Maryam Ahmed

Maryam is a third-year journalism student at UT Austin minoring in Middle Eastern studies. Having worked for The Daily Texan and The Austin American-Statesman, she has written and edited all kinds of news and feature stories. In her editing, Maryam prioritizes preserving each writer's unique voice while still strengthening the quality of the writing. When she's not reporting or in class, Maryam is a juggler, henna artist and avid reader!

Emily DeMotte

Emily is a junior journalism major with a minor in law, justice and society from Plano. She is currently the projects editor for The Daily Texan, where she has previously worked as a news and life & arts reporter. She is also a senior producer for The Drag Audio and most enjoys reporting on feature, long-form and investigative-style stories. When she's not busy with work or school, Emily loves to rewatch her favorite shows, go thrift shopping and eat out with friends. 

Grace Hurley

Grace is a junior journalism major with a creative writing certificate. She was the Eats writer for BurntXOrange Magazine in her freshman and sophomore years, covering West Campus’ food scene and culture. Recently, she interned for Edible Austin Magazine as its creative development intern, covering restaurant openings and local culinary events. Her dream job is in food journalism, whether a restaurant editor or a food writer with a unique niche. She also serves as vice president of Alpha Omega Campus Ministry. When Grace isn’t working or studying, she enjoys coffee shop hopping, spending too much money on matcha lattes, trying new restaurants with friends and endlessly editing one of her seven unpublished fiction novels.

Analise Pickerrell

Analise Pickerrell is a journalism senior at the University of Texas at Austin, pursuing minors in both studio art and philosophy. She hails from Folsom, California, but has been living in Austin since 2017. She’s worked as a reporter and editor for student publications such as The Daily Texan, a local news outlet and TRIBEZA magazine. A visual artist as well as a writer, she commissions paintings and creates illustrations for print and digital media. She enjoys writing about culture, film and public issues, and her only hope is that her writing can help make the world a better place and give voice to the stories that deserve it. Outside of journalism, she loves hiking, yoga, reading classic novels and spending time with her sisters, friends and cats. 

Emily Quigley

Emily Quigley (she/her) is excited for the opportunity to help students as the associate director of the Moody Writing Support Program.
Emily worked for 19 years at the Austin American-Statesman in various roles, including copy editor, assistant news editor and assistant features editor. She has a passion for words and for collaborating with writers to sharpen their skills.
Since coming to the Moody College of Communication in 2019, Emily has taught the beginning newswriting course, Reporting Words, in the School of Journalism and Media, and she helped launch the Curriculum for Ethical Leadership in News. She also teaches a copy editing class at St. Edward’s University and edits Texas Connect, the staff and faculty magazine of the University of Texas.
When Emily isn’t editing or trying to persuade her sons to use proper grammar in texts, she enjoys reading, cooking, listening to podcasts and trying to incorporate Halloween decorations in her home year-round.

Ava Saunders

Ava is a journalism and government junior. She is the current editor-in-chief for The Daily Texan. She has worked at the Texan for two years in the opinion and copy departments, covering student issues and Texas politics. Additionally, Ava is a contributor to Austin on Stage Magazine, a student-run country music magazine. She previously worked for The Female Maverick Marketing Agency, working as a copyeditor and social media intern. She is also a member of Texas Kappa Delta. Outside of journalism, Ava enjoys sci-fi novels, cooking for her friends and spending all her money on concert tickets.

Aaron Sullivan

Aaron is a journalism and theater senior from Bastrop. He worked across the newsroom of The Daily Texan for three years, most recently leading the publication as its managing editor in summer 2025. He spent most of his time at the Texan in the news department, covering state and local government, while publishing bylines in the Life & Arts and Sports sections and contributing to the copy and photo departments. He freelances for the Austin American-Statesman, writing feature stories and covering the Bastrop City Council. He interned at The Austin Chronicle in the summer of 2024, covering local art and culture. Aaron is currently reporting and writing an interview-based documentary play about the 2011 Bastrop County Complex Fire, the most destructive wildfire in Texas history, for his Theater & Dance BA Honors Thesis. Outside of journalism, Aaron enjoys photography, traveling, watching plays and hanging out with his cat, Magic.

Hope Vanderburg

Hope is a fourth-year journalism major with minors in media & entertainment industries and professional sales & business development. She is heavily involved with Texas Student Television’s evening newscast, "Texas News PrimeTime,” most recently serving as the show’s executive producer. Her journalistic ambition is to become a news anchor, and she has learned from some of the best in the industry interning at FOX 26 Houston and FOX 7 Austin. Additionally, Hope is a contributing writer for Cypress Lifestyle Magazine and was previously a newsletter writer at The Daily Texan. She is also a member of Texas Delta Gamma and Texas Fellowship of Catholic University Students. Outside school and work, you can find Hope binge-watching her favorite reality TV shows, going on sweet treat runs with her friends and checking things off her senior year bucket list!