“Our Bioengineering Department, the College of Engineering, and the whole of Northeastern are lucky to have Kiley York for her leadership and service,” says Teaching Professor and Associate Chair for Undergraduate Affairs in Bioengineering Timothy Lannin. “She is a force for good, and her merits are well-aligned with those of the Compass Award.”

Professor Lannin is one of many lauding the achievements of Kiley York, a bachelor of science in bioengineering candidate with concentration in medical devices with honors distinction. Her praise is well deserved. During Kiley’s years at Northeastern, she has held several leadership roles, including President of the NU Biomedical Engineering Society, Vice President of NU Engineers Without Borders, and Honors Ambassador and Honors Living Learning Assistant Presidential Ambassador for the John Martinson Honors Program. Lydia Bird, Kiley’s mentor in the Honors Mentorship Program, says, “Kiley puts her all into everything she does and leads with dedication and kindness.”

Maintaining a 3.87 GPA is no easy feat, but Kiley has done that while masterfully, balancing club participation, ambassador programs, and volunteer opportunities—and exceling in all.  She considers her most significant achievement to be organizing fall and spring co-op career fairs for undergraduate engineering students for the past three years. “The change in planning structure that I have implemented has caused for growth of the

event,” she says. “The number of companies and undergraduate students has increased, as well as we have expanded the event to be held in two spaces—the McLeod Suited and Curry Ballroom—as opposed to just one (Curry Ballroom).”

In addition to her extensive accomplishments on campus, Kiley has participated in notable global experiences. During the Honors Dialogue of Civilizations program in Chile, she completed interdisciplinary coursework combining microbiology research and landscape photography, gaining scientific and cultural perspectives through community-based volunteering. Her second global experience was part of the John Martinson Honors Program (JMHP) Self-Directed Global Experience (SDGE)—one of JMHP’s more demanding academic opportunities. In this, Kiley explored South Africa’s history, culture, and landscapes through photography. 

In terms of professional development, Kiley participated in a bioengineering co-op at Sage Product Development—engineering consulting for medical devices—where she supported multisite clinical trials and prototyped fixtures and part stand-ins for testing. While doing an R&D engineering co-op at Fresenius Medical Care North America, she designed and debugged reliability improvements for existing products and those under development.

“Across all contexts, Kiley stands out for her steadiness, compassion, and quiet but impactful leadership,” says Nancy Watkins, former assistant director for community service and civic engagement and honors living learning coordinator. “Her presence consistently elevates the experiences of her peers and the communities she serves.”

Kiley plans to pursue a Masters of Mechanical Engineering in the Northeastern PlusOne program.

Soon to graduate with a bachelor of science in Data Science and Mathematics—and a 3.95 GPA—Emeline Donovan is an innovator and proven leader. Khoury Senior Associate Dean of Academic Programs and Student Experience Benjamin Hescott says, “Emeline’s leadership abilities shine through in every endeavor she undertakes.” She transformed NU’s fencing club from a modest group of 20 members into a three-time national champion. She also spearheaded collaborative events such as Hora de Café with the LatinX Center and Queer Prom with the LGBTQ+ Resource Center.

Emeline received The Inclusive Husky award for her role as a resident assistant. When assigned to 60 Belvidere, a residence hall located a 10 to 15-minute walk from campus during her fourth year, she soon discovered the physical distance from campus had turned into an emotional distance for many students. “Wanting to bridge that gap, I proposed a collaboration between ResLife and the LatinX Student Cultural Center (LSCC) to host a Hora de Cafe event at 60 Belvidere.” A huge success, the event even drew residents and staff from neighboring dorms to celebrate Latin culture, comingle, and share food.

As an RA, she has shown “exceptional interpersonal skills, crisis management abilities, and the capacity to support students through their most challenging moments.” This is no surprise, as Emeline says, “A driving force within me is to help others through things I have struggled with myself.” Getting the visa, finding an apartment, and setting things up for her study abroad program in Spain at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid were challenging. However, after that semester, Emeline signed up to be a student alumni contact so that she could help others through the same process.

Emeline faced another challenge—trying to find a co-op. After several rejections, she decided to secure a summer internship. “I leveraged my network and landed an informational interview with a data scientist at HITE Hedge Asset Management, an energy hedge fund in Quincy.” Emeline discovered they were interested in technology she had recently used in her coursework and after demonstrating her capabilities, HITE offered her a paid summer internship. Because of Emeline, HITE joined Northeastern’s co-op program. HITE was so pleased with her that they offered her co-op and even a full-time job as a data scientist after graduation.

Most recently, Emeline was one of 10 students nationwide selected from 6,000 applicants for Deutsche Bank’s summer internship program in New York City. “I capitalized on Northeastern’s resources—securing housing through Educational Housing Services—and gained further experience at the intersection of technology and finance.”

Her proudest achievement? It’s a tie. Emeline says, “[LSCC] taught me that when you intentionally create spaces where everyone feels welcome, people show up.” Molding the co-op set her up for success. “It made me feel as though I had leveraged all the resources NEU provides to their fullest capacity and truly embodied a Northeastern student.”

To call Helena D’Alessandro a multi-tasker is an understatement. She balances her role as a DMSB co-op peer mentor with on-campus leadership responsibilities, her own active job search, taking a full course load—all while working 20 hours per week. In addition, she has been on the Dean’s list every semester and maintains a 3.84 GPA.

Wait. There’s more. Helena has already begun her first post-college job even before graduation—a sustainability analyst for Sustainable Fitch, part of Fitch Group, in New York City. “I hope to deepen my expertise in sustainable finance, ESG analysis, entity ratings, second-party opinions (SPOs), and green bond market assessments,” she says. In two years, her plan is to pursue a master’s degree focused on climate finance or sustainable business.

Helena has been a powerhouse at Northeastern, both on campus and in the broader community. As a co-op peer mentor, she supported more than 40 students per semester with resume development, interview preparation, networking strategies, and navigating the co-op search process. She began as a junior investment analyst and is now co-director of venture advisory for NUImpact, Northeastern University’s impact investment fund. She and her co-director designed a Venture Advisory program to support Northeastern students building impact-driven startup companies connect to venture capital funding opportunities. Through this work, she says, “I combined my interests in sustainability, entrepreneurship, and finance while contributing to a growing ecosystem of student-led impact investing on campus.” She considers it her most significant achievement and says, “It was not simply about holding a leadership title but also about helping build something new that could have a lasting impact beyond my own time at the university.”

