Travel Muse Magazine

Lindsey – Writer

Lindsey is passionate about travel and food. A graduating senior at the University of Michigan, she spent a semester studying abroad in Florence, Italy and traveling all throughout Europe. Lindsey’s work can be read at Westchester Magazine, Spoon University, and her food-focused Instagram. You’ll also find her rating all of her favorite places on Beli. Besides trying good new eats and traveling the globe, Lindsey also loves a great beach read and is inspired by the writings of Emily Henry and Carley Fortune. Check out her latest book recs on Goodreads.

Briana Gonzalez is a senior at the University of Michigan, double majoring in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience and Creative Writing and Literature. Her work harmonizes at the intersection of travel, culture, and storytelling, shaped by a life spent moving between places and perspectives. Growing up in Miami, Florida and spending summers in Cuba and Peru to reconnect with her heritage, taught her to travel with intention, discerning how place, memory and identity intertwine. Writing has been a constant in her life. She attended arts charter schools growing up and studied creative writing throughout her education. Briana’s work has been published in many youth magazines and journals, including. Writer to Writer Magazine and Changing Wxman Collective. She is especially drawn to narratives about food, movement, and cultural memory, viewing travel writing as both reflection and connection. Next for Briana will be corporate and medical law with a focus on equitable healthcare access, advocating for underrepresented communities. No matter where she finds herself, you’ll find Briana continuing to write her way through new cities, cultures, and tracing how movement reshapes belonging.

Stella – Writer

Stella Ha loves all things travel. Originally from Orange County, California, her travel experiences began road tripping up the Pacific Coast with her family. Since then, she has traveled all across Asia and the United States, now calling Ann Arbor home while studying at the University of Michigan. This summer, Stella is excited to continue her travels abroad in Lisbon, Portugal. You can find her singing along at a local music venue, browsing the thrift store, or exploring the great outdoors. Her ultimate travel goal is to find the best chocolate chip cookie in the world.

Josephine – Writer

Josephine Velo is a journalist studying English and Psychology at the University of Michigan. Her work has appeared in The Michigan Daily and Knight Life News. She also reads fiction for the Michigan Quarterly Review and reviews foreign films and horror flicks on Letterboxd. Josephine enjoys reading everything she can get her hands on, watching old movies, and blasting vintage cassettes at the gym. Her favorite destination is the Art Institute of Chicago, or anywhere along the Mediterranean. She loves to write poetry, fiction, and journalistic pieces on her baba’s old typewriter.  Josephine’s greatest desire is to be able to make a living as a journalist and author with the freedom to travel the world.

Ayantu – Writer

Ayantu Bedaso is a senior at the University of Michigan studying sociology on the pre-law track. Her adventurous and curious spirit fuels her global adventures. Ayantu dreamed of traveling internationally when she was younger, but didn’t get the chance until studying abroad in college in xxx. That experience  completely changed her life, igniting her passion for seeing the world and experiencing meaningful engagement with different cultures and communities. Among her favorite trips have been African continent. Her next trip is to sunny Portugal. Aside from seeing the world, Ayantu loves to read, go on walks, and spend time with her friends and family.

Aida Deschner is a college student at the University of Michigan and aspiring avid traveler. Majoring in Communications and Organizational Studies, she’s working towards a career in sports, entertainment, and travel media. Aida loves to tell stories and make new memories through her travels, whether it is a spontaneous or planned one! Her passion for media has allowed her to build a photo and video portfolio that she’s adding to every month. Currently, Aida creates media for the University of Michigan Men’s Lacrosse Team and  Michigan Women Empowerment in Sports and Entertainment (MWESE). So far,  Scotland and New York City top her list of favorite places!

Austin – Writer

Austin Kruzel is studying astrophysics at the University of Michigan while also pursuing his interests in creative and travel writing. He loves biking, spending time outdoors, and traveling to campgrounds across Michigan and the eastern United States. His childhood appreciation for nature has evolved into a passion for travel. From kayaking on the Clinton River and hiking the Macomb Orchard Trail in the summer to sleeping in tents during blizzards in the winter at Camp Agawam, he enjoys exploring what the world has to offer with friends and family and sharing those experiences with others.

