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| Sofia Acosta, or “Gigi” as preferred, is an English major studying in the North Campus of MDC. Gigi is a sophomore actively participating in many MDC events and clubs, including the AXIS Creative Arts Magazine and the Anime club. They are studying to transfer to a university to become a librarian. They are interested in researching topics related to their special interests, including literature and the horror genre. In their spare time, they love writing fictional stories and would frankly love to learn how to write scripts for comic books. |
My name is Giancarlo Bazail and I am a second year English/Lit and English Education major at Miami Dade College. I am currently interested in researching methods of delivering more engaging and dynamic educational lessons for young students. My current pursuit of this is through the realm of Table-Top Roleplaying Games. With my experience working as an academy teacher for Lindamood-Bell—an alternative school for children with learning disabilities—as well as my seven years of experience playing Dungeons & Dragons as a Dungeon Master, I feel confident in my ability to craft an educational module that will serve to enhance creativity and expression within learning. My future goal is to delve further into the world of education, either as a public school teacher or curriculum developer. With the firsthand experience this would grant me, I would want to explore the possibility of furthering my research project into a full set of published curriculum supplements that could be sold to schools. I believe that my interests in creative writing and D&D homebrewing will serve me well in this potential future venture. |
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| Jordan Bergman Faculty Mentor: Marisol Varela |
Lazaro Cespedes Faculty Mentor: Jennie Canete |
| Jordan Bergman is a 2nd year journalism and mass communications student at Miami Dade College, Kendall campus. After completing her associate’s degree in the spring, she plans to transfer to Florida International University. Jordan has always been extremely passionate about conservation of the natural world, and plans specializing in environmental journalism. She went to high school at BioTECH at Richmond Heights where she completed the zoology program and was the editor-in-chief for the school yearbook. While at BioTECH, Jordan conducted student research for Zoo Miami, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens, and NASA, as well as her own student-led research. She also was a Conservation Teen Scientists at Zoo Miami and had an executive internship in Zoo Miami’s Administration and Animal Welfare Departments. While at Miami Dade College, Jordan poem “False Gods” was published in Miambiance Volume 35, the campuses magazine. She also won second place in the 2025 “Ready, Set, Write” contest with her poem “Madness.” | My name is Lazaro Cespedes. I am a second-year college student nearing the completion of my general requirements and currently pursuing an A.A. in English. My academic and research interests center on historical events, particularly the bubonic plague and other major pandemics, as well as the evolving ideas surrounding mental illness. I also have a strong passion for literature and often challenge myself to explore a wide range of genres, though horror and mystery remain my favorites. My experience working at Barnes & Noble allowed me to deepen my familiarity with contemporary literature and emerging authors. Outside of academics, I enjoy writing as a primary way of learning and processing new material, along with playing video games, watching movies—especially horror—and collecting items connected to my various interests. Looking ahead, my goal is to continue toward a bachelor’s degree in literature, expand my research skills, and pursue opportunities in a writing-focused field. I hope to further develop my ability to analyze complex topics and communicate them clearly through academic, creative, or professional writing. |
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| Christian Cruz Faculty Mentor: John Frazier |
Holly Howlett Faculty Mentor: Matthew Nesvet |
| Christian Cruz is a first-year History student at Miami-Dade College, with plans to complete a double major in Political Science upon transferring to Florida International University. Through the Humanities Edge program, he is conducting research on Enlightenment ideals and their relevance to modern democratic challenges. He intends to join FIU’s Intelligence Fellowship upon transferring to prepare for a career in government and intelligence analysis, with a focus on national security and international affairs. Outside of academics, he studies historical strategy and analytical writing, exploring how past events inform contemporary decision-making. | Bio |
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| Maria Mulet Faculty Mentor: Lyle Culver |
Ashley Naranjo Faculty Mentor: Emily Sendin |
| Maria Mulet is a second-year student majoring in Graphic or Commercial Arts at Miami Dade College and is part of the Presidential Scholars Program. She has loved drawing ever since she was a child. Today, she has a passion for design, and is inspired to take advantage of the way the world is changing and use new technologies like artificial intelligence to ease her design process. Because of this, her research interests center on using artificial intelligence as a tool in graphic design. Her project seeks to help designers embrace and take advantage of AI as an aid for their work instead of viewing it as a threat. With an interest in business and marketing, Maria hopes to help businesses grow by creating compelling designs that will reach large audiences. She plans to continue her design education and grow in skills that will help her serve her community through her talent and passion. | Ashley Naranjo is a 20-year-old in her last semester majoring in art education. She is a part of the Feline Friends of Miami Dade College, the Humanities Edge Undergraduate Research cohort and past member of the Untitled Art Club. Ashley comes from a family of first generation Nicaraguan Immigrants, and it was through her family that she learned her passion for art. From a young age, she took an interest in art, and over the years it slowly morphed into sculpting and painting, then finally, digital art. However, through Miami Dade College, she learned her real calling in art is education, Seeing the professors teach freely while maintaining their love for art inspired her. She hopes that by pursuing a career in art education she’ll be able inspire future generations to keep doing what they love, making art. |
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| Larry Otero-Soza Faculty Mentor: Danixia Cuevas |
