Ana Sunjka
Founder & CEO
Born and raised in Serbia, I embarked on an academic adventure abroad at St Andrews, diving deep into the study of economics. My journey is rooted in understanding how economic forces shape societal issues, especially in a profit-driven world. Beyond the realm of economics, I find solace and expression in art, be it painting, drawing, or creative writing.
N/A is my creative outlet where these two worlds collide, aiming to provoke thought and inspire meaningful discussions. Join me in exploring the intricate dance between economics and art, and how they shape our understanding of the world. Welcome to a space where critical analysis meets creative expression.
Madeline McDermott
Editor-In-Chief
I first came to N/A as a guest writer for a piece about women’s safety in sports. I am a third year who has had the privilege of rowing for St Andrews for the past two years; I love being a part of a team, being competitive, being a part of something greater than myself. However, being a female athlete in a co-ed sport has opened me up to personally experiencing, and watching others experience, what it means to be a woman in a mixed sex sport. These experiences are ones I felt called to share; they cannot be swept under the rug.
It was this article that led me to become a staff writer and editor for N/A. As a writer, I feel responsible for discussing important topics that are typically viewed as taboo. While I write about a variety of topics, my passion is the female experience in St Andrews, specifically female safety and domestic abuse. I hope that in sharing these stories, at least one woman will feel less isolated, and at least one man will critically re-evaluate his behavior. I want to thank N/A for trusting me with topics this heavy; while it may seem naïve, I am hopeful that through writing St Andrews can become a better place for women to exist.
Ayla Ahmed
Creative Director & Head of Photography
Born and raised in Alberta, Canada I grew up in a conservative environment where questioning the status quo was rare. My life was mapped out with a rigid path that I felt compelled to follow. Fortunately, I was raised surrounded by powerful women who laughed at authority and challenged normality at every turn. Their inspiration led me to do something different, something bold: to leave Canada and pursue my studies in Medicine at a university a continent away.
The experience of being abroad has taught me the importance of embracing discomfort as a catalyst for growth. With the nature of my course, it’s easy to feel consumed by the work and lose sight of one’s passions. But I refuse to be consumed. As an artist, being a part of N/A inspires me to explore and embrace my creative side, whether that be through photo styling, writing, painting, or tapping into my culture through mediums such as henna. It gives me a space to not only share my art, but to collaborate with other artists, sharing and implementing each other's visions. I am thrilled to be part of this community and am eager to help redefine journalism in St Andrews.
Sam Klein
Editor
Born and raised in Essex, I am currently studying International Relations at St Andrews, with academic interests that span a wide array of topics. Beyond my studies, I love drama and music, both which fuel my creative thinking. This past summer, I completed a journalism course in London with aspirations to get into broadcast journalism after university. I'm excited to implement everything I have learned as part of the N/A team this year.
As editor, I am looking forward to bringing a fresh and innovative energy to our work and collaborating with the team to craft engaging and varied content. My goal as editor is to help each writer refine their unique voice, ensuring that we deliver stimulating stories with interesting and diverse perspectives throughout every issue.
Brennan Burke
Editor
Initially I began editing for N/A as a favour to a friend, but I have since come to love being part of such collaborative and engaging magazine. I love editing for N/A because it makes me more confident in my own writing, and I can feel myself getting better at communicating. It keeps me sharp.
Growing up in New York, I never realised how fortunate I was to see and feel unique ways of life all around me. St Andrews is certainly not known for its diversity, which is why I am excited by N/A’s commitment to voicing bold and divisive ideas. I am a History student and incredibly passionate about my degree, so reading and editing articles from different perspectives feels very in line with my passion.
Selen Tonkul
Videographer & Editor
Perhaps whether our identities are innate or learnt doesn’t matter as I’ve always felt bound to my circumstances of being in between everything. Just as I could never choose between being Turkish and Romanian; I could also never come to one conclusion in my writings. After trying to find my own path for the past years, I’ve realized maybe one does not need a conclusion—nor a one definite path. Maybe we’re supposed to look around and see which trees and beautiful flowers lay ahead. Maybe it’s okay to like both paths and come back to the starting point if needed. Maybe we are to take things slow even when our desire to fit into the consumerist world surface.
With getting involved with N/A, I hope to relay my pervasive passions through words and vision. I hope to grow with such wonderful artists and take a breath from what we might believe is expected from us—feel the joy of being free and creative.
Fiona McManus
Staff Writer
Born and raised in Baltimore, an interest in foreign service and a love for adventure led me to St. Andrews, this little town I now am proud to call home. From early childhood, my love for words led me to embrace the art of storytelling and its abilities to create endless worlds in my own and others' imagination. As a student of International Relations and Social Anthropology, I continue to see the capabilities of language to continuously shape and re-shape my worldview. With a particular interest in public health and cultural patterns across the world, I have cultivated a love for travel and an incessant curiosity about the things that make every person beautifully unique.