Annalyse – Writer

Annalyse has an affinity for writing about plant-based restaurants, serene hikes, and coastal cities. She spent the summer of 2024 living in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where she stayed at University of Michigan’s Camp Davis and discovered a love for national parks and the great outdoors. Annalyse calls Charlotte, North Carolina home and has summered at Anna Maria Island, Florida since childhood. She is a recent Michigan convert who has fallen in love with the state’s “pure” scenery and hospitable people. Her next adventures include a winter trip to Point Pelee National Park in Leamington, Ontario, Canada, a spring trip to Seven Mile Beach in the Cayman Islands, and a summer trip to the Lisbon region of Portugal.

Brooklyn – Writer

Brooklyn is a traveller at heart, never missing an opportunity to take a trip. As a senior at the University of Michigan studying business, she studied abroad in Prague last year, which showed her how to love a city for its culture rather than its tourism, and gave her countless skills and lessons she couldn’t have learned any other way. Brooklyn enjoys spontaneous and carefully planned trips, in both outdoor and urban areas, and honestly just loves experiencing new places and people. You’ll often find her reading a good book or writing while she’s out seeing the world.

Lochlain – Writer

Lochlain Ortman is an explorer at heart and takes any opportunity she can to travel. She grew up visiting family in Canada, the Cayman Islands, and across the U.S., but ultimately discovered her passion for travel after spending four months abroad with a home base in Paris. There, she spent her days people-watching in cafes, journaling in the beautiful parks, and becoming an expert at the Paris métro system. Lochlain is always in support of taking spontaneous weekend trips and believes that it is entirely possible to fall in love with a city. She makes it her mission to experience new places like a local and scope out the coolest spots for great food, music, fashion, and people. With 14 countries visited and counting, Lochlain finds great excitement in expanding her worldview and sharing her experiences with others.

Madeleine – Writer

Madeleine Schouman began her travel writing career with the Great Lakes Writers Corps and a backpacking trip to the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State where she reported on environmental degradation caused by copper mining within the region. Since then, she has traveled around Michigan and Colombia reporting on topics ranging from conservation, sustainable farming, birdwatching, and on-going environmental issues. She is deeply interested in the intersection of travel, art, nature, and science and hopes to use her writing to make science more accessible to the public. A junior at the University of Michigan studying Ecology and Creative Writing, she also enjoys birding, hiking with her dog, reading, and painting. Follow her reporting work on Linkedin. 

Claudia – Writer

Claudia Lorenzo is a travel writer drawn to places where culture, food, and everyday life intersect. She grew up in Romania before moving to the U.S., a change that shaped how she notices places, belonging, and the small details that make somewhere feel lived in rather than visited. She’s less into must-see lists and more curious about neighborhoods, local routines, and quiet moments that reveal how people move through the world. Her writing leans towards reflective, place-based storytelling, with a focus on sensory experiences, long walks, and meals that turn into conversations. Claudia is especially interested in how travel can slow us down, challenge assumptions, and reshape the idea of home. When she’s not writing, she is planning future trips, jotting notes in cafes, or people-watching wherever she lands. You’ll often find Claudia reflecting on the moments that linger after a trip ends.

Jason – Writer

Jason Qin is a passionate traveller and storyteller with a love for exploring cultures, cuisines, and experiences around the world. He has journeyed through cities across China, from various metropolises to historic towns, as well as other parts of Asia, including Japan, Korea, and Singapore. In North America, Jason has explored vibrant cities such as Vancouver, Toronto, New York,  Los Angeles and Ann Arbor, Michigan, discovering the unique charm and local flavors each place has to offer. When he’s not traveling or studying at the University of Michigan, Jason enjoys playing basketball, practicing piano, and making new friends wherever he goes. He believes that connecting with people is as important as seeing new places, and his adventures often blend cultural exploration with meaningful personal experiences. Follow Jason’s travel adventures and insights as he explores the world, one city at a time.

Erica – Writer

Erica Clarke is a senior at the University of Michigan passionate about neuroscience, classical music, and creative writing. You can find her perusing secondhand bookstores, scouring out live music of any genre, or testing out the specialty drink at a local coffeeshop. She enjoys writing about cities she has traveled to, arts events she has attended, and friends made along the way. Her favorite destinations range from Grand Teton National Park to Kyoto, though she’s a Philly native who will soon be calling Boston home.