Even with her multiple responsibilities, Helena says, “I was involved in organizations that supported my personal and creative interests, including CHAARG and No Limits Dance Crew, which gave me community through fitness and dance.” In the community, Helena participated in service initiatives such as the Prison Project, working with a team of students to design and deliver a workshop on AI and entrepreneurship for incarcerated individuals at the South Bay House of Correction. She also regularly volunteered at Council for University Programs (CUP) events.

Helena participated in two co-ops, including one at the European Public Law Organization (EPLO), Institute for Sustainable Development, in Legrena, Sounion, Greece. While there, she produced content to promote involvement in EU Missions, the Earthshot Prize, South3E Project, and UN SDGs. “I developed an enormous sense of independence, adaptability and cultural agility, while gaining firsthand exposure to sustainability initiatives, impact-oriented work, and international collaboration.” More recently, Helena took part in a sustainable investing co-op at Wellington Management in Boston.

DMSB Co-op Coordinators Erin Salomon and Jen Guillemin say, “Students like Helena who lead with integrity, give back to their community, and do so with consistency and grace are exactly the kind of people this award was created to recognize.”

Don’t be surprised if you see the name “Grayson Bunting” on the national political stage before long. A member of the John Martinson Honors Program with a 3.76 GPA, Grayson is carving his path in politics and international affairs.

Grayson is a semifinalist for the U.S. ETA Fullbright Scholarship to Bosnia and Herzegovina and hopes to return to
the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York as a paralegal before attending law school. In 2024, he completed a co-op there and served on the national security prosecution team aiding assistant U.S. attorneys in preparing for—and trying—high-profile criminal cases. These required close collaboration with several U.S. government agencies, including the FBI, the DEA, and the Department of State. His later co-op was with Ropes & Gray LLP, where he produced the firm’s daily “In the News” communication that is distributed to more than 800 recipients.

During his time at Northeastern, Grayson has contributed to many events and organizations. He has been a Northeastern presidential ambassador, a 2025 Dialogue of Civilization program assistant, CSSH ambassador, lead peer mentor and peer mentor, CSSH co-op teaching assistant, and more. Additionally, Grayson was on the founding e-board of NU’s Alexander Hamilton Society chapter, the nation’s preeminent nonpartisan organization that promotes constructive debate on basic American principles and contemporary issues in economic, statecraft, foreign policy, and national security. 

Grayson is a Huntington 100 honoree, named Beta Theta Pi fraternity Brother of the Year 2025, and won first place—raising nearly $20,000—in the Take it to the Floor Charity Team Dance Competition. He also volunteered for the United Nations Association of Greater Boston

As a bachelor of science in International Affairs and International Business candidate, Grayson has had the opportunity to study in his field internationally. He participated in “Balkan War and Peace” in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Greece, as well as “The Old and New Middle East” in Egypt, Jordan, and UAE, and NU in London.

Grayson says his greatest achievement has been serving as the lead peer mentor for the International Affairs department, supporting new students as they navigate their way. “It has been incredibly meaningful to contribute to the same department that shaped my own academic journey,” he says, “and to play a small part in fostering the next generation of globally minded students.”

Associate Director, Undergraduate Recruitment Programs Krissy Maloney says, “He is the perfect student to have talk about our college and what we can offer to prospective and admitted students because he has taken advantage of just about every opportunity we have.”

Undoubtedly, countless doors of opportunity will open for Grayson during his career.

Warda Ahmed is leading a life dedicated to service, a quality that should serve her well in her intended career as a physician. She has been part of Project 351, a youth-centered nonprofit that selects one eighth grader from every town in Massachusetts to lead community service initiatives, since she was in middle school. She also organized large-scale food and clothing drives in her community.

Now nearing college graduation, Warda’s commitment to service has only increased. She is still working with Project 351, but now in a leadership role, supporting two major statewide events each year as the welcoming lead, who provides transportation support, handles hotline outreach, and serves on the medical team as an EMT. Additionally, as a part of the Alternative Breaks program for two years, she co-led a team of 10 volunteers to Seattle to serve with Urban ArtWorks, painting a mural honoring a Northeastern grad student who lost her life to police violence. Most recently, she co-led a trip to London to serve with Granville Community Kitchen, an organization that addresses food insecurity and community displacement due to gentrification.

Much of Warda’s service has been in the medical field. As a volunteer at Boston Community Pediatrics, she helped the Care Navigation and Administration team support patients’ needs outside the clinic, such as

enrolling them in summer camps. She was also a pediatrics surgery volunteer and front desk greeter at Massachusetts Eye & Ear.

Warda is also an outstanding academic with a 3.99 GPA in biochemistry. She has been named to the Huntington 100 and Dean’s List, recognized as an Advancing Women in Science Scholar, and is a recipient of the Condit Award. Professor Jude Matthews says, “Her intellectual ability, generosity, and professionalism set her apart, and she represents the very best of our students.”

“In each of her two co-ops, Warda demonstrated a thoughtful approach to gaining real world experience,” says College of Science Associate Director of Co-op Jacquelyn MacDonald. “She was both careful and creative as she considered opportunities alongside her goal to pursue a career in medicine.” Warda’s first co-op was as a biology researcher at Larkspur Biosciences. As a patient care technician in general and vascular surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Wanda improved comfort and recovery for patients through wound care, mobility, and post-operative monitoring.

That’s not the extent of Warda’s accomplishments. She’s also been a knack tutor, peer mentor, and teaching assistant.

“Northeastern shaped not only how Warda has studied, but who she has become,” says MacDonald. “Warda is someone who brings professionalism, warmth, humor and genuine purpose to every environment she enters.”

After a gap year for research, Warda hopes to attend medical school.

Kaitlin Bondi’s involvement at Northeastern has contributed to trends and ideas that are expected to influence the future. A senior in the Bouvé College of Health Sciences with a 4.0 GPA, she is a founding member of—and the only Bouvé student on—the Northeastern Artificial Intelligence (AI) Student Advisory Board that works with university leaders to define Northeastern’s position as a leader and innovator in the age of AI.

As an executive board member of Northeastern’s Healthcare Innovation Core, ViTAL, Kaitlin has created and led programming for networking events and professional development workshops designed to help students succeed in their future careers. Additionally, Kaitlin has served on multiple Bouvé advisory councils and has been a STEM peer tutor for the College of Science. As a Bouvé Fellow, she has been a peer mentor and student leader for first-year health students.

