Meet the COM students to answer your questions — whether you’re considering COM or are already here.
Sophie Jin
- Hometown: Cresskill, NJ
- Class Year: 2024
- Major: Journalism
- Minor: Public Relations
- Extracurriculars: Associate Director, anchor, editor, and writer for WTBU, BUTV10 (The Wire) anchor, the Daily Free Press Podcast reporter & writer, the Buzz writer, BUmixx, KSA
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: There are so many activities and clubs to do on campus! You will be able to meet new people and have hands-on experiences. Don’t be hesitant to try out opportunities that are offered or interest you!
- Contact: sjin02@bu.edu / @sophieejin
Joseph Pohoryles
- Hometown: Rockville, MD
- Class Year: 2023
- Major: Journalism
- Extracurriculars: WTBU Sports, Boston Hockey Blog for The Daily Free Press, BUTV10, BU Running Club
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: It’s only cold outside if you think it’s cold (and time management skills are pretty important, too).
- Contact: jmpoho@bu.edu / @Joe_Poho
Anika Brahmbhatt
- Hometown: San Diego, CA
- Class Year: 2023
- Major: Media Science & Psychology (Kilachand Honors College)
- Extracurriculars: WTBU, Scarlet Speaker, Freelance health writer
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: How overwhelming Splash would be! Sign up for all the clubs you’re interested in, but don’t feel bad about prioritizing some over others later!
- Contact: anikabr@bu.edu / @anika.brhm
Evan Brown
- Hometown: Chicago, IL
- Class Year: 2023
- Major: Public Relations
- Minor: Public Health and Theatre
- Extracurriculars: BUTV10 Bay State (actor), BU On Broadway, Stage Troupe, WTBU, FYSOP, Arts Initiative Student Advisory Council
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: The possibilities are endless! There’s so much more to COM than just your major. From co-curriculars to internships and an amazing community, there will always be people supporting you wherever you go.
- Contact: egbrown@bu.edu / @evan.brwn01
Kaylee Chin
- Hometown: Westchester, NY
- Class Year: 2023
- Major: Film & Television
- Extracurriculars: BUTV10 (COED, Host of Pop Showdown!), WTBU Podcast, and writer for The BU Buzz
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: The limits of your comfort zone will be constantly pushed for the better. Everyone you meet will have something new and exciting to offer, so be open to absorbing it all. A campus that you’ve dreamt about and fought to be a part of, is only a few memories away from becoming a second home.
- Contact: kaychin@bu.edu / @kay.leec
Sophie Falkenheim
- Hometown: Arlington, Virginia
- Class Year: 2022
- Major: Film & Television
- Extracurriculars: BUTV10, WTBU (intern and podcast showrunner), Hillel
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: There are so many beautiful hidden places to study apart from Mugar! My personal favorites are the ninth floor of Kilachand, the Questrom Starbucks, the Law building, and the StuVi study lounge. Take the time to explore and find which ones suit you best (or which ones have the best view of the skyline).
- Contact: sfalkenh@bu.edu / @sophfalkenheim
Colbi Edmonds
- Hometown: San Antonio, TX
- Class Year: 2023
- Major: Journalism & Political Science
- Minor: African American Studies
- Extracurriculars: The Daily Free Press and BUTV10’s “The Wire”
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: COM has so many amazing organizations, programs and resources. Don’t be afraid to get involved and find the perfect fit for you!
- Contact: cedmonds@bu.edu / @colbiedmonds
Noah Lapid
- Hometown: Haddonfield, NJ
- Class Year: 2023
- Major: Film & TV
- Extracurriculars: The Redlist, COMSA, Half Asian Peoples Association
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: Utilize those resources! BU has a vast amount of resources for students that need help. From academics to mental health to career choices, there are people on campus who’s sole job is to help struggling students. Don’t hesitate to reach out!
