People
At just 28, Selina Fillinger became one of the youngest woman playwrights in Broadway history, and her 2022 show, POTUS, received three Tony Award nominations and has since been produced in theaters across the nation and internationally. Fillinger ’16 came to Northwestern to pursue acting, but a playwriting class with theater professor of instruction Laura Schellhardt ’97 changed her trajectory.
Barry Joseph ’91 has a long-running fascination with fizzy drinks, particularly seltzer, and he wants others to learn all about its effervescent history. In summer 2024 Joseph launched the Brooklyn Seltzer Museum, a partnership with the oldest seltzer factory in New York City.
Anamaria Sayre ’21 is co-host of NPR Music’s Alt.Latino, where she celebrates Latinx culture as NPR’s youngest-ever full-time host. She also produces El Tiny, the Latin music version of Tiny Desk Concerts.
Ajit Kalra ’20 MBA spent his childhood traveling and tasting new foods with his late father, Jiggs Kalra, a renowned restaurateur, food writer and TV personality in New Delhi. Now Kalra is bringing his culinary adventures to his newest restaurant, Indus Progressive Indian, which he opened with his wife, Sukhu.
Stephen Polozie ’96 JD shares the serendipitous way he met his future wife on a campus tour.
Susan Avery ’90 MS founded the Pacemakers, a dance team fighting stigma around aging. The group has developed a worldwide following.
After struggling to get his young daughter to learn the rules of football, Mike Schroder launched Future Fans, a series of activity boxes that help kids learn the rules of the game through picture books and fun games. It’s about creating opportunities intergenerational connection, he says.
Katlyn Gao is co-founder and CEO of League One Volleyball (LOVB), the largest youth volleyball community in the U.S. The organization is launching LOVB Pro, a women’s volleyball professional circuit that’s set to begin regular season play this January with franchises in six U.S.
Jehana Ray founded PackLess Travel, a clothing rental service helping tourists travel lighter.
André Crump ’91 MBA founded the World Dog Surfing Championships, which brings thousands of canine lovers to the shore of Linda Mar Beach outside San Francisco to watch the world’s best four-legged surfers catch some waves each summer.
