Living ArtsEngine 2023-24 Student Leaders

Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA

Major: Art & Design

Molly is returning to the LivingArts Engine community for her senior year and could not be more excited! An LAE alum and former peer mentor, she now serves as a second-year RA while pursuing her passions in graphic design, illustration, and 2D animation at the Stamps School of Art & Design. Outside of the community and classes, Molly unwinds with crime shows, lively conversations, and the quest for the perfect dad joke to add to her growing collection.

Hey! My name is Parker Mathena and I am a senior student studying computer science at the College of Engineering. The areas of computer science I’m most interested in are software development, machine learning, game development, and app development. Outside of school, I really like solving Rubik’s cubes, playing soccer, cooking, playing video games, and traveling. Along with being an RA, I am an Instructional Assistant (IA) for EECS 280. I really enjoy working with 280, feel free to ask me anything about 280 or CS!

Brendan Nestle is a second-year Engineering student and returning to the Living ArtsEngine community as a peer mentor. Majoring in Robotics, he enjoys coding and creative problem solving. Outside of his major, some of his interests are animation, ASL, playing games, and reading.

Charleson Shuart is a returning member of the Living ArtsEngine community, coming back for a second year as a peer mentor and is excited to meet and help the new members of our MLC! He is majoring in Computer Engineering, and is a second year at U-M. During this year he is continuing his engineering path and furthering his creativity and technique in fields such as photography, writing, digital art, video editing, and voice acting, as well as his classes in the College of Engineering. You’ll often find him around campus and in the Creative Suite, and he is willing to answer any questions and show you some of the secrets of Ann Arbor!

Hi everyone! I’m Kim Gurwin, a second year student in the college of engineering. I’m studying robotics with an emphasis on hardware and mechanics. I returned this year as one of LAE’s peer mentors. Outside of school I enjoy crafting and 3D modeling, playing clarinet, and creative writing.

As a peer mentor in LAE this year, I look forward to meeting new people and forming long-lasting friendships. I’m a second-year Stamps student studying Art and Design and trying to minor in the costume track in Theatre Design and Production. I joined LAE because I love watching the different disciplines come together and create something cohesive! Aside from LAE, I love talking with others while making art, hiking, and looking at others’ (art)work.

I am a senior who has been a part of Living ArtsEngine since 2020 and am super excited for this year! I have so many ideas to bring to this community and hope I will be able to share them all with you. I am majoring in Art and Design at STAMPS and have a concentration in film, animation and photography. In my free time, I like playing video games, cats and listening to music.

Emma Oestmann is a second-year student at the University, and this is her second year as a part of the Living ArtsEngine community! Having graduated from LAE last year, she now joins the community as a member of the student programming board. In addition to planning events for this year’s community, she studies architecture at Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning and environmental sciences and Spanish through LSA. Her interests include dancing, singing, books, music, and the arts!

Hi y’all, I’m Clara Ballard and I am very excited for my first year of Programming Board. I am a sophomore in Robotics through the College of Engineering. In my free time I like to go on hikes, play lyre, 3D print stuff, play D&D, and visit my cats.

I’m Aubrey Lockwood (She/They). I’m a sophomore in LSA and entering the School of Information. I’m from Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. When I have time outside class, I do a bit of writing about media and common themes I see, and I’m passionate about environmentalism and community.