Staff
The Charlatan’s 2025-2026 Team
Elissa Mendes
Editor in Chief
Elissa Mendes is a fourth-year journalism and health science student and was previously the Charlatan’s op/ed editor and news editor. Most passionate about stories that shed light on underrepresented issues, Elissa is also a staff reporter in the Toronto Star’s Radio Room, covering breaking news. Her work has also appeared in the Ottawa Citizen, Capital Current and others.
Georgia Looman
Managing Editor
Georgia Looman is the Charlatan’s managing editor and a third-year journalism student with a minor in social psychology and personality. She is also serves as the VP of Student Services at JSOC and an FYC Peer Mentor. Originally from Toronto, she has lived abroad in Japan and Belgium and plans to travel to every continent! Her favourite articles to write are long-form features exploring topics such as gender, sexuality, feminism, culture and identity. Having been an active writer and copyeditor for the Charlatan since 2023, she’s very excited about her role as managing editor this year and honoured to work with such a talented team.
Michael McBean
News Editor
Michael McBean is one of the Charlatan’s news editors and a third-year journalism student from Toronto. A contributor to previous volumes of the Charlatan, he is passionate about political reporting that helps people make sense of the world. Outside of the newsroom, he enjoys walking around the Glebe, supporting the CFL and energizing Carleton Ravens crowds as a public address announcer. Michael also works as a proceedings and verification officer in the House of Commons.
Maia Tustonic
News Editor
Maia Tustonic is one of the Charlatan’s news editors and a third-year student in journalism and political science (international relations). Originally from Calgary, Maia is particularly passionate about covering politics, current events and advocacy issues through a student lens.
Beyond the Charlatan, Maia’s work can be found in the Toronto Star, the Ottawa Citizen, Capital Current and the Carleton Global Review. When not following a story, she can be found baking, watching Formula 1, or humming and dancing to her favourite songs.
After journalism school, Maia plans on pursuing a career in political reporting.
Alexa MacKie
Arts Editor
Alexa MacKie (she/her) is the Charlatan’s Arts Editor and a fourth-year journalism and law student at Carleton University. She previously served as a Summer News Editor and Managing Editor.
Alexa has worked, freelanced or fact-checked with the Ottawa Citizen, the Toronto Star, Canada’s National Observer, Intermission Magazine, Maclean’s Magazine, Maisonneuve Magazine and more. She also has two years of communications experience in the federal public service. In her reporting, Alexa is best while exploring arts and community-driven stories with intersectional perspectives.
Outside of the newsroom, Alexa enjoys crying to Broadway musicals, analyzing film and TV, reading novels and magazines, finding new recipes, and travelling the world.
Marissa Meilleur
Culture and Community Editor
Marissa Meilleur is the Charlatan’s Culture & Community Editor, and a third-year journalism and political science student.
Marissa loves to amplify underrepresented voices by writing about student issues and cultural events that celebrate diverse communities. As a citizen of Kwanlin Dün First Nation and a member of Teslin Tlingit Council’s Kùkhhittàn clan, she is especially passionate about covering Indigenous perspectives and environmental issues.
Outside of the Charlatan, Marissa has been a reporter for CBC Yukon and has work featured in Capital Current and Her Campus Carleton.
When she’s not frantically taking notes for her latest story, Marissa can be found reading a fantasy book, munching on some Goldfish crackers, or watching an Ottawa Senators game.
Zoe Pierce
Sports Editor
Zoe Pierce is the Charlatan’s sports editor and fourth year journalism and law student from Winnipeg. She is passionate about reporting on amateur sports stories with a focus on highlighting women in sport. Zoe has spent the last two summers writing for the Winnipeg Free Press in the sports department.
Abyssinia Abebe
Features Editor
Abyssinia Abebe is the Charlatan’s features editor and fourth-year journalism and law student originally from Ethiopia. Previously, she served as the Charlatan’s podcast co-host. Her work has appeared in the Globe and Mail, Ottawa Citizen, Capital Current, etc. with freelance work in Manor Park Chronicle. Abyssinia is drawn to human interest justice stories. In her free time, you can find her staying active or reading a book.
Daniel Fraser
Op/Ed Editor
Dan is a proud Nova Scotian and third-year political science student with a love for politics, history, film, sports, music and literature.
When not watching the Boston Bruins and Red Sox, he can usually be found re-watching the Indiana Jones and James Bond movies, or listening to Springsteen, the Rolling Stones, John Mellencamp, Tom Petty, The Hip and R.E.M.
Cassandra Bellefeuille
Social Media Manager
Cassandra is a fourth-year Journalism and Political Science student with a passion for politics and community reporting. She previously served as one of last year’s news editors and was a volunteer reporter for two years. She currently works as a Production Assistant at CPAC, where she helps cover federal politics and current affairs, and also serves as Co-President of the Journalism Society. You can also find her work in Capital Current and Her Campus Carleton.
After graduating from J-School she hopes to pursue further education in politics and media. When she’s not reading the news, you can find her enjoying a delicious cup of coffee or in a good workout class.
Matt Piaskoski
Multimedia/Web Editor
Matt Piaskoski is the multimedia and web editor for the charlatan and a fourth year Interactive, Multimedia and Design student. He is passionate about game making, web and graphic design, 3D modelling and animation. Matt also works with Carleton’s AVRC (Audio Visual Resource Centre) and is with Visual Arts Carleton. When not fighting over his course load he can often be found in the kitchen, being a film fiend, forcing himself to gym, or making all sorts of art.
Lisha Lao
Copy Editor
Lisha Lao is the Charlatan’s copy editor and a fourth-year journalism major from Toronto. Her work has appeared in University Affairs, Capital Current and others. She is most interested in community stories with compelling narratives.
Alisha Velji
Graphics Editor
Alisha Velji is the Graphics Editor and is a fourth year IMD (Interactive Multimedia & Design) student.
From Ajax, Ontario, Alisha originally chose to pursue a degree in computer science before transferring to IMD after her first year to follow through on her passion for visual art. She is excited to take on the role as Graphics Editor for the third time this year!
While Alisha has no journalistic experience whatsoever, she is very proud of her Eras Tour review she did for the Charlatan in 2024. When not doodling, you can find her at a local café sipping an iced coffee while catching up on a good thriller book, crashing out over Autodesk Maya or geeking out over Taylor Swift.
Simon McKeown
Photos
Simon McKeown is the Charlatan’s photo editor and a third-year journalism student from Toronto. He’s most passionate about the environment, politics, and all things photography.
Yanjano Banda
Podcast Host
Yanjano is the Charlatan’s podcast host and a fourth-year journalism and film studies student from Lusaka, Zambia. She is passionate about digital journalism and multimedia storytelling. Currently, she hosts the radio program Midday Magic on CKCU 93.1 FM. In their free time, you might find Yanjano haunting the CKCU station or hiding away in St. Patrick’s Building, helping to screen movies for film classes.
Justin Escoto
Podcast Host
Hi there! My name is Justin Escoto. I’m a fourth-year journalism student from Windsor, Ont. I previously worked for CBC Windsor as an associate producer – creating content for television, radio, and digital platforms. My passion for community-driven storytelling is why I chose to take on the role as a co-podcast host at The Charlatan!
When I’m not working, I’m usually watching WWE or UFC on my couch, or spinning some Geese on my record player (the band from Brooklyn, not the bird.)
