MASTHEAD
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Alyson Brown
COPY CHIEF
Salma Diaz
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Emile Gutierrez
EDITORIAL BOARD
Cherry Leung Huiying
Mia Chajon
Aria Hokedski
Jayden Berrios
Yvens Cantave
Sharon Chen
FACULTY ADVISOR
Amy Baily
ALYSON BROWN is the editor-in-chief of REFRACT. She is a journalism major at Baruch. In her free time, she enjoys writing poetry, watching old movies, and catching up with friends. Although she has no immediate plans after Baruch, she hopes to one day have her own program on PBS.
SALMA DIAZ is the copy chief of REFRACT. She is a political science and journalism double major with a minor in philosophy. When she is not huddled in bed reading a fantasy novel, she is wandering the aisles of a supermarket thinking of what dish to whip up next. She also loves having deep conversations over a bowl of piping hot ramen. Through REFRACT, she aims to strengthen her writing and editing skills with the hopes of entering the publishing industry post-grad.
EMILE GUTIERREZ (he/him) is the creative director of REFRACT. He is studying marketing. His commitment to preserving the arts fuels his graphic and literary works. Emile’s favorite graphic novel is Pinky & Pepper Forever and his favorite film is A Streetcar Named Desire. He aims to graduate from digital commissions and distribute his artwork physically through zine festivals or vendor markets. It’s been his biggest dream to see Arca live.
CHERRY LEUNG HUIYING (she/he) is a senior studying psychopathology and neurodiversity, and critical theory and literature at Macaulay Honors/CUNYBA. An alum of the 2025 CLS Japan and Baruch’s NSF-REU psychology programs, and the spring 2025 publishing intern for Astra House, Cherry’s passions stretch vastly from nine-hour karaoke sessions to greedy psychoanalytic indulgence. She also serves up a mean dish of sukiyaki, loves her fish tank, and owes her fire to her Mah-mah.
Currently, she is writing her first novel as her honors thesis. One day, she plans to get an M.F.A. and another nebulous graduate degree to continue studying some facet of humanity. And join a ballroom house.
MIA CHAJON is a Sophomore at Baruch majoring in English Literature. Her goal is to be a professional writer.
ARIA HOKEDSKI (He/Him/Them) is an undergraduate Accounting BBA major at Baruch. He is studying his way into becoming an accountant and getting his CPA certification. In his free time, he loves creating art, whether that be digital art, clay sculpting, painting, or other art mediums. He also loves music, almost always rocking headphones, on besides conversations. Although he is still uncertain about what industry he will be pursuing, he knows that despite the endless spreadsheets, he will always have a love for the arts. Calculations in the brain, but creativity in the heart.
JAYDEN BERRIOS
YVENS CANTAVE is a senior majoring in political science. Some of his hobbies include doomscrolling on social media, if that can be considered a hobby. He loves sports, specifically soccer. His favorite teams are Arsenal and Real Madrid, but I’ll root for Madrid if they face each other. He hopes to work for a nonprofit or NGO that does important work to help people around the world.
SHARON CHEN is an undergraduate history student. She likes to draw, debate, do philosophy, and learn about new cultures. She likes to help other people, whether that's with homework, editing pieces on Refract, or doing advocacy work. She hopes to go to law school and become a lawyer to let people know their rights.
AMY BAILY is REFRACT’s faculty advisor. Department of English. Amy.Baily@baruch.cuny.edu