Fall 2025 EChO Officers
President: Dean Ernesto Leyva |
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From Houston, Texas, Dean is a third year computer science major who has played the cello for 10 years. Dean has professionally recorded in a studio, Pompom and Chiikawa are his goats, and he can put down 2 caniac combos. You will catch him playing a lot of guitar, he regularly posts covers of songs that he thinks are fun to play. He rock climbs a ton, climbing at Mesa Rim probably a good 3-4 times a week, and is on UT’s rock climbing team. He regularly goes out to various coffee places around Austin (he does not have a caffeine dependency), if you ever need recommendations feel free to ask him.
His favorite musical artists right now are Metallica, Avenged Sevenfold, Slipknot, Vaundy and Laufey. His favorite piece of music right now is Metallica’s Blackened. His favorite classical composer is Dvořák. |
Vice President: Mukta Kantak |
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Mukta is a third-year environmental science (geology track!) major and is doing the Public Policy BDP. She is from Wilmington, Delaware, and has played the violin for 12 years. She enjoys hiking, reading, thrifting, watching hockey, and getting sweet treats. She loves musicals and her favorites are Fiddler on the Roof or Les Mis. She loves block blast and tetris.
She can read and write in Classical Latin, her home state has a 200:1 chicken to human ratio, and she has played every game and spin-off in the Ace Attorney series. Her favorite mineral is labradorite. Her favorite musical artists are Dire Straits, Olivia Rodrigo, Lord Huron, Don Omar, Billy Joel, Kali Uchis, Hozier, The Lumineers, Fleetwood Mac, and Lorde. Her favorite songs are Telegraph Road by Dire Straits and Vienna by Billy Joel. Her favorite classical pieces are Mahler Symphony 2, Sibelius Violin Concerto, and Scheherazade by Rimsky-Korsakov. |
Secretary/SEC Representative: Luis Perez |
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Luis is a junior environmental engineering major. He has played the violin for 10 years. He has been to 8 countries, did a study abroad to Copenhagen this most recent semester, and used to have the entire space channel 5 part 2 rhythm game memorized. Outside of EChO, he plays video games (many gacha/nintendo games), loves to bake, try new food, and travel (basically experiencing new cultures). His favorite thing to make is mango cheesecake! A CAEE major has been our Secretary for the last 3 years.
His favorite music artist is Laufey. |
Treasurer: Xander Amparado |
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Xander is a junior biology and public health major, who has played the viola for 8 years. Outside of EChO, he loves cooking, baking (currently obsessed with sourdough), playing video games (recently started a Baldur’s Gate 3 campaign with his gf), and reading (Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn series right now).
His favorite music artists are Clairo, Tyler, the Creator, Luke Chiang, Laufey, and Nature TV. His favorite album right now is Igor by Tyler the Creator. His favorite song is Rearrange My World by Daniel Caesar and Rex Orange County. His favorite classical composer is Shostakovich. Xander lives in our office! Wish him luck as he studies for his MCAT! |
IT Director: Aethyr Villela |
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Aethyr is a senior biomedical engineering major doing the forensic science certificate. Aethyr loves the Elder Scrolls series, typing, drinking coffee, and baking. Aethyr loves banana bread and has had up to 17 bananas at a time in their apartment.
Aethyr frequently listens to and enjoys music, as they have over 25,000 liked songs on Spotify. One of their biggest hobbies is going to concerts. Their favorite musical artists are Alesana, CHUU, Radiohead, Ken Carson, Denzel Curry, and Car Seat Headrest. Their favorite piece of music is Let Down by Radiohead, favorite album is Wildlife by La Dispute, and favorite classical composer is Shostakovich. Aethyr also serves as the VP of External Affairs for the Biomedical Engineering Society and is one of the Directors for the 2026 National Medical Device Makeathon. |
Recruitment Coordinator: Pablo Ramos |
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Pablo is a junior biochemistry major. He’s currently studying for his MCAT – wish him luck! Outside of Echo, he likes to read historical fiction and bake. His favorite things to bake are scones. Pablo knows how to drive stick shift, is spending the summer doing a study abroad in Italy, and loves chocolate/horchata ice cream.
His favorite musical artists are Inhaler and Tom Petty. The best concert he’s ever been to was Twentyone pilots. His favorite classical composer is Holst. |
Service & Social Coordinator: Morgan Kuo & Gaby Alvarado |
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Service Coordinator:Morgan is a sophomore RTF major who has played the cello for 11 years and the piano for 14. He has been to Taiwan 5 times, played at Carnegie Hall, and can do a headstand. Outside of EchO, when he doesn’t find himself at a machine in Greg Gym, he usually likes to go on runs and watch movies. He knows a lot of good movie recommendations, so don’t worry. He also helps with UT’s Survivor Texas with filming and socials. His favorite artists are Kendrick Lamar, Malcom Todd, Charlie Puth, and Anthony Lazaro. His favorite song is Caramel by Anthony Lazaro and favorite album is GNX by Kendrick Lamar. His favorite composer is Rachmanioff. Social Coordinator:Gaby is a senior psychology major (B.S.!) from Austin who has played violin for 11 years. She’s a fiddler and plays in a bluegrass org on campus. She’s obsessed with drinking tea. Her favorite musical artists are Wilco, Rolling Stones, Wings/Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Bob Dylan. Her favorite albums are Summerteeth by Wilco and All Things Must Pass by George Harrison. Some of Gaby’s hobbies are playing gigs with her bluegrass band around Austin, having jam sessions with friends, hiking, swimming, and trying to eat every pad see ew in Austin. Good food, good nature, good friends, and good music make her life full. |
Librarians: Abha Dandge & Chancellor Joseph |
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Abha is a sophomore petroleum engineering major who has played the flute for nearly 10 years. She loves trivia and watching game shows, cooking and baking, and can speak 3 languages. Outside of EChO, Abha loves painting, drawing, crafting, listening to music, and going to coffee shops.
Some of her favorite musical artists are Her’s, Wallows, Niall Horan, The Neighbourhood, the 1975, ABBA, One Direction, Kid Cudi, Mac Miller, and more! her favorite piece of classical music is the Chaminade Concertino by Cecile Chaminade. To be revealed… |
