Daily Texan Editor-in-Chief Laura Hallas and Managing Editor Michelle Zhang have joined the board of Friends of The Daily Texan Inc.

Friends of The Daily Texan, Inc. is a non-profit organization established to lend support and assistance to The Daily Texan, an institution at the University of Texas at Austin since 1900.

Members include alumni of The Texan, plus other supporters of a free and unfettered student media at UT.

The board consists of  media professionals and other supporters of The Texan. It also includes the sitting Editor-in-Chief and the Managing Editor, whi have full voting rights and responsibilities on the board.

Laura Hallas is a Plan II, Economics, and Health and Society sophomore from Allen, Texas. She has been involved in journalism and opinion writing since her high school days, and carried that passion with her to UT where she has spent three semesters as a senior columnist and copy editor.  Outside of the Texan basement, Hallas has experience as a magazine designer, government intern and public health researcher.

During her term, Hallas hopes to make The Texan more accessible to students by improving inclusivity within the opinion department and promoting relevant perspectives on campus issues. She credits the opinion department for connecting her to campus, strengthening her career aspirations and developing her fondness for vintage couches.

Michelle Zhang is a third-year student at The University of Texas at Austin studying business and Plan II Honors. In fall 2017, she will be the managing editor of The Daily Texan after previously having worked in positions as associate copy desk chief and associate managing editor.

She is also the managing director of Project Consent, a global nonprofit combating sexual assault and rape culture. She plans to pursue a career in YA publishing, filmmaking, or any format where stories can be told.