Contributing Columnists
Colby Seymore
Degree:
Media Studies
Position:
Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, Op-ed Columnist, Full Time Staff
University of California – Berkeley
Colby Gray Seymore is the Editor in Chief and Op-Ed writer of the Agora Project Magazine, and one of the original founders. He is a graduate from U.C. Berkeley, 2011, with a Media Studies Degree, concentrated in political media. Registered independent, but likes to see himself as a full on Pragmatist.
Has worked as Media Relations Manager for Congressional and State Assembly Candidates and interned at CBS KPIX 5 as a Production Assistant. Plans to go to graduate school for a masters Journalism or Strategic Relations. Was the Media Historian Officer for prominent Liberty affiliated political club at U.C. Berkeley.
Interests include Cal Golden Bear Football and Basketball and is an Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Angels and San Diego Chargers fan. He also highly likes the works of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. Huge fan of Penn Jillette. Also thinks he’s pretty funny.
Charlene K. Petitjean-Barkulis
Degree:
Media Studies
Position:
Co-Founder, Chief Copy Editor, Full Time Staff, Features Columnist
University of California – Berkeley
Charlene K Petitjean-Barkulis is an editor, Op-Ed writer, and one of the original founders of Agora Project Magazine. She recently graduated from U.C. Berkeley with a degree in Media Studies and also completed a minor in Conservation and Resource Studies, with a focus in human ecology, environmental philosophy, and public health. She will also attend the Graduate Journalism School at Columbia University starting Fall 2012, with a concentration in Magazine writing and a prospective emphasis on environmental and science journalism.
Originally from France, Charlene moved to the United States in 2006 to start her undergraduate education from scratch. She interned as a Production Assistant for a French TV Channel, Canal +, as a PR Assistant for Thomas Marko, a French PR agency specialized in lifestyle and fashion, and as an Event Marketing Assistant for HP France. While a student at U.C. Berkeley, she interned for the ASUC (Associated Students of the University of California, Berkeley) as a P.R. assistant and worked as an Arts & Entertainment Reporter for the Daily Californian. Her goal is to eventually become a journalist specialized in environmental, agricultural, and public health issues.
Her interests include writing, photography, singing, cooking and baking, and tennis. She carries an unconditional love for cats (especially hers) and dogs (especially boxers). She doesn’t affiliate with any specific political party, but sees herself as a moderate liberal with subtle communitarian and green aspirations (if this makes sense).
Eliana Amundson
Degree:
Classical Vocal Performance and Business (Emphasis in Public Relations)
Position:
Op-ed Columnist, Full Time Staff
L.A. Valley College
Eliana Amundson is a student at L.A. Valley College double majoring in Classical Vocal Performance and Business with an emphasis in Public Relations. She has plans on transferring to the USC Marshall School of Business while continuing a formal music education. Eliana is a democrat and has a large interest in politics. She enjoys challenging people to political debates just to hear their viewpoint. . After visiting Israel and the Middle East this summer, she strongly believes in adequately and clearly defining and separating the line between church and state. Her daily morning routine evolves sipping a fresh cup of coffee while flipping through four different news stations at once, absorbing and analyzing everything that has to be said about politics and the world around us.
Eliana works for internet radio station SmoothJazz.com as a Global Music Marketing specialist. She is a classically trained opera singer, and when she is not watching the news or practicing her voice or piano, she enjoys body surfing at the beach, going to the gym, and watching her favorite funky jazz groups.
Finn Hutton
Degree:
German/Dutch
Position:
Op-ed Columnist, Full Time Staff
University of California – Berkeley
Finn Hutton is an Op-Ed Writer for the Agora Magazine Project. A graduate of the Univeristy of California, Berkeley in 2011 in the department of German, he concentrated his time researching about Muslim Immigration in Western Europe, about which he wrote an senior honor’s thesis. As a former leftist, he was politically active in European politics while he lived in Germany after graduating high school, but became interested in Libertarian politics and the Austrian School of Economics after the Financial Crisis of 2008 and the TARP bailout. Finn is interested in foreign languages and Philadelphia Phillies baseball.
Miles Kellerman
Degree:
Political Science, Earning Certificates in African and European Studies
Position:
Op-ed Columnist, Full Time Staff
University of Wisconsin – Madison
Miles Kellerman is an opinion writer at The Daily Cardinal, the University of Wisconsin’s independent student newspaper, and will be serving as Opinion Editor in Fall 2011. He is a sophomore majoring in political science, and earning certificates (minors) in European Studies and African studies. Miles is registered as an independent, and considers himself ideologically pragmatic in every sense of the word.
During the summer of 2011, Miles will be interning in British Parliament while studying politics and diplomacy at the London School of Economics. His major interests lie primarily in international diplomacy, global economy and intergovernmental organizations. Plans to pursue a Masters degree in Public Policy concentrating in internal affairs post-graduation. Miscellaneous interests include Wisconsin Badgers football, rooting for Manchester United and beer-tasting.
