attempting to garden and salsa dancing.

• María José Cordero Castillo - Contributing writer

  María José Cordero is a contributing writer and a political scientist currently in her first year of a master’s program in Women’s Studies, Gender and Sexualities. She has a keen interest in feminist perspectives and the intersections of politics and social change. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor activities, soaking up the sun and spending time in nature.

• Marin Chester
• Max Bernstein - Assistant Sports Editor

  Max is a junior sports journalism student in his seventh semester at The Alligator. He serves as The Alligator's assistant sports editor and football beat coordinator. He previously served as The Alligator's sports editor and as a reporter for football, women's tennis, volleyball, lacrosse and sports enterprise. He also has made multiple appearances on the Paul Finebaum Show. Max wants to shoutout his cats, Scooter and Zoe, and niche former Florida Panthers players (shoutout Maxim Mamin).

• Megan Howard - Engagement Managing Editor

  Megan Howard is a journalism senior and the Spring 2026 engagement managing editor. She's previously worked as the senior news director, metro editor, opinions editor and reporter at The Alligator. She also interned at Las Vegas Review-Journal. Megan is passionate about hitting her Goodreads goal, journaling and Instagram.

• Mia Giannicchi
• Molly Freeburg
• Nevaeh Baker Harris

  Nevaeh Baker Harris is a first-year sports and media journalism major and The Alligator's Spring 2026 Student Government reporter. In her free time, she enjoys watching medical dramas, reading horror novels, and listening to 90s rock music.

• Nicole Lopez - Womens Tennis reporter

  Nicole is a sophomore journalism student and the women's tennis beat reporter for the fall semester. In her free time, she enjoys reading, collecting records and spending time with her friends and family.

• Nicole Scura - Hockey reporter

  Nicole is a sophomore journalism student in her first semester with the Alligator and she is the beat reporter for the University of Florida Ice Hockey Club. In her free time, Nicole enjoys figure skating, watching football (Go Bucs!), traveling and linedancing.

• Noah Lantor - Multimedia Editor

  Noah is the Spring 2026 multimedia editor. He previously worked as the assistant multimedia editor for one semester and as a staff photographer for two semesters covering community stories and sports across Gainesville. Before his time at UF, Noah worked on the sidelines at Maryland and Penn State photographing their football teams. He has also done freelance and graduate photography work in his home state of Maryland. In his free time, he enjoys following hockey, football and traveling to rural places.

• Olivia Lofaso
• Ornella Moreno

  Ornella Moreno is a senior journalism student with a concentration in psychology in her first semester at The Alligator. She covers El Caiman Ave. Previously, she worked as a radio anchor for WUFT Noticias. In her free time, Ornella enjoys doing yoga, reading and going to the movies.

• Parker Duncan
• Paul Hof-Mahoney - Track and Field Reporter

  Paul is a senior in his fourth semester on the track and field/cross country beat for The Alligator. In his free time, you can increasingly see him jogging around Gainesville or endlessly falling deeper down the rabbit hole that is track Twitter.

• Raven Miranda
• Reagan Bresnahan - Staff Videographer

  Reagan is a videographer for the Alligator. She is a freshman majoring in journalism and this is her first year with the paper. In her spare time she loves music, reading, and spending time with friends.

• Riana Morales
• Ricardo Quiñones Lugo
• Riley Brinser
• Riley Orovitz - Gymnastics and Swim & Dive reporter

  Riley is a sophomore sports journalism student in her second semester at The Alligator. She is the beat reporter for Gators Gymnastics and Swim & Dive while also contributing to the Gators Football Beat. She previously served in the same role in her first semester with the newspaper. Riley is an avid South Florida sports fan and enjoys playing/following all sports in her free time.

• Rohit Paranjape - Crossword Designer

  Rohit is a first year aerospace engineering student and the Fall 2025 Crossword Designer. He likes dogs, listening to music, anything Tampa Bay Buccaneers related, and of course, solving crosswords.

• Salar Javanshir
• Sara Dhorasoo
• Sasha Morel

  Sasha Morel is a freshman studying Philosophy and Politics and is a private debate coach for students across the nation. His opinion pieces for the Alligator focus on the intersectionality between Gainesville and the people, problems, and politics that affect the city. He works to inspire structural changes through intellectually profound and empathetic analysis of current events.