Kaitlin’s academic research is outstanding. As a contributor to Northeastern’s CaNCURE program—cancer nanomedicine research—at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, she explored clinical and epidemiological correlates of monoclonal gammopathies and published a peer-reviewed abstract for the American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting, one of the most prestigious conferences in hematology and oncology research.

She’s proudest of her capstone project, however, and says, “I am developing educational materials for patients at the Center for Early Detection and Interception of Blood Cancers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute who are diagnosed with monoclonal gammopathies, including monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and smoldering multiple myeloma.” This area of disease is relatively unknown to the general population, and Kaitlin hopes to strengthen patient understanding and lessen provider burden.

Besides being an important member of the Northeastern community, Kaitlin also contributes to the Boston community as a Playspace Activity Leader (PAL) at Horizons for Homeless Children. Previously, she was a student volunteer for Victory Programs where she assembled harm reduction kits to individuals experiencing hardships and helped in the planning and execution of the annual Mission Hill Road Race.

In recognition of her outstanding academic record, Kaitlin has been inducted into the Northeastern Chapter of Alpha Epsilon Delta, the national health pre-professional honor society. “Over the past four years, Kaitlin has grown into an impressive leader, scholar, researcher and clinician,” Bouvé Dean Carmen Sceppa says. “It is rare to see the combination of competence and humility, leadership, and intelligence that Kaitlin demonstrates.”

Before attending medical school in 2027, Kaitlin plans to travel, spend quality time with family and friends, and work in the medical field.

Throughout Chinonso Morsindi’s five-year academic journey, she has achieved academic excellence, inspired leadership, and exhibited professional development. Chinonso is set to graduate from the D’Amore-McKim School of Business with a 3.77 GPA.

Chinonso is president of the Black Business Student Association (BBSA), and planned the group’s inaugural Black Professionals Conference, a landmark event that fostered connections between students and industry leaders. She has been a peer mentor for the Office of Student Engagement, Affinity, and Inclusion; a Summer Bridge leader; and a BUSN1102 mentor. As a legacy peer mentor at the John D. O’Bryant African American Institute, Chinonso helped increase retention and graduation rates for students of color by providing academic and professional mentorship.

“Establishing BBSA’s Inaugural Black Professionals Conference was one of the biggest highlights of my college career,” says Chinonso. “It dedicated a space for students from around Boston to connect with leaders that look like them, while also helping them explore various pathways to breaking into their desired profession.”

Last year, Chinonso presented her international affairs capstone research project, “Harnessing Africa’s Growing Influence on the 21st Century Global Stage,” at the RISE Expo. She received the 2024 Srinivasan Grant for Projects in Emerging Markets to develop and publish her findings. Chinonso’s global experiences include six months at the IÉSEG School of Management in Paris in 2023, and a field study on sustainable energy in Denmark in March 2025 that culminated in a presentation of a case study on CarbFix, an Icelandic carbon capture company.

Chinonso participated in a strategic tech partnership and project management co-op with Boston Consulting Group, and a case team assistant co-op with L.E.K. Consulting. She was an ESG reporting analyst for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in New York, a corporate venture capital analyst with HP Tech Ventures, and a corporate banking summer analyst for HSBC USA. Chinonso’s passion for technology and innovation led her to join the Break Through Tech AI Fellowship at MIT, where she and other students developed an algorithm for the startup hedge fund Cashew Capital. The project enabled her to bridge the gap between AI and business.

The consensus from the Dean’s Office at the D’Amore-McKim School of Business is that Chinonso’s experiences shaped her into dynamic leader, scholar, and changemaker. There is a level of confidence that upon graduating in May, she will leverage her knowledge, skills, and leadership to drive innovation and create equitable opportunities in academia, business, and society.

Before beginning her PhD program in August through the Biochemistry, Quantitative Biology, Biophysics and Structural Biology Track at Yale University, Diana Turrieta will continue to help and support minority students. This summer, she will be a TA in chemistry and algebra for high school students in the Mathematics and Science for Minority Students Program at Phillips Academy in Andover, MA, a program she took part in during high school.

Diana has been active in Northeastern’s PODER (Prosperity Ownership Determination Empowerment Resilience) Early Arrival Program. She directed a five-day early arrival program that assists first-generation, Latinx and/or undocumented/DACA students for a successful transition to university life. This, Diana says, is her proudest achievement.

“I have mentored a number of students, built community, and helped students become leaders,” she shares.

Diana has also held several positions in Northeastern’s Latin American Student Organization, helping to strengthen the group through positive relationships and management. As a FUNL program assistant, she organizes events and develops resources for the Latinx community.

With all her community involvement, Diana has kept on top of her studies. She will graduate with a 3.974 GPA and has won research awards, including the National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) in 2025; the Genetic Information Honorable Mention Poster at the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) Annual Conference; ASBMB’s Student Chapter Travel Award; the Huntington 100; the Princeton University 2024 MolBio Scholars; and the Northeastern University Garnet Award.

Diana participated in the AJC Merit Research Scholar co-op with the Dr. Tovah Day Laboratory at Northeastern, and the Prime Editing Platform co-op at Prime Medicine, Inc. Diana is “outstanding in the classroom, in the laboratory, and as a member of our community. She has an impressive trajectory,” says Day. “Diana has grown to operate at the level of a graduate student in my lab, and has made remarkable contributions. She’s singularly clear-headed, presents with confidence, clarity, and insight, and brings an entrepreneurial spirit,” Day adds.

Diana has also served as a biochemistry peer mentor and a Campus Crossroads information attendant.

Biochemistry Program Director Professor Kirsten Ferteck says, “Diana is a highly energetic, curious, and empathetic student who has been serving as an ideal role model for our students. She is an accomplished biochemistry researcher with an impressive academic record, and is also a recognized champion of the underserved communities that she is passionate about,” says Ferteck.

Most people go to college and then grow into their careers. Chisako Oga-Cunningham is not like most people. She already has a lucrative career as a principal dancer with the Boston Ballet, and will soon be a Northeastern University graduate.

Chisako is currently one of the best in the world in her profession. She is also a realist, aware that a career in dance has a short timeline. Her leadership in the classroom has given her a promising second career. Chisako is on track to receive a B.S. in finance and accounting management, and hopes to pursue graduate studies and earn her Certified Management Accountant (CMA) credential. In the meantime, she plans to fully dedicate herself to dancing while also seeking internship opportunities to gain valuable on-the-job experience.

