Hi! My name is Landon Montgomery and I'm the Editor-in-Chief of Odyssey at SIUE! Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a public university just 30 minutes outside of St. Louis, Missouri. We take pride in our sports (even though we don't have football *gasp*) and student involvement. We have the privilege of bringing The Odyssey to SIUE and I have the honor of introducing you to our lovely staff and the many activities they are involved in and love to do!

Editor-in-Chief (me)

Like I said, my name is Landon Montgomery and I'm the Editor-in-Chief of Odyssey at SIUE. I'm also involved in the Emerging Leaders program, the council for my residence hall, and Sigma Pi Fraternity here at SIUE. I was born and raised in the small town of Florence, Alabama, and I am a freshman double major in Theater Performance and Mass Communications. I chose the combination of these majors because of my deep-rooted love for social interaction via acting and media. My favorite aspect of SIUE is the family that we create as a school. I have never felt more accepted and closer with a group of people than I do with my fellow students. I would describe my writing style as "Mambo No. 5 Style" because there is a little bit of everything in it. If I could do anything I wanted to do right now, it would be to go see Hamilton on Broadway. (Go Lin-Manuel Miranda!)

Contributing Editor

Eddie Siemer

Eddie Siemer (far right) is the Contributing Editor of Odyssey at SIUE. He is from Teutopolis, Illinois, and he is a Criminal Justice/Political Science major because he would eventually like to attend law school to follow in both his father and grandfather's footsteps. His favorite part about SIUE is the Greek life. He likes to meet people, and Greek life allows him to do that while having more opportunities to do a greater amount of community service and philanthropy. He's been told that he is the Ernest Hemingway of his generation — his work is usually long, tedious and something you only read if you have to. If he could do anything he wanted to do right now, he would go to sleep because he wrote this at 4:40 a.m.

Social Media Director

Alyssa Tite

Alyssa Tite is the Social Media Director of Odyssey at SIUE. She is from Bethalto, Illinois, and she is a double major in Dance Performance and Mass Communications. Dance is her passion — she has been involved in it since the age of three. She chose to double major with Mass Communications because she is interested in social media and how it is an ever-changing part of our society today. Alyssa's favorite part about SIUE is the Greek community where she is a member of Alpha Phi. She has never been a part of such a great group of people. She describes her writing style as "sassy advice." If she could do anything she wanted to do with her life right now, she would move to New York and join a dance company while she works from home in her beautiful city-view apartment... Nothing too specific.

Photographer

Alexandra Tisch

Alexandra Tisch is the Photographer of Odyssey at SIUE. She is from Chillicothe, Illinois, and is undecided on her major because she is still looking for a major that combines all of her interests in photography, writing, baking and health. Her favorite part of SIUE is the nature and people because it gives her a chance to work on her photography. She would describe her style of writing as inspirational and uplifting with a sense of sarcasm, depending on what she is writing about. If she could do anything she wanted to do right now, she would travel the world working for National Geographic where she can take pictures of the world and have them featured in their magazine.

Writers

Maddie Barra

Maddie Barra is a writer for Odyssey at SIUE. She is from Pekin, Illinois, and is a Psychology major because she loves to learn and understand why humans behave the way they do. Her favorite part about SIUE is the atmosphere of the campus: a nice mixture of serious academics and a relaxed college experience. She enjoys writing in a way that keeps people thinking and questioning. If she could do anything she wanted to do right now, she would travel the world and experience different cultures.

Lexie Noyes

Lexie Noyes is a writer for Odyssey at SIUE. She is from Springfield, Illinois, and a Mass Communications major because she is intrigued by advertising and the way people are influenced by it. Her favorite part about being at SIUE is all of the connections she has made through student organizations. She describes her writing style as very personal. It can be humorous at times, but she feels like she writes best on serious topics such as life and relationships. If she could do anything she wanted to do right now, she would fly to Spain.

Liam Biesiada

Liam Biesiada is a writer for Odyssey at SIUE.

Taylor Kelly

Taylor Kelly is a writer for Odyssey at SIUE. She was born in Tucson, Arizona, but she considers herself to be from many places due to the fact that she has lived in many different places throughout life. She is a double major in Theater Performance and Sociology because these are two fields she is passionate about, and she feels like she could make a good career with the combination of the two. She loves being at SIUE because she gets the full college experience and is still close enough to her family if she wants or needs to go home. Taylor describes her writing style as understandable and she really enjoys writing humorous pieces that coincide with her personality. If she could do anything she wanted to do right now, she would be having coffee with Matt Healy from The 1975 and her best friend Olivia.

Haley Eads

Haley Eads is a writer for Odyssey at SIUE. She is from Prairie du Rocher, Illinois, and is a Speech Language Pathology major specializing in cleft palates because she wants to help and work with children who have become late developers in speech due to physical issues of the facial region, reconstruction or not. She loves SIUE because of the campus. It is a large mass of area with so much to explore. There is always something new to see. Haley describes her writing style as motivating and something everyone can relate to. If she could do anything that she wanted to do right now, she would start her dream career.

Amanda Luebke

Amanda Luebke is a writer for Odyssey at SIUE. She is from St. Louis, Missouri, and is a Mass Communications major because she enjoys writing and believes that it is a good way to share information and ideas. She loves SIUE because it is the perfect size university and is still close to home while still allowing her to feel independent. Amanda tries to be optimistic in her writing and likes to make sure that people feel good after reading one of her articles. If she could do anything that she wanted to do right now, she would travel the world, no doubt.

Olivia Mangiaracino

Olivia Mangiaracino is a writer for Odyssey at SIUE. She is from Granite City, Illinois, and she is a Mass Communications major because she enjoys talking to people and understanding them. Her favorite thing about SIUE is that she feels like she fits here. She describes her writing style as having a serious tone most of the time, but she also enjoys writing satire. If she could do anything she wanted to do right now, she would travel the world.

Dylan Owens

Dylan Owens is a writer for Odyssey at SIUE. He is from Heyworth, Illinois, and is an undecided major leaning towards English because he loves to write. His favorite part about SIUE is the environment because it provides big school opportunities with the feeling of a small school. Dylan describes his writing style as a mix of fact and opinion. If he could do anything he wanted to do right now, he would travel the world and learn about the cultures of the world firsthand.