Youth Advisory Board

The Youth, Media & Wellbeing Research Lab’s Youth Advisory Board (YAB) informs the development of our STEM & Digital Wellbeing Workshops. As former workshop attendees or co-facilitators, YAB members provide feedback on developments to the week-long summer program and collaborate with researchers and other peers while engaging in personal development opportunities (graphic design skills, networking, public speaking, near-peer mentorship). The board includes middle school, high school, and college-aged youth. The YAB is funded by a Technology and Adolescent Mental Wellness grant through the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Linda Charmaraman, Ph.D.

Dr. Linda Charmaraman is Director of the Youth, Media & Wellbeing Research Lab and seeks to amplify youth voices in the co-creation of our summer digital wellbeing workshops. One of her goals is to use the power of data to inform inclusive programming for those underrepresented in the design of social technologies.

Alyssa Gramajo

Alyssa is the Project Coordinator for the Youth, Media & Wellbeing Research Lab. In this capacity, Alyssa serves as the liaison for YAB members, overseeing board recruitment, administration, and related tasks. She is excited to work with Board members to help shape the development of the STEM & Digital Wellbeing Workshop. In her free time, Alyssa enjoys adventuring with her family and spending time at her sewing machine.

Youth Board Members

Ailish Marsh

Ailish is 12 years old and in 7th grade. She does choir, soccer and likes to play Roblox and watch Netflix. She is very excited to join the Youth Advisory Board because she wants to help improve the thought on social media and digital wellbeing.

Margaret Macie Zuniga Murga

Margaret Macie Zuniga Murga (Macie) is 12 years old and lives in Natick Massachusetts. I participated in the STEM & Digital Wellbeing Workshop. I am a member of the Youth Advisory Board. I enjoy playing video games like roblox, going through youtube for art and baking inspo. Also I enjoy playing instruments like the Clarinet and Alto saxophone. I am a student of Kennedy Middle School. Also I do a lot of different afterschool activities like jazz, jazz lab, honors Wind Ensemble, and theater out of school

Mentors

Luna Do

Luna (she/they) studies Media Arts and Sciences and Education at Wellesley College, and she’s a research assistant at the YMW lab. She is excited to connect and engage with youth to develop next summer's Digital Wellbeing Workshops! In her free time, Luna enjoys spinning props such as staffs and hoops, and playing the occasional video game, and hanging out at Wellesley's Glass Garage (where she also works at!) making things like clay sculptures and beaded crafts.