Editor-in-Chief

Favorite thing about the outdoors: Squirrels, especially when they are eating or have nuts in their mouth.

This is Mangali’s second year in Ascend. She is a part of Ascend because of the access to big time stories, the real magazine production experience, and the supportive and talented community. 

Editor-in-Chief

Favorite thing about the outdoors: The crashing noise of waves breaking on the Oregon Coast.

Bramhall joined Ascend to find a community of peers interested in long-form writing. Entering his second year, he stuck around because he’s met some of his favorite people through it. 

Copy Editor

Favorite thing about the outdoors: When the mountain peeks out from behind the clouds.

Murray joined Ascend to keep long-form sports journalism alive by working with people who care about it.

Copy Editor

Favorite thing about the outdoors: The smell after it rains.

While no stranger to sports writing, Dwyer loves Ascend because it’s given him the opportunity to tell the kind of stories that made him fall in love with sports like he did as a kid.

Copy Editor

Favorite thing about the outdoors: Watching beams of sunlight move through forests. 

Growing up, McLeroy brought at least five books to every one of my brother’s baseball games. She never imagined she’d end up working for a sports magazine two years in a row, but writing and editing for Ascend has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of her college career. 

Copy Editor

Favorite thing about the outdoors: Watching the sunset cast a good alpine glow on the mountains. 

Reese dove headfirst into the sports reporting world with Ascend. She was searching for a publication to write long-form storytelling but ended up finding so much more: a team of driven and creative individuals. 

Writer

Favorite thing about the outdoors: The sound and smell of rain.

Orton’s always been drawn to the stories behind a sport, and the determination and commitment it takes for individuals to achieve their dreams. Ascend has given her the opportunity to explore these narratives, in her own words, for the first time.

Writer

Favorite thing about the outdoors: The smell of any heavily forested Pacific Northwest area.

Lazarus was drawn to Ascend because he wanted the opportunity to work closely with photographers on long-form narratives. He also enjoys being able to work with driven and like-minded peers.

Writer

Favorite thing about the outdoors: The way it smells in the early morning after it rains, especially in the mountains.

Ascend perfectly represents why Wackler loves sports. The magazine showcases the power of the outdoors and the resilience of the human spirit, illustrating how sports connect and empower us. 

Writer

Favorite thing about the outdoors: The smell of campfires, the sound of the crackle, and watching the flames flicker.

Joining Ascend has given Smith the opportunity to work alongside an experienced, driven, and supportive team to create something she’s proud of. Smith has always said she wants to do a little bit of everything, and through every story she follows, she gets to live a piece of that life — and share that experience with readers.

Writer

Favorite thing about the outdoors: The lush habitat of forest park.

Narayan joined Ascend because she had a long-standing passion for exploring the intersection of sports and storytelling. She believes sports can be a unifier, and she’s thrilled to have the opportunity to tell meaningful stories that can shape narratives and drive change.

Creative Director/Designer

Favorite thing about the outdoors: Pine trees.

Hammel returned to Ascend for a second year because it’s pushing the possibilities of what students at the University of Oregon can do through detailed journalism and teamwork. 

Designer

Favorite thing about the outdoors: Fresh air in the morning on the Oregon Coast.

Ascend gives Nelson the place to hone his skills as a designer. He likes collaborating with the team because of the contagious energy everyone brings to their work.

Designer

Favorite thing about the outdoors: Birds chirping in an otherwise deathly quiet forest.

Northern wanted to be a part of Ascend because he loves sports and wanted to combine that passion with editorial design, which he’s never tried before. The process has been a new learning experience, which he loves. 

Designer

Favorite thing about the outdoors: The smell of pine.

Bell loves sports. Being on the design team for Ascend has allowed her to uplift athletes, especially female athletes, and share their stories.

Director of Advertising

Favorite thing about the outdoors: The quiet stillness of snow in the forest. 

Clute was inspired by the first issue of Ascend, and she’s excited to be working on the magazine alongside a group of professional and passionate students.

Director of Public Relations

Favorite thing about the outdoors: The smell of a 65 degree breezy spring day.

When she saw the first issue last year, Lucas was blown away and knew she wanted to be a part of making Ascend bigger and better. 

Public Relations Manager

Favorite thing about the outdoors: The croak of frogs at dusk during the summer.

Leary’s always been passionate about storytelling. She wanted to challenge herself to write and work in an area she’s never explored before -- sports.

Advertising Manager

Favorite thing about the outdoors: The crackle of campfire with fresh dry wood.

Sowieja has always loved the outdoors, and she was curious about how the magazine process could intersect with that part of her life. Ascend was the perfect opportunity to explore that. 

Photo Editor

Favorite thing about the outdoors: The aroma of bay leaves and eucalyptus trees.

Unkrich wanted to join Ascend because it lets him tell stories beyond the final highlight. He wanted to show the before and after of incredible athletic feats, what it takes to get there, and what it took once the moment is over.

Photographer

Favorite thing about the outdoors: The smell of fresh snow in the Rocky Mountains.

Russel wanted to work for Ascend because its values aligned with his. He also wanted to create amazing content and be a part of a team writing hard hitting stories.

Videographer

Favorite thing about the outdoors: The gentle cooing of the Great Horned Owl.

Gast enjoys Ascend because it pushes her outside of her comfort zone. She loves doing real interviews, filming sessions, and writing. Ascend has made her a more confident journalist.

Photographer and Videographer

Favorite thing about the outdoors: The sage brush in Eastern Oregon.

Peet appreciates the Ascend atmosphere and surrounds himself with other creative people and getting access to shoot athletes in the outdoors.

Advisor