Bluhm Scholars 2025-26 Cohort

Julianne Braunstein is a senior at Hunter College double majoring in Classical Archaeology and Anthropology with a minor in Archaeology. She is passionate about the study of the ancient world, with a particular focus on Greece, Rome, and the Etruscans. After graduation, Julianne hopes to further her education by attending graduate school and obtaining an MA in Classical Archaeology or Anthropology.

Evelyn Gallegos is a junior majoring in Classical Archaeology and minoring in Computer Science. They are also pursuing a certificate in spatial data science. In addition to the Bluhm Scholars Program, Evelyn is also a part of the Athena Scholars and Thomas Hunter Honors programs. They are interested in exploring the application of digital methods and technology in the study of archaeology.

Amelia Jaime is a senior at Hunter College, majoring in Classical Archeology with a minor in Anthropology. Her post-graduation interests are obtaining an MA in forensic studies, with a concentration in Human Identity and Trauma Analysis. Her fascination with the mysterious study of human remains stems from a lifelong love of mysteries and crime stories.

Sarah Joyce Koch is a Macaulay and Thomas Hunter Honors senior double-majoring in Latin and Hebrew with a minor in English. A dedicated Classics student, she deeply appreciates the mentorship, networking, and academic enrichment experiences made possible by the Bluhm Scholars Program. Her particular research interests are largely language-based, and she is specifically writing her honors thesis as the latest stage in her years-long passion project analyzing the unique Latinitas of Heloise’s earlier and later letters to Peter Abelard. At the same time, she is applying to PhD programs in medieval Latin philology, where she hopes to develop her undergraduate work on Heloise into a larger, more in-depth study. She is grateful for the many opportunities provided by Bluhm Scholars Program.

Seonin (Sunny) Lee is a senior at Hunter, double-majoring in Classical Studies and Psychology. She is both a Bluhm Scholar and an Athena Honors Scholar. After graduating, Sunny wishes to pursue higher education and earn a masters degree in occupational therapy, to help people in the healthcare profession. In her free time, she loves visiting museums around the city.

Jackson McAloon is a junior majoring in Classical Archaeology with a minor in Anthropology. His specific interests within Classics include religious and mythological iconography in art as well as the role of the mystery cults in the Hellenic world. After graduating from Hunter, he plans to continue this research at the graduate level.

Emily Montanez is a junior majoring in Classical Studies with minors in Physics and Mathematics. Originally coming from an Astrophysics background, Emily became captivated by the ancient world after being introduced to Homeric epic and Classical mythology. Now studying Classics, she plans to earn a PhD in the field and eventually share her passion for the subject as a professor. Her research interests center on Homeric epic and Greek women in antiquity, particularly their roles in religion, tragedy, and myth.

Scarlett Peña is a junior pursuing a major in Classical Studies and a minor in Film. She is interested in mythological works of literature and different interpretations of them. Scarlett intends to pursue a career in education and work for film productions having to do with antiquity, whether by providing consultancy services or writing them for the screen.

Lily Rhoades is a junior currently pursuing a double major in Classical Archaeology and Studio Art. She is specifically interested in the field of marine archaeology and the use of digital technologies for artifact and site documentation, especially underwater. Once she graduates, she hopes to seek an MA in archaeology.

Ariana Alma Rivera is a senior majoring in Classical Archaeology and minoring in Psychology. Ariana is primarily interested in studying the iconography of Hellenistic statuary as a reflection of the ancient Greeks’ evolving cultural and religious ideals. She is currently involved in an independent study where she is researching the Sleeping Eros statue at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, as being reflective of the Greeks’ changing understanding of the god’s simultaneous dual nature, due to Plato’s introduction of erotic paideia within his Symposium. Post-graduation, she wants to pursue a PhD in classical art and archaeology with the goal of eventually becoming a professor.

Isabella Ross is a junior majoring in Classical Studies. Her specific interests include literature and religion within the ancient Greek world. Her interest in the history of the ancient Greek world focuses primarily on the Bronze Age and Archaic periods, although not limited to just these periods. After graduating, she plans to pursue further education.

Aleksandra Rotterdam is a junior majoring in both History and Classical Studies. Her ambitions are wide-ranging and high-reaching. Her current aspirations focus on pursuing a political office and creating more effective, engaging, and immersive ways to communicate history (particularly the stories of unsung heroes, quiet rebellions, and impactful string-pullers that have been decidedly wiped from the narrative by their detractors), in hopes of changing the future by altering the public's propagandized perception of the past. She also hopes to maintain a level of creative output in her career(s), whether that be via creative or historical photography, fashion, or even commissioned paintings as a side gig.

Hazel Savenay-Burley is a senior majoring in Classical Studies and minoring in Religious Studies. She is primarily interested in languages and is currently studying both Latin and Greek. After graduating from Hunter, she would like to attend law school.

Alexandra Shatan is a junior at Hunter College, majoring in Classical Archaeology. Her interests span across the classical world, including: Bronze Age Greece, ancient religion and ritual, and the lives of children in antiquity. Upon graduation, she is considering pursuing a master’s degree in either Art History and Archaeology, or in Prose Writing. In her free time, she enjoys writing fiction, collecting old cameras, and playing with her two pet dogs.

Andrew Zaharakis is a junior who is majoring in Classical Archaeology. He is particularly interested in studying the history and politics of the Hellenistic world. After getting his bachelor’s degree, he plans on continuing his studies in graduate school before going on to become an archaeologist.