Coterminal M.A. Students
Ocheze Amuzie
Ocheze is a Media Studies coterm student advised by Jeff Hancock.
Katie Baik
Katie Baik is a Communication masters’ student, pursuing her degree in the Media Studies track. She earned her B.A. in Political Science from Stanford University, where she worked as a research assistant at the Deliberative Democracy Lab and served as the Executive Director of Cardinal Ballet Company. Outside of the classroom, Katie has worked on environmental justice and offshore wind policy as an EPIC Fellow at the California State Lands Commission and worked as a legal volunteer at Bay Area Legal Aid. In her free time, Katie enjoys taking dance classes, hiking, and exploring New York City’s performing arts scene.
Lyle Belger
Lyle Belger is a master's student pursuing her degree in the Media Studies track. She earned an undergraduate degree from Stanford in Psychology and is planning to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. As an undergrad, she spent her time as a peer counselor at The Bridge, the lead vocalist in a student band, a coach for Stanford Habla, and a research assistant at the Virtual Human Interaction Lab. Through her Master's study, she plans to continue that work, specifically focusing on how virtual reality can assist in mental health training protocols.
Brooke Besikof
Brooke Besikof is a master’s student in Communication and Media at Stanford University, where she studies how Artificial Intelligence is reshaping the future of storytelling across film, television, and digital platforms. With an undergraduate degree in Science, Technology, and Society, she brings an interdisciplinary lens to exploring the cultural and creative impacts of technology. Outside the classroom, Brooke is passionate about musical theater, baking, traveling, and staying active.
Nadia Chung
Nadia Chung is a senior at Stanford University, jointly pursuing a B.A. in Political Science and an M.A. in Communication. Her research focuses on political polarization and the dynamics that shape democratic life. In her free time, she enjoys classical ballet (both watching and dancing), trying new coffee orders, and exploring vintage shops with friends.
Joanne DePierre
Joanne dePierre is a co-terminal master’s student in the Media Studies track at Stanford University, where she also earned her undergraduate degrees in Management Science & Engineering and Spanish. She currently works at the Stanford Social Media Lab, where her research explores the “highlight reel effect”—how athletes’ social media content shapes public perceptions of both their athletic performance and personal identity. Her work investigates the tension between humanizing personal storytelling and the dehumanizing nature of highlight-driven content. As an undergrad, Joanne held leadership roles at The Stanford Daily and KZSU 90.1 FM, where she served as Sports Director and broadcaster. Outside of her academic work, she enjoys DJing, going to concerts, running, and reflecting on how media shapes identity, connection, and community.
Viva Donohoe
Viva Donohoe is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Communications on the Media Studies track. As an undergraduate at Stanford, she majored in American Studies with a concentration in Silicon Valley’s cultural and intellectual history—a focus she will continue in her graduate studies. Her interests include 1960s techno-utopianism, early internet culture, the surveillance economy, and contemporary AI-driven philosophies.
Alondra Martinez
Alondra Martinez is a senior at Stanford University, where she is pursuing her M.A. in Media Studies and a B.A. in Political Science. She is interested in how social media is used in U.S. politics. In her free time, Alondra loves going to concerts, trying new coffee shops, and spending time with friends and family.
Isabella Pistaferri
Isabella Pistaferri is a master’s student in the Communications and Media Studies program under the co-advising of Professors Fred Turner (Communications) and Robert Proctor (History). She completed her undergraduate degree in American Studies with a concentration in Popular Media and Societal Power Dynamics, alongside double minors in Human Rights and Psychology. Her research focuses on the cultural and historical intersections of media and technology. Building upon her undergraduate honors thesis “The Tobacco Industry is Ripe for Innovation: The Rise of Big Tech and the Consequent Revival of Big Tobacco, a Case Study of JUUL Labs,” her Master’s research examines the recent introduction of “smart vaporizers,” which resemble—or even attempt to replace—smartphone devices. By analyzing this twenty-first century communication-smoking technology hybrid, Isabella’s research highlights how “smart vaporizers” embody the digitization of industry and corporate reliance on surveillance and limbic capitalism in the Digital Age, as well as the ways in which technology design often profits from human vulnerabilities.
Rita Shuster
Rita Shuster is a member of Stanford’s Class of 2026 pursuing her B.A. in Political Science and M.A. in Communication. As a Research Assistant at Stanford’s Deliberative Democracy Lab under the guidance of Professor James Fishkin, Rita is most interested in macroeconomic policymaking and the global impact of AI. Originally from Miami, Florida, Rita enjoys running, skiing, and traveling.
Mobina Sotoudeh Riazi
Mobina Riazi graduated with a B.A. in Political Science from Stanford University in Spring 2025, with a concentration in Political Economy and Data Science, and a minor in Iranian Studies. During her undergraduate studies, she developed a strong interest in the evolving media landscape at the intersection of technology, policy, and culture. This interest shaped both her academic research and professional experiences as an Open-Source Investigator and Data Journalist. Her research leverages computational methods to explore the intersections of ethics, technology, domestic policy, and international security. Her master's thesis, Digital Morality Police, employs web-scraping tools to analyze misinformation disseminated by the Iranian government, offering policy recommendations to improve Meta’s Community Guidelines in relation to freedom of expression and religious propaganda.
Rebecca Trockel
Rebecca Trockel is a master’s student in the Media Studies track in the Stanford Communication Department. She earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology at Stanford, where she was awarded the J.E. Wallace Sterling Award for the top 25 graduating seniors in the School of Humanities and Sciences. Rebecca was a transfer student to Stanford and, prior to matriculating, worked full time as a professional ballet dancer. This background shaped her interest in human behavior and appreciation for organizational dynamics. At Stanford, her work has explored behavioral science, organizational culture, and digital media, including qualitative research on physician wellness, mixed-methods research on psychological safety in professional ballet companies, and data-driven analyses of human behavior through mobile technology. Through her master’s studies, she plans to investigate the intersection of media, behavioral science, and communication strategies to drive positive social impact.
Kealia Victorino
Kealia Victorino is pursuing a B.S. in Engineering, Design, and an M.A. in Communications. Her background in ballet sparked a passion for human connection, inspiring her to design user-centered solutions that shape how people experience the world. In her graduate studies, she researches human behavior in media and applies these insights to imagine more meaningful ways of engaging with technology. Outside of academics, she dances with the Cardinal Ballet Company and runs a small business selling architectural prints of her favorite places around the world.
Nate Viotti
Nate Viotti is a student at Stanford University, jointly pursuing a master’s degree in Communication and a bachelor’s degree in International Relations. His research and coursework focus on comparative media policy and media economics, with his thesis analyzing interventions addressing the local journalism crisis across the United States and European Union. Nate has a background in research, policy analysis, journalism, and design, having worked for the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. House of Representatives, and various nonprofits and companies. He has lived and studied in France, Italy, and Jordan, and loves to travel and explore new cuisines in his free time.