Founding Charter
The Arena Journal is an intellectual publication rooted in conservatism and founded to bring the intellectual rigor and vibrancy of conservative life at the University of Virginia to the published page. It exists as a platform for UVA undergraduates, especially those struggling to find opportunities for intellectual engagement in a culture of general intellectual fear and apathy, to write seriously and thoughtfully about politics, philosophy, economics, literature, or any other intellectual discipline. Throughout the publication process, which includes writing workshops and colloquia, our members and contributors engage with precision both in the ongoing conversations surrounding them and with each other. Each publication is not merely a thoughtful collection of articles, but evidence of vivacious intellectual discourse and formation that preserves a culture of charity, rigor, and courage among conservatives at UVA.
Our Executive Team
Zosia Collins, Co-Editor-in-Chief
Zosia is a second
year at UVA, where she is pursuing a degree in the
extraordinarily practical field of Classics. Besides editing The
Arena, she is an intern at the Institute for Family Studies, a
fellow at the Blue Ridge Center, and highly involved with
Catholic Hoos. Although a very busy person, she will make time
for anyone who wishes to discuss flute music, good literature,
writing novels, or ancient philosophy.
Charles Wilcoxon, Co-Editor-in-Chief
Coming from
Columbus, Ohio, Charles is a second-year student at UVA studying
history. He is involved in the altar service and parish
maintenance ministries with Catholic Hoos, and, alongside Mr.
Miller and Miss DeBono, he is a founder of CREDO Apologetics. Be
careful getting into conversations with him about history,
philosophy, literature, film, or economics —you might be there
for a while. Especially dangerous, however, is picking his brain
on Star Wars and Lord of the Rings.
Pamella Parker, Editor and Contributor
Pamella is a
second year Chemistry major at UVA. You may know her better by
her middle name, Maude. She still doesn’t know what her parents
were thinking. She’s known for her sharp sense of humor,
practical mindset, and ability to keep things both thoughtful
and down-to-earth. She’ll talk your ear off about anything, and
whatever her opinion may be, it will certainly be a strong one!
Keira Thomas, Social Media Manager and Contributor
Originally from Front Royal VA, Keira is a second year at UVA,
majoring in History and English. An aspiring teacher, Keira
loves to discuss literature and humanities as a way to engage
with the good, the true, and the beautiful. At UVA, she is
involved with Catholic Hoos and handles events coordination for
Hoos for Life, in addition to contributing to the Arena.
Victor Paltineanu, Chief Strategy Officer
Hailing from Bucharest, Romania,
Victor is a second-year student at the University of Virginia studying Foreign Affairs.
On Grounds, he serves as External Affairs Chair for the National
Security, Intelligence, and Defense (NSID) Club and works as a Language
Consultant for VISAS, teaching English to Japanese and Korean graduate
students at UVA Law. Outside of his academic and extracurricular pursuits,
he enjoys traveling and exploring his interests in politics, film and
television, history, literature, and Formula 1. Pursue these topics at your
own discretion.
Jack Perry, Outreach Chair
Jack is a second year
at UVA from Reston, Virginia, majoring in Economics with a minor
in German. He is involved with the Catholic Hoos Homeless Ministry
and is active in College Republicans. In his free time, he enjoys
reading, lifting, fishing, hiking, and a good chess match.
Jennie-Kate Hannis, Design Chair
Jennie-Kate is a
first-year student from Round Hill, VA planning to major in History
and Government. She also has interests in journalism and community
service. In her free time, Jennie-Kate enjoys reading, watching and
discussing films, and baking.
Sofia Pudner, Fidelity Chair
Hailing from Richmond,
Virginia, Sofia is a first-year student at UVA exploring her interests
in economics, finance, and the humanities. She is involved in Catholic
Hoos, Smart Women Securities, and the Women in Economics Club, and she
is always looking for new ways to get involved around Grounds. Outside
of class, she enjoys spending time with friends, reading, writing, and
talking about just about anything. A big fan of Shakespeare, she loves
to talk about both his plays and their more modern movie adaptations.
Nick Cecil, Technology Chair
Nick is a second-year at UVA
from Arlington, Virginia, studying Economics, Statistics, and Data Science.
Aside from being involved with Catholic Hoos, he also enjoys guitar, hiking,
reading, lifting, food, and plays way too many intramural sports.
Brennan Shea, Technology Associate
Hailing from Chesterfield,
Virginia, Brennan is a first-year at UVA. In his free time, he loves
playing guitar, pursuing personal coding projects, and playing a variety
of sports ranging from soccer to ultimate frisbee. He is also involved in
the altar-service community with Catholic Hoos, and if he’s doing homework,
chances are it’s in the Catholic Hoos Common Room.
Paul Didenko, Journal Photographer
Paul Didenko is a
second-year from Sevierville, Tennessee, studying Mechanical
Engineering. He is involved in the choir and instrumentalists at
Catholic Hoos and dabbles in the realm of photography.
Our Contributors
Charles Miller
Charlie is a
second-year at UVA from Richmond VA planning on majoring in
Economics and Finance. He is involved in the altar service and
men's ministries with Catholic Hoos, and is the founder of the
CREDO Apologetics club. He enjoys playing table tennis,
spikeball, chess, poker, basketball, pool and guitar. He enjoys
discussing philosophy and theology particularly in the realms of
Catholic apologetics.
Bridget Noonan
Bridget is a
second-year at the University of Virginia planning to study
Politics and Economics. She is currently involved at UVA as the
Finance Chair for A Moment of Magic, as the Website Manager for
Catholic Hoos, and as an active member of Undergraduate
Constitutional Law and Hoos For Life. Bridget enjoys deep
conversations about subjects that pique her interest and
particularly always loves to discuss political theory and
philosophy or literature and film reviews.
William Thissell
Growing up in
Alexandria, Virginia, William is a second-year student at UVA
studying Aerospace Engineering. He is involved in Catholic Hoos
and UVA Rocketry, where he is on the airbreaks team. He loves
spending time outdoors and tries his luck at the poker tables
every now and then.
Gianna DeBono
Gianna is a
second-year from Greenwich, CT, interested in majoring in
Political Philosophy, Policy and Law. She has a big love for
music and is a member of the Virginia Belles, a Capella group
here on grounds. She’s also a fan of philosophy and politics and
is in the Jefferson Literary and Debate Society. She plays
intramural soccer in her free time and is involved with Catholic
Hoos on their service council and the CREDO Apologetics group.
Joseph Calabrese
Joseph is a
fourth-year UVA student from New Jersey dual majoring in History
and Foreign Affairs. He is the head altar-server for Catholic Hoos
and is highly involved in St. Thomas Aquinas Church. He enjoys
watching movies, playing golf, and fancies himself an amateur sommelier.
Khoa Nguyen
Hailing from Springfield, Virginia, Khoa Nguyen
is a second-year student at the University of Virginia in the College of
Arts and Sciences. He does not know his major yet, but he is considering
studying either Cognitive Science or Mathematics. Outside of classes,
he is involved with Catholic Hoos and its homeless ministry, the Center
for Christian Study, and Theological Horizons. You will often find him
writing short stories, playing guitar, reading, or taking a good walk.