- Contact: noahl01@bu.edu / @noahl01
Alyssa Winn
- Hometown: Holliston, MA
- Class Year: 2023
- Major: Film & TV
- Minors: Innovation & Entrepreneurship and History
- Extracurriculars: Student Food Rescue, BUTV10, Film & Television Representative for COM Student Government, Admissions Ambassador, Mentor for Strong Women, Strong Girls
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: Don’t be afraid to try something new. It’s okay if you have no experience-that’s what college is for! If you feel as if there is even a tiny part of you that’s ever wanted to learn something completely new, ignore that voice in the back of your head saying you can’t do it and TRY IT! Celebrate the little things that bring you small joys and successes. Find what brings you happiness and stick with it.
- Contact: alyssaw@bu.edu / @alyssaawinn
Sarah Klein
- Hometown: Sudbury, MA
- Class Year: 2024
- Major: Film & TV
- Extracurriculars: BUTV10, Math Tutoring
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: Confidence and self-advocacy will take you the furthest.
- Contact: klesr@bu.edu
Jazzy Gray
- Hometown: Elk River, MN
- Class Year: 2023
- Major: Journalism and Public Relations
- Extracurriculars: Her Campus, The COMmunicator, Ambassador for the Center for Career Development & Educational Resource Center
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: It’s totally okay to say “no.” Learning how — and when — to say no is a practice in self-care. And it’s always okay to do what’s best for you. Your friends will understand & your grades will thank you!
- Contact: jazmyng@bu.edu / @jazmyndgray
Mia Parker
- Hometown: Irvine, CA
- Class Year: 2024
- Major: Public Relations
- Minor: Computer Science
- Extracurriculars: : Gamma Phi Beta, The Buzz Magazine, The Daily Free Press
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: Don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone! Trying new things will help you make new friendships and find new passions. BU and Boston have so many amazing opportunities to offer to make sure you take advantage of them!
- Contact: mparker4@bu.edu / @miaapparker
Jonathan Jiang
- Hometown: Lexington, MA
- Class Year: 2023
- Major: Film & TV
- Extracurriculars: BUTV10 (CO-ED), BU’s In Achord Acapella Group
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: The absolutely most underrated patch of nature near BU isn’t the fens or the esplanade; it’s Amory Park. It’s this huge and beautiful park that’s a 10/15 minute walk from campus that’s basically a dog park. There’s also a nature sanctuary connected to it. So it has BOTH nature walks and dogs. Nothing can beat that.
Laura Hurley
- Hometown: Halfmoon, NY
- Class Year: 2023
- Major: Film & TV
- Extracurriculars: BU Fencing Club, WTBU, BUTV10
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: Don’t be afraid to explore off campus! There’s so much Boston has to offer that’ll surprise you.
- Contact: hurley@bu.edu / @lauraehurley
Leah Hirschman
- Hometown: Princeton, NJ
- Class Year: 2023
- Major: Advertising
- Extracurriculars: Music Director of BU Forté, Communications Intern for BU Hillel
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: Don’t be afraid to join a new club by yourself or one out of your comfort zone. Get involved in anything that seems interesting… you never know where you’ll meet your best friends!
- Contact: leahrh@bu.edu / @leah.hirschman
Katherine Gotard
- Hometown: Huntington, NY
- Class Year: 2023
- Major: Film & TV
- Extracurriculars: BUTV10 (CO-ED), Off The Cuff Magazine, WTBU Podcast
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: Never judge a book by its cover. I’ve met and become close friends with so many types of people I
- never had the chance to meet in high school. There are so many talented individuals here to create amazing projects and memories with.
- Contact: kgotard@bu.edu / @katherinegotard
Hannah Yoshinaga
- Hometown: Fullerton, CA
- Class Year: 2023
- Major: Public Relations
- Extracurriculars: WTBU Sports, The Daily Free Press, Kappa Alpha Theta, Sports Business Club, Women in Sports Media Club, PRSSA, Half Asian People’s Association
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: There’s nothing wrong with taking classes outside your major or minor if you are able to! Taking classes because they’re fun and interesting (not just to fill a requirement) can be a really great way to learn about interesting subjects and meet people outside of your main college. Also, you really can walk anywhere you need to go in Boston if you put your mind to it.