Writing for N/A is an incredible opportunity to share my love of language in all its forms by using it to shine light on the fascinating and, sometimes unspoken, elements of our lives. I am beyond excited to be a part of such a wonderful team and to help foster a community of bold and creative thinkers in the St. Andrews community.
Myrto Alexopoulou
Staff Writer
Born and raised in Greece, I fell in love with the vibrant and refreshing Mediterranean culture that surrounds me. The sea has always been my companion, and when I came to St Andrews, I found again the sense of peace by the water. My passion for art—whether it’s through drawing, painting, or playing music—has been a constant source of inspiration.
Alongside this creative journey, my academic focus as a math major has given me a unique lens to explore the patterns and structures that shape both art and life.
N/A will allow me to bring together the worlds of art, music, travel, mathematics, and technology offering a fresh and diverse perspective on how these elements intersect. Through my writing, I aim to inspire conversations that push boundaries, foster creativity, and reveal the deeper connections between seemingly different fields. As a writer, I invite you to explore this journey of discovery with me.
Daniella Mints
Staff Writer
Born and raised in Minneapolis, the cold of many harsh winters led to me finding my voice bundled up inside with books for company. This childhood introversion led to a deep respect and adoration of not only the wonders of literature, but the spaces crafted as a result around shared interests. Now, studying Economics and Modern History, I continue to explore my curiosity on topics of identity, community, and decision making to facilitate the link between the personal with the collective.
As a staff writer for N/A, I hope to provide new perspectives that inspire meaningful dialogue on what we assume is ordinary. Through viewing the familiar through innovative lenses, I hope to challenge views and to encourage readers to view their comfort zones with fresh eyes.
Annabel Phoel
Staff Writer
Having spent my most formative years mere minutes from the White House, I grew up surrounded by global perspectives. Because of this, I was encouraged to explore the world through every lens I could find. From spending a summer learning how to play the bongos at a drum circle in inner-city DC to working in politics and at concerts in the Appalachian Mountains, I learned first-hand how art can communicate and bond despite gaping differences. At St Andrews I’m studying English Literature and International Relations, hoping to learn how to best use language to communicate overlooked and misunderstood perspectives.
Writing for N/A, I’m excited to put a voice behind and give an audience to ideas I think are important in a way that makes them more easily comprehensible than your average journal article might. Aspiring to work in the publishing world, at N/A I’m looking forward to getting some hands-on editing experience through my work on the the editorial board.
Clara Sousa
Staff Writer
Born and raised in New York City. Where my parents, after immigrating from Portugual, raised my brother and I. With this background I knew St Andrews would be the perfect fit. At St Andrews I chose to study Psychology and Philosophy because of my interest in people's behaviour and ideologies. These subjects together allow me to feel challenged but curious as I approach acedemics but also my worldview.
N/A is a space where I hope to write about this worldview. I have always pondered over why certain people align with certain behaviours. I hope to continue to pursue that research with my writing at N/A. I am very excited to be a part of such an intelligent and creative group of people and am looking forward to how this community will push me to reach new lengths within my writing and creativity.
Brooke Edwards
Staff Writer
The international sphere of St Andrews has challenged me to think beyond the confines of tradition and conceptualize the world through creative endeavors. Above all, I am driven by the belief that nostalgia and euphoria vocalized through art, fashion, and creative writing can inspire the most meaningful discourse.
Pursuing a joint degree in Art History and International Relations, I am deeply drawn to art as an emotional apparition of international disfunction. Born and raised in America, I have found the most self-gratifying writing to be focused on apparitions of identity within a world tethered to technology; I seek inspiration in comparing and contrasting nationalism, art, and 21st century paranoia.
In my creative writing and in my broader commitment to listen, experience, and transcribe, I align with N/A’s mission to legitimise what lies beyond conventional narratives.
Lachlan Emery
Staff Writer
Having lived in the U.S., Switzerland, and Australia, I’ve been fortunate to develop a multicultural understanding of the world, a perspective that continues to shape my pursuits. My time at St Andrews has deepened my commitment to exploring the intersections of economics, sustainability, and community building, specifically how we can integrate sustainable practices and models within exiting economic infrastructure.
Through N/A, I hope to use my passions and experiences to inspire thought and drive change within the university, fostering a community that values collaboration and creativity. By weaving together my global experiences and interests, I aim to inspire others to embrace a more connected and compassionate view of the world.
Caroline Scott
Staff Writer
By far the most meaningful part of my experience at St. Andrews has been meeting people from all over the world, each with a diverse perspective and a fascinating story. Having lived most of my life in Philadelphia, I've always had a desire to travel and to learn, desperate to expand my limited worldview. I still have so much to discover, but having followed my drive and curiosity to this international town, my understanding of the world has broadened greatly over the past two and a half years.
As an English and film student, I believe storytelling is essential to human flourishing, the foundation of every meaningful connection we make. Without access to varied perspectives or recorded knowledge, progress – cultural, political, scientific, even personal – would be impossible.
I'm looking forward to using N/A as a platform to share my own ideas and stories while continuing to learn from others, broadening both individual perspectives and the overall cultural canon
