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Allison Orellana-Deras

ALLSON ORELLANA-DERAS

Advance Team

Allison Orellana-Deras is a member of the Advance Team for the WYSE and WJMC summer programs. She is currently an undergraduate student at Virginia Tech pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture. She is on the executive board for Latin Link, a Latin Organization at VT and also a member of Pi Beta Phi. Outside of her studies and work, Allison enjoys practicing yoga, blasting music in her car, and thrifting.

ALLISON ORELLANA-DERAS

Advance Team

Allison Orellana-Deras is a member of the Advance Team for the WYSE and WJMC summer programs. She is currently an undergraduate student at Virginia Tech pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture. She is on the executive board for Latin Link, a Latin Organization at VT and also a member of Pi Beta Phi. Outside of her studies and work, Allison enjoys practicing yoga, blasting music in her car, and thrifting.

Joseph Colaianni

JOSEPH COLAIANNI

Advanced Team

Joey is a Junior at George Mason University with a major of Tourism and Event Management. He is also a member of the Chi Psi Fraternity on campus. He enjoys reading, writing, watching baseball, and going to the movies. After college he wants to be an event planner. 

JOSEPH COLAIANNI

Advanced Team

Joey is a Junior at George Mason University with a major of Tourism and Event Management. He is also a member of the Chi Psi Fraternity on campus. He enjoys reading, writing, watching baseball, and going to the movies. After college he wants to be an event planner.

Cassie Dornan

CASSIE DORNAN

Advanced Team

Cassie Dornan just finished her junior year at Elon University. She is majoring
in Strategic Communications with minors in Leadership Studies and American
Studies. She also works for Live Oak Communications, Elon’s student-run
marketing and advertising agency, which has further strengthened her passion
for the communications field. This summer will be her fifth summer attending
WSP and she couldn’t be more excited. Cassie is beyond thrilled to be a
member of the Advance Team and watch many students get the incredible
opportunities and connections WSP provides.

CASSIE DORNAN

Advanced Team

Cassie Dornan just finished her junior year at Elon University. She is majoring in Strategic Communications with minors in Leadership Studies and American Studies. She also works for Live Oak Communications, Elon’s student-run marketing and advertising agency, which has further strengthened her passion for the communications field. This summer will be her fifth summer attending WSP and she couldn’t be more excited. Cassie is beyond thrilled to be a member of the Advance Team and watch many students get the incredible 
opportunities and connections WSP provides.

Emma Miller

EMMA MILLER

Advance Team

Emma Miller is a current Events Team Intern for the Office of Admission at George Mason University. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and intends to earn her DNP in the nursing practice. Outside of her academics you’ll find her taking her dog on walks, doing pilates, or playing pickleball with friends. 

EMMA MILLER

Advance Team

Emma Miller is a current Events Team Intern for the Office of Admission at George Mason University. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and intends to earn her DNP in the nursing practice. Outside of her academics you’ll find her taking her dog on walks, doing pilates, or playing pickleball with friends. 

Amber Brown

AMBER BROWN

Advanced Team

Amber is a college sophomore from Portsmouth, Virginia. Amber attends the University of Alabama and is pursuing a degree in Social Work. She has attended the Washington Journalism and Media Conference (WJMC) as a correspondent, came back as an intern, and now is excited to work on the advance team! Her WJMC experience was one of the best experiences of her life and she loves to help create that experience for incoming Delegates at WYSE!

AMBER BROWN

Advanced Team

Amber is a college sophomore from Portsmouth, Virginia. Amber attends the University of Alabama and is pursuing a degree in Social Work. She has attended the Washington Journalism and Media Conference (WJMC) as a correspondent, came back as an intern, and now is excited to work on the advance team! Her WJMC experience was one of the best experiences of her life and she loves to help create that experience for incoming Delegates at WYSE!

Avi Kopec

AVI KOPEC

Advance Team

Avi is a rising junior at George Mason University pursuing a Computer Science degree with a Business minor. He grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he spent almost all of his free time playing hockey or golf. On campus, he is a part of Alpha Kappa Psi, the professional business fraternity. When he is done with his undergraduate career, he aims to pursue a master’s in software engineering. In his career, he hopes to find himself somewhere in the intersection of tech, business, and law.

AVI KOPEC

Advance Team

Avi is a rising junior at George Mason University pursuing a Computer Science degree with a Business minor. He grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he spent almost all of his free time playing hockey or golf. On campus, he is a part of Alpha Kappa Psi, the professional business fraternity. When he is done with his undergraduate career, he aims to pursue a master’s in software engineering. In his career, he hopes to find himself somewhere in the intersection of tech, business, and law.