- Contact: hyoshi@bu.edu / @hannahyoshinaga
Aidan Walsh
- Hometown: Chatham, NJ
- Class Year: 2024 (Transfer Student)
- Major: Journalism
- Extracurriculars: BU Running club, BUTV10’s The Wire & Good Morning BU, WTBU News
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: Don’t compare yourself to others. Everyone takes different paths in life, especially in college, and it will not benefit you to worry if you aren’t doing the exact same thing as others. Be content with your path by doing what makes you happy and benefits you!
- Contact: ajwalsh@bu.edu / @aidanw31
Irene Hae Rim Jin
- Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
- Class Year: 2024
- Major: Media Science
- Extracurriculars: BUTV10’s The Wire, WTBU News, BU Mixx, BU On Broadway, International Mentor Program
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: There are so many renowned clubs in COM! I wish I would have joined it in my freshman year to get to know more friends and family. Also, don’t let your passion be gone! There are a bunch of opportunities that you can still work on, which may end up as your future career – who knows!
- Contact: haerim@bu.edu / @truehaerim
Helèna Bofisé
- Hometown: Rome, Italy
- Class Year: 2025
- Major: Film & Television
- Extracurriculars: BUTV10 Writing Room for Shadows
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: I was very scared, at the start, that because the school was so huge it would be hard to make friends. I quickly found that by going to first-week events everyone is very friendly and in the same shoes, so don’t be scared to introduce yourself!
- Contact: helena25@bu.edu / @helenabofise
Jonathan Messer
- Hometown: Belmont, Massachusetts
- Class Year: 2024
- Major: Film/TV
- Extracurriculars: : BUTV10, Athletics Video Production, WTBU, The Redlist, Comedy Club
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: How accepting everyone is! As a transfer, I had no idea what I was going to jump into. At BU, if you genuinely be yourself, you can easily find people who will accept you! Here at COM, we are a team and a family, we all want each other to succeed.
- Contact: jcmesser@bu.edu / @jnthnmssr
Jess So
- Hometown: 2025
- Class Year: Manila, Philippines
- Major: Advertising
- Extracurriculars: BUTV10, BUISO, BUFSA, ADClub, Tennis Club
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: Go out of your comfort zone! Challenge yourself to join clubs and orgs on your own, you never know who you will meet. Also, ALWAYS check the weather app before going outside (especially the wind).
- Contact: jyuloso@bu.edu / @jyuloso
Kelly Tang
- Hometown: 2025
- Class Year: Beijing, China
- Major: Public Relations
- Extracurriculars: BISA, FYSOP, IPM, BUTV10 (Amber), WTBU (Live from the Practice Room)
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: It’s super natural to feel overwhelmed when you just start college. Join clubs, make friends, and be kind to yourself!!!
- Contact: kxytang@bu.edu / @kel_101888
Suzanne Crow
- Hometown: Lubbock, Texas
- Class Year: 2023
- Major: Journalism
- Minor: American Studies
- Extracurriculars: Her Campus, Off The Cuff Magazine, WTBU Ladies of History, BU on Tap, and Sigma Kappa Sorority
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: That not all shoes are good for walking, and people walk a lot in Boston!
- Contact: suziec@bu.edu / @ __suzie__q___
Mia Chai
- Hometown: North Bethesda, MD
- Class Year: 2025
- Major: Public Relations
- Minor: Business Administration and Management, Political Science
- Extracurriculars: COM Student Government, The Daily Free Press, BU AdClub, BU PRSSA, BU Pre-Law
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: SPLASH is great but super overwhelming so it helps to scout out clubs you are interested in beforehand. COM clubs are a great resource outside of class to learn more about your interests. For me, I learned more about advertising from AdClub than CO101 in my first semester!
