Senior Editor & Co-Director

Ayushee Roy is a multimedia storyteller whose work spans across journalism, poetry and fiction. Trained at Columbia Journalism School, she brings a cross-disciplinary approach to her writing, drawing from an academic background in Communications (B.A., UCLA) as well as in Marketing Analytics and Insights (M.S., NUS Business School). Her work explores themes of identity, culture, social justice, and the textures of everyday life, shaped in part by her upbringing in the tropics and enduring fondness for the coast. Ayushee is also the author of the poetry collection Modern Oddity (New Degree Press, 2021), and co-author of Piece by Piece: Picking Up What’s Left Behind, a narrative nonfiction anthology published by Delacorte Review in 2025. Previously, she served as Editor-in-Chief of UCLA’s Pacific Ties newsmagazine and as Regional Editor at College Magazine.

Reach her at editor@civicstory.org, or connect on LinkedIn.

Development & Growth Co-Director

Gianna Santelli is a fundraising professional with nearly 15 years of experience supporting small nonprofits across New Jersey, with a focus on arts, education, healthcare, and workforce development. She brings a relationship-driven, systems-thinking approach to resource development, and has successfully launched inaugural fundraising programs that fuel long-term growth. Gianna holds a degree in Environmental Policy, Institutions and Behavior from Rutgers University and is passionate about advancing civic and environmental solutions across the state.

Reach her at development@civicstory.org, or connect on LinkedIn.