We are beyond excited to announce the cohort for the third year of our Hey Alma College Writing Fellows program!
These 18 students come from across the world and from wildly different backgrounds, representing the many faces of young Jews today. As College Writing Fellows, they’ll be part of a sounding board for the Hey Alma editorial team, connect with other Jewish college students in a warm, supportive environment — and, of course, write for us!
We’re thrilled to be able to bring their voices to Hey Alma.
Sabrina Abselet (she/her) is one of Hey Alma’s College Writing Fellows. In her spare time, she loves to bake and make beaded jewelry!
Instagram: @sabrinaabselet
Sophie Bravo (she/her) is a college student from Cleveland, Ohio studying packaging science and Chinese. She grew up heavily involved in Jewish youth theater and choir, and she’s also an avid lover of women’s sports and advocating for the environment.
Twitter: @Sbubbles19 | Instagram: @Sophie.Rose.19
Diana Dalton (she/her) is studying film, journalism and studio art in Appalachia. In addition to writing, she is passionate about social advocacy, sustainability and learning something new every day.
Instagram: @dianathehumanoid
Hannah Davis (she/her) is a second-year Spanish student at Oxford University. She’s Jewish in an orange-on-the-Seder plate, “Only the Good Die Young,” “Falsettos” and “The Producers,” adorable anxiety, reclaimed yenta kind of way. She can’t wait to explore this Jewish identity and so much more as a Hey Alma College Writing Fellow!
Instagram: @Hannah.d4vis
Nira Dayanim (she/her) is the editor-in-chief of Mitzpeh, University of Maryland’s Jewish student newspaper. She is also an amateur photographer and the musical director of Rak Shalom, a Jewish a cappella group. When she isn’t scouring Petfinder for funny-looking dogs or pretending she knows how to garden, Nira enjoys contemplating new hobbies to pick up to one day put in a bio.
Instagram: @picsbynira, @niradayanim
Victoria Dozer (she/her) is a junior at Wesleyan University studying Astronomy and Physics, as well as Jewish Studies. She’s originally from California, but is loving her time on the East Coast as a student! Victoria also loves to write, hike and spend time at CA’s beautiful beaches!
Twitter: @victoriadozer | Instagram: @victoria.dozer
Ceci Edelberg (she/her) is an Argentinean public relations student with a concentration in Latin American studies at the University of Florida! You can usually find her browsing for curly hair products that will help combat Gainesville humidity or on the phone with her younger sister. She is also a blog writer and audiobook enthusiast.
Twitter: @CeciEdelberg | Instagram: @ceci.edelberg | TikTok: @edel.ce
Eliana Franks (she/her) is a Religion, Society and Culture student at Durham University. In her free time, you can catch her making feminist theater, binge-watching The Real Housewives and obsessing over Strudel, her dog.
Twitter: @elianafranks10 | TikTok: @elianafranks
Lucy Isaacs (she/her) is a student at Mount Holyoke College studying politics and media. She’s from Brooklyn, New York and is still acclimating to life without New York bagels. She’s often spotted carrying a tote bag with a good mystery novel in it.
Instagram: @lucisaacs
Karly Jacklin (she/they) is a student and a poet, but mostly a horror genre buff. She lives in Maine with her girlfriend and a little gray cat.
Instagram: @karjacklin
Halina Katz (she/they) studies literature and history at Concordia, though is currently operating out of Berlin. Aside from academia, she leads a three piece riot grrrl band, plays guitar for an eccentric Scotsman’s pop project and is in the throes of learning Yiddish — aspiring to one day translate its prose.
Instagram: @youngredone
Miya Libman is a third-year student studying political science and public policy at George Washington University. As a queer, mixed-race Korean-American Jew, Miya is passionate about sharing experiences of intersectional Jewish identities. Miya enjoys playing saxophone in various music groups, cooking and baking bread.
Instagram: @miyalibman
Maya Mehrara (she/her) is a cat mom, actress and writer. In her spare time, she likes to play guitar, spend way too much time on BookTok and watch period pieces.
Twitter: @mehrara_maya | Instagram: @maya.mehrara
Benyamin Rumi (he/him/his) is a third year student studying Linguistics and Religious Studies. He’s passionate about poetry and em dashes, hates prescriptive grammar and has spent his entire summer listening to “Lover, Lover, Lover” by Leonard Cohen.
Instagram: @redsunrumii
Ella Schwartz (she/her) is a senior at Cornell University studying communications and social influence. She is passionate about writing, women’s rights and Taylor Swift. Her go-to bagel order is “The Break Fast Special,” an everything bagel with cream cheese and lox.
Instagram: @ellaschwrtz
Sheldon Skoboloff (he/him/his) is a proud Latino Jew studying Theater and Professional Writing at the University of California, Los Angeles. When he’s not singing or participating in an elaborate bit, you can find him reading, scouring the depths of Wikipedia or practicing an accent for whatever show he’s currently a part of.
Twitter: @essko18 | Instagram: @shelsko
Miri Verona (she/they) is a writer, researcher and klezbian musician with her band “The Klezmommies.” She can also be found moonlighting as an Italian teacher and enjoying quality time with friends.
Twitter: @milkyjammers | Instagram: @milkyjammers
SJ Waring (she/her) is an English major and Poetry Concentrator at Smith College (as well as an aspiring Jewish Studies minor). She loves poetry, the Muppets and all things pink. Her favorite woman in the Tanakh is Yael, and she desperately wants you to ask her why.
Twitter: @saringjaring | Instagram: @s.jwaring | TikTok: @githgorlfriend
