CAHSS Student Leadership Council

Alex Rushinsky (he/him)

My majors are in philosophy, sociology, psychology, & mathematics, and I plan to graduate in 2026. After graduation, I hope to begin working towards a concurrent degree graduate program, pursuing both a J.D. as well as a doctoral degree in sociology. I have worked at a law firm for 1.5 years doing anything from organizing 100+ case materials to fishing expeditions to find relevant case law. Additionally I am actively engaged in a sociology internship where I research DU's different consent policies while teaching healthy masculinity to the student body.

In addition to academics, I am an avid hiker and general outdoor enthusiast! I spend most all of my free time bumming it out in the mountains, whether that be backpacking, rocking climbing, skiing, and really anything else that gets boots on the ground. I also LOVE national parks and can give you any number of road trip ideas to check them out! 

Sabrina Lazzarato (she/her)

My majors are in psychology, German, and English (Literary Studies), and I'm graduating in 2027. I currently serve as an undergraduate research assistant in the LEaRN Lab, and I also collaborate with the BRAVE lab working primarily in data entry focusing on child psychology. I'm also planning on studying abroad in Heidelberg, Germany in fall 2025. After graduation, I plan on going to graduate school and earning a doctoral degree in clinical psychology.

I can help people with navigating multiple majors within CAHSS, and anyone with interest in studying German. I also know lots of great places to thrift in Denver, and where the best bakeries are!

Lil Adams (they/them)

My majors are in anthropology & ecology, and I'm graduating in spring 2025. I have experience in science education, ethnography, animal behavior, ecological research! I'm currently looking for work experience before considering a master's degree.

Folks usually ask me about science education and animal facts! Ask me about primates! 

Robin Bell (he/him)

I'm majoring in studio art, alongside psychology and gender, women & sexuality studies minors, and I will be graduating in 2026. I work as a Sculpture Studio Assistant in the Shwayder Art Building and as a Student Coordinator with New Student and Family Programs. I am a part of Alpha Phi Omega and the DU Dungeons and Dragons club. After graduation, I want to teach art at the high school level. I also really want to travel, so I may take a break from school and work and go on some cool adventures. 

In my very limited free time, I like to put music on my iPod and create CDs, watch horror movies, and spend as much time as I can with my friends. Because of my previous role as a 4D Peer Mentor, people tend to ask for advice about resources around campus and because of my art major people sometimes ask me which studio classes they should take. 

Katie Lamberton (she/her)

I am a third-year student at DU, majoring in psychology with minors in mathematics and leadership studies with plans to graduate in 2026. I am in both the honors program and the Pioneer Leadership Program. I am currently involved in the PROTECT Lab, where I am researching the intergenerational transmission of trauma and resilience across families and generations. I also have an internship at a non-profit, One More Moment, which focuses on interventions for families and parents who are raising children who have mental health or behavioral challenges. I also completed an internship at Children's Hospital Colorado this past summer, shadowing in the Child Health Clinic and researching the associations between trauma and adversity and elevated depression in adolescents. After graduation, I hope to pursue a Ph.D. in either clinical or developmental psychology. When I am not researching, I am skiing in the beautiful Colorado mountains, going on various adventures around Colorado, or experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen. 

Within my education, I am passionate about psychology, specifically trauma and its impacts on children and family systems. I am happy to talk about my research journey and how to make the most out of your undergraduate time at DU with research and internship experiences. Outside of my psychology education, I am passionate about travel and studied abroad Fall 2024 in Sorrento, Italy. I would love to talk about what my experience was like and help answer any questions or address any fears about studying abroad. Especially if you are struggling with deciding where to study abroad, or what program will work best for you. 

