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

(2028)

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

(2028)

Keya Soni Chaudhuri

Learning Sciences and Journalism (2027)

I am a second-year from Los Angeles studying Human Development in Context and Journalism with a minor in Spanish (also on a teaching track!). I love making, looking at, and talking about art— it is everything to me. LACMA, a museum in LA, has a special place in my heart. I adore spending time at the Block and other museums because they are such intentional spaces of reflection-- my favorite kind of “Third Space." I’m so excited to be a part of the BMSA program and look forward to growing and building community this year!

Renato de Souza Cardoso Leite

(2026)

Sam Habashy

Journalism and International Studies (2026)

I am a junior from Dallas, Texas studying Journalism and International Studies, and I am so excited for what's in store as a Student Associate at The Block this year! I discovered The Block Museum after attending a documentary screening last winter and I was drawn in by the Block's ability to inspire and connect with the Northwestern community and beyond. I am privileged to be part of a unique platform engaging with a multitude of voices and experiences and hope to seek out the hidden histories that shape our stories. I find especially fascinating the cross between art and religion, and what that looks like when sacred spaces are reimagined as galleries or when galleries take on a sacred atmosphere, sometimes even challenging our preconceptions about religious boundaries. I'm thrilled about the opportunity to grow and learn alongside other student associates!

Symone Harris

Social Policy (2026)

I am a junior 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 Asian Languages & Cultures (2027)

My name is Ashley Kim and I’m a sophomore studying Journalism. I grew up in Hong Kong, New York and Philadelphia, all of which are home to some incredible art museums. I’ve always sought to explore new cultures and better understand my own through art, museums have been a happy place throughout my life where one can do just that. As a new student at Northwestern, the Block was one of the first places that felt like home, and I’m thrilled to be part of this team bringing art to life on campus!

Isaac Lageschulte

Anthropology (2027)

I’m currently a sophomore 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 sophomore 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

(2028)

Leila Murray

(2028)

Aranza Noriega Blondet

(2027)

Vanya Saksena

Economics and Global Health Studies (2027)

My name is Vanya Saksena, and I am a sophomore 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 junior 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

(2026)

Tyree Walton

Environmental Sciences (2027)

I am a Sophomore 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

(2027)