MEET THE TEAM
Who is responsible for all this great work?
FOUNDER AND CHIEF EDITOR
Giulia Dragan
About Me: I am a Bachelor’s student studying American Studies at the University of Heidelberg and founded the Heidelberg Herald in 2024. I am passionate about journalism and am devoted to providing an ideal platform for delivering relevant and diverse information to a growing international or English-speaking student base. Writing is the greatest vessel for our soul to embark on its travels, and I have been in love with the art of words since age 10. I am passionate about various topics, from American and world politics to all things culture. The Heidelberg Herald is my fondest project, and the three wide-ranging columns and general aim reflect who I am, academically and personally.
CO-FOUNDER AND JOURNALIST
Nepomuk Meyer
About Me: I am a Bachelor’s student studying American Studies at the University of Heidelberg. I have loved writing articles and stories ever since I was eleven years old. My topics are all the things that move me, positively or negatively. I co-founded the Herald because I believe that every student’s voice deserves to be heard, whether that voice is in German or not.
JOURNALIST AND CO-FOUNDER
Nguyen Tri Nhan Le
About Me: I am currently a Bachelor of American Studies student at Heidelberg University. Politics and humanities intrigue me. I also enjoy writing, which compelled me to contribute to the Heidelberg Herald.
EDITOR AND JOURNALIST
Alexandra Scherrer
About Me: I’m a 20-year-old student in my final year at the University of Heidelberg, where I study Economics, Political Science, and English. I started editing for the Heidelberg Herald because I am interested in current events, and I’ve always loved creative writing. When I’m not focusing on politics or my studies, I spend a lot of time making music — I play the flute, piano, and electric guitar. I also enjoy playing chess and have a big interest in ancient history.
JOURNALIST AND PHOTOGRAPHER
Stefanie Li
About Me: I am an Economics and Computer Linguistics student at the University of Heidelberg. Writing and photographing are ways to present the world in my eyes and the thoughts in my head to others. Words and images can be strong and gentle simultaneously: they provoke people’s emotions, and the resonance of emotions is always enjoyable or thought-provoking.
JOURNALIST
Varad Dhodapkar
About Me: I am a Master's student in the first year of my degree in Physics at the University of Heidelberg. I am very interested in the intersection between the sciences and the humanities, primarily in the history of science, science communication, and scientific pedagogy. I choose to write for the Heidelberg Herald, a platform by students, for students who wish to express their views on our increasingly polarized world. I believe it is important for people our age to speak up on the litany of issues that trouble our world from Climate Change to Fascism, from Social Media to Surveillance, from A.I. to immigration. Words have the power to bring immense change and the Herald provides students with an invaluable platform to say what they feel, in a coherent, well-defined manner; which is why this is the place to be!
JOURNALIST
Nadezhda Bezuevskaia
About Me: I come from St. Petersburg, Russia, where I majored in linguistics and pedagogy at the Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia. In the summer of 2024, I completed my Master's degree in Jewish Civilizations at the Hochschule für Jewish Studies in Heidelberg (Germany), specializing in Jewish Literature, and am continuing my PhD studies at the HfJS. I have experience working as a journalist and editor. I also practice creative writing, which has led to some of my short stories being published. My life and career are directly related to writing and content creation. I am very pleased to contribute to the Heidelberg Herald.
JOURNALIST
Ty Conde
About Me: I am a Geography major studying in the western United States at Portland State University. I love to travel and explore new places through the lenses of others. This is what inspired me to learn more about my temporary home abroad through exploration and interviews with people in the Heidelberg community. The Herald is a platform for students like me to gain a deeper understanding of the people around me and to share these experiences with the wider student body, so we can all have a better idea of what makes Heidelberg unique in the hearts of all who pass through its streets.
JOURNALIST
Shaden Ali
About Me: I am currently majoring in English literature with a minor in sociology. I’ve always been an avid reader, drawn to the beauty and expression that literature can evoke. I find myself fascinated by the different techniques used in various genres and forms of writing and how these techniques shift and evolve across languages. I made a pact with myself to take my passion for writing more seriously and push myself to publish something. Contributing to The Herald felt like the perfect step, allowing me to be part of something meaningful while also indulging in the diverse perspectives and styles that make writing such a powerful form of expression.
JOURNALIST AND PHOTOGRAPHER
Ashish P Ebi
About Me: I am an Economics master's student at Alfred Weber Institute of Heidelberg University. I am keenly interested in observing the ever-evolving and fairly volatile global politics and its direct impact on the average individual’s life. Political involvement and awareness are a necessity rather than a luxury these days; it is no longer a choice that we can afford to opt for.
JOURNALIST
Arina
About Me: I’m a fifth-semester bachelor’s student at the Heidelberg Center for American Studies (HCA), specializing in U.S. religion and history. I contribute to The Heidelberg Herald, primarily covering foreign policy topics. Storytelling has been my creative outlet since my childhood, and I’m thrilled to have already published my first book of prose!