Iris Stanfill (she/her)

I'm majoring in political science, with minors in critical race and ethnic studies and leadership studies, with plans to graduate in summer 2025. Outside of the classroom, I serve as co-president of Divest DU, a student organization pushing for university divestment from the fossil fuel industry and advocating for environmental justice. I am also a member of the DU Student Union, PLP, and the CAHSS Student Leadership Council. When I’m on campus, you can often find me in the Political Science Department, where I work as a Student Administrative Assistant. Off-campus, I am the social media coordinator for Athena Project Arts’ #ReproductiveJustice campaign, for which I help to amplify the work of artists around the world creating in the space of Reproductive Justice. My past experiences include interning at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Colorado and working as a research assistant under the Interdisciplinary Research Institute for the Study of (in)Equality (IRISE) at DU. Together, these experiences have allowed me to cultivate a passion for learning, activism, and social justice–a passion I will carry with me as I attend law school in 2026 to become a civil rights attorney. 

I am passionate about learning and activism work in spaces of environmental justice, reproductive justice, criminal law reform, and civil rights, just to name a few. I also enjoy music, both listening to it and playing it as a hobby pianist, running, camping, and watching Pixar movies, especially alongside my partner, friends, and family. When folks ask me for advice, it often centers around navigating current political issues or, on the other hand, personal relationships. 

Anna Filippova (she/they)

I'm majoring in communications and political science, with plans to graduate in 2026. I am a part of the University of Denver's Programming Board as a Traditions Co-Chair this year, serve as DU Student Foundation's Vice President and currently work as a Tour Guide on campus as well! I recently just started a position as a student writer with University Relations too and will have my first story published about the quarter system fairly soon. This year I intend on taking the LSAT in June, and hopefully start applying for law schools in the fall of next year. 

I am interested in making jewelry and crafting outside of academics and extracurriculars! I am also always happy to speak about on-campus involvement, writing essays for the Gilman Scholarship or other study-abroad scholarships, and classes relating to my majors as well as socio-legal studies courses as that is my minor. 

Adeline Braun (she/her)

I'm majoring in economics and political science, with plans to graduate in 2026.  I am the current president of DU Club Climbing, and I love to climb competitively inside and for fun outside. I studied abroad in the fall of 2024 in Thailand through the ISDSI program, learning about community, culture, and ecology within the country. In the future, I plan to attend graduate school, and eventually work as an environmental and economic policy analyst. 

In my free time, I love to rock climb, travel, and play games. I would be happy to give anyone advice on where to rock climb in or near Denver. Within academics, I am knowledgeable in degree planning and course scheduling. Also, I would love share advice about studying abroad in Southeast Asia, or anything Thailand related. 

Halcyon Levi (she/her)

I’m an award-winning Cheyenne and Arapaho ledger artist, learning and carrying forward traditional styles while finding my own voice in the process. My work is deeply tied to history, storytelling, and making sure Indigenous representation is done the right way. As an anthropology major at DU, I’m also passionate about community work, repatriation, and education. I serve on the Sand Creek Massacre Foundation board, helping preserve and share the histories of my ancestors while supporting healing efforts. After graduation, I’m hoping to go to grad school, get some fieldwork experience with different communities, and work in education, finding ways to make history, research, and representation more ethical and community-centered! 

I love exploring art, museums, and the environment, especially how art connects to history and cultural storytelling. People often ask me about museum collections, history, and how to make research more community centered. I also care a lot about ecology and conservation, so I have a lot of conversations about environmental issues and how human actions shape the world. Whether it’s museum practices, rethinking research approaches, or learning more about how we interact with our environments, I love learning and sharing ideas! 

Annabella Brotherson (she/her)

As a jazz trumpet performance major and aspiring software developer, I am currently pursuing degrees in jazz studies and computer science at the University of Denver. Post-graduation, I aim to design software that enhances musicians' practice routines and supports students with ADHD in the classroom. My musical journey includes performing at significant events such as the Essentially Ellington Jazz Competition in 2019 and the Five Points Jazz Festival in 2019 and 2023. I have played at renowned venues like Boettcher Hall, Frederick P. Rose Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Dazzle, Nocturne, Nissi’s, and the Roots Music Project. I even performed with the Denver Young Artists Orchestra for many years, participated in the Rafael Mendez Brass Institute in 2017 and 2018, and I have played and toured with groups like the Colorado Brass. 

