ABOUT US
MEET THE EDITORIAL TEAM & STAFF
ISABEL OKINEDO
Editor-in-Chief
Isabel is a senior from Huntsville, Alabama majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in Spanish. In addition to being Editor-in-Chief of New Dawn, she is the Chair of the Vanderbilt NAACP Social Justice Committee, and is currently working on a research project in a neuroscience lab as well as a research project in a cellular biology lab. She loves art and fashion, and in her free time, she enjoys watching random documentaries, writing prose pieces, and reading.
ISABEL OKINEDO
isabel.okinedo@vanderbilt.edu
JORDAN BALKCOM
Managing Editor
Jordan is a Sophomore from Atlanta, GA majoring in Communication Studies and Law, History, and Society. On campus, she is also involved in Vanderbilt's chapter of Toastmasters International, Melanated A Capella, and is a TAP mentor. In her free time, Jordan enjoys reading and creative writing, music, and coaching a girl's volleyball team.
JORDAN BALKCOM
jordan.t.balkcom@vanderbilt.edu
Miquéla is a senior from Chicagoish, Illinois, double majoring in Creative Writing and Communication of Science and Technology. She enjoys writing fiction and poetry, eating ice-cream, roller-skating and painting. On campus she is also an opinion writer for The Hustler, formerly serving as the Opinion Editor, and is the Creative Arts Director of the McGill Project. Miquéla loves having the opportunity to showcase Vanderbilt's Black creatives and hopes to one day have best-selling novels that showcase Black characters that don't typically appear in literary fiction.
MIQUÉLA THORNTON
miquela.v.thornton@vanderbilt.edu
MIQUÉLA THORNTON
Website Designer
Sarah Beth Huntley is a Sophomore from Clanton, AL double majoring in Cinema & Media Arts and English. She is interested in creative writing, filmmaking, and all things artistic. On campus she is also a College Scholar in the College of Arts and Sciences, a member of Vanderbilt Video Productions, and a Service Desk Assistant at Central Library. She loves writing for New Dawn because it allows her to collaborate with other Black students and do the thing she loves most — write.
SARAH BETH HUNTLEY
sarah.elizabeth.k.huntley@vanderbilt.edu
SARAH BETH HUNTLEY
Junior Managing Editor
JaHyne is a junior from Memphis, Tennessee. He is currently majoring in Chemistry with aspirations to go to pharmacy school. JaHyne has been writing poetry since 6th grad and enjoys writing in his free time. He also enjoys basketball, talking about the stock market, trying new food, and listening to Partynextdoor. On-campus, he is involved in the Questbridge organization as a mentor, a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, a part of VU pointe ballet, and a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.
JAHYNE (J.J.) JOHNSON
jahyne.j.johnson@vanderbilt.edu
JAHYNE (J.J.) JOHNSON
Staff Poet
Who We Are
New Dawn is an online magazine highlighting Black life and experiences in the Vanderbilt community. The publication serves as a news source through covering events happening on campus, in the community, and around the world. Additionally, New Dawn is a creative outlet through featuring Black creatives in our Arts & Culture section.
Established in 2018, New Dawn follows in the footsteps of various publications dedicated to Black Vanderbilt students. The publication is currently under the Bishop Joseph Johnson Black Cultural Center.
Want to be part of the team? New Dawn accepts applications and submissions on a rolling basis. If interested, please fill out this Google Form. For questions email editor-in-chief.
COMMENT SECTION POLICY
New Dawn welcomes and encourages readers to engage with content and express opinions through the comments section on our website and social media platforms. New Dawn reserves the right to block or remove comments which contain vulgarity, hate speech, personal attacks or appear to be spam or commercial promotion, as determined by the editorial team. Both our website and social media are moderated by the editorial team.
