Graphic Design and Layout Editor
Mary Jordan is a Graphic Design and Layout Editor for The Experience Exchange. In the summer of 2023, she interned as a graphic designer and founded GreenLife, a youth environmental advocacy group in her hometown of Spartanburg, South Carolina. At Washington and Lee University, she serves as an Eco-Representative, is an executive member of SPEAK, and is a member of Kappa Alpha Theta. Her passion lies in creating beautiful visuals that bring stories to life.
In her role at The Experience Exchange, Mary Jordan focuses on page layouts, organizing and crafting eye-catching graphics to enhance the magazine’s visual appeal.
She believes in authenticity and innovative thinking, striving to engage readers in the writers’ experiences through her contributions to the magazine.
Founder & Editor-in-Chief
Sofia is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Experience Exchange. She blends her passions for nature, entrepreneurship, and community engagement to foster deeper connections between people and the environment. Her journey in impact-driven leadership began at age 16 when she founded Hats4Healing Corp., a nonprofit providing handmade hats to pediatric cancer patients. Now a student-athlete at Washington & Lee University, she explores the intersection of sustainable business and the psychological benefits of nature immersion.
She brings expertise in nonprofit management, business development, editorial leadership, and environmental advocacy.At The Experience Exchange, she leads a team in crafting thought-provoking content, securing funding, and organizing events that promote environmental stewardship.
Her mission is to combat the “extinction of experience” by reconnecting communities with nature through storytelling, reflection, and immersive exploration.
Writer
Nora is a writer for The Experience Exchange whose work explores the intersection of language, education, and the environment. She brings experience in journalism, creative writing, and literary editing, with past contributions to Ampersand, FCPS Community News, and Shenandoah Literary Magazine.
As a student of Environmental Studies and English, she strives to create thoughtful, accessible stories that connect readers to nature and the people working to protect it.
Nora believes that environmental education begins with love for the natural world, and that writing can be a powerful tool for change.
Graphic Designer
Easterly is a graphic designer for The Experience Exchange with a passion for storytelling through layout and design. She has previously designed for InGeneral, The Eagle Edition, and Itinerary, combining visuals and prose to create immersive reading experiences.
Her role centers on visual storytelling—integrating photography, illustration, and thoughtful layout to bring student work to life.
Easterly believes in using design to amplify voices and create visual narratives that connect readers with nature and creativity.
Editor
Hudson is an editor at The Experience Exchange who brings a passion for outdoor adventure and a strong editorial eye.He enjoys hiking, camping, kayaking, skiing, and other outdoor pursuits, which fuel his commitment to environmental storytelling.
While not a writer by nature, Hudson excels in helping contributors shape their work with consistent structure, tone, and clarity. He ensures that each piece published offers the best possible experience for readers.
Hudson believes in the value of getting outside and hopes the magazine will inspire others to care more deeply for the natural world and experience it firsthand.
Writer and Editor
Charlie is a writer and editor for The Experience Exchange whose work focuses on environmental policy, global sustainability, and political economy. He has written for The Jungle Journal, an environmental nonprofit, and conducted thesis research on the political ecology of the green energy transition.
Charlie’s work examines the impacts of climate change and extractive industries on marginalized communities, particularly in Latin America.
He believes the ecological crisis demands urgent, collective action and hopes to inspire readers with clear, grounded writing on the challenges ahead.
Graphic Design, Illustration, Photography, Editing
Carolyn is a graphic designer and illustrator for The Experience Exchange. With a background in journalism and visual arts, she has received Scholastic photography awards and served on various editorial boards.
She contributes illustrations, design work, and photography that help readers view the world through a more intentional and appreciative lens.
Carolyn believes that people and nature were made for each other, and her creative work strives to highlight the inherent beauty in both.
Writer & Photographer
Lily is a writer and photographer for The Experience Exchange with a gift for storytelling rooted in place. A 2023 and 2024 IES Abroad Blogger and social media correspondent, she blends narrative and photography to highlight the beauty of nature and travel.
As an English major, Lily draws inspiration from her time abroad and her upbringing on Cape Cod. Her work is deeply personal, persuasive, and focused on fostering a sense of wildness and connection.
Lily believes in the restorative power of nature and encourages outdoor immersion as a pathway to individual and collective well-being.
Editor, Writer, and Photographer
Calla is an editor, writer, and photographer for The Experience Exchange with a strong foundation in storytelling and visual media. She has held multiple editorial positions on her high school yearbook staff and won recognition for her creative writing.
Calla contributes articles about local outdoor destinations and captures the natural world through her photography. She also supports the editing process to ensure quality across the magazine.
She believes that helping people build positive relationships with nature is key to inspiring environmental stewardship.
India ’27
Writer & Photographer
India is a writer and photographer for The Experience Exchange whose work is deeply inspired by the natural world. Her favorite subjects to photograph are sunrises and sunsets, though she’s equally drawn to trees and the subtle ways they change throughout the day and across seasons. Her writing, often in the form of poetry, explores both her inner world and the beauty of every living being around her. Through this blend of observation and emotion, India helps the magazine fulfill its mission of inviting readers into personal experiences with nature and encouraging them to explore the world for themselves.
