Go-getter.Trend-spotter. Thorough researcher. Creative writer.

I’m a creative problem solver with an analytical mind who has a knack for generating compelling insights. I believe that questions beget questions. My favorite questions are simple ones with complex answers: Why do we believe the things we do? What makes people tick?

I created Fray Magazine—Wesleyan University’s first-ever fashion publication—in the midst of the pandemic. When I first stepped foot on Wesleyan's campus, I was immediately struck by the eclectic clothes students wore—they loved to express themselves through dress. But I soon learned that Wesleyan didn't have a fashion magazine to inspire, share, and shape trends on campus. With this observation, I found room in the community—a gap—for something I made my personal project. I knew Wesleyan’s fashion and lifestyle magazine had to reflect our creative, innovative, crafty, and diverse student-body. Considering these core pillars helped me and my team build a magazine brand that was inclusive, that was style-centric, that celebrated independent designers, and that embraced the slow-fashion movement.  Fray Magazine was based on a simple insight and I am proud to say that it is now a name-stay at Wesleyan University. I believe that sometimes the most important insights come from the simplest observations, and can result in action that impacts community and reverberates.

My words can also be found in CR Fashion Book. At heart, I am a storyteller pop-culture aficionado.

Combining my passion for writing, my intellectual curiosity, and my degree in Sociology from Wesleyan University, I am exploring the field of strategy. Currently I am an Associate Strategist with Imagination, working alongside, and learning from, some of the smartest and most innovative minds in the business. As a creative strategist, I am determined to tell stories and build experiences that push culture forward.

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CONTACT:

ZZELKEN@WESLEYAN.EDU