During the summers of 2022, 2023, and 2024, I conducted research at the University of Denver’s Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science. I aspire to obtain a tech internship in downtown Denver this summer. In addition to my musical and computer science pursuits, I work as a social media content creator for the Lamont School of Music (@du_lamont), promoting student and faculty performances, and solely managing the social media accounts for the jazz department (@jazzatdu) and the trumpet studio (@dutrumpets). In my spare time, I enjoy cooking with my mom, having long conversations with my partner, Zach, making fresh juice, taking walks, and visiting my family in Sincelejo, Colombia. 

Gavin Hood (he/him)

At DU, I’m majoring in psychology with plans to graduate in spring 2025. Beyond my studies, I work as a research assistant in the P.R.O.T.E.C.T. Lab, focusing on resilience research and early intervention against childhood adversity, and I am also a clinical intern at Children's Hospital Colorado. I'm a member of the Honors program and PLP leadership program. After graduation, I plan to take some time off to work as a research assistant, ultimately pursuing a PhD in clinical child psychology. 

I love hiking, camping, & generally being outdoors, painting & sketching, gardening & plant care. People tend to ask me for advice on difficult decisions, professional development, etc. 

Emily Perry (she/her)

I am currently double majoring in English and history with a minor in political science, and I'm a Public Good Scholar in Denver Urban Issues and Policy. I plan to graduate in spring 2025. On top of being a student at DU, I work as a legal assistant at Kitto Law, P.C., am President and a Team Captain of the Undergraduate Mock Trial team, and an Advocacy Champion for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation. I am in the process of writing my senior thesis on the agency of women journalists during the Nixon Administration after completing archival research at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. on a university-funded research grant. Additionally, I previously worked as a Peer Mentor and at the Colorado Supreme Court where I curated an exhibition on Native American tribes, which is currently displayed in the building's law library. Upon graduation, I will be attending law school. 

I am an avid reader, enjoy the outdoors and spending time with friends. Usually, people ask me advice on organization, time management, preparing for their careers, and solving problems both professionally and personally. 

Liz LaHood (she/her)

I am in my second year at DU, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in international studies and religious studies with a focus on human rights and global governance. In addition, I work as a research assistant for Dr. Ben Nourse in the DU Religious Studies Department, and have held a variety of retail and service positions since high school. I have been awarded various academic achievements, receiving awards such as the National Hispanic Recognition Award and the Kansas Silver Seal of Biliteracy in high school. I have also been on the Dean's List since starting at DU in Fall 2023. In addition to academic and work experience, I am a seasoned writer and have worked as both a staff writer and the Online Editor for my high school newspaper. At DU, I focus my energy on expanding my academic and personal interests through forms of proactive social engagement both on and off campus. After I graduate, I hope to join in the work of non-profit organizations like Slow Factory. 

In my free time, I am an avid reader and book collector, in addition to being an amateur artist. Having been involved in art classes and practices since pre-school, I find immense enjoyment in all forms of creation, dabbling in various forms of visual art and writing. My experience in writing for newspapers has also provided me with a talent for editing grammar and writing style, which I often use to help family and friends with their personal and academic writing. I am incredibly passionate about ideals of social equality and collective liberation, in addition to environmental ethics and the preservation of nature. 

Mary Willis (she/her)

I'm majoring in criminology and psychology, with minors in history and sociolegal studies. I plan to graduate in June 2025. I am currently President of the Club Women's Basketball team. I have worked every summer since my Junior year of high school at the same small town coffee shop, but I have also had various jobs on campus. I have worked in Financial Aid, as well as working closely with Professors in the Criminology/Sociology department as a Student Grading Assistant (basically an undergraduate TA) and as a Student Research Assistant (helping professors conduct their research). After graduation, I am either going to continue my education in a Graduate program, or continue on to law school.