Samantha Perez Faculty Mentor: James Bennett |
| Larry Otero-Soza was born in Miami, Florida, in 1999 and raised in Coral Gables. Of Nicaraguan heritage, he graduated from Christopher Columbus High School in 2017, where he developed a strong foundation in faith and civic engagement. Following graduation, he fulfilled his dream of serving his country as a field artilleryman in the U.S. Army. After completing his service, Larry enrolled at Miami Dade College, where he is currently in his second year of pursuing a degree in history. His academic interests include Christianity, Colonial America, and the Early U.S. Republic, with a focus on how law is shaped by religion and ideas. He currently serves as Vice President of the Student Government Association at MDC’s Homestead Campus and is writing a manuscript on Dutch religious pluralism in New Amsterdam. A devout Presbyterian, Larry’s faith in Jesus Christ guides every aspect of his life. His goal is to transfer to a university to complete his B.A. in history, serve as a campus ministry intern with Reformed University Fellowship after graduation, and later attend seminary to become a minister and Reformed scholar in the Presbyterian Church of America. In his free time, he enjoys golf, art, and music—from Mexican rancheras to Outlaw Country and High Baroque. | Samantha Perez is a second-year student at Miami-Dade College. She is a 4.0 student and is studying Drama/Drama education. As she learns about the art of theatre and filmmaking, she has become aware of how her number one passion, dance, is involved. Due to her previous experience as a dancer, she can relate to and attest to many of the conclusions found in her research on how dancing can be a healing tool for many. Samantha has performed as captain of a dance team when she was competitively dancing and as part of a talent show. Her future goals include learning more about the filmmaking process, performing as a dancer, and integrating both to pursue a lifelong career. She believes the arts are an integral part of life, and understanding the impact of the humanities on a person’s growth can open us to life-changing opportunities. |
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| Brandon Rabi Faculty Mentor: Adrian Garcia |
Yvonne Romero Faculty Mentor: Michael Lenaghan |
| Brandon Rabi is a guitarist and songwriter with fifteen years of experience. He has performed throughout Miami and toured with various acts, gaining a clear understanding of what it takes to be a working musician. His main focus is straightforward: write strong songs, stay consistent, and continually improve. Brandon is pursuing an English degree with the goal of becoming a teacher, combining his academic interests with his real-world music experience. He continues to write, record, and perform, and currently plays in a band called The Revue. | Yvonne Guadalupe Romero-Sanki is a second-year student at Miami-Dade College. She is pursuing a major in history and has a strong passion for Latin American History and Colonial History. Yvonne has previously conducted research; however, it was in the United States early colonial period. Nonetheless, this experience has exposed her to analyze and interpret a variety of primary and secondary sources, understanding how power can reshape social identity. Her future goals include pursuing graduate studies in history and contributing to scholarship regarding Latin American colonial history and Indigenous culture. Yvonne deeply enjoys creative writing and exploring the cultural aspects of life around societies from the past. |
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| Kamila Romero Faculty Mentor: Benjamin Augustyn |
Daniella Sorto Faculty Mentor: Charles Meehan |
| Kamila Romero is a second year student at Miami Dade College. Born and raised in Matanzas, Cuba, she moved to Miami in 2023 to pursue a degree in History with a concentration in Cuban Studies. Passionate about human rights and cultural literacy, Kamila serves as co-editor of Metr[o]morphosis Magazine at MDC Wolfson and as president of the Social Sciences Society. Her love for history began in Cuba, where she discovered the power of forbidden stories through censored books. This experience inspired her to study the historical and cultural connections between Cuba and South Florida, focusing on the events that have shaped the region’s Cuban-American identity. In the future, Kamila hopes to share her research through a documentary or book, bringing greater visibility to the narratives that define her community. | Daniella Sorto is a second-year student at Miami Dade College studying English Literature. Born at the turn of the millennium, Daniella got to see the rise of internet culture firsthand. The internet's constant oscillation between exaggerated irreverence and disarming sincerity informs much of her academic interests. Her research looks at the human condition through the lens of memes, trolling, fandom, and online discourse. Her interests lie in meaningfully analyzing what is often considered absurd and having fun with what is often considered high-brow. Highlighting the cultural significance of silliness is the underlying goal of much of her work. In her free time, Daniella enjoys writing, reading, and watching tv shows. Her interest in art varies from books like The Brothers Karamazov, to video games like Little Big Planet, to performance art like the WWE. In the future, Daniella hopes to make a career out of writing novels that toe the line between intellectualism and ridiculousness. |
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| Leonie Williams Faculty Mentor: Eric Belokon |
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Leonie Mayalia Williams is currently a second year Graphic Design Major at New World School of the Arts. She aims to earn an Associates in the Arts, a Bachelor of Fine Arts and further on pursue a career in the Visual/Graphic Design industry. Always striving to discover and practice the many ways of visual creation, she dedicates herself to exploring various art movements throughout history. Being very idea oriented, compassionate and a slightly perfectionist, she takes great pleasure in facing challenges head-on. Born in Clarendon, Jamaica to a music oriented family, she took up on the arts very early in her life. Her passion for the humanities can be attributed to watching her father strive for his dreams throughout her early life and that inspired her to continue as tradition. She lives life by her motto “When things don’t work, I’ll make it work”. Bilingual in both Patois and English, she takes great interest in teaching the language to any who would love to hear. Some of her interests include; studying abstraction, practicing art, discovering music, sewing, reading and playing various games. |
