Aubrey Bohannon (she/her) supports the IAS in arranging impactful and engaging public events to inform our community with new perspectives around various topics that advocate for racial and social justice. She brings her enthusiasm and organizational skills to the IAS to ensure engaging events. Aubrey is a second-year student at the University of Minnesota planning to graduate with a BS in Special Education and has the goal of becoming a pediatric occupational therapist. When not at the IAS, she works as a Personal Care Assistant (PCA) for a range of companions with various disabilities and subs as a paraprofessional. She also enjoys walking her dog, playing with her cats, traveling with her partner and watching old movies with her family.

Juliet Burba works to develop and manage funding opportunities for the IAS. Before coming to the IAS, she served as a curator and program director at the Bakken Museum and as an exhibit developer and paleontological preparator at the Science Museum of Minnesota. Juliet brings to the IAS her experience developing projects to engage the public in trans-disciplinary experiences spanning science, medicine, and the humanities. She holds a Ph.D. from the Program in History of Science and Technology at the University of Minnesota and is an avid generalist by nature. 

Skyler Dorr (they/them) serves as the IAS program specialist and front desk receptionist. Before working at the IAS, Skyler graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2015 with a BA in both Political Science and German, Scandinavian & Dutch, focusing on German political philosophy. Skyler returned to the University in 2018, working at the Disability Resource Center until moving to the IAS in 2021. Outside of work, most of their time is devoted to community and campus activism as well as creative writing pursuits.

Carolina Maranon-Cobos (she/her) is the programming manager for the Institute of Advanced Study.  Originally from Mexico and a new U.S. citizen, Carolina is passionate about the power of cultural exchange as well as using the arts and education as a tool to develop understanding between communities. Before coming to the IAS, she was the Cultural Attaché at the Consulate of Mexico in Saint Paul, and Public Events Manager at Global Minnesota. Carolina has also served on several advisory committees for different arts organizations in the Twin Cities, including the Ordway and Mixed Blood Theater. She joined the VocalEssence Board of Directors in 2018 after several years of serving on the Advisory Council for Cantaré! and has recently started her new role as Board Chair for the organization. Carolina thrives through collaborative work and genuine community connections. She also loves cooking for her friends, dancing lindy hop, and painting and drawing in her free time.

Abby Travis (she/her) manages communications and content for the IAS. Abby brings to the IAS her varied experience in engagement strategy, digital communications, program development and academic administration, fundraising, and over ten years in literary publishing. Before coming to the IAS, she served as editor at Milkweed Editions, an independent press based here in Minneapolis. She has also worked for Ploughshares and Rain Taxi Review of Books. She taught writing and literature at Gustavus Adolphus College and Emerson College and worked in the Office of the Dean of the School of the Arts at Emerson. She holds an MFA in creative nonfiction from Emerson College and is at work on a book about the sport and art of training horses for competition and the weight of human spectacle, ambition, and intention riding on the equine body. Her writing has been recognized as Notable by Best American Essays. In collaboration with the TRUTH Project’s core research team and Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, she led publicity for the 2023 publication of the groundbreaking “Oshkigin Noojimo'iwe, Naġi Waƞ P̣etu Uƞ Ihduwaṡ'ake He Oyate Kiƞ Zaniwic̣aye Kte” (the TRUTH Report). When not at the IAS, you can find her meditating or under the tutelage of horses and trees.