My name is Nasia, and I’m from Winston-Salem, NC. I just wrapped up an English major with minors in both marketing and creative writing, and I’m now getting an M.S. in commerce (on a marketing and management track) from UVA’s McIntire School of Commerce. More broadly, I’m fascinated by language’s impact on brains and brands.

Speaking of language, I know two of them, but I didn’t speak this one until I was in preschool. I grew up with every Greek stereotype imaginable, and I consider my culture a key part of both my personal and professional identity. All four of my grandparents are Greek immigrants, and their testimonies about the value of hard work and passion were instilled in me at a young age. I can’t promise I’ll be as sacrificial as my grandfather, who slept on a mattress in the back of his 24-hour restaurant, but I can promise my own version of honest, thorough, passionate work.

The Greeks are pretty serious about language, and they name their kids accordingly. The tradition is to name your child after your parent, meaning that the names flip flop as generations continue. Our names don’t just offer a way for us to get each other’s attention; they almost always mean something deeper. That’s why my name means Eternal Life. That’s why words matter to me. And that’s why I pay attention to the ways people say what they say.

My hobbies include Greek dance, involvement in the Greek Orthodox Church, exercise, ping-pong, soccer, and good ol’ family time.

Let’s get creative!