Reza Mikhaeil
Position:
Bi-Monthly Op-ed Columnist/Hip-hop Intellectual, Part Time Staff
Reza Mikhaeil is an op-ed feature writer for the Agora Project Magazine. He was raised with a religious background and has been studying Christian and Islamic Theology for more then a decade. Reza spent a short amount of time at a Protestant Bible College, where he had met his wife Amanda. His moral opinions that were established as a young adult, were inspired by both Christian and Islamic writers.
Reza became interested in an abundance of political and policy issues such as human rights, religion, economics, history and more fueled by his deep seeded skepticism, as most political interested and personally claimed “hip-hop intellectuals” are. In his opinion the issues raised with Hip-Hop Culture are the same issues espoused by the Libertarian ideology. This deals with but is not confined to issues of economic prosperity, transparent and reduced government, self reliance, freedom and liberty, competition, and personal spirituality. A father of three daughters of whom he takes care of and works as a independent musician we are excited to have Reza on board as our first op-ed bi-monthly feature writer.
Kyle Riddles
Degree:
Economics/Philosophy
Position:
Featured Specialist: Economics and Law, Part Time Staff
Southern Methodist University – Dallas
Kyle Riddles is a Featured Specialist Writer for the Agora Project Magazine. He is currently attending Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas where he is double majoring in economics and philosophy. He is considering attending law school after he graduates in May of 2012. Kyle is a libertarian who finds an interest in politics and is dedicated to changing the political status quo. He enjoys challenging others on their current beliefs, while being open to their ideas and opinions.
Kyle has worked with RealtyTrac based in Irvine, California. His positions included Data Acquisitions Associate and Human Resources Intern. His interests include Dallas Stars Hockey, guitar, and enjoying life.
Matt Shapiro
Degree:
Comparative Religion
Position:
Featured Specialist: Comparative Religion and Sciences, Part Time Staff
University of Washington – Seattle
Matt Shapiro is a Featured Specialist Writer in Religion and Science for the Agora Project Magazine. He is currently attending the University of Washington in Seattle, where he is majoring in comparative religion and he hopes to attend medical school after he graduates in June of 2012. When asked, Matt defines himself as a libertarian, but he does not feel as if that title provides enough of a description to fully explain his views and opinions. He was raised in a reformed Jewish household, but he no longer believes in the idea of organized religion.
Matt has worked with California Stem Cell based in Irvine, California as well as the Brenowitz and Storm Laboratories in Seattle, Washington. He will be presenting his research at the Society for Neuroscience’s annual meeting in November in Washington D.C. His interests include the government’s role in scientific research, international regulations on religion, the underlying principles of religion, music, and the Washington Huskies.
Serge Sarkissian
Degree:
Political Science
Position:
Featured Specialist: Part Time Staff
University of California – Berkeley
Serge Sarkissian is an op-ed columnist for the Agora Project Magazine, residing in the Los Angeles area. Outside of writing he spends his time as a political consultant specializing in grassroots efforts on the state and federal level. Though a member of the Republican Party, Serge attributes his political views to classical liberalism.
Having graduated from UC Berkeley in 2010 with a degree in Political Science, Serge wants to continue his career in consulting and hopes to dissolve political apathy in his generation, the generations after him, and even those before. When not busy politicking he enjoys Olympic weightlifting, interval training, nutrition, concerts (particularly at the Hollywood Bowl) and oenology.
Additional Contributing Columnists
Ken Montgomery
Principal, Montgomery Pacific Group
Position:
Senior Contributing Columnist
University of California – Berkeley
Ken Montgomery is a senior corporate communications executive with over 15 years experience in an array of organizations and industries including for and non-profit, public and private, start-ups and Fortune 50 companies. He is a proud alumnus of the University of California, Berkeley where he studied Classic Civilizations with an emphasis in Ancient Greek and Roman athletics. When asked “Why Classics?” he responds “To tap into the booming classics industry.”
Montgomery has varied interests and experiences including having lived in Malawi, Africa where he taught high school and led the fundraising efforts to build a new secondary and vocational school. He later served as president of the board of the US nonprofit, Malawi Children’s Village, overseeing efforts to provide life assistance for over 3,500 orphans in the Mangochi District of Malawi.
In his spare time he can be found at the beach, taking in theater and concerts, traveling, feasting on Mexican food and rooting on his beloved CAL Bears to an eventual Rose Bowl berth.
Agora Online Admin
Chasen Seymore
Position:
Website Administrator/Designer, Full Time Staff
Art Institute of California
Chasen Seymore is the guy behind the scenes of the Agora Project Magazine. He is a graduate at both the Art Institute of Los Angeles in Interactive Media Design also holds an MBA in Marketing from Argosy University. Considered by most to be a pretty darn nice guy, unlike the Agora Project crew, plans on never going back to school, but is always learning new tricks of the trade every day in his field. Since this is a political site, his political stance is that of a Libertarian lean.
Chasen enjoys spending time with his new wife Krysta, cooking inordinate amount of food for weekend breakfasts, and playing electronic music way too loud while dancing and designing.
