BSU Council
Olivia Blake, President
Howdie everyone! I'm Olivia. I am a Senior from Kernersville, NC, but I proudly call myself a "townie". Here at Wake, I am majoring in Spanish, with a concentration in medical Spanish, and minors in both chemistry and bioethics. Along with BSU, I am the Chief of Wake Forest EMS and a member of the Campus Garden's Connect & Cultivate Leadership Team. In my free time, you can find me drinking TOO much iced coffee, listening to music/dramatically lip-syncing to my "fans", and trying to convince my friends to go off campus and explore Winston with me (because after 21+ years of living here, there is still so much I haven't seen). During the past few years at BSU, not only have I grown in my faith and understanding, but I have found a family. I am BEYOND grateful for the role BSU has played in my time here at Wake Forest and I cannot wait to see what the next year brings! (p.s. if you were wondering, yes, I did paint the cute smiley face beside me!)
Aleia Rose, Missions Coordinator
Hi everyone, I'm Aleia!! I am a senior from Morganton, NC. I am majoring in Health and Exercise Science, and I am minoring in Chemistry and Biology. I played volleyball and track in high school. Some things I enjoy are watching criminal minds on Netflix, being outdoors, and hanging out with friends and family. I am also a member of Alpha Phi Omega, a service fraternity. I am very grateful for the family I have found in BSU!!
Keira Perry, Fellowship Coordinator
Hey, everybody. My name is Keira, and I use she/they pronouns. I am a senior here at Wake this year. I am from Greencastle, PA which is a small town on the PA/MD border. I am a Politics and International Affairs major with minors in Psychology and Sociology. Outside of BSU, I am an RA in Babcock Residence Hall and a member of Alpha Phi Omega (APO), a service fraternity on campus, in which I am the chair of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). During my free time, you can catch me listening to music across all genres, binging crime shows and documentaries, sipping coffee, or quoting TikToks. I am very excited to be part of BSU leadership this year and look forward to developing my relationship with God while being surrounded by amazing people. I strive to create a welcome and accepting environment within BSU. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I especially want to cultivate a positive religious experience for fellow members. I'm always looking for new pals, so please feel free to contact me.
Alyssa Soltren, Covenant Family Coordinator
Hello, everyone! I'm Alyssa, a junior from Fayetteville, NC. I'm a pre-med with a major in Psychology while double minoring in Neuroscience and Chemistry. Evidently, I'm really interested in working in the medical field. However, I also love to enjoy and create good stories. I'm always down to have conversations about Doctor Who, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Harry Potter, and many other stories. (I think I'm becoming a movie buff.) Other things I do to entertain myself are playing video games, practicing on my flute, observing nature, vibing to music, doting on my three cats, and discussing scientific theories. I like to think of myself as a well-rounded nerd. I can't wait to see my friends and meet new people in BSU this year!
Mary Brown, Secretary & Treasurer
Hey everyone! I'm Mary, a senior from the small town of Cleveland, NC. I am an English Major with a double minor in Interdisciplinary Writing and Creative Writing. Alongside BSU, you can find me working the information desk at the Benson University Center so feel free to stop by to chat or ask questions!
In my free time, I love to read (some of my favorite authors include Rick Riordan, Fredrik Backman, and Barbara Kingsolver), listen to music, watch crime TV shows, and play with Theo, my little Yorkie. You might also find me writing my own somewhat crazy short stories!
During my time in the BSU, I have found a group of wonderful people where I can relax and explore my faith and I am ready to see what this year brings!
P.S. If you ever need someone to review an essay or give you good book recs, come find me!
Kara Kump, Worship Coordinator
Hello everybody! My name is Kara Kump and I am so excited to be a part of BSU again for my final year at Wake. I am a senior from Lenoir, NC and I am double majoring in Psychology and Communication. I am engaged to my high school sweetheart, Blaine Melton, and I have four fur children: Cooper, Morgana, Xander, and Daisy. I am currently a Magnolia and Poteat scholar as well as a Student Adviser. I love to read - though Wake doesn't offer much free time for it - and I like to photograph birds and nature. If it weren't for BSU, I am not sure how I would have made it through my first year at Wake (or any year for that matter). I was immediately welcomed as someone who belonged, something that a lot of students wish for themselves. I am so thankful that I get to be a part of shaping this organization and helping students like me find a place of support, friendship, and faith.
Audrey Chrisman, Outreach Coordinator
Hey! I'm Audrey C, and I'm from Oak Ridge, Tennessee. I am a senior majoring in biology and minoring in neuroscience and psychology. Besides BSU, I'm also heavily involved in Wake Forest's Alpha Phi Omega and off-campus neuroscience research. I love playing tennis (I have an extra racquet so feel free to reach out if you'd like to play sometime!), hiking, and catching salamanders/turtles/snakes!
I can't wait to represent BSU in Hit the Bricks, Project Pumpkin, and more!
Audrey Knaack, Public Relations Coordinator
Hey everyone, I'm Audrey!! I'm so excited to be the new student representative for my fellow freshmen, as well as transfer students!
I was born in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in Charlotte, NC, and I am an aspiring Studio Art and Business double major. Along with being in BSU, I am a Gallery Assistant at the stArt Gallery, Wake Forest's student art gallery over in Reynolda Village. I am also honored to represent Charlotte Martial Arts Academy back home as a black belt in Shotokan Karate and Bruce Lee's style of Jeet Kune Do.
Some of my favorite things include *drum roll please* martial arts, drawing and painting, running, singing, hiking and exploring nature, going to art museums, cozying up to a good book, watching my favorite movies, and spending time with my friends and family! Also, I am always excited to talk about anything art, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Stranger Things, and/or Marvel related!
Being in BSU at Wake is quite possibly the best decision I've ever made: unashamedly they piqued my interest with homemade ice cream back at the start of the semester, and then I was welcomed and embraced into an incredibly loving and God fearing community. On top of that, our events are amazing (think mountain retreats, game nights, participating in Hit the Bricks, and more), and I could not advocate enough the amount of pure joy that comes with being a part of the BSU family. If you are looking for strong fellowship and spending time with people that totally rock, BSU is simply the best place to do so.