- Contact: miachai@bu.edu / @mia.chai
Melina Nguyen
- Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
- Class Year: 2024
- Major: Journalism
- Extracurriculars: The Daily Free Press, WTBU, BUIAA, BU UNICEF, Stage Troupe
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: Learning public transit is necessary at BU and in Boston! The BU Shuttle is my saving grace when I am on campus, and you need a CharlieCard when exploring the rest of the city.
- Contact: melinan@bu.edu
Miya Furukawa
- Hometown: San Mateo, CA
- Class Year: 2023
- Major: Public Relations
- Minor: Political Science
- Extracurriculars: Kappa Delta’s Director of Administration, Public Relations team of the International Relations Review
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: I wish I knew how fast college flies by. Everyone always says college is the best four years of your life and this can be so true if you want it to be. The best advice I could give is to push yourself out of your comfort zone. Whether that be joining clubs that peak your interest, saying yes to getting lunch with classmates you are not super close to yet, or even just asking questions. Do not be afraid! BU is an amazing place where everyone is on your team so take advantage of the opportunities, people, and community!
- Contact: miyafuru@bu.edu / @miya.furukawa
Meryl Bosse
- Hometown: Weston, MA
- Class Year: 2024
- Major: Public Relations
- Minor: Innovation & Entrepreneurship
- Extracurriculars: The COMmunicator (podcast host), Forté Acapella Group, Student Facilitator for Orientation, Sigma Kappa sorority
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: Try not to get caught up in what you think you are “supposed” to be doing! Think about what you are passionate about and enjoy.
- Contact: mgbosse@bu.edu / @merylmusic
Zixin (Alice) Zhang
- Hometown: Shanghai, China
- Class Year: 2024
- Major: Advertising
- Extracurriculars: BU After School, BUTV10, International Peer Mentor, Community Service Center, GPower Dance Crew, BUMIXX
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: College is the place to explore future careers, the place for networking with people, the place to develop your skills. Believe in yourself and college will be a great experience for you!
- Contact: zixzhang@bu.edu / @a_zzixin
Yuanyuan (Amanda) Wu
- Hometown: Shanghai, China
- Class Year: 2024
- Major: Public Relations & International Relations
- Extracurriculars: PRLab, PRSSA, Unleashed PR, Research Assistant on international development, writer at Migration Tales
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: Don’t be afraid to step out or meet new people. Just be prepared to explore all the possibilities. At the end of the day, you will realize how much you have grown as a person!
GT Nguyen
- Hometown: Orange County, California
- Class Year: 2026
- Major: Media Science
- Extracurriculars: VSA, BU Sports Business Club, Girl Gains
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: Download the Terrier Transit app and purchase a CharlieCard to get around campus and Boston! Don’t be intimidated by your peers / their accomplishments because you are on your own path and you are right where you’re supposed to be. Dedicate your time and energy into what you’re interested in, get out of your comfort zone, and you will find what’s best for you. Trust the process and most importantly, trust yourself.
Chloe Patel
- Hometown: Walpole, MA
- Class Year: 2025
- Major: Advertising
- Extracurriculars: AdClub, The Daily Free Press, AdLab, Cheese Club
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: Joining a club that is for fun is just as important as the clubs that align with your professional goals! Make time for yourself!
Toby Pannone
- Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
- Class Year: 2025
- Major: Film & Television
- Minor: Urban Studies
- Extracurriculars: Training Director and DJ on WTBU Radio, Director and Camera Op for BUTV10’s The Wire, Event Planning Chair for BU UNICEF, BU YDSA, BU Transportation Services
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: I wish I knew how personable and level-headed most professors are! Before I got here, I thought that professors were a level above all my teachers in high school and there was no way I could possibly form a personal connection with them, but going to office hours has allowed me to keep connected with professors even when I no longer have classes with them.