Chisako served as an ambassador for the partnership between the Boston Ballet and Northeastern, providing testimonials for donors, guiding prospective students, and sharing insights with dancers. Outside of Northeastern, she’s taken on leadership roles that align with her values, mentoring two ballet students through a program between the Boston Ballet and the Walnut Hill School for the Arts. She was also a union delegate for the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA), advocating for safer and fairer working conditions.

“Pursuing a degree through Northeastern has been a dream realized,” Chisako says, “I’ve worked hard to ensure that my academic performance reflects the same level of commitment and discipline I bring in the studio.” She is most proud of balancing a rigorous professional ballet career with academics and assures others that it’s possible to balance a career and education.

Chisako has performed major roles in countless ballets and has been lauded for her talent. She received a bronze medal at the 2018 USA International Ballet Competition, was listed among the 25 to Watch by Dance magazine in 2018, and received a silver medal at the 2016 Shanghai International Ballet Competition.

Veronica Horne, the Boston Ballet’s company manager says, “Chisako is a textbook role model for her colleagues, making Boston Ballet proud of her continued accomplishments on and off stage.”

Chisako says, “The partnership between the Boston Ballet and Northeastern has opened the opportunity for me to continue my education. Not only does it make it possible for me to earn a bachelor’s degree while working full-time as a dancer, but the scholarship helps me to do so while feeling financially stable.”

Mya Leonardo, who will graduate with a 4.0 GPA in biology, is narrowly taking a break before she starts attending Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine in July 2025. This pace is not unusual for Mya, as she has been a powerhouse on campus and in the community throughout her time on campus.

Since 2022, Mya has chaired the Student Philanthropy Council, helping educate the student body on philanthropy’s power and its role in shaping students’ experience on campus. “Mya has shown remarkable resilience and dedication,” says Director, Student Engagement + Philanthropy C. Hawkins. “She led through the natural growing pains of a new organization—navigating shifts in member engagement and leadership—while never losing sight of the council’s purpose.” She’s also proud of the way she has grown SPC. “I developed a whole new perspective on the values that encompass Northeastern and why certain things on campus are carried out the way that they are.” That helped her inform the student body of the importance of donations—and donor’s choice.

Mya has been a tutor and gala committee member for EVkids and a Husky Ambassador. For Miss America Opportunity, she has volunteered more than 600 hours at various community events. She’s committed to helping children and has tied that into her plans to become a dentist. She hosts free oral hygiene workshops for after-school programs and schools across Massachusetts. She also hosts the Smart Smiles Toothbrush Drive, collecting and donating more than 800 toothbrushes plus toothpastes for schools and shelters across the state. In addition, she also published her first children’s book, Maggie and Her Powerful Braces. “Maggie’s story has helped kids across the Commonwealth find confidence through their smile and not letting the bullies’ negative words overpower you.”

Mya has not yet begun dental school, yet she has become a licensed dental assistant, earning about 2,000 clinical hours assisting procedures in general dentistry, pediatrics, orthodontics, periodontics, and dentistry for patients with special needs. “Providing care for patients with special needs brought so much joy to me,” she says, “because it was all about having patience and being adaptable to provide for the patient in a way that was geared to their needs.”

In addition to becoming a dental assistant, Mya is certified in CPR, AED, radiology and infection control. A member of Northeastern TriBeta Biological Honor Society, Mya is a member of the ASDA Pre-Dental Advisory Committee, and debate team member, as well as the public relations chair and mentor of Northeastern University Pre-Dental Association. She is founder of EMPOWER and EMPOWER Workshops in Dartmouth,  and holds weekly “Mindsets with Mya” podcasts and blog postings to help spread inclusion and a positive mindset.

Hawkins says, “Her leadership, volunteer spirit, academic integrity, and deep commitment to Northeastern are undeniable. She is exactly the kind of student who becomes a lifelong ambassador for the university.”

“An interdisciplinary marvel” is how Senior Associate Dean of Academic Programs and Student Experience, Khoury College of Computer Sciences Ben Hescott refers to Shannen Espinosa. She has worked in labs from Boston to London—focusing on neuroendocrinology at Boston Children’s Hospital; exploring the role of quantum computing in international law at the UN office in Geneva; studying the development of universal coronavirus vaccines at Corbett-Helaire’s Harvard biomedical lab; and merging biomedical research with computational biology in a study of Alzheimer’s disease at Oxford University.

Back home in Boston, Shannen began entering computing hackathons because she wanted “to explore how quantum computing could support biomedical innovation.” She won first place at the IBM Challenge at MIT for creating an app to facilitate organ donation, leading her to receive the Social Impact Award and an invitation to represent the U.S. in April 2025 at the International Hackathon for Social Good in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

On campus, Shannen served as a teaching fellow for courses like neurobiology and advanced programming with data. She introduced young students to robotics at a local Spanish-English bilingual elementary school, and during the pandemic, she worked with the state’s COVID-19 testing and vaccination units. Further, she volunteered as a medical assistant with the Philippine Medical Association of New England, teaching English to Syrian medical students through the nonprofit Paper Airplanes.

Interning with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, she helped build a five-year plan to address the racial health equity gap in the state. Then she headed to Washington, D.C., as an intern for Congresswoman Lori Trahan, working on legislation that included the End Neglected Tropical Disease Act and topics such as the Disease X Act. Shannen was also nominated by the World Health Organization to serve as a working group leader at YOUNGA, the world’s largest global youth summit for social impact.

She is most proud of representing Northeastern in global quantum competitions. “I wouldn’t have even thought to mix quantum computing and humanitarian work if it weren’t for the United Nations DOC program I did through Northeastern two years ago,” she says. “It’s what kicked off this whole journey, and it’s what now drives my work on the XPRIZE in Quantum Applications, where our goal is to build something that could actually help solve a real-world, unsolved problem.”

A semifinalist for Fulbright Scholarship, Shannen will join the U.S. Naval Nuclear Laboratory in Switzerland as a Womanium Fellow after graduation, studying quantum benchmarking of Majorana fermion systems and exploring the implications for topological qubit architecture. She also plans to continue competing in the three-year global XPRIZE; her team is designing a fault-tolerant quantum framework capable of modeling a high-fidelity representation of the human cell.

