Coterminal M.A. Students
Jinny Akkartatta
Jinny Akkaratatta is a Communication Master's student in the Media Studies track at Stanford University, where she also earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology. Her academic interests center on crisis communications, PR strategies, public speaking coaching, and she plans to continue that research during her coterm, with a particular focus on executive media training. Outside the classroom, Jinny has worked in communications coaching and media training and serves as an Oral Communications Tutor at Stanford's Hume Center. Outside of academics, she enjoys working with children, having spent time at nursery schools and volunteering as an English teacher.
Elijah Anderson
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.
Leila Cader
Leila Cader is jointly pursuing her M.A. in Media Studies and a B.A. in Classics. She is advised by Jeff Hancock, and she is primarily interested in representations of the idealized ancient world as digital shorthand and political propaganda. Outside of class, she likes to listen to music, travel to new places, and dog-watch.
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.
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.
Chantal Eiwanger
Chantal Eiwanger is a master’s student in the Media Studies track in the Stanford Communication Department. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Communication at Stanford, where she was a student-athlete on the varsity field hockey team and a research assistant at the Stanford Social Media Lab. Her academic interests lie at the intersection of sports, media, and business, and she plans to pursue a career in the sports industry. Through her master’s studies, she examines the impact of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) on college athletics, with a particular focus on how its implementation has reinforced or challenged pre-existing structural inequalities and the extent to which social media can serve as a tool for personal branding and visibility.
Sebastian Esteva
Sebastian Esteva is a master’s student pursuing his degree in the Media Studies track. He brings a deep technical background from his undergraduate degree in Biomechanical Engineering at Stanford and a lifelong love of working across disciplines; from being a founding member and leader at the Explore Energy house, to being a regular face at the law school, to spending his free time in maker spaces building things and the communities around them. Through his studies at the Virtual Human Interaction Lab, he is investigating the magic ingredients that make people feel truly present in virtual reality: what role degrees of freedom, display fidelity, and other technology variables play in shaping that sense of spatial presence. Website: sesteva.com
Jacqueline Fernandes
Samuel Garewal
Arshya Gaur
Arshya Gaur is a Master’s student concentrating in Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence and Media Studies. Her research focuses on the effects of AI on the economy and society. Arshya’s Master’s thesis, under Professor Jeff Hancock, builds upon prior work by economists and social psychologists who have theorized about the impact of AI use in the workplace. Specifically, her thesis conducts a longitudinal analysis of the performance outcomes of Fortune 500 companies based on whether they frame their AI-use policies as augmenting or automating workflows. Outside of research, Arshya is passionate about responsible technology and product policy, interests she has pursued as a Tech Ethics and Policy Fellow at Stanford HAI and through presenting a product policy brief to OpenAI.
Lauren Green
Lauren Green is a master’s student pursuing her degree in the Media Studies track. She is finishing her undergraduate degree in Design (Physical Manufacturing) from Stanford's School of Engineering, and hopes to pursue a career within sports and product creation. As an undergraduate, she was a four-year letter winner with the Stanford Women's Basketball team, walking-on her freshman season, and earning a full ride scholarship for sophomore year through senior year. Outside of school and sport, Lauren is passionate about reading and creating artwork.
Laresa Hester
Laresa Hester recently graduated from Stanford with a degree in Communications and is continuing on through the coterm program to pursue a master's degree in Communications on the Media Studies track. Her academic and research interests focus on how changes to Instagram affect user experience and self-presentation, particularly how people curate their identities and interact in digital spaces and how it has reshaped communication, culture, and society today.
Lauren Koong
Lauren Koong is a master’s student in communication and media studies, with a background in research, journalism, and policy analysis. Her current research is centered around the role of media in shaping political polarization and its impact on democratic life.
Sophia Majat
Sophia Mijat is a co-terminal master’s student in the Media Studies track at Stanford University, where she also earned her undergraduate degree in Communication with a minor in Psychology. She currently works as a Strategy and Operations Associate for a telehealth consulting company, where she supports project planning, improves internal processes, and develops resources that help clients navigate an evolving media, healthcare, and technological landscape. Her academic work investigates the psychological effects of early social media use on adolescent identity development, with a focus on how digital environments shape self-perception, belonging, and social development. With a background in media, psychology, consulting, and business operations, Sophia hopes to bridge research and practice by helping organizations create more thoughtful, efficient, and human-centered digital experiences. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys musical theatre, singing, traveling, spending time by the ocean, and staying active.
Bazzy Schultz
Bazzy Schultz is pursuing his M.A. in Communications under the Media Studies track. He graduated in 2026 with a B.S. in Political Science, where his research focused on polarization, protest, and political socialization, particularly through the lens of social media. His most recent work looked at the impact of two Scottish football (soccer) clubs, Celtic and Rangers, on the political attitudes and actions of their fans through socialization, “game-day symbolism", and institutions. Outside of the classroom, Bazzy has served as President of Club Soccer, founded Club Beach Volleyball, and is a leader in the Haas Center’s Leadership, Organization, and Action fellowship.
Bridget Steubner
Bridget Stuebner is pursuing an MA in Communication (Media Studies) at Stanford University. She earned her BA in English with a minor in Communication from Stanford, where she worked in the Social Media Lab under Professor Jeff Hancock. She is excited to continue her research there. As an undergraduate, Bridget served as a Reunion Homecoming Team Lead, a Bing Overseas Studies Ambassador for the Stanford in Oxford program, a KZSU student broadcaster, and an intramural volleyball player. Over the past three summers, she has worked in marketing at NVIDIA, most recently in a content marketing role. In her free time, Bridget enjoys reading, writing, listening to music, traveling, exploring coffee shops, and spending time with family and friends.
Sawyer Williams
Sawyer Williams is a master's student pursuing their degree in the Media Studies track. They earned an undergraduate degree from Stanford in Political Science while also working as a professional actor. As an undergrad, they spent time working at the Clayman Institute for Gender Research. Through their Master's study, they plan to build on this work by collaborating with the Deliberative Democracy Lab to focus on political communication and public deliberation.