• Saugat Shrestha
• Savannah Wroath
• Shaine Davison - Enterprise Editor

  Shaine Davison is a junior majoring in journalism and minoring in environmental science. She has previously served as the editor of the enterprise desk and reporter for university and sports desks. This semester, she will be studying abroad in Madrid, Spain. 

• Sofia Alamo - Womens Tennis reporter

  Sofia Alamo is a Sports Journalism freshman at UF and the university’s Women’s Tennis beat reporter. Her favorite sports are soccer and tennis, and she aspires to be a sports broadcaster in the future. 

• Sofia Bravo - Environment reporter

  Sofia Bravo is The Alligator's Spring 2026 opinions editor and a junior journalism and political science student. She previously served as the enterprise health reporter, a copy editor and a translator. In her free time, she enjoys reading and bothering her friends with her digital camera.

• Sofia Meyers - University General Assignment Reporter

  Sofia Meyers is a journalism junior and The Alligator's Spring 2026 university editor. Previously, she served as general assignment reporter on the university desk and city/county commission on the metro desk. In her free time, she enjoys playing pickleball, reading and baking.

• Sonaiya Brown - Alligator Staff Photographer

  Sonaiya Brown is a freshman photographer for Summer 2025. In her free time, she enjoys sleeping, listening to music, and most importantly, talking to her senior puppies a lot.

• Sophia Bailly - Digital Managing Editor

  Sophia is The Alligator's Fall 2025 digital managing editor. She previously served as the enterprise editor and university editor, as well as a beat reporter for three semesters. She has also interned for The Times-Picayune and The News & Observer as a politics reporter. Her non-journalistic passions include long-distance running, reading mystery books and listening to Florence + The Machine.

• Summer Johnston - Food reporter
• Swasthi Maharaj - University Administration reporter

  Swasthi is the Fall 2025 university administration reporter. She's previously worked as general assignment reporter with The Alligator, and you can also find her work in Rowdy Magazine or The Florida Finibus. When she's not staring at her laptop screen or a textbook, she's probably taking a long walk or at a yoga class.

• Sydney Johnson - Multimedia Editor

  Sydney Johnson is the Fall 2025 multimedia editor. This is her second semester in the role. She previously served as the assistant multimedia editor and a general assignment reporter for the university desk. When she is not at the Alligator, she is capturing North Central Florida for WUFT News. In her free time, she can be found sewing, hiking or logging movies on Letterboxd.

• Teia Williams - Metro General Assignment Reporter

  Teia Williams is a journalism student and in her second semester at The Alligator. She is a lifestyle and general assignment for The Avenue. In her free time she is constantly reading, going to concerts, or talking about her favorite celebrities. 

• Tess Lippincott
• The Alligator Editorial Board
• Timothy Dillehay

  Timothy Dillehay is a political science and history sophomore and a Spring 2026 Opinions Columnist for The Alligator. He writes on issues related to university administration and student government. In his free time, Timothy enjoys journaling, reading comics and classics, and reviewing films on his Letterboxd.

• Vanessa Norris - Crime Reporter

  
  

• Vera Lucia Pappaterra - Caiman Editor

  Vera Lucia is a journalism student and The Alligator's Spring 2026 Enterprise editor. She previosuly served as the Fall 2025 Caiman editor, Enterprise Race and Equity reporter and University GA reporter. In her free time, she enjoys embroidering and dj-ing. Go to The Range on a Saturday and listen to her set. 

• Victoria Riccobono - El Caiman reporter

  Victoria is a junior sports journalism student and an El Caimán reporter in her first semester with The Alligator. In her spare time, she enjoys sports photography, reading, spending time with her friends and family, and trying new restaurants.

• Zach Moore - Softball Reporter

  Zach is a sophomore sports journalism student in his first semester at The Alligator, covering softball. He also has experience as an intern in the Florida Collegiate Summer League. Zach enjoys watching sports in his free time, primarily the Minnesota Vikings, Orlando Magic, and Arsenal FC.

• Zoey Thomas - Editor-in-Chief

  Zoey Thomas is a UF media production senior and the Spring 2026 editor-in-chief of The Alligator. She has previously been data editor and engagement managing editor, as well as a reporter for three semesters. She was also a intern at the Orlando Sentinel. In her sparse free time, Zoey enjoys reading a good book, going for a run or waking up her roommates with the sound of her espresso machine.