Playwright, actor, songwriter, singer, scholar—that’s Ashley DiLorenzo in a nutshell. The multitalented, soon-to-be Northeastern grad has penned eight plays, co-produced two Off-Broadway developmental workshops of new musicals, won the 2021 Musical Theatre Songwriting Challenge sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts and American Theatre Wing, and performed in front of many theatrical audiences.

Ashley has participated in various theatre department productions and capstone festivals since arriving on campus. She’s performed in six NU Stage productions and worked as mainstage assistant director and revue costume designer. Seven times she’s submitted 10-minute plays to Silver Masque, acting, designing, directing, and producing some of them. She founded Hear Your Song Northeastern, the university chapter of a national nonprofit that brings collaborative songwriting to kids and teens with severe health needs. Ashley considers it to be her most significant achievement. “Starting a club that meets the needs and standards of both the university and the national organization was no easy feat. Neither was recruiting the number of talented musicians that sit on our executive board today,” she says. “It merges my passions for music and giving back with my developing organizational leadership skills.”

Outside of Northeastern, Ashley volunteered with Disney VoluntEARS for the Warrior Games and Give Kids the World. In 2024, she was a trip services professional intern for Disney Signature Experiences, supporting high-profile guests and creating new databases for physical and digital inventory. She worked on co-op at the Huntington Theatre in Boston where she managed annual local equity principal auditions (EPA) for actors, wrote and edited character breakdowns, evaluated scripts, and more. Ashley was also a casting intern for NBCUniversal, curating casting news, compiling lists of upcoming premiere dates, representing the team at BFA acting showcases, and welcoming talent.

Academic excellence is also on Ashley’s growing list of achievements. She holds a 3.9 GPA, membership to the Huntington 100, is a National Hispanic Scholar, a two-time Communications Department Junior Scholar, and is on the Dean’s List.

“Ashley is the kind of student who not only excels in every endeavor she undertakes but also leaves a lasting impact on those around her,” says associate teaching professor Samantha Richert Boehm. “I am confident that she will continue to inspire and lead beyond her time at Northeastern and into the world as a distinguished alumna.”

After graduation, Ashley will rejoin the Disney Signature Experiences team as a rotational associate in marketing strategy.

Sebastian Caicedo has demonstrated leadership and integrity in both his native Texas, in Boston, and at Northeastern. He is devoted to making the world a better place and taking on the plight of immigrants and the underserved.

In Texas, Sebastian interned with Dia de la Mujer Latina, a community health organization, and helped inform the public about COVID-19 during the height of the pandemic. He also interned with CollegeCommunityCareer, which helps first-generation and low-income students pursue higher education.

Within the Boston community, Sebastian volunteered with Community Servings, a nonprofit that tackles food insecurity, where he packaged medically tailored meals for people with chronic conditions. He also served as a teaching assistant at Immigrant Family Services Institute, helping Haitian American immigrants practice their English language skills.

While maintaining an impressive 3.985 GPA at Northeastern, Sebastian, as an EMPOWER Student of Collective Fellow at the Social Justice Resource Center, initiated programs that address the needs of underrepresented students. As a SQUAD coordinator for EMERGE, he mentors 24 first-generation low-income students. Since starting his academic career at Northeastern, Sebastian has worked with the Center for Intercultural Engagement, maintaining its day-to-day functions and hosting events concerning student wellness. He is also a sexual violence prevention education at the Office of Prevention and Education.

Sebastian instituted a university-wide career fair for 15 Black/African American and Hispanic/Latin American students to get connected with co-op, internships, and full-time opportunities. This, he says, is his most significant achievement. Unforeseen challenges arose leading up to the event, so he had to manage the budget, supply orders and personnel logistics. “I learned how my resilience and courage enable me to persevere and confront difficult, uncertain situations head on,” he says. “I also discovered my passion for empowering others, especially those from historically marginalized backgrounds via identity-centered work dismantling access barriers.”

A recipient of many scholarships, awards, and grants, Sebastian will pursue his PlusOne Master of Public Health degree from Northeastern.

Teaching Professor and Undergraduate Program Director of Bouvé College of Health Sciences Samantha Barbers, PhD, says, “In the current complex environment, the world needs more Sebastians who are committed to doing hard work to implement and improve evidence-based practices that benefit multiple constituencies.”

“Clara Barsoum is the definition of leadership, service and volunteerism, academic integrity, and commitment to Northeastern,” says Kelliann Henry, associate director of undergraduate student engagement at CSSH. “While Clara is a student I have supervised, I also consider her a colleague in the work of social justice leadership on campus and beyond.”

Since arriving on campus, Clara has been instrumental in the work of the FUNL (First-Generation, Undocumented, Low-Income) Network at Northeastern. She researched the impact of academic probation policies on FUNL students and presented recommendations to the Persistence Advising Network, a collective of Northeastern professional advising staff. As a direct result, many of the advising teams updated their academic probation notification letters, language, and approaches to better align with research-based recommendations to best support student success.

A double major in political science and communication studies and philosophy with a 3.85 GPA, Clara is also an active member of the Politics, Philosophy and Economics Club, the Empower Student of Color Collective, and the Arab Student Association. Additionally, she has been a peer mentor in the CSSH department and a program assistant co-op in the Massachusetts Governor’s Office of Access and Opportunity. She has also held roles within the Center for Intercultural Engagement and the Social Justice Resource Center. Within the larger community, she has served as assistant director of the Boston Intercollegiate Government’s DEI Committee and has volunteered for Boston Cares and the Boston Outdoor Preschool Network.

Besides her involvement in social justice, Clara is an artist who collages, draws, and makes jewelry. She organized the creation of five murals for community organizations, hosted Northeastern’s first-ever Art Social, and collaborated with the Social Justice Resource Center and EXP Makerspace to host an Art as Resistance workshop.

Clara is also the recipient of several awards: the Dean’s List, the Political Science Honors Society, the Leaves of Growth Award, the Communication Studies Department Distinguished Scholar Award, the PEAK Award, the First-Generation Social Justice Advocacy Award, and the Huntington 100.

Henry says, “Clara’s accomplishments highlight that it is possible to excel in one’s own academic and professional development while also maintaining a commitment to serving others and advocating for social justice, representing the very best of Northeastern students.”

After graduation, Clara plans to work in the nonprofit sector for a year or two before attending graduate school.

