Bruno Sica ’27
I’m Bruno Sica a second year from Fort Collins Colorado. I enjoy reading and going outside in my free time. My favorite book is Project Hail Mary. I also enjoy cooking and traveling. This summer I spent time in Leipzig Germany improving my German.
This year I am working on the Campus Tree Map project with Prof. Liz Queathem.
Cadence Chen ’26
Cadence Chen is a third-year Classics and English double major at Grinnell College. This is her second year as a Vivero fellow. She is interested in conceptions of the sea & other large expanses, (conceptions of & real) birds, things that look like other things, and her cat Mouse.
This year Cadence is working on HADC project with Dr. Petrouchka Moïse.
Chikako I. ’26
My name is Chikako I (any/all), and I am an undergraduate researcher majoring in Gender Studies with a Digital Studies concentration at Grinnell College. My study focuses on the inter-generational trauma regarding the memory of Comfort Women and healing practices in Asian American community. I enjoy listening to other people’s story, reading and writing poems, and drag Performance (both as an audience and a performer)! My motto is “stay positive and appreciative.”
This spring, Chika is working on the Student Activism at Grinnell Digital Exhibit and Walking Tour project with Assistant Professor Libby Cave.
Chloe Kelly ’26
Chloe Kelly (she/her) is a third year computer science and studio art major. She has always been passionate about using technology as a tool for creating art and storytelling, and she is excited to use that technology for creating engaging forms of project research and sharing. In addition to Vivero, Chloe also works as a mentor in the CS department and in the Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies scene shop. She enjoys drawing and playing video games in her free time.
This year Chloe is continuing work on the the Theatre, Dance, & Performance Studies Digital Archive with Kate Baumgartner and Erik Sanning.
David Nguyen ’28
Hi, I’m David Nguyen ’28 (he/him). As a Vivero Fellow, I’m interested in exploring issues around data, access, and communities, especially through a human-centered lens.
I’m also one of the Housing Access Community Service Workers of the Service-Leadership Work Study (SLWS) cohort. I hope to pair a Statistics concentration with some eventual major (to be determined!). I greatly enjoy ambling around Grinnell, skimming news articles, and pondering about thoughts.
This semester, I am working as a Web Literacy Fellow for Sites @ Grinnell, with Dr. Morris Petzel.
Emma Kumano-Maloney ’25
I am a Sociology and English major at Grinnell College dedicated to storytelling in creative formats.
This year I am working on the Laetitia Moon Conard project with Prof. Susan Ferguson.
Isaiah Schlimm ’27
My name is Isaiah Schlimm. I am an English and Philosophy major at Grinnell College set to graduate in 2027. My interests lie in poetry, digital humanities, and philosophy of religion. I am particularly interested in the intersection between storytelling and digital technologies. When I am not slaving away at the keyboard on my next paper or website, I can be found hiking, reading, or wrangling my six siblings around town.
This spring, Isaiah is working on the Map the System Digital Repository with Project Lead Vicki Nolton.
Kailee Shermak ’25
Hello! My name is Kailee Shermak and I’m a current 4th year student at Grinnell College. I’m a sociology major with a digital studies concentration. My time at Grinnell has led me to interests in social data collection/analysis that helps better peoples’ lives and figuring out ways to best make that information accessible to the broader public.
As part of the Vivero Digital Fellowship, I’m currently working with science librarian Gina Schlesselman-Tarango to create a website companion for her book Power, Information, and Reproductive Health.
In addition to being a Vivero fellow, I also work at the Sexual Health Information Center (SHIC) on campus and am on the leadership board for Grinnell’s chapter of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the swim team, and the water polo team!
Kiera Rennick ’26
Hey there! My name is Kiera and I am currently a junior attending Grinnell College. I’m a Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies major with a (yet to declare) Environmental Studies concentration, and a particular love for material work and storytelling. I’m excited to work as a Fellow, exploring ways in which the arts can be archived digitally to increase accessibility and visibility to broader audiences.
This spring, Kiera is working on the Virtual Titular Head project with Project Lead Adam Kelley-Chown.
Libby Eggert ’25
My name is Libby Eggert, and I am a fourth-year at Grinnell College. I’m studying Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies with a concentration in American Studies. This is my second year as a Vivero Fellow. Last year I worked on a StoryMap with Dr. Tamara Beauboeuf as a continuation of previous research I had done with her. I really enjoyed learning how to use the software as it’s a very dynamic program and integrating other softwares into my final project.
This summer, I also worked as the Digital Archives and Collection Intern at Drake Community Library. One of my projects was making a WordPress webpage on their site, where I scanned all the drawings of a Grinnell self-taught artist who did drawings of residential and commercial properties in and out of Grinnell.
