Block Student Associates 2025-26

Block Student Associates serve as tour guides, public facilitators, peer-to-peer ambassadors for the museum on campus, and in-house student advisors for all levels of museum staff and our Board of Advisors.

They lead tours throughout the museum and engage our broad array of campus and community visitors in dynamic conversations about art and ideas that are relevant to our lives today. In addition to this public-facing role, Student Associates serve as key campus ambassadors for The Block and student advisors for all levels of museum staff and leadership, help to shape programming and projects at the museum, and learn more about museum practice through behind-the-scenes insights and experience.

Learn more about the program

Laurel Anderson

Environmental Engineering and Archaeology (2028)

I’m Laurel, a sophomore studying Environmental Engineering and Archaeology. I’m particularly fascinated by the intersections of art, craft, identity, and infrastructure and their impacts on larger social structure. This is my first year as a BMSA, and I’m very excited to enter the world of museum work and community engagement! In my free time, you can usually find me doing some form of craft – my favorites are bookbinding, basketry, and leather carving.

Ethan Bledsoe

Environmental Science (2026), BMSA Programs and Tours Coordinator

As someone who has always been passionate about the arts and its power to connect people, I am thrilled at the opportunity to join The Block. What excites me most is engaging with a diverse range of audiences and facilitating meaningful conversations about art and its relevance to our lives today. I am also thrilled about being part of a close-knit community of peer learners and supporters.

Lawrence Cai

Undeclared (2028)

I’m a sophomore with no declared major, still undecided about many things in my life—my interests, my beliefs, my identity, even what I’ll eat for dinner tonight. And I suspect I’ll keep postponing these decisions until there’s no time left for contemplation. That’s where art enters. The struggles and burdens we so often try to escape become, through art, creative forces—redeeming me again and again, pulling me forward along a path whose end I cannot yet see. When you’re struggling, when life feels heavy, simply act—do something, anything—because whatever emerges in that moment is already art.

Keya Soni Chaudhuri

Learning Sciences and Journalism (2027)

I’m a junior from Los Angeles studying Learning Sciences and Journalism with a minor in Spanish (also on a teaching track!) I love making, looking at, and talking about art. The Block is a magical place, and I adore spending time there and at all museums because they are such intentional spaces of reflection— my favorite kinds of “Third Spaces.” I admire the Block’s commitment to community and engaging diverse perspectives, and am so excited to be a part of the team that's helping shape it!

Renato de Souza Elisanio

Economics and International Studies (2026)

Originally from the Brazilian Northeast, art first came alive in my mind when, as a kid, I stepped into the Museu da Gente Sergipana (Museum of the People of Sergipe) and saw my people’s history expressed in mosaic, creative, and resilient ways. Shaped by this experience, my search for spaces to explore human fragilities and beauty (through its volatile meanings) became a constant throughout my journey. This path brought me to the BMSA program as a way to expand my beliefs and sense of sonder, to challenge the comfort imposed by college, and to give voice to whispers that were trapped in my mind.

Sam Habashy

Journalism and International Studies (2026)

I am a senior from Dallas, Texas studying Journalism and International Studies. I discovered The Block Museum after attending a documentary screening my sophomore winter, and I was drawn in by the Block's ability to inspire and connect with the Northwestern community and beyond. I love inviting in and listening to a multitude of voices at the Block to seek out the hidden histories that shape our stories!

Symone Harris

Social Policy (2026)

I am a senior from Atlanta, Georgia studying Human Development in Context on the pre-med track. Since the beginning of my freshman year at Northwestern University, I felt that The Block was a very special place, and I knew I had to be a part of it. As a Block Museum Student Associate, I am privileged to be part of a team in which we are able to further educate and stimulate conversations in our community about shared emotional and physical experiences through art.

Ashley Kim

Journalism and Art History (2027)

I discovered the Block as a first-year reporting on an art talk for a journalism class. I found every excuse to come back to the museum thereafter! The BMSA program is a wonderful community of faculty & peers across academic disciplines/specializations, and our conversations have indelibly shaped my passion for contemporary art. Outside the Block, I’m involved with Little Joe Ventures at The Garage, where I’m exploring entrepreneurship through art, technology and design.

Isaac Lageschulte

Anthropology (2027)

I’m currently a junior from NYC majoring in Cultural Anthropology, with a minor in music composition (and considering more!). I am a first-year BMSA and I am so excited to learn more about art preservation, visitor interactions with art, and visual art in general! I worked at the American Museum of Natural History last summer, and I cannot wait to experience the differences between art and science museums. Besides being a BMSA, I am in Northwestern’s Philharmonia orchestra and am on the club baseball team.

