Meet the 2026-2027 emissaries!
Juliana Statile
Juliana Statile is a current doctoral student in Vocal Performance in the Jacob’s School of Music at Indiana University pursuing minors in Music Education and Vocology. In addition to her studies, Juliana is also a graduate assistant for the Group Scholars Program where she is an instructor for the STEM Initiatives Program as well as an advisor for the student organization GSSO. This past year Juliana won a Community Impact grant for her project entitled "Voices in Motion – Exploring Sound, Science, & Singing" where through a community partnership with WonderLab she broadened access to engaging, hands-on education—empowering children to see themselves as future scientists, artists, and innovators within their own community. Juliana was also awarded the graduate student staff of the year award in Spring of 2026 through the Office of Student Life. Previously, she received her Master’s degree from Texas Tech University where she was also a graduate assistant.
Juliana received her undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Tyler, where she was a former recipient of the University of Texas at Tyler’s presidential scholarship as well as the Patriot Singer’s music scholarship. She formerly taught elementary music for two years in a title one school after completing her undergraduate studies. Her previous performance roles include Cinderella in Rodger and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Ida in Die Fledermaus, Ernesto in the Billy Goat’s Gruff Opera Outreach with Amarillo Opera, and Zerlina in Don Giovanni. In addition to her performances, Juliana was also a finalist in the Medici International Music Competition as well as a semifinalist in the Bologna International Vocal Competition.
She can be contacted at jstatile@iu.edu.
Jayla Langford
Jayla Langford is a 4th year PhD candidate in The Higher Education Program at Indiana University – Bloomington. Jayla is originally from Louisville, Kentucky and holds a B.S. degree from Purdue University in 2021 in Mathematics. She also graduated from Indiana University - Bloomington with her M.S.Ed. in Higher Education & Student Affairs in 2023.
Jayla is passionate about helping undergraduate minority women find their passions through the realms of STEM, positively impacting other students to find their values, encouraging students to combat compassion fatigue, and racial battle fatigue. She is committed to helping students of color discover their own passions to leave their legacy on their college campuses. Her research focuses on the experiences of undergraduate Black women in STEM, with particular attention on how Black women define their own academic self-confidence and self-love, despite the institutional barriers. During her IU tenure, Jayla has worked in Residence Life, New Student Orientation, The Center of Excellence for Women in Technology, and more! She currently works as a Graduate Assistant at the Center for IU’s Postsecondary Research with The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) Institute. Jayla plans to become a STEM Director for underrepresented students at a university, Director of Student Belonging, or work in the realm of Philanthropy.
She can be contacted at jaylangf@iu.edu.
Hyojung Kim
Hyojung Kim is a 3rd year PhD student in the Instructional Systems Technology program at Indiana University Bloomington. She is from Seoul, South Korea, and started the journey of studying internationally for the PhD program. In her program, she studies how to design and deliver effective online learning moments that induces long lasting perceptual and behavioral change. She leverages design principles and learning sciences theories to create authentic learning experiences for all. Her core values in research and in life are equity, empathy, and empowerment through education.
She can be contacted at hk132@iu.edu.
Umer Farooq
Umer is a first-year M.A. student in Media Arts and Sciences at the Media School. His interests lie in practicing investigative and data journalism, as well as researching journalism culture and its broader impact.
Before coming to graduate school, he was drawn to journalism through a curiosity about how stories are told and how information shapes public understanding. That interest led him to pursue this field more seriously and to seek out opportunities where he could both practice journalism and think critically about its role in society. At the Media School, he has been able to build on these interests through his coursework and interactions with faculty and peers, while also refining the questions he wants to explore in his work. This summer, he looks forward to connecting with prospective students from a wide range of backgrounds. He hopes to share his experiences in a way that is helpful and relatable, and to support others as they explore their own paths in graduate education.
He can be contacted at umefaroo@iu.edu.
Cole Hendrix
Cole Hendrix is a third-year doctoral student in higher education at Indiana University, where his research focuses on military-connected students. A first-generation college student and disabled veteran, Cole has successfully navigated higher education across multiple institutions, including Southern Arkansas University Tech, Arkansas Tech University, and Indiana University. Drawing upon the unique challenges he has overcome throughout his academic journey, Cole is committed to supporting and guiding fellow students as they pursue their own educational goals.
He can be contacted at hendrico@iu.edu.
Sunitee Jundre
Sunitee Jundre is a Master’s student in Data Science at the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering. She brings a strong technical background to her studies, including over two years of corporate experience working hands-on with cutting-edge technologies to turn data into impactful business decisions.
As an international student, Sunitee knows firsthand the complexities of moving to a new country, finalizing coursework, and uncovering all the incredible resources IU has to offer. This journey inspired her to become an IU Emissary. She is incredibly passionate about making this transition seamless and welcoming for incoming students. She loves connecting with people, so please feel free to reach out - she's always here to help you navigate your questions and settle into our beautiful campus!
She can be contacted at sjundre@iu.edu.
Maggie Myers
Maggie is originally from Rockford, Illinois. She grew up on a farm and was fascinated by all things biology - she wanted to be a veterinarian, a geologist, a zoologist, an agricultural scientist - but to do those things, she had to go to college. Maggie is a first-generation college student, so she learned to navigate the college ecosystem with the help of wonderful mentors during her undergraduate studies. Maggie is now a PhD student studying bioengineering and neurological diseases, and hopes to continue her career in academia in the future. She is passionate about speaking with first-gen college students that are looking for guidance, support, or connection.
She can be contacted at myermarg@iu.edu.