“When I think of students who best embody the values of Northeastern and in particular the ideas of these awards, I think of [Gabrielle Bailey]” says Tim Lannin, her professor and associate chair for undergraduate affairs in BIOE. “A great purpose drives Gabi—that of helping people.”

Gabrielle has proven that countless times during her years at Northeastern. Deeply engaged in Jewish life on campus, Gabrielle is vice president of social programming of Hillel. Her initiatives have brought students together and fostered a lasting sense of community. She chaired the Tikkun Olam committee during her junior year and built partnerships with service organizations across Boston. For example, she organized cooking nights for On the Rise, a women’s shelter, and cookie baking with developmentally disabled adults. Associate Director of Hillel Jen Stone says of Gabrielle, “Her ability to seamlessly manage logistics while ensuring that all voices are heard and valued speaks to her interpersonal intelligence and leadership maturity.”

Gabrielle also volunteers at Hebrew Senior Life, where she paints residents’ nails, visits them in their homes, and helps with community events. She is particularly proud of the intergenerational dances she arranges there. “A live band consisting of Northeastern, Brandeis, and MIT students performed oldies for a dancing crowd of student volunteers and senior residents,” she says.

Academically, she also excels. Gabrielle has a 3.98 GPA and has impressive research and clinical experience. Her capstone project was to design, prototype, and evaluate processes to improve the efficiency of algae as a biofuel. She was the second author of The Influence of Experimental Environment on the Mechanical Properties of Porcine Iris Stroma Using Micro-Indentation through the Laboratory for Soft Tissue Biomechanics. Fred Sebastian, PhD, mentored Gabrielle on this project and says, “She mastered MATLAB efficiently, coding essential components with precision and initiative. Gabi was not only eager to learn but also consistently sought out new ways to contribute, often anticipating project needs before they arose.”

In 2024, Gabrielle was a research intern at the Marcus Institute for Healthy Aging Research, Hebrew Senior Life, and a full-time inpatient nursing assistant at BIDMC—Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center—in Boston. “On a bustling cardiology floor, I learned that true character is a conscious, often challenging choice,” she says. She endured log hours and physical exhaustion, still choosing “compassion over convenience.” She says, “This intense experience underscored my desire to help patients and left an indelible mark on my approach to both care and research.”

After graduation in May 2025, Gabrielle plans to take two gap years as she applies for medical school. She will work as a clinical research coordinator at a Boston lab studying delirium prevention in older patients with insomnia.

“He has demonstrated the core values of leadership, volunteerism, and academic integrity throughout the past four years and is a natural leader that knows what it means to give back and is empowered to be involved in activities that benefit others at Northeastern.”

-Annalisa Onnis-Hayden, Teaching Professor and Vice Chair for CEE Undergraduate Studies, and Jessica M. Ormsby, Associate Co-op Coordinator and Faculty Advisor for Engineers without Borders

What are some of your hobbies and interests?

Some of my hobbies and interests include soccer, basketball, cooking, volunteering, gardening, reading, building puzzles, listening to music, and spending time with my family and friends!

What are some examples of your involvement in the Northeastern community and the community at large?

Within the Northeastern Community, I have been involved with a number of organizations and projects. First and foremost, I have been extensively involved with Engineers without Borders, serving as a university representative, design lead for the Uganda program, and most recently, president of the organization. I have also served as the vice president for the New England Water Environment Association at Northeastern. Other clubs that I have been involved with include the Alliance of Civically Engaged Students, the U.N. Millennium Fellowship as a campus director, the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the Sustainable Transportation at Northeastern club. Outside of clubs, I have participated in research on-campus throughout all four of my years at Northeastern, examining the feasibility of using sustainable, biologically-inspired solutions—plants and fungi—to remediate drinking water of the harmful contaminant PFAS. Finally, I have enjoyed playing intramural soccer, volleyball, and broomball with my friends at Northeastern as well!

Describe some of your achievements at Northeastern

Some achievements during my time at Northeastern would include organizing and co-leading our first trip back to our community partner in Uganda for EWB since the COVID-19 pandemic, receiving nominations for the Rhodes, Marshall, Knight-Hennessy, and Udall Scholarships from the URF department at Northeastern, having the opportunity to represent the Civil and Environmental Engineering student body at the Industrial Leadership Night for Northeastern CEE partners, and creating a manuscript for an academic journal that will hopefully be published in the coming months.

Of the above examples, which do you consider your most significant achievement and why?

I believe the most significant achievement from the above examples is the EWB trip to our community partners in Nakyenyi, Uganda. This trip installed a submersible pump, solar panels, tank, tap stands, and tank stand for our partner community of about 4,000 people to use. This trip re-established our connection with the community, provided an opportunity for invaluable water quality testing and land surveying to be conducted, and most importantly, included house-to-house surveys that allowed for community input to be included in the design of the final distribution system—to be installed in coming trips. Through this trip, we understand the severity of the issue of water scarcity in our community and learned that our system could directly work to save lives and prevent drowning deaths in our community from members of the community trying to collect water from dangerous nearby open sources of water.

What honors or awards have you received during your time as a student?

Some awards and honors I have received during my time as a student include being named in the 2023 Huntington 100, receiving an honorable mention for the Udall Scholarship for environmental leadership, being named to the Dean’s List, and participating in the Northeastern Honor’s Program throughout my time in college. Additionally, I was nominated for the Rhodes, Marshall, and Knight-Hennessy scholarships on behalf of Northeastern University. Some scholarships I’ve been awarded while at Northeastern include the Scranton Fund Scholarship, the Richard and Joy Gilbert Scholarship, the Vincent D. Barletta Scholarship, and some other CEE-related scholarships!

“This is an exceptional case of a student capitalizing on all the resources and paths of study that Northeastern offers, to excel, but more importantly, identify a passion of study that goes on to make real world impact.”

-Daniel Adams, Director, School of Architecture, and Sara Jensen Carr, Associate Director of Undergraduate Programs Coordinator, School of Architecture

What are some of your hobbies and interests?

[Some of my hobbies are] brewing coffee and visiting local cafés, exploring the many Boston-area green spaces and trails, watching films and listening to vinyl records, cycling and rock climbing, and Boston’s DIY hand-poked tattoo scene.

What are some examples of your involvement in the Northeastern community and the community at large?

[I am involved in the Northeastern and local Boston community through] co-leading ASLA Adept, project-managing for the Boston Society of Landscape Architects to create a Cool Black installation, serving on the School of Architecture Dean’s Advisory Board, serving on CAMD’s Dean’s Advisory Board, TAing for urban design and landscaping architecture studios for two years, and co-organizing the first coffeeshop union in Massachusetts at Pavement Coffeehouse while working as a barista and supervisor.

