2020-2021 Staff
Emily Rose Thorne
Editor-in-Chief
Emily Rose Thorne is a senior double-majoring in journalism and women’s and gender studies. Emily Rose has been involved with The Cluster since 2017 as Staff Writer, Lead News Writer, News Editor and Digital Editor. She is a two-time recipient of the Center for Collaborative Journalism John M. Couric Fellowship and has worked with Business Insider, Atlanta Magazine, Georgia Public Broadcasting, Making Cont...
Mary Helene Hall
Managing Editor
Mary Helene Hall is a sophomore majoring in journalism. She is a Presidential Media Change Maker Scholar who has worked consistently for The Cluster throughout her time at Mercer. Mary Helene has received accolades for her work from National Public Radio, Discord, the Georgia College Press Association, and more. When she’s not working on a story, you can catch her listening to podcasts, writing l...
Ian Henshaw
Digital Editor
Ian Henshaw is senior media studies major at Mercer University pursuing a career in game design. He holds a certificate of game development and spearheaded the use of virtual reality as an early stage product design visualization technique at Formation Design Group in Atlanta. He also worked as a digital media intern for The Allman Brothers Band Museum at The Big House here in Macon....
Lars Lonnroth
News Editor
Lars Lonnroth, The Cluster's News Editor, is a sophomore journalism and political science student, originally coming from the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. During his time doing high school journalism, Lars won around 30 national and state journalism awards, including winning first in the nation for his podcast "The Happenings at the Halls" at the National Scholastic Press Association conference. Sta...
Ivy Marie Clarke
Arts & Culture Editor
Ivy Marie Clarke is a third-year student at Mercer double majoring in English Literature and creative writing. Her passion lies in poetry and the arts, and she has been published in The Atlanta Review and Glass Mountain in addition to the work she produces for The Cluster and The Dulcimer. She works at the McEachern Art Center and as a writing tutor for the ARC, and she is an editorial intern with Ma...
Nadia Pressley
Lifestyle & Opinion Editor
Nadia Pressley is a senior double-majoring in journalism and global development studies. This past summer, she was the Digital Marketing Intern for R3. This year, she will be the Lifestyle & Opinion Editor of The Cluster. She enjoys music, art and fashion. In the future, Nadia hopes to work in digital media marketing and communications.
Micah Johnston
Sports Editor
Micah Johnston is a junior journalism and media studies major here at Mercer. Micah recently completed an internship with Georgia Public Broadcasting, where his work was both aired on GPB Radio and published digitally. This year, Micah hopes to oversee fun, informative and sometimes emotional sports stories as Sports Editor for The Cluster. When he's not editing articles for The Cluster, you can find...
Serena Golden
Photography Editor
Serena Golden is a journalism and international affairs major in her senior year at Mercer. In addition to her work for The Cluster, Serena has published photo, video, audio and written work with GPB Macon and Cape Community Newspapers in Cape Town, South Africa. After graduating in 2021, Serena plans to pursue a career in internationally-focused multimedia journalism....
Jen Jones
Layout Editor
Jen Jones is a Junior and majors in Sports Marketing and Analytics with a minor in journalism. She has worked on The Cluster staff for two years and was the Sports Editor for 2019-2020. Her favorite sport is baseball and hopes to work for a MLB team one day.
Caitlyn Patton
Layout Editor
Caitlyn Patton is a graduate student originally from Durham, North Carolina, currently studying Electrical Engineering. She is enrolled in the School of Engineering's 4+1 Integrated Master of Science Program where she graduated in May 2020 with her Bachelor's degree and will graduate in December 2020 with her Master's degree, both in Electrical Engineering. She has worked two internship rotations ...
Mira Patel
Social Media Manager
Mira Patel is a third-year marketing student in the Stetson-Hatcher School of Business and Economics with a minor in global health studies. She has a passion for service and wants to work to better her community. As a student at Mercer University, Mira has worked with and served as a leader in MU Miracle and Operation Lighthouse (a project with Crisis Line & Safe House) and Mercer Mentors. Sh...
Chance Allen
Lead Arts & Culture Writer
Chance Allen is a junior double-majoring in journalism and media studies. Throughout the past year, he has interned with Royalty Headwear and the Admissions Marketing and Communications department, whilst also running a photography business. Chance hopes to continue and broaden his career by creating editorial content that pushes to inform the world on the richness of arts, entertainment, music, a...
Natalie Yaeger
Lead Lifestyle & Opinion Writer
Natalie Yaeger is a junior double-majoring in neuroscience and English with minors in chemistry and Spanish on the pre-medical track. Natalie has written for The Cluster since her freshman year, working as Lead News Writer for two years before transitioning to Lead Lifestyle & Opinion Writer. Natalie has been published for her research in both biology and English as well as the art and poetry she cre...
Kylie Brown
Staff Writer
Kylie Brown is a junior political science and history double major. She has worked on many political campaigns, including Stacey Abrams' in 2018 and Pete Buttigieg's in 2020. This past summer, Kylie worked as an intern for The Borgen Project, a non-profit organization fighting global poverty. She also holds an active volunteering and education position with the Jon Ossoff campaign. Kylie hopes to one...
Mandi DeLong
Staff Writer
Mandi DeLong is a junior English major and double minor in journalism and film studies. This is her third year writing for The Cluster, and she currently interns downtown at Mercer University Press. In the future, Mandi hopes to work in publishing, either in fiction or journalism, and share the passion that she's discovered for herself. ...
Keith Holmes Jr.
Staff Writer
Keith Holmes Jr. is a junior double-majoring in journalism and creative writing. Keith was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and lived in both Alabama and Tennessee before returning to Atlanta. Keith has worked with The Cluster and Georgia Public Broadcasting since fall of 2020 as well as with the Macon Telegraph since the summer of 2020. Keith has also worked with Mercer's ESPN 3 affiliate since fall of 2018 and Mercer Athletics...
Jacqueline Lamothe
Staff Writer
Jacqueline Lamothe is a journalism major and graphic design minor. She is a part of many student organizations, such as the National Council of Negro Women, Student Government Organization, and Delight Ministries. She works alongside Mercer Marketing Communications as a student writer, whilst also running a graphic design business. She hopes to further expand her horizons within public relations and hopes to impact the wo...
Henry Keating
Staff Writer
Henry Keating is a freshman double-majoring in journalism and history. He wrote for his high school paper since freshman year, and has now graduated to writing for The Cluster. When Henry isn't digging into the news, he's usually listening to or playing music, skateboarding or reading.
Safia Serena Tejani
Staff Writer
Safia Serena Tejani is a sophomore double-majoring in philosophy, politics and economics and journalism on the pre-law track. Safia is a five-time Gold Recipient for the Presidential Service Award. Along with her accolades in service, she is part of several student organizations at Mercer including Mock Trial, MerClusion Student Government Council and Mercer’s Bollywood Fusion Dance Team Rangreli. In her...
Dean Yusuf
Staff Writer
Dean Yusuf is a sophomore media studies major at Mercer University. He is a graphic designer for The Cluster. He has been doing graphic design for The Cluster for two years now and working at Mercer ESPN for two years as well. Dean has been doing graphic design all over Mercer University from t-shirt designs to logos and plans on working with TEDxMU in spring 2021 in design and production.