2023 Student Guides

Connor Hibbard is a senior television-radio major and the Student Director for this year's festival. This is Connor's third year as a member of the New Voices Festival.

Lou Baron is a senior with a major in culture and communication and minors in English and Spanish. She’s thrilled to be back as one of the Assistant Directors after being a student guide for playwright Gina Femia in 2021! At the moment, her life outside of the festival is primarily comprised of radio (SiriusXM and Ithaca’s own WICB), traveling back and forth to New York City and trying to stay present with friends in the last moments of college (eek!).

Gerard Allen is a sophomore English and philosophy major at Ithaca College. When he’s not reading books for New Voices, he enjoys writing, being outside, and playing music.

Isabella Basile is a senior theatre studies major. In her spare time, she loves reading, watercolor painting, and listening to Taylor Swift.

Taylor Callis is a senior communications management & design major with a minor in live events design & management. She likes testing the waters in many disciplines and industries — working as a mail processor on campus as well as a coordinating assistant in IC's IT department, taking classes on beekeeping and forestry, and trying her hand in TV & radio!

Sammi Frieri is a senior English major with minors in education studies and honors. Her defining characteristics include her love of books, her a cappella group, and the fact that she is a huge fan of Taylor Swift.

Matthew Gardener is a senior writing major with a minor in graphic design at Ithaca College, where he is Creative Director of the literary magazine, Stillwater. He's fascinated by how we understand our place in the world—whether through science, art, or culture. His last creative work took the form of a milk carton. He also works part time for a New York–based technical writing firm.

Danka Hlinka is a junior writing major. She has a distinct memory of the fact that she read 52 books the summer before seventh grade. She wishes she could do that again.

Frannie Leigus is a freshman English and writing double major with a deaf studies minor. She loves to write poetry!

Sara Mallory is a junior writing major with an anthropology minor. In her free time, she loves to read while sitting out in the garden.

Andrew Poma is a first year with majors in English and theatre studies. Back home, Poma works at an axe-throwing place as a coach specializing in knives. He loves anything comedic, whether that's Shakespeare or random things on TikTok.

Riley Rhoder is a sophomore English major who loves nothing more than cold weather and cozy books!

Megan Robinson is a senior culture and communication major and English minor. She spends her free time watching movies and musing about her cats back home.

Emily Trage is a junior writing major with an English minor. She loves watching comedy and sitcoms, and enjoys writing experimental nonfiction.