Describe some of your achievements at Northeastern

[My Northeastern achievements include] co-teaching and developing materials for an anti-displacement urban planning research studio with Professor Lily Song, leading participatory mapping workshops with local youth groups to design maps that better reflect lived experiences and memories, co-writing academic journals about the importance of culturally-response mapping and planning, facilitating workshops with community organizations to advocate for increased climate resiliency, and qualitative coding/compiling visual materials to analyze community-generated data in historically underserved urban neighborhoods.

Of the above examples, which do you consider your most significant achievement and why?

Working in the urban planning sphere on the side of academic work—[this is my] most significant achievement because of the tactile impact of work and the ability to merge my knowledge as a lifelong Massachusetts resident, transit advocate and architecture/urban planning student, as well as the ability to expand skills in graphic design, community engagement and cartography to bolster knowledge learned in Northeastern classwork.

What honors or awards have you received during your time as a student?

[I was on the] Dean’s List and [in the] University Honors program.

“Ryan’s Northeastern story is both impressive and inspirational—precisely what it means to be a Northeastern University Husky. Hard-working, professional, high-achieving, passionate, [and] highly-successful.”

What are some of your hobbies and interests?

Spending time with my wife and kids. I also enjoy watching movies and listening to podcasts. I like helping to develop young athletes into better players and, more importantly, better people.

What are some examples of your involvement in the Northeastern community and the community at large?

I have spent years volunteering with Portsmouth, Rhode Island’s “Challenger” Little League, helping children with disabilities play the game of baseball. Additionally, when I was playing for the Red Sox, I spent time in the Dominican Repulic at orphanages, just spending time with the local children. I have been coaching baseball at the collegiate level for over four years while also running a youth developmental baseball organization, with teams aged from 11 years old to 18.

Describe some of your achievements at Northeastern

I was recently selected to the Northeastern University Huntington 100 this past year.

Of the above examples, which do you consider your most significant achievement and why?

I believe my work with children with special needs has been my most significant achievement and was the most rewarding. Among many other things, I believe this shows my passion for baseball, a willingness to help others in any way I can and using my platform and past experiences to benefit people in any situation.

What honors or awards have you received during your time as a student?

I have maintained a high GPA at Northeastern and have been on the Dean’s List numerous times. As mentioned above, last year I was named to Northeastern University’s Huntington 100.

What are some of your hobbies and interests?

[Some of my hobbies and interests are] running, theater (acting), music (violin), camping, and cognitive health research.

What are some examples of your involvement in the Northeastern community and the community at large?

[At Northeastern, I was involved in] the Student Philanthropy Council, a Resident Assistant, NU Emergency Medical Services, NU Running Club, and Rehabilitation Game & Extended Reality Lab. [In Boston, I was] a Tufts Medical Center inpatient visitation volunteer and a Beth Israel Post-Anesthesia Care Unit patient assistant volunteer.

Describe some of your achievements at Northeastern

I was one of the founding board members of NU Student Philanthropy Council which promotes and oversees philanthropic efforts towards student organization on campus. We have developed the council to work with Alumni Relations, coordinate with student organizations to publicize fundraisers, and organize unaffiliated opportunities for students and faculty to donate to a cause of their choice. As a member of the ReGame-XR lab’s Exerbike project, we published our paper “Integrated Aerobic Exercise into Adult Second Language Learning in Virtual Reality Game” in the journal IEEE. Our research centered around the potential of second language learning via a physically active VR game among older adults to slow age-related cognitive decline. We also presented our preliminary findings at Northeastern University’s RISE Expo.

Of the above examples, which do you consider your most significant achievement and why?

Publishing with ReGame-XR on older adult cognition is something I am incredibly proud of. With this paper, the start of a field that has had no prior research is being started. Using modern technologies such as VR is proving to offer solutions in the realm of preventative medicine to combat cognitive declines in memory, focus, and spatial visualization. Our research is a small step, but it shows potential to expand research and resources towards this field which could make event greater leaps towards combatting the saddening reality of age-related cognitive decline.

What honors or awards have you received during your time as a student?

[I was on the] Dean’s list

“Michelle’s achievements inside and outside of the classroom represent some of the best that NU has to offer, making her an excellent candidate for the Compass Award.”

-Todd M. Alessandri, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education, D’Amore-McKIm Business School

What are some of your hobbies and interests?

[My hobbies are] lifting weights and working out, cooking new recipes, trying new restaurants, cafes, bakeries, etc., with friends, and reading.

What are some examples of your involvement in the Northeastern community and the community at large?

[I am the] co-director of outreach WISE Summit, the previous NUMA Consulting executive director, and the previous DMSB social media ambassador.

Describe some of your achievements at Northeastern

[Some of my achievements include] sourcing 17 speakers with my co-Director of outreach for WISE Summit (ex: Eva Goicochea, Kati Fernandez), being one of the first DMSB social media ambassadors and featuring in the #QuestionsontheQuad video series, and sourcing the five startups as the executive director of NUMA Consulting. [I also worked] on uplifting new businesses, especially those with a focus on impact.

Of the above examples, which do you consider your most significant achievement and why?

One of the accomplishments I am most proud of is sourcing the speakers for the WISE Summit, a conference for women and underrepresented genders who would like to build an innovative mindset. With my team, I secured speakers from many industries, professions, and ages while simultaneously ensuring diverse representation so all participants could find someone they resonate with. Some notable speakers include Eva Goicochea, the founder of Maude and one of only 10 Latinas in consumer goods to have raised over $10 million in venture funding, and Kati Fernandez, director of content strategy at ESPN. Besides sourcing speakers, I developed the workshops, lightning talks, and keynotes directly with speakers meaning I had an executive decision in deciding the Summit’s content. It was an incredibly fulfilling experience to watch my hard work come to life on March 23 and work with such a passionate, warm, and incredible team. It was so amazing to be able to impact over 250 participant’s lives on that Saturday.

What honors or awards have you received during your time as a student?

[I have been on the] Dean’s list for all four years [and am a member of] the Beta Sigma Gamma Honor Society.

“Jenia has the perseverance, initiative, creativity, and intellectual curiosity to be a fiercely positive force in the world.”