This year I am working on the IGE Story Platform project with Ashley Laux.
Ngoc Ta ’27
Ngoc Ta is a second-year Computer Science/Math major from Oakland, California. Given her passion for learning new concepts and helping people with technology, she enjoys her work as a Vivero fellow. She enjoys reading, playing video games, and ensuring that every cat she meets knows they are the most perfect creature in existence.
This spring, Ngoc is working as a website developer for the 3D printing lab with Project Lead Max Schafer, she looks forward to creating a platform that makes 3D printing more accessible to students while also growing her skills along the way.
Ohana Sarvotham ’25
I’m Ohana, a 4th-year student at Grinnell College. I am an Economics and Russian double major, but I also enjoy Math, History, Statistics, and Music. I like photography, cooking, reading, and being outdoors!
This year I am working on Modern Architecture in Grinnell – A Mapping Project with Prof. Fredo Rivera.
Regann Fishell ’27
Hello! I am a second year intended Physics and Studio Art major. I am very interested in the combination of artistic and stem fields, in both an educational and creative sense.
In my first year at Grinnell I worked as a subject matter expert on 6th-8th century Europe for The Viking Longship Project at the Grinnell College Immersive Experiences Lab, spending time on the cultural importance of the Mead Hall and woman’s roles in celebration and the community. I also spent time Studying the history and styles and of glass and other drinking vessels, Including the trade routes of glass from Europe at the time. Theses trade routes have huge affects on the chemical compositions of each glass formula! I also spent time doing Archival work for the Grinnell College Physics Museum, which was a very enjoyable blend of photography and the history of science. This past summer and into fall 2024 I worked as an 2D asset artist, for an indie game developer making Npcs and their animations, as well as props placed around the open world map. I hope to be able to continue projects that are exciting blends of my interests into the coming future.
This year I am working on Instead of Redface: Resources for Teaching Indigenous Theatre with Prof. Jen Shook.
Rowan M. ’25
I’m Rowan, a fourth year History Major.
This year I am working on the Updating Grinnell Guide to Writing, Research, and Speaking project with Dr. Tisha Turk.
Valery Mayorga ’26
Hello! My name is Valery Mayorga and I am a third-year student at Grinnell College. I am a Vivero Fellow and this is my first year in the program. I am really excited to delve and expand my knowledge in the digital liberal arts! I am studying Political Science and in my free time I enjoy dancing, watching birds, and spending time with my family.
This year I am working on the Digital Book Gallery project with Prof. Hadley Galbraith.
Zachary Bressler ’26
My name is Zachary Bressler and I am a third year philosophy major at Grinnell College. I am excited to work as a Vivero Fellow and learn more about the digital humanities and digital project management.
My interest in philosophy stems in part from a general interest in critical thought, as well as from a love for seeing the world in new ways. I look forward to exploring new ways of understanding humanities work through my fellowship.
As a Vivero Fellow this spring, I am working with Professor Sarah Purcell to digitize information about the life of Grinnell concert organizer Georgia Dentel.
Fall 2024 Fellows
Karolina Calleros ’26
Hi everyone! My name is Karolina and I’m a third year here in Grinnell College. It’s my first time being a Vivero Fellow and super excited to start this journey about digital humanities. I’m a third year in Grinnell College majoring in Economics and Spanish and super excited to get to know more about digital humanities. A little bit more about me is that my favorite color is green and I think elephants are cool. So be on the look out for an elephant Vivero flyer, you know who suggested it.
This fall I am working on the OER Toolkit project with Kayla Reed.
Lívia Stein Freitas ’25
Hi, I’m Livia Stein Freitas (she/her). I’m a Computer Science and English student at Grinnell College, graduating in May 2025.
I am experienced in learning and evaluating different machine learning models, implementing efficient data structures and algorithms, analyzing hardware design issues (pipelining, caching, parallelism), and more.
This year I am working on the Virtual Titular Head project with Adam Kelley-Chown.
Morgan Smith ’26
I’m a third-year student at Grinnell College studying History and German Studies in Grinnell, Iowa. I’m interested in archival science, LGBTQIA+ History, and the History of Education.
My research background is in archival research on LGBTQIA+ history in educational contexts using textual analysis, oral history, and crowdsourcing. I’ve also worked as a student coordinator specializing in history and library management for the Stonewall Cultural Center at Grinnell College, developing experience with copy cataloging, community-guided acquisitions, and events management.
This fall I am continuing work on the Native History Project with Prof. Deborah Michaels.
