During the summer of 2024 to 2025, I headed the construction of the 2025 Illio — “Evolving Nostalgia,” as Editor-in-Chief. The book contains over 270 pages covering campus life of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The Illio has been the University’s official yearbook publication since 1895 and is produced from the Illini Media Company, an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in Champaign-Urbana.  

Prior to heading the 2025 Illio, I joined staff as a staff photographer for the 2021 Illio and managed the photo department as photo editor for the 2022 and 2023 editions.  

Over the summer, head editors were interviewed and hired to lead the departments making up the Illio staff, including the introduction of an Audience & Event Coordinator — a role with the primary focus of the management of public relations, public outreach, social media and company events. 

After selecting a theme of the book, Assistant Editor Rinnell Borges and Graphic Design Editor Sebastian Holt worked on creating concepts for the cover of the book. Numerous critique sessions were held until the final cover was selected with addition to adjustments for the end the product.

The design team put effort to creating layout for the sections within the book that align with a retro-futurism aesthetic that align with the cover of the book. Designers also spent time creating illustrations furthering the theme as well as portraying campus icons to be dispersed throughout the pages.

With the new position of Audience & Event Coordinator, an incline in staff and outreach was seen within the organization, including a boost in online presence going from a few posts a year to a minimum of three posts a week. The role was coordinated with the company’s marketing staff to ensure sales and senior portrait sessions runs well and exceeds previous fiscal years.

Through the reporting and photography staff, coverage of campus was properly documented to be displayed within each spread. Notable points of coverage include, the 47th United States presidential, Charlie Kirk and Hulk Hogan on-campus prior to their passings, the final Roger Ebert film festival, new businesses and the University's Chancellor’s final academic term at the school.

In the position of Editor-in-Chief, a high presence in management and contribution was provided throughout each sector of the company staff to ensure the maintenance of impactful story telling was met to the best of the staff’s ability.

The book was finalized in the summer of 2025 and shipped out to hundreds of students and customers in the fall.