Meet Our Senior Fellows
With almost four years of Oxy experiences under their belts, our senior fellows are a great resource for you.
In the summer and fall, they’ll be among the faces you’ll meet for an interview. In the spring, you’ll find them presenting at info sessions, greeting visitors at the Office of Admission, and hanging out at admission events.
Whether you make it to campus or have questions from afar, the senior fellows are excited to connect with you!
Nora Utevsky ’13, Admission Associate
Major: Geology
Hometown: Seattle, WA
High school: Garfield H.S.
Email: utevsky@oxy.edu
A true Seattleite, Nora was drawn to Occidental because of the strong sense of community and optimism on campus, as well as the dedication to diversity and research. She got involved in a range of activities while a student, including serving as Programming Assistant for the Intercultural Community Center, a student resource that creates events on campus promoting multiculturalism and social justice. She stepped up as President of Outdoors Club, and helped to found the Spoken Word Club, coaching Oxy’s poetry slam team at its first national competition. After identifying her passion for geology and research in volcanology, she participated in the summer on-campus research program in 2011, studied abroad in Dunedin, New Zealand in spring 2012, and also interned at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory the next fall, mapping the surface of Mars. After graduating a semester early, Nora is working as the Admission Associate and applying to graduate school, but in her spare time you can find her working out at the Alumni Gym, curled up in the quad with a good book, or relaxing at the beach.
Jordan Brown ’13Major: Philosophy
Hometown: San Diego, Calif.
High school: Cathedral Catholic School
Email: brownj@oxy.edu
Jordan began his college career at Fordham University in the Bronx, New York. While at Fordham, he competed on their Division I men’s tennis team. After a year in New York, Jordan realized that he was interested in attending a small liberal arts college situated in an urban environment (and with warmer weather!). Since transferring to Oxy, he joined the men’s tennis team and serves on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. In junior year, Jordan volunteered as a health educator for Oxy’s chapter of Peer Health Exchange, traveling to various ninth grade classrooms across L.A. to teach workshops. During summers, he has worked as a tennis camp counselor and as a production assistant for ESPN and The Tennis Channel. Last summer, Jordan went to England to study the history of the British legal system. In his free time he enjoys reading, watching movies, playing ping-pong, and spending time with friends.
Riana King ’13Major: Sociology
Minor: Spanish
Hometown: Folsom, Calif.
High school: Folsom H.S.
Email: rking@oxy.edu
Riana was born in San Francisco, but spent most of her childhood in Folsom, Calif. (near Sacramento). She was drawn to Oxy because of its small size and proximity to an exciting city. A fan of traveling, she was also attracted to Oxy’s robust study abroad opportunities. Recently, Riana returned from a semester abroad in Granada, Spain. She had such a wonderful time that she hopes to return to Spain after college. Some of Riana’s Oxy roles include being a member of Kappa Alpha Theta and working as a shift supervisor for the student run coffee lounge, The Green Bean. Outside of campus commitments, Riana loves trying new things, hanging out with friends, going to Disneyland, eating, and reading.
Megan Lang ’13
Majors: Diplomacy & World Affairs (DWA) and Economics
Hometown: Longmont, Colo.
High school: Niwot H.S.
Email: mlang@oxy.edu
Megan grew up loving the outdoors. After completing the IB program in high school, Megan discovered that she loved learning about current issues and economics--reflected by her double major. She is interested in a wide range of problems related to developing countries. Drawing from these interests, she serves as the president of the Oxy Impact Fund, which invests in microfinance institutions worldwide. Megan also spent six weeks interning at a savings and credit cooperative in Uganda in the summer of 2011. Last summer, Megan worked on a project with the economics department to analyze the relationship between corruption and foreign investment in a cross-country study. Megan is a member of Oxy’s varsity cross country and track teams, and in her free time she hikes, plays violin, bakes, and reads.
Tess Morrison ’13
Major: Biology
Minor: Urban & Environmental Policy (UEP)
Hometown: Santa Cruz, Calif.
High school: Pacific Collegiate H.S.
Email: morrisont@oxy.edu
Tess was attracted to Oxy’s close-knit community, student-to-faculty ratio, and sunny weather. She has participated in undergraduate research with Associate Biology Professor Elizabeth Braker, studying the effects of urbanization on lizard populations at Oxy’s campus. In addition, she was a communications intern for Farm to School, an Oxy-affiliated non-profit that connects public schools with local, farm-fresh produce. Tess also worked for the Neighborhood Partnership Program as a teaching assistant for introductory level biology courses. A proponent of animal welfare, she is a member of Veg Club, the vegan education club on campus. Tess is passionate about environmentalism, conservation, and wildlife, and plans to become a conservation biologist with a focus on primates. In her free time, she enjoys photography, swimming, and being outdoors.
Natania Reed ’13
Major: English & Comparative Literary Studies (ECLS)
Minor: Media Arts & Culture
Hometown: Claremont, Calif.
High school: Claremont H.S.
Email: nreed@oxy.edu
Though Natania spent much of her youth in Germany and Israel, she eventually settled down in a small college town 35 miles east of L.A. She chose Oxy because she wanted a challenging liberal arts education and found its location in a fast-paced, urban setting ideal. On campus, Natania works as a staff writer for the college newspaper, the Occidental Weekly, and serves as the music director for Oxy’s radio station, KOXY. During past summers, she has held internships in the music industry, working for an independent record label, and assisting in the marketing department at AEG Live. Natania’s academic interests include postcolonial and feminist theory, international cinema, writing, and German. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, going to art museums, and trying new restaurants.
