Editor in Chief - Rebecca Gardner
I woke up today, and wanted a little more: A little more laughter, a little more freedom, a little more motivation to actually do something about it. But I also awoke to the lingering sensation of there not being quite enough: not quite enough time, not enough energy, not quite enough courage to act. And so I found myself in that space between being dissatisfied with the present moment and being too fearful to take a risk. It then occurred to me, that this has become my everyday. I justify my complacency with the false promise that tomorrow I will start doing what I really want to do. Yet everyday there is a tomorrow, so instead I have decided to begin today...
I’ve been out in the real world for a year now, and I find it a terrifying but exhilarating place. The bills I could do without, but I am inspired by my new found freedom and independence. I’m the kind of person who has too much to say on most subjects, so I figure, why not channel my overabundance of words and opinions into something meaningful. I manage to become passionate about things worthy of being deemed causes, as well as those best left alone. Some would call me charismatic, while others would lean more towards dramatic. I’ve lived all over the world, and now find myself in Detroit of all places because I landed a stellar job (ironic I know). So now, after majoring in Anthropology and Gender studies in undergrad, I am working as a strategy business analyst for a big four firm. This however, is just my day job. I spend the remainder of my painting, practicing yoga, writing, and dreaming of the day when this magazine will be more than just a hobby.
Chief of Design - Halle Murcek
As a writer, I know most of what comes out on paper is from life experience, but too infrequently, our own because we do not believe our lives, or who we are as people, as women, are interesting enough. I want to change that...
I'm 23 years old, graduated from a small but rigorous liberal arts college in Ohio and now have a B.A. in creative writing but also have been known dabble in photography as well. The world is my lens. I stay active and find refuge in my yoga mat. My passion is gourmet food. I dance alone when I am getting ready for work and will be the first one on the dance floor when I'm out at night. I used to be a synchronized swimmer, love the water and wish I could travel more. My nights are spent in the bustle of a top rated Detroit restaurant and though I am immersed in the culinary gloriousness that I so love, this publication will give me the best of both worlds: a chance to show women they are more than fashion, beauty and pop culture. We are complex, complicated and eccentric creatures that can be refined and messy, classy and edgy and everything in between.
Executive Editor - Amanda Shuck
Since graduating last year, I have been constantly re-evaluating my understanding of 'success' and happiness. This has necessitated taking a step away from cultural and social expectation to actually define these ideas for myself. Since my move to San Francisco in June, I have been searching for a healthy balance between adulthood, responsibility, and taking the right steps for a secure future versus doing what makes me momentarily happy.
I'm currently interning with a development nonprofit in San Francisco called Foundation for Sustainable Development. I love the work FSD is doing and would love to stay in the international development field. San Francisco continues to captivate me, mainly for the diversity, non-judgemental atmosphere, expressions of individualism, and fun activities it offers. I am thankful for my Kentucky roots but am ready to explore California, the US, and the rest of the world for that matter, to find my right place.
Health and Wellness Director - Jenny Gardner
Growing up with a parent in the medical field, health was always a topic of discussion at the dinner table. I have developed an increased awareness of what it really means to be a healthy woman, and I believe that all of us radiate beauty when we feel healthy from the inside out. As a psychology major at Xavier University, I am particularly interested in emotional wellbeing, and how the condition of our bodies is a reflection of our state of mind.
I am happiest when I am active, and I keep my body busy through jogging and yoga. My yoga practice began four years ago in basic Hatha yoga classes at the local gym, and has increased to regularly practicing the Ashtanga and Bikram forms. I have also begun leading yoga sessions with small groups at Xavier.
As much as I enjoy being active, it has been a constant struggle for me. After getting serious stress fractures in both of my legs from soccer my sophomore year of high school and reinjuring them in track, I was forced to face the reality that competitive sports were no longer an option for me. Although this setback was difficult, it presented the opportunity for me to experiment with forms of exercise I may never have considered. Through all of this, I have learned to listen to my body, and find the activities that make me feel healthy and happy.
Travel and Entertainment Director - Emily Ferguson
Saint Augustine said that The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. At this point, I have read at least several novels. I’ve been to Ecuador, Indonesia, Egypt, Mexico, France, Switzerland, Morocco, Germany, England, India, China, Japan and London, where I now reside.
I prefer to wander off the beaten path, and am captivated by the experiences I discover there: the music, the high getting lost in the labyrinth of the Marrakech and Cairo markets. The smell of food and incense and tea. Sunsets over foreign skylines…
Aside from traveling, I am addicted to Bikram yoga, and have found consistency in the practice amidst my rather chaotic lifestyle. I can also be found sipping cappuccinos, listening to live indie, blues and jazz, reading The Economist, but most likely working on my dissertation on international law and sex trafficking. I hope to eventually work for an anti-trafficking NGO and (god-willing) the United Nations. In the meantime, I hope to give you some inspiration to get a little lost on the road less traveled.