Rachel Ickowitz

RACHEL ICKOWITZ

Advance Team

Rachel is a rising junior from Knoxville, Tennessee majoring in Sociology with a concentration in Inequality and Social Change at George Mason University. On campus, Rachel is involved in the University Scholars Program, the Next System Fellows Program, the Next Constitutions Research Lab, CHSS Ambassadors, Chi Omega Fraternity, Order of Omega, and the Sociology Ambassadors program. She also works as a Telecounselor for the Office of Admissions, supporting prospective students through the application process! After graduation, she plans to pursue graduate studies and is especially interested in advancing social change through the study and design of equitable systems.

RACHEL ICKOWITZ

Advance Team

Rachel is a rising junior from Knoxville, Tennessee majoring in Sociology with a concentration in Inequality and Social Change at George Mason University. On campus, Rachel is involved in the University Scholars Program, the Next System Fellows Program, the Next Constitutions Research Lab, CHSS Ambassadors, Chi Omega Fraternity, Order of Omega, and the Sociology Ambassadors program. She also works as a Telecounselor for the Office of Admissions, supporting prospective students through the application process! After graduation, she plans to pursue graduate studies and is especially interested in advancing social change through the study and design of equitable systems.

Halli Harwood

HALLI HARWOOD

Advance Team

Halli Harwood is excited to be a 2026 graduate of Elon University with a Bachelor of Arts in strategic communications and a minor in business administration. After attending WJMC in 2021, serving as an intern in 2022, yellow group’s JFA in 2024, and on the advance team last summer, Halli is excited to once again join the WSP staff as a member of the advance team. During her time at Elon, Halli served as assistant agency director of Live Oak Communications, Elon’s student run PR and advertising agency, as a School of Communications student ambassador, and has had her undergraduate research on the cruising industry published. In September, Halli is moving to Australia on a working holiday visa to work and travel Down Under for a few years!

HALLI HARWOOD

Advance Team

Halli Harwood is excited to be a 2026 graduate of Elon University with a Bachelor of Arts in strategic communications and a minor in business administration. After attending WJMC in 2021, serving as an intern in 2022, yellow group’s JFA in 2024, and on the advance team last summer, Halli is excited to once again join the WSP staff as a member of the advance team. During her time at Elon, Halli served as assistant agency director of Live Oak Communications, Elon’s student run PR and advertising agency, as a School of Communications student ambassador, and has had her undergraduate research on the cruising industry published. In September, Halli is moving to Australia on a working holiday visa to work and travel Down Under for a few years!

Sofia Cochis

SOFIA COCHIS

Advance Team

Sofia Cochis is the Event Coordinator in the Office of Admissions at George Mason University. In Spring 2024, Sofia earned her BA in Communication with a focus in Public Relations and Event Management at Virginia Tech. She is currently pursuing an MS in Management at George Mason University. On Sofia’s free time, she is likely on a hike, trying a new local coffee shop, playing trivia, or watching Hokie football and basketball games.

SOFIA COCHIS

Advance Team

Sofia Cochis is the Event Coordinator in the Office of Admissions at George Mason University. In Spring 2024, Sofia earned her BA in Communication with a focus in Public Relations and Event Management at Virginia Tech. She is currently pursuing an MS in Management at George Mason University. On Sofia’s free time, she is likely on a hike, trying a new local coffee shop, playing trivia, or watching Hokie football and basketball games.

Katelyn Verbosky

KATELYN VERBOSKY

Advance Team

Katelyn Verbosky is a member of the Advance Team for WYSE and WJMC this Summer. As a returning member to the Advance Team she is excited to be back. She is currently in nursing school working towards her RN license. Katelyn was previously on the George Mason’s Women’s Club Ice Hockey Team, and she still enjoys a good scrimmage game and ice skating. She also enjoys listening to music, fishing, painting, and going on hikes. 

KATELYN VERBOSKY

Advance Team

Katelyn Verbosky is a member of the Advance Team for WYSE and WJMC this Summer. As a returning member to the Advance Team she is excited to be back. She is currently in nursing school working towards her RN license. Katelyn was previously on the George Mason’s Women’s Club Ice Hockey Team, and she still enjoys a good scrimmage game and ice skating. She also enjoys listening to music, fishing, painting, and going on hikes.Â