Faith Magiera

English Literature and Classics - Latin Concentration (2027)

My name is Faith Magiera and I am a junior studying English Lit and Classics, and I am so excited to be able to share my passion for the humanities with the Block community! I have always loved visiting museums, and after taking an Art History course my freshman year, I realized that the art world was another way in which I could find a greater understanding of other perspectives and continue to learn how to live a life filled with meaning. When I am not at the Block, I usually play Quizbowl or write for the Northwestern Undergraduate Law Journal.

Tori Montinola

English Literature and Legal Studies (2027)

My name is Tori Montinola, and I study English literature and legal studies, focusing on medieval manuscripts and writings. I’m also an international student from Manila, Philippines, so I’m quite far from home. I am incredibly excited to be working with The Block Museum here at Northwestern with many talented and passionate people who aren’t afraid to make that known. I’m a big fan of art exploring religion, revolution, and Biblical allegory, so my favorite artists are Francisco Goya, Hieronymus Bosch, and Gustave Dore.

Alexa Murphy

Political Science (2028)

I’m a sophomore from Sleepy Hollow, NY, majoring in Political Science and International Studies. Art is so important to me, and while I’m not too skilled at visual mediums (though I’m known to sketch from time to time…), I love to sing and write poetry. I also love admiring the collections at art museums like The Block, The Whitney, and Mexico City’s Museum of Anthropology, among other favorites. I feel extremely fortunate to contribute to conversations surrounding not just the physical appearance of art, but the central role of art in our daily lives, relationships, and communities. I feel more fortunate to have these conversations with such awesome people with such a diverse range of experiences, and I’m so excited to advise and learn from my peers over the course of this year.

Leila Murray

Manufacturing and Design Engineering (2028)

My name is Leila Murray, and I’m a sophomore from Ft.Lauderdale, Florida studying Manufacturing and Design Engineering. I believe art allows us to connect with others’ lived experiences while also deepening our understanding of ourselves, which is what drew me to the Block and the BMSA program. One of my favorite quotes by author and poet Ocean Vuong captures this feeling: “In a world as myriad as ours, the gaze is a singular act: to look at something is to fill your whole life with it, if only briefly.”

Aranza Noriega Blondet

Communication Studies (2027)

My name is Aranza Noriega, and I’m a junior studying Communication Studies with interests in entrepreneurship and design. I grew up in Lima, Peru, where I came to see art as a conversation that connects people and cultures. I love how art communicates beyond words, helping us share creativity and what it means to be human. At The Block, I’m excited to learn more about art and collections while experiencing the ways they spark dialogue and meaning in people’s lives.

Vanya Saksena

Economics and Global Health Studies (2027)

My name is Vanya Saksena, and I am a junior from Geneva, Switzerland, studying Economics and Global Health Studies with a minor in Chemistry. I visited the Block and heard about the BMSA program during the fall quarter of my freshman year, and since then I have been looking forward to becoming a part of the Block community! I have always loved the way museums utilize visual art and immersive experiences to educate and inspire their audience, and as a BMSA, I’m super excited to gain experience facilitating conversations about art, and introduce more NU students to the amazing exhibitions and events hosted by the Block.

Emily Shen

Economics and Political Science (2026)

I am a senior studying Economics and Political Science with the Business Institutions Minor. As a frequent museum visitor, art is more than color, light, and shadow to me; it carries history, conveys values, and influences generations. Being a part of the Block Museum team gives me the ability to serve as a bridge between artists, curators, and visitors. I look forward to the interactions with visitors when they are on tour with me as we ponder upon the meanings behind the creation and curation of the work in the exhibition, but also to weigh in on our own interpretations of the topics!

Lily Shen

Economics (2026)

My name is Lily Shen and I’m a senior studying economics from West Lafayette, Indiana. After being a frequent visitor to my local art museum back home, I wanted to get involved in the local arts scene at Northwestern. I’m super excited to be a part of the unique community that the Block facilitates. Outside of working at the Block, I love to hike, swim, and volunteer at Evanston and Chicago organizations.

Tyree Walton

Environmental Sciences (2027)

I am a junior from Columbus, Ohio studying Environmental Sciences and Data Science. As a student associate, I am excited to connect with the community through a shared interest and love of art. I look forward to facilitating and participating in conversations about art and learning about the museum's behind-the-scenes work!

Serina Wood

Anthropology and Native American and Indigenous Studies (2027)

I’m Serina Wood, a third year majoring in Anthropology and Native American and Indigenous Studies. I love learning about how culture, history, and storytelling shape the ways people see the world. Art and museums have always felt like meaningful spaces for me, places where reflection, memory, and imagination come together. The Block is especially special because it brings these conversations to life in such intentional ways. I’m excited to be part of the BMSA program this year, and I look forward to connecting with others, learning deeply, and building community together.