Vanessa (Su Ah) Lee
- Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
- Class Year: 2025
- Major: Journalism
- Extracurriculars: COM Student Government, BUTV10 – Good Morning BU, Board of International Student Ambassadors
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: It’s okay to have little or no experience! Organizations in BU welcome all students to try new things. Being passionate and having confidence is key!
James McIntyre
- Hometown: Tiburon, CA
- Class Year: 2026
- Major: Film & Television
- Extracurriculars: BUTV10 – Offsides & Shadows, Redlist independent short film production club
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: There are a million things to do on campus and building in time to try a lot of new things can lead to new passions and friends!
Lindsay Shachnow
- Hometown: New York City
- Class Year: 2025
- Major: Journalism
- Minor: Political Science
- Extracurriculars: BU Today, The Daily Free Press
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: BU has so many resources and opportunities. Try out anything and everything that sounds interesting to you!
Morgan Mulligan
- Hometown: Albany, NY
- Class Year: 2024
- Major: Public Relations
- Extracurriculars: BU Dance Team, social media staff for the Pinky Toe/ Bunion satire publications
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: It is okay to not find your group of people right away! It can take time, but once you find them it will be so worth it.
Eleanor “Ellie” Schiener
- Hometown: Geneseo, New York
- Class Year: 2026
- Major: Advertising
- Extracurriculars: BU Pep Band (Clarinet), BU on Broadway (assistant producer), and LIME
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: The wind tunnels are intense and everywhere on campus. They will break your umbrella, so definitely bring a good raincoat.
Diya Shah
- Hometown: Sayreville, New Jersey
- Class Year: 2026
- Major: Media Science
- Extracurriculars: BUTV10’s the wire, BU Fatakada Dance Team, and Com Stu Gov committee
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: You will find your place if you just give it some time :)
Emily Frank
- Hometown: Granby, MA
- Class Year: 2026
- Major: Film & Television
- Extracurriculars: BU on Tap, BUTV10 (COED), StageTroupe, Dance Theater Grou
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: Make sure your jacket is wind-proof! The wind gets pretty bad here, especially in the winter.
Stella Tannenbaum
- Hometown: Milford, PA
- Class Year: 2025
- Major: Journalism & Political Science (Kilachand Honors College)
- Extracurriculars: Daily Free Press, BU on Tap, a remote social media internship and an on-campus job
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: It’s completely normal to be nervous – everyone is! But don’t let nerves stop you from advocating for yourself, taking advantage of the resources BU has to offer and stepping out of your comfort zone! There’s so much help and support in every corner, all you have to do is ask.
Donna Callery
- Hometown: Long Island, NY
- Class Year: 2024
- Major: Film & Television
- Minor: Theatre Arts
- Extracurriculars: Stage Troupe, Alpha Phi Omega, Transition to BU (Mentor), FYSOP
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: There are so many amazing opportunities at BU! Also, join clubs that spark your interest because it’s an easy way to make friends when you first get to college and to get involved with a community on campus!
Sara Hirani
- Hometown: Dallas, TX
- Class Year: 2024
- Major: Advertising
- Extracurriculars: Alpha Phi Omega (Community Service Fraternity), SASA (South Asian Student Association), AdLab
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: COM and BU as a whole have such great networking opportunities and events that everyone should take advantage of. Also, joining as many clubs to try them out is a great way to find a new passion and meet more people!
Analise Bruno
- Hometown: Winthrop, MA
- Class Year: 2026
- Major: Journalism
- Extracurriculars: The Daily Free Press, The Buzz Magazine, Students for Reproductive Freedom
- One thing you wish you knew before coming to BU: I wish I knew that good things take time to find. You will definitely feel lonely and out of place at first, it’s natural, and part of the college process. However, with time, you will find your people, passions, hobbies, and things that make you excited about your newfound independence. You have to be willing to change to grow in new and better ways.