2022 Student Inductees
The Phi Beta Kappa Society’s Omega of California chapter at Loyola Marymount University inducted the following students in 2022:
Anushka Brito, an International Relations major and Physics minor, has served as the Events Coordinator and Vice President of LMU’s Mock Trial Association and Special Projects Chair for the Belles Service Organization. She works at LMU’s Global Policy Institute, researching and writing on LGBTQ+ politicians and conducts research at the Fluids of Astrophysical Bodies Laboratory, exploring the movements of the sub-surface oceans on Jupiter’s moon Europa. Brito has been a Field Manager and Research Fellow for a US congressional campaign and a summer middle school teacher. Following graduation, she plans to work in space policy.
Grace Bruess, a Biology and Spanish double major, is a member of the University Honors Program; Beta Beta Beta, the national biological honor society; Sigma Xi, the scientific research honors society; Order of Omega, a leadership honor society for members of Fraternity and Sorority organizations; and Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for women. Her collaborative research with faculty and students examining the effect of pollution on morphology of vertebrates has been presented twice at the LMU Undergraduate Research Symposium and will be featured at the West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference. Bruess has served as Vice President of Internal Affairs for the Collegiate Panhellenic Council, Vice President of Operations for Pi Beta Phi, a teaching assistant for the Chemistry department, and student manager of LMU’s COVID testing center. Currently, Bruess is applying to medical school, with interests in oncology and neurology.
Michaela Cahill, an English major with minors in Political Science and Spanish, is a member of the University Honors Program. She has worked as a Research Assistant in the Political Science Department, an Introduction to Honors Teaching Assistant, a supervisor at the LMU Recreation Center, and a Student Athlete Peer Tutor. Cahill has also presented at the Undergraduate Research Symposium and regularly volunteers at the LMU Food Pantry. After graduation, she plans to further her education, become a published poet and author, and explore careers as a writer, editor, and teacher.
Liam FitzGerald, a Psychology major with a minor in Philosophy, is a member of the University Honors Program and Psi Chi, the International Psychology honor society. He is a recipient of the Pedro Arrupe for Leadership, University Hill, Edgar D. Cahn, and Williamson scholarships. FitzGerald is an active member of the LMU Campus Ministry; volunteers at Casa de los Angelitos, a home for unhoused pregnant women; and served as a summer volunteer implementing intervention strategies for children with developmental disabilities. A holder of an green belt in Aikido and student of Latin and Japanese, he has worked as a tutor and research assistant for the Psychology Department. Following graduation, FitzGerald plans to pursue a doctorate in neuroscience.
Daisy Huerta, a Biology major and Spanish minor, is a member and class representative for Beta Beta Beta, the national biological honor society; serves as president of LMU’s chapter of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars; and volunteers regularly as a member of the Belles service organization. She is also a Teaching Assistant in organic chemistry and a COPE Health Scholar and Assistant Director of Departments for the program, providing clinical healthcare to underserved communities at Adventist Health White Memorial Hospital. Huerta’s research focuses on the history of and potential inaccuracies correlating to racial bias in pulse oximetry. Following graduation, she plans to attend medical school.
Ashley Leroi, an International Relations major with minors in Italian and Business Administration, has served as Vice President of Membership for the Esperér Service Organization; President of LMU’s chapter of Sigma Iota Rho, the International Studies honor society; and senator for the Associated Students of LMU. She has volunteered with nonprofit organizations including the Venice Learning Garden, Metro Denver Partners, Food on Foot, and Institute for Global Dialogue in South Africa, and traveled to Morocco on an alternative break trip for work with Sub-Saharan refugees. Leroi has participated in the LMU’s Undergraduate Research Program and is completing an honors thesis on the reintegration of former child soldiers, which she will present at the Midwest Political Science Association conference. Following graduation, Leroi plans to serve as a Jesuit volunteer working with one of the 176 partner agencies around the United States.
Michael Liu, a Biology major and Biochemistry minor, is a member of Alpha Sigma Nu, recipient of the Arrupe Scholarship for leadership and academics and the Heinz Family Endowed Community Scholars Award, and former president and vice president of service and social justice for Magis, a service organization. During the peak of the pandemic, Michael led a project to distribute hygiene kits to the unhoused and delivered public health talks about COVID-19 safety protocols at a Hollywood food pantry. In his senior year, Liu led a team to a Tijuana refugee center where they distributed COVID-19 hygiene kits, organized a children’s program, and provided free medical care. Recently, Liu presented his research on resilience and depression between first-generation and non-first-generation college students at LMU’s Undergraduate Research Symposium. He is graduating summa cum laude and will be relocating to Maryland as a recipient of a two-year National Institute of Health Postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award. Afterward, Liu plans to attend medical school and work as a clinician-researcher to underserved populations.
Lily Maddox, a Modern Languages and Environmental Studies double major, Psychology minor, and member of the University Honors Program, serves as a Residence Hall Association Service and Recognition Chair and performs outreach as a member of the Radix Dance Team. She has completed a restoration internship at Friends of Ballona Wetlands and a virtual Alternative Breaks trip focusing on women's rights and climate justice in El Salvador. Maddox also conducts research for the Culver City Coyote Project with the LMU Center for Urban Resilience, which she plans to continue this summer as an Independent Undergraduate Research Fellow.
Tessa Muller, a Political Science major with minors in Economics, Italian, and International Relations, is a member of Alpha Sigma Nu, the Jesuit honor society; Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society; and Gamma Kappa Alpha, the national Italian honor society. She was also a semi-finalist in the 2021-22 Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Muller serves as a RAINS Research Assistant in the Political Science Department and President of LMU College Democrats, and was an intern for the LMU Institute for Leadership Studies. She will be graduating summa cum laude with department honors after just three years. Muller’s post-graduation plans include law school, with a focus on employment or immigration law.
