BLACK BOX LABS

Angie Collado (’25)

Angie Collado (she/her) is a Science in Society and Biology double major. She is interested in understanding the neural reward pathways in the presence of drugs and alcohol as well as genetic predispositions and consequences of addiction. She questions societal systems and culture that make marginalized communities more vulnerable to addiction and hopes to raise awareness of those issues. She aspires to explore methods of healing that can be available to those communities and plans to pursue her PhD focusing on this interdisciplinary project.

Darlene de la Cruz (’25)

Darlene De La Cruz (They/She) is an African American Studies and Sociology double major. They are interested in investigating in the (de)colonial encounters between Dominican Vudú, Afro-Latin Caribbean medicine and healing practice, and the emergence of Western biomedicine. At Wesleyan, Darlene is the co-editor-in-chief of a student of color publication called The Ankh and a member of the Wesleyan Softball team. After Wesleyan, they are considering pursuing further graduate study in public health and the social sciences.

Nettie Hitt (’25)

Nettie Hitt is an English and Science and Society double major at Wesleyan. They are interested in the datafication of art and identity, and the physical instantiations of digital information. Across various artistic mediums, Nettie plays with the visual representation of virtual data. After graduation, they hope to pursue a graduate degree, and continue to explore connections between art, nature, and STS.

Sarah Huang (’25)

Sarah Huang (’25) is a Science in Society major with a minor in East Asian Studies. She works as a Community Engagement Intern at the Resource Center and as a teaching assistant in the Center for Prison Education. She co-founded the Asian American Studies Working Group (AASWG), a student organization pressing for a robust Asian American Studies program at Wesleyan. After Wesleyan, she is interested in pursuing further graduate study in performance studies and affect theory. 

Andy Lisheng (’25)

Andy Lisheng is a College of Letters and Science in Society double major with a concentration in sociology and psychology. He is interested in the interstices of social science, literary criticism, and cultural theory, especially as it pertains to queer being, time, and theory. He looks to the mediation of technology and science as both a critique and hope, in searching for lines of flight and defiance for not just queer but also marginalized communities otherwise. Andy hopes to pursue a PhD in STS/English in the future.

Sofia Grossman (’26)

 Sofia Grossman is a sophomore from Los Angeles, California. She is a prospective psychology and Science in Society double major. She also plans to pursue a chemistry minor on the pre-med track. Sofia aspires to be either a pediatrician or a child psychiatrist. She is interested in the intersection of psychology and pediatric medicine. At Wesleyan, Sofia is involved with the club soccer team. She is also involved with Chabad, a space for Jewish students to attend holiday services and weekly shabbat dinners. 

Cayla Joftus (’26)

Cayla Joftus is a Sociology and French double major and is pursuing a certificate in Social, Cultural, and Critical Theory. They are interested in feminist, queer, of color, and disability theory and media analysis. Their interest in theory is rooted in discovery of new ways of knowing. Cayla is also active in the Wesleyan Jewish Community and is the House Manager for Sign Language House, in which they spread awareness of Deaf culture and promote disability accessibility on campus. Cayla is unsure about what exactly they want to do after graduation but would like to pursue further graduate study in knowledge production. 

Terrion Thirsty (’25)

Terrion Thirsty is a prospective double major in Science in Society and Biology. He is interested in facilitating the naturally curious and confident minds of youths as well as derestricting knowledge and the production of truth. As of now, he feels drawn toward the (formerly) incarcerated, military veterans, and the other non-traditionalists of the United States. People who have taken paths that do not always adhere to the logics of Western valuation. Terri believes that nourishing curiosity can lead to a more empathetic, patient, and productive society through mental expansion and existential reorientation.