She is a double major in Environmental Studies (climate change track) and Politics. At Washington and Lee University, she serves as a Facilitator Coordinator for the Women’s Leadership Team and is a leader of the Caribbean Club (IRIE). She also volunteers at Campus Kitchen and has hands-on experience analyzing volcanic materials, including igneous rocks.
India believes in the power of art and storytelling to deepen our connection with nature. Her poetry and photography strive to capture both beauty and struggle while amplifying diverse voices and perspectives—values at the heart of The Experience Exchange.
Kaia ’27
Writer & Editor
Kaia is a writer and editor for The Experience Exchange whose work is deeply inspired by nature. Enthusiastic about poetry, she draws creative energy from outdoor experiences—whether it’s a hike, a sunset, or a fleeting encounter with wildlife. While much of her writing is rooted in personal reflection, she also enjoys crafting research essays and articles that expand the magazine’s thematic range.
As an English major at Washington and Lee University, Kaia also serves as the Social Media Manager for the Francophone Student Organization (FSO). Outside of academics, she engages in editing and copywriting projects. Within the magazine, she focuses on literary research and creative writing, contributing imaginative narratives that reflect both the beauty of nature and the emotional connections it fosters.
Kaia believes that everyone can benefit from cultivating a love for the natural world. She sees kindness, collaboration, and adventure as essential to thriving communities, and she strives to use her writing to inspire readers to embrace the outdoors—both for personal growth and mental well-being.
Writer
Rhonica is a poet and writer for The Experience Exchange whose work centers on Caribbean identity, culture, and connection. She has written and presented poetry for the Caribbean Festival of the Arts (2019), contributed to True Anguilla magazine, and written for Ring-Tum Phi, Washington and Lee’s student newspaper. Her passion lies in using art as a way to share and preserve the richness of Anguillian life.
Now living in the U.S., Rhonica has grown even more committed to celebrating her heritage through writing. Her work highlights the beauty and complexity of Caribbean culture, often incorporating dialect and cultural references to invite readers into the traditions of Anguilla.
She focuses on poetry that not only entertains but also educates and empowers—offering a fresh, diverse perspective. Rhonica believes that art can transform worldviews, and she hopes her work fosters cultural empathy, understanding, and pride.
Through her poetry, she aims to “big up” her home—sharing the most cherished parts of Anguilla with readers around the world.
Meg ’27
Writer & Editor
Meg is a writer and editor for The Experience Exchange whose love for the outdoors is deeply rooted in her upbringing in rural Pennsylvania and New Hampshire. From gardening with locally-grown produce to preserving wildflowers found on hikes, her connection to nature is a source of inspiration and joy. Writing about her experiences in nature has allowed her to share that joy with others—strengthening both community and curiosity through storytelling.
As an English major at Washington and Lee University, Meg typically focuses on academic writing, but The Experience Exchange has given her the opportunity to branch into more narrative and creative nonfiction work. She draws on nearly four years of experience working in a historically accurate 18th-century Medicinal Kitchen Garden to inform her writing on herbs, plants, and seasonal traditions.
Meg believes nature has an abundance to offer—from mood-boosting time outdoors to ingredients for nourishing, seasonal recipes. Her mission is to encourage others to explore, learn, and grow through their own experiences in the natural world.
Townsend ’23
Writer (Alumni Contributor)
Townsend is an alumni contributor to The Experience Exchange and a member of Washington and Lee University’s Class of 2023. In the fall of 2024, she returned to campus as the Outing Club Specialist—a role that allowed her to reconnect with the W&L community and immerse herself in the vibrant culture of outdoor engagement. During this time, she also participated in The Experience Exchange meetings and contributed reflections on the Outing Club’s impact.
Currently, Townsend is serving as an agriculture volunteer with the Peace Corps in Nepal. Her passion lies in immersive, hands-on experiences—from App Adventure and PE180 to studying abroad and spending a year in New Zealand. She sees these moments as life’s most transformative, and she encourages others to pursue opportunities that challenge and inspire.
Townsend believes that it’s through direct, meaningful experience that we gain the confidence and capacity to support others and lead positive change. She looks forward to staying connected with The Experience Exchange and continuing to share her journey.
Adelaide ’25
Editor
Adelaide is an editor for The Experience Exchange, majoring in English and Business Administration at Washington and Lee University. She works at the W&L Writing Center and has interned with Shenandoah, the university’s literary magazine. Beyond her editorial pursuits, Adelaide is also a music minor and recently gave her senior recital as a soprano, performing selected works by Obradors, Handel, and Pergolesi. She loves any opportunity to travel and enjoy the outdoors.
Adelaide specializes in helping contributors polish their writing to share their experiences in the most engaging and authentic way possible.
She believes that both writing and nature hold all the beauty a soul may need.
Celeste ’28
Graphic Design and Layout Editor
Hi, I’m Celeste Silva-Carrillo, a Graphic Designer for the Experience Exchange. I’m an intended English and CBSC double major with a minor in Art History, and I work as a University Ambassador. I enjoy writing about nature, either through prose or poetry, in my free time and being outdoors for inspiration on my next writing piece.
I focus on creating meaningful graphics that accurately represent the magazine and its partners with the aim of delivering an authentic look into the brilliance of nature and its resources. I believe in the unifying and introspective qualities of the outdoors that inspire and heal, and I hope to encourage others through my contributions in the Experience Exchange to find those experiences.