Ayana O'Brien, an International Relations major with a minor in English, is a member of Sigma Iota Rho, the International Studies honor society. She has served as the Special Projects chair and is currently the President for the Belles Service Organization, a student-run organization focusing on issues of domestic violence. O’Brien works as an LMU Tour Guide and Orientation leader and has volunteered as a mentor to middle school students. Following graduation, she plans to continue creating spaces for marginalized voices as an author and policymaker.
Natalie Riddick, a History major with minors in International Relations and Dance, has served as Treasurer of the student club Theater in Color and is a member of the Ignatians Service Organization. She has worked as a Teaching Assistant for the History Department and is currently a Peer Leader for the Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts advising office. Beginning as a first-year student, Riddick has been involved with the Los Angeles Black Worker Center and UCLA's Center for the Advancement of Racial Equity at Work, advocating for equity and economic justice for Black workers in Los Angeles. Following graduation, she plans to pursue a career in community organizing and public policy.
Sara Saham, a Political Science major with minors in Spanish and Peace and Justice Studies, works as a student manager at the LMU Recreation Center. She volunteered for Francisco Homes, a halfway house, helping formerly-incarcerated residents transition back into society by teaching them how to use technology. Saham is currently awaiting admission decisions for attending law school next fall. Influenced by her social justice-oriented education, she plans to enter the field of Intellectual Property Law and address the needs for protecting the intellectual property of creators that arise with advances in technology.
Hannan Salam, a Psychology major, is a member of Psi Chi, the international psychology honor society. She serves as co-president of the Empower HER Club and is a flutist in the LMU Chamber Ensemble. Salam also works as a Lions for Learning tutor to elementary school students and a research assistant for the Psychology Applied Research Center. Following graduation, she plans to attend graduate school for clinical psychology or medical school.
Khushi Singh, a Biology and Spanish double major, is Director of Social Events for Gryphon Circle, an LMU service organization focusing on education as a social justice issue, through which she also volunteers at St. Columbkille Elementary School. She has worked as a RAINS Research Assistant for the Biology Department and is currently engaged in Biochemistry research focused on Type 2 Diabetes. Following graduation, Singh plans to attend medical school.
Ivana Small, a Biology major and Spanish minor, is a member of the Beta Beta Beta National Biological Honor Society, a recipient of the LMU Marshall Sauceda Rising Scholar Award, and a participant in the Seaver College Summer Opportunities for Advanced Research program. Her research projects include “Multiple Paternity in Broods of Trapdoor Spiders” and “Tree Swallow Nestling Growth Rates.” Small also tutors LAUSD elementary school students, focusing on marginalized populations, as a member of the LMU Creare Service Organization. Following graduation, she plans to attend medical school and pursue a career as a pediatrician.
Emil Sol, a Spanish major and Education minor is a member of Sigma Delta Pi, the national Hispanic honor society, and Alpha Alpha Alpha, the national honor society for First-Generation College Students. He participates in the Academic Community of Excellence and Ignacio Student Support Service programs. Sol has served as President of LMU’s chapter of Tri-Alpha; President of the Latinx Student Union; Vice President of Spirituality for the Magis Service Organization; Vice President of the El Espejo Mentoring Program; student leader for Borderlinks, a virtual alternative break tip; and, Lead Administrative Coordinator and Lead Peer Instructor for the First to Go Program. He is currently pursuing a California teaching credential in Spanish and is in his final semester of student teaching. Following graduation, Sol will return to LMU to pursue a Master of Arts in Educational Studies.
Malia Thornton, a Political Science major and Spanish minor, has worked as a Student Support and Student Involvement Specialist in LMU’s Student Leadership and Development Office and is the recipient of three LMU Student Service and Leadership awards. She is a member of the Belles Service Organization and has served as its President and Vice President. Thornton has presented her research on race and police-community relations at the Western Political Science Association and National Conference of Black Political Scientists and earlier this year presented her thesis, “Lifting as We Climb: Black Women's Activism and Generational Legacies,” at the Midwestern Political Science Association Conference. Following graduation, Thornton plans to work with grassroots community organizations as a legal assistant before applying to law school.
Comer Wadzeck, an English major and History major with concentrations in Global Economies, Encounters, & Exchange and Public & Applied History, has served as a head editor for Criterion, helping to digitize the journal and bring politically conscious works of undergraduate literary criticism to a wider audience. He has conducted research on the political and geographical history of the Port of Los Angeles, which he presented at LMU’s Undergraduate Research Symposium. Following graduation, Wadzeck plans to take a service-oriented gap year, then pursue graduate studies in Applied Linguistics or attend Law School.
Leland Wong, a Biochemistry major, is a member of Beta Theta Pi, a social fraternity; Alpha Sigma Nu, the Jesuit honor society; and Alpha Epsilon Delta, the national health preprofessional honor society. He has worked with LMU’s admissions office as a student ambassador and as a tutor in the biology and chemistry departments. Wong also participates in organic chemistry research synthesizing compounds that can be applied to a variety of fields. After graduation, he plans to attend medical school.
Announcement of the Alpha Association Graduate Study Award from the Phi Beta Kappa
Phi Beta Kappa member Elena Martinez (BS, Applied Mathematics and Computer Science) is the LMU recipient of the 2022 Alpha Association Graduate Study Award from the Phi Beta Kappa Alumni Association in Southern California.
Martinez was selected because of her extraordinary undergraduate record. She will be entering a Ph.D. program in Computational and Mathematical Engineering at Stanford University.