Joseph Wei ’13
Major: English & Comparative Literary Studies (ECLS)
Hometown: Fremont, Calif.
High school: Mission San Jose H.S.
Email: wei@oxy.edu
Joe has a particular jones for political philosophy and American literature, and during his time at Oxy he’s become an ardent Angeleno. Last spring, Joe studied abroad in London, and (to his disappointment) just narrowly missed out on the Olympics. Joe previously worked as a resident advisor in the Multicultural Hall and is a two-time Multicultural Summer Institute alum--first as a student, and then as a resident advisor. In addition, Joe has played piano for 14 years and performs regularly during the school year. This year, Joe will work tirelessly on his senior comps, but still hopes to have free time to do some of his favorite things: watching Harold and Kumar for the umpteenth time, buying books that he never has time to finish, and practicing his shaky French.
Hometown: Folsom, Calif.
High school: Folsom H.S.
Email: rking@oxy.edu
Riana was born in San Francisco, but spent most of her childhood in Folsom, Calif. (near Sacramento). She was drawn to Oxy because of its small size and proximity to an exciting city. A fan of traveling, she was also attracted to Oxy’s robust study abroad opportunities. Recently, Riana returned from a semester abroad in Granada, Spain. She had such a wonderful time that she hopes to return to Spain after college. Some of Riana’s Oxy roles include being a member of Kappa Alpha Theta and working as a shift supervisor for the student run coffee lounge, The Green Bean. Outside of campus commitments, Riana loves trying new things, hanging out with friends, going to Disneyland, eating, and reading.
Megan Lang ’13Majors: Diplomacy & World Affairs (DWA) and Economics
Hometown: Longmont, Colo.
High school: Niwot H.S.
Email: mlang@oxy.edu
Megan grew up loving the outdoors. After completing the IB program in high school, Megan discovered that she loved learning about current issues and economics--reflected by her double major. She is interested in a wide range of problems related to developing countries. Drawing from these interests, she serves as the president of the Oxy Impact Fund, which invests in microfinance institutions worldwide. Megan also spent six weeks interning at a savings and credit cooperative in Uganda in the summer of 2011. Last summer, Megan worked on a project with the economics department to analyze the relationship between corruption and foreign investment in a cross-country study. Megan is a member of Oxy’s varsity cross country and track teams, and in her free time she hikes, plays violin, bakes, and reads.
Tess Morrison ’13Major: Biology
Minor: Urban & Environmental Policy (UEP)
Hometown: Santa Cruz, Calif.
High school: Pacific Collegiate H.S.
Email: morrisont@oxy.edu
Tess was attracted to Oxy’s close-knit community, student-to-faculty ratio, and sunny weather. She has participated in undergraduate research with Associate Biology Professor Elizabeth Braker, studying the effects of urbanization on lizard populations at Oxy’s campus. In addition, she was a communications intern for Farm to School, an Oxy-affiliated non-profit that connects public schools with local, farm-fresh produce. Tess also worked for the Neighborhood Partnership Program as a teaching assistant for introductory level biology courses. A proponent of animal welfare, she is a member of Veg Club, the vegan education club on campus. Tess is passionate about environmentalism, conservation, and wildlife, and plans to become a conservation biologist with a focus on primates. In her free time, she enjoys photography, swimming, and being outdoors.
Natania Reed ’13Major: English & Comparative Literary Studies (ECLS)
Minor: Media Arts & Culture
Hometown: Claremont, Calif.
High school: Claremont H.S.
Email: nreed@oxy.edu
Though Natania spent much of her youth in Germany and Israel, she eventually settled down in a small college town 35 miles east of L.A. She chose Oxy because she wanted a challenging liberal arts education and found its location in a fast-paced, urban setting ideal. On campus, Natania works as a staff writer for the college newspaper, the Occidental Weekly, and serves as the music director for Oxy’s radio station, KOXY. During past summers, she has held internships in the music industry, working for an independent record label, and assisting in the marketing department at AEG Live. Natania’s academic interests include postcolonial and feminist theory, international cinema, writing, and German. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, going to art museums, and trying new restaurants.
Joseph Wei ’13Major: English & Comparative Literary Studies (ECLS)
Hometown: Fremont, Calif.
High school: Mission San Jose H.S.
Email: wei@oxy.edu
Joe has a particular jones for political philosophy and American literature, and during his time at Oxy he’s become an ardent Angeleno. Last spring, Joe studied abroad in London, and (to his disappointment) just narrowly missed out on the Olympics. Joe previously worked as a resident advisor in the Multicultural Hall and is a two-time Multicultural Summer Institute alum--first as a student, and then as a resident advisor. In addition, Joe has played piano for 14 years and performs regularly during the school year. This year, Joe will work tirelessly on his senior comps, but still hopes to have free time to do some of his favorite things: watching Harold and Kumar for the umpteenth time, buying books that he never has time to finish, and practicing his shaky French.
admission@oxy.edu | phone: (800) 825-5262 | fax: (323) 341-4875