Kristin and Kira met while working on their Mastery of the Climate (& Society) at Columbia University in 2009. Over coursework, karaoke, the Lionshead, and a year of living dangerously in Brooklyn, their friendship solidified. They've stayed together through thick and thin, though law school (Kristin's) and doctoral programs (Kira's), through Thanksgivings and SantaCons, through Vermont hikes and Boston concerts. They both love MK&A, New York, and oxes forever.

Erin and Kira met their freshman year at UConn, in genetics class, and proceeded to hang out and co-habitate as often as possible for the rest of college and frequently thereafter. They've traveled together to Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, India, Italy, Belgium, and the Netherlands to the Great Smoky Mountains, D.C., and to many of the finer watering holes of the greater Boston area. Erin has accepted Kira's tendencies to bird-while driving and natter on about nonsense in a stream-of-consciousness style, and Kira is happy to fetch things for Erin when she calls "[object], come to me!". It's a beautiful partnership that will last through the ages :)

Aleks and Kira met their first day at UConn when Kira's mother recruited Aleks to be her daughter's friend. Aleks was kind enough to go along with it :) Their friendship was cemented through the trials of freshman year, through navigating the ins and outs of becoming who you are. They lived only a door (or a room) apart for the rest of college, hunting down the dining halls where cheese blintzes or french toast sticks would be served, enjoying late-night games of Jenga, and trying to figure out who to call on campus to get your heating fixed in the middle of a New England winter. Kira thanks her lucky stars she's had Aleks' humor, warmth, and friendship in her life since "Day 1" of her adulthood :)

Rachel and Kira met during their UConn Nerdientation (orientation for Honors students) and became immediate friends, as their wacky humor, open embrace of all things new and exciting, and happily bookish approach to life made any other outcome impossible. Rachel's generosity, good-heartedness, and embrace of the ridiculous and the "carpe diem" in life makes her a treasured friend. Through trips throughout nearly every state in the Northeast, games of mini-golf in summer, nights of revelry in New York City and Boston, and a magical wedding week in Puerto Rico and a whimsical tourist week in Belgium, Rachel and Kira have built a friendship for the ages.

Maya and Kira have been friends since their first pre-roommate e-mail exchange when it became clear that their mutual appreciation of craft beer, affordable living, good food, and exploration would make them the perfect roommates. Even though they locked each other out of their 5th floor walk-up a time or two each (always an accident!), and Maya's cat gave Kira face-hives, and Kira made too many creepy faces during scary movies, they managed to find a way to bring out the joy in each other's hearts and become as much family as friends. (Road)trips to Ithaca, Pennsylvania, New Orleans, and the Dominican Republic sealed the deal. Grassroots, Lonely Island, and braving the Fairway side-by-side brought them together, and now nothing could break their bond! :)