Ana – Writer

Ana Sharshar is a University of Michigan student pursuing a dual degree in English and Communication Studies, powered by an unshakable love for travel and storytelling. She believes the best ideas are born somewhere between a museum gallery, a bookstore café, and a really good meal. Travel fuels Ana’s curiosity and creativity, seamlessly weaving its way into her writing. For the past year, she has been crafting stories for SHEI Magazine, often grounding her work in real places and real people, creating stories that feel both personal and immersive. When she is not writing, Ana can be found exploring fashion scenes across cities and collecting one of a kind pieces from each destination, including a Modrić jersey picked up in Croatia, her most-prized souvenir yet. Equal parts observer, writer, and enthusiastic wanderer, Ana uses travel to better understand the world and her place within it.

Jeny – Writer

Jeny Rizo works as a Writing Consultant at the University of Michigan’s Sweetland Writing Center. Currently studying English and secondary education in Ann Arbor, she was born and raised in Detroit, a background that shaped her love and appreciation for cities, food, and place-based stories.Her passion for travel began as a child, exploring Mexico while visiting relatives. Jeny’s college study abroad experience in London last year deepened her passion for seeing the world. Her favorite memories include wandering museums and trying new cafes in search of the best caramel latte throughout the U.K. A devoted postcard collector, Jeny makes a point of finding one in every place she visits, seeing them as a reminder of the memories she’s made. She looks forward to making new memories in her next adventure in Lisbon, Portugal, where she hopes to explore the city through food, art, and writing.

Zainab – Writer

Zainab Husein (she/her) is a dedicated writer and photographer for The Michigan Daily, where she crafts stories, shares insights, and shapes compelling content for the campus community. A junior at the University of Michigan studying History, she aspires to combine her love for learning, research and storytelling with a career that makes a meaningful impact. Zainab  is passionate about exploring the world and learning from different cultures, always seeking new experiences that expand her perspective. In her recent trip to the U.K., she  was able to learn from the history and vibrant cultures of Swansea, Wales and London, England. Zainab is excited to keep exploring the world, discover new recipes, and create meaningful connections, while documenting her journey along the way. Stay updated on her projects through Instagram and LinkedIn.

Stella – Writer

Stella Drozdowicz’s happy place is on a beach with her dog, Gemma. From glamping to road trips, she enjoys the world through down-to-earth experiences and believes that you learn the most when you put down your phone and talk with others. This year, she plans to do just that on adventures in Madrid, Portugal and Austin, Texas. Originally from St. Clair Shores, Michigan,  Stella currently studies Sport Management at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. 

Lindsay – Writer

Lindsay Hughes is an English and Communications student at the University of Michigan, who works at UM’s Center for Global & Intercultural Studies..  She is dedicated to sharing advice and snippets from her time abroad to encourage others  of different backgrounds and identities to find their home away from home.  Her passion for travel grows with each new adventure. She loves to wander cobblestone streets, try local foods, and pick out the perfect postcard. Lindsay studied abroad in London in 2025, focused on connecting literature with their real life locations in the U.K. Next up, she’s studying on location in Portugal.

Annaliese – Writer

Annaliese Mmari is a senior at the University of Michigan who loves to travel anywhere and everywhere. Originally from Columbia, Maryland, she developed a love for travel at a young age through summer road trips across the country. A passionate nature lover, she spent four months living on a remote tropical island in Bocas del Toro, Panama. This summer, Anna is excited to travel to Portugal and continue exploring Europe, with a current goal of visiting at least 30 new countries before turning 30. She is excited to write about delicious food, the beauty of the outdoors, and the cultures she encounters along the way.

Samuel – Writer

Samuel Olivier graduated from the University of Michigan as an English major with a secondary life as a pre-medical student. He plans on a future working in oncology while publishing nonfiction works. Samuel enjoys climbing, hiking, and other things that get him outdoors. He has traveled to eleven different countries, including Egypt and Japan, finding the farmland of central Chile particularly beautiful. 

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