Executive Heads
Noah Hertz // President
Noah Hertz is a third year student at Florida State University studying political science and international affairs. He is interested in current events, the political climate of the United States, and pop culture. In between homework assignments, Noah spends much of his time listening to podcasts, reading, and cooking. He also contributes to WVFS Tallahassee as News Director and a regular DJ.
Audrey Caraher // Editor-in-Chief
Audrey Caraher is in her third year at FSU studying Editing, Writing, and Media and Media Communications. She has a passion for journalism and works with Spire as an author, editor, and designer. She attends music festivals in her free time but hopes to one day join press teams for these events. Audrey practices yoga to balance out her hectic schedule which also includes volunteering her time mentoring middle school and high school students with Peace Jam.
Authors
Victoria Dominguez is a second-year student majoring in Public Relations and Editing, Writing, & Media. She has a passion for political journalism, the relationship between news media and the public, and music. When she’s not writing or in class, she’s reporting news at WVFS, baking, or trying to find a hidden gem at thrift store.
Emily Pacenti is a first year student at FSU, double majored in Political Science and Womens, Gender, and Sexuality Studies with a minor in communications. Emily has a passion for telling unique news stories and interns at United Press International, covering figure skating and entertainment. Her work has also been featured in The Palm Beach Post. In her spare time, Emily enjoys participating as a mentor for the Social Justice Living Learning Community and keeping up with Olympic sports.
Dani Brown // Former Editor-in-Chief
Dani Brown was born and raised in Tallahassee, Florida, and is currently a junior at FSU pursuing a degree in Editing, Writing, and Media. She serves as an author and editor for Spire Magazine, with particular interest in social dynamics involving gender, race, and children. She is also an active member of the Swing Dance Club at FSU, where she serves as a graphic design artist and marketing coordinator.
Karli Settimio is a graduate of Florida State University with a degree in English focusing on Editing, Writing, and Media. Her primary areas of interest concern pop culture and entertainment analysis with regard to her articles. She is currently a first-year law student at Lewis and Clark Law School with plans to pursue a long-term law career.
Madison Wilde is a senior at Florida State University studying Public Relations and Editing, Writing and Media. She has worked in communication roles for nonprofit and entertainment sectors. She is passion about sustainability, intersectional feminism, and media representation.
Spencer Parlier is a Senior at Florida State University majoring in Creative Writing and Media Communication Studies. He has been involved in the news and sports journalism world since he started at FSU, as he is currently the Chief News Anchor and a sports anchor at WVFS Tallahassee. Spencer has also previously worked as a reporter for Tallahassee’s NPR affiliate, WFSU.
Ursula Perano is an aspiring political journalist seeking to promote understanding and awareness in the public sphere. She will graduate from FSU in May 2019 with a bachelors degree in political science and communications studies, and hopes to join the writing staff of a daily online or print publication.
Ian Tramm is a senior studying English (creative writing) and Italian at Florida State University. He is a 22-year-old aspiring writer who hopes to break into the field of freelance travel journalism. In his free time, Tramm enjoys ironically likening himself to Hemingway, getting himself lost in new and exciting places, and pushing himself to shatter the boundaries of his comfort zone. In his immediate future, Tramm plans on enlisting in the Peace Corps to teach English in Southeast Asia.
Conor Willis is a senior studying Biology at Florida State University. He enjoys research into physical health and Filipino culture, and looks towards becoming a healthcare professional after graduation.
Contributors
Board
Carly Gillingham graduated from Florida State University double majoring in International Affairs and Political Science with a minor in English. As co-founder and former Editor-in-Chief of Spire, she has worked to develop the magazine since it’s inception to fill a gap in the world of student publishing on FSU’s campus and in digital spaces. She is a passionate Human Rights advocate who loves to travel to new places.
James Giovanni Novello is a graduate Florida State University with both a degree in Finance as well as a degree in Chinese Language & Culture. He has worked in advertising for three years in fields from publishing to politics, and completed a two-year-long thesis focused on Chinese-American business practices. His interests focus on finance, culture, and history.
Maggie May graduated from Florida State University majoring in Studio Art and International Affairs and minoring in Environmental Studies and the History of Science. As publicity coordinator for Amnesty International at Florida State she’s interested in human rights and environmental reporting. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Journalism.