Executive Heads
Emily Pacenti // Editor-in-Chief, President
Emily Pacenti is a second year student at FSU pursuing a dual degree with majors in Political Science and Womens, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and minors in Child Development and Sociology. Emily was first published in the Canon Future Authors program, which printed 5 of her short stories over the span of her years in the program that trained her in creative writing and editing. Emily has also been featured in The Palm Beach Post, as both a subject and as an editorial writer in addition to spending time as a sports and entertainment intern for United Press International. Emily enjoys writing about current issues from the perspective of gender and covering local politics.
Alanna Felton // Vice President
Alanna Felton is a second-year student at FSU studying creative writing and history. In addition to writing for Spire, Alanna is an Arts & Culture writer for the FSView and a contributor to Shelf-Awareness newsletter. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, rewatching Studio Ghibli movies, listening to podcasts about politics, and fighting the patriarchy.
Authors/Copy-Editors
Victoria Dominguez // Editor
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.
Aoife is a first year student at FSU pursuing a degree in psychology with a minor in literature. She has a passion for education and seeks to understand the role psychology plays in our society through research and journalism. In her free time, you can find Aoife drawing, painting, or reading a good book.
Kendall Cooper is our resident master of “Bops and Flops,” our monthly music review of new releases, among other editorial pieces. She also assists in helping other writers plan and edit their pieces prior to publication. In her free time, you can find Kendall catching up on all the latest hits.
Authors
Noelle Knowlton is a first year student at FSU pursuing a dual degree in international affairs and editing, writing, and media. She enjoys writing political commentary and advocating for international issues, while promoting mental health awareness. As an aspiring foreign correspondent, she hopes to amplify marginalized perspectives and serve as a vehicle for conflict transformation. She champions the Washington Post’s slogan, “democracy dies in darkness.”
Kirstin Soper is a second year student at FSU studying psychology and creative writing. She focuses on entertainment pieces but enjoys a variety of journalism. When she’s not writing for Spire, she can be found writing creatively or reading the latest Stephen King novel.
Megan Schanker is an FSU student, class of 2023, majoring in media communications with a minor in museum studies. She is interested in writing on a variety of topics and hopes her articles will have an impact on the people who read them.
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.
Kit Jones
Contributors
Founders
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 worked to develop the magazine to fill a gap in the world of student publishing on FSU’s campus and in digital spaces.
James Giovanni Novello graduated from Florida State University with both a degree in Finance as well as a degree in Chinese Language & Culture. He 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. As co-founder and former president, his interests focused 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. She served as publicity coordinator for Amnesty International at Florida State, interested in human rights and environmental reporting, as well as for Spire Magazine. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Journalism.
Alumni
Noah HertzNoah Hertz is a recent graduate of Florida State University in political science and international affairs who joined Spire early in its life and helped establish it as a student organization. Noah served as president to Spire.
Audrey CaraherAudrey 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. Audrey served as an editor-in-chief to Spire.
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 served 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.