-Layla D. Brown, Assistant Professor of Cultural Anthropology, Africana Studies, and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

What are some of your hobbies and interests?

Academically and professionally, I enjoy researching and working with Black queer life, Black feminisms, and the politics of small island states, particularly in the Caribbean islands. Personally, I love to crochet, read and collect tarot cards, and collect records! I also enjoy ‘80s to 2000s era movies, Black horror movies, reality TV—especially “Survivor”, reading fiction and Black feminist literature, and cooking with my friends.

What are some examples of your involvement in the Northeastern community and the community at large?

The most central aspect of my time at Northeastern has been my participation in the Northeastern Black Student Association, in which I served as a freshman representative my first year, secretary my second year, president my third year, and now upperclassmen representative in my fourth year. I also served on the executive board of Afrospectrum, Northeastern’s Black queer affinity group, for one year as a social media representative and secretary. In addition, I have been a Summer Bridge and International Affairs peer mentor.

I have worked for the Northeastern Africana Studies Program as a program assistant and served on the Student Advisory Council, for the Northeastern University Writing Center as a writing tutor, twice as a teaching assistant for INTL 3400 for Dr. Denise Garcia and WMNS 3100 with Dr. Layla Brown, and as an undergraduate researcher in the History Department on the 3D Black Boston team.

In the broader Boston community, I have volunteered with Sitters for Scholars and the Mission Hill After School Program, as well as creating programming through the NBSA that involves the community.

Describe some of your achievements at Northeastern

I am definitely proud of creating NBSA’s annual kiki ball to highlight Black queer culture on campus for students who often felt underrepresented. That event had 150 attendees. I am also proud of reviving the NBSA’s tradition of traveling to Washington, D.C. for Howard Homecoming during my presidency, and we were able to bring 95 students during that time, which was a very difficult task. Being a part of the start of—serving on the second ever executive board—Afrospectrum was notable as well.

I am also very proud of speaking at and being part of the planning for bell hooks symposium hosted by the Africana Studies program. I was the undergraduate speaker for the 2023 symposium and presented a 13-minute speech. I am also proud of my two independent studies, one through a research practicum mentored by Dr. Régine Jean-Charles and one through a PEAK Summit Award with Dr. Layla Brown. I am also currently working on my Senior Capstone. Generally, I am proud of being intentionally involved in the Northeastern and Boston Black and queer communities. I’d also consider my education as a Black feminist—my minor—is an achievement to me.

Being a recipient of the 2023 Brutus “Skip” Wright Memorial Scholarship Award through JDOAAI and the 2023 Thomas I. Atkins Social Justice Award and 2024 Clara and Joseph Ford Scholarship through the Center for Student Involvement in recognition of my work with the NBSA is an achievement to me as well.

Of the above examples, which do you consider your most significant achievement and why?

I’d consider my presidency in the NBSA my most significant achievement. I am very proud of being involved in the Black community and being able to support my peers through that role. It was an honor to serve in such a significant position and I think that I made a lot of changes that helped rebuild the club after some struggles we experienced post-COVID-19 shut down. It also helped me grow so much as a leader and person, and I’ve met some of my favorite people through the NBSA and the institute.

What honors or awards have you received during your time as a student?

I was on the Dean’s List fall 2020, spring 2021, and fall 2023. I am in the Honors College. I am a Zandra I. Flemister ’73 Fellow through the Center for International Affairs and World Cultures. As previously mentioned, I am the recipient of the 2023 Brutus “Skip” Wright Memorial Scholarship Award through JDOAAI, as well as the 2023 Thomas I. Atkins Social Justice Award and 2024 Clara and Joseph Ford Scholarship through CSI. I received a PEAK Summit Award and the Black Alumni Scholarship.

“James has had an outsized impact on the Northeastern and Khoury community. He is always happy to volunteer for us to attend any event, serve on any panel, and talk to his fellow students about his experiences. We look forward to hearing of his exploits as an alumnus.”

-Benjamin Hescott, Senior Associate Dean of Academic Programs and Student Experience

What are some of your hobbies and interests?

I love going for long meandering walks through campus and through nature, admiring the greenery, buildings, and weather along the way. I like to hone my sushi making skills in my free time, making (and eating!) sashimi (thinly sliced raw fish), nigiri (raw fish draped over rice), maki (sushi rolls), Uramaki (inside out sushi rolls), and temaki (hand rolls). I also dabble in a bit of photography and videography now and then.

What are some examples of your involvement in the Northeastern community and the community at large?

I was a member of oSTEM and Out in Business, as well as serving as an Analyst in my first year during the inaugural year CASE—Consulting and Advisory Student Experience club—started their pro-bono consulting arm NCG—Northeastern Consulting Group. I served on Northeastern Electric Racing’s Executive Board from Fall 2019 to Fall 2022. I started as project manager before recruiting a team of project managers and stepping up to lead the business team as vice president. I served as president for three semesters before passing the torch. While on the E-Board of NER and working to emerge from COVID-19, I built collaborations among the College of Engineering clubs sharing manufacturing space. As a result, I was appointed to lead the COE Student Activities Council and worked to strengthen the COE student organization leaders community. When the opportunity arose, I passed the torch and pivoted to establishing Kaleidoscope, Khoury College’s Club Council. Much like COE SAC, Kaleidoscope works to build community and shared success among all student organizations and their leaders in Khoury College. Kaleidoscope also serves as a foundation and conduit for tighter collaborations between the college and student leaders, incubating innovative programs, and increasing access to resources. Upon the recommendation of the Student Body president, I joined the Student Government Association’s Student Involvement team after stepping down from the NER E-Board. The following semester I stepped up to serve as vice president for student involvement and spearheaded numerous initiatives to transform the student organization ecosystem and supports.

Describe some of your achievements at Northeastern

During my time on the executive board of Northeastern Electric Racing, the team grew from about 50 members to over 200 members, expanding interdisciplinary experiential education opportunities to so many more students. I established NER’s software team to build project management software, only for it to blossom into over 80 team members within NER with multiple projects spanning web development, data analysis and visualization, and vehicle interface and controls. NER completed its first car, won 1st and 2nd place, won the Scrutineer’s Award for best preparation and documentation, and won the IEEE

Excellence in Project Management award. NER also successfully organized an event for President Aoun, Dean Beth Mynatt, and other senior leadership to drive the car and experience the power of experiential learning. As a Khoury student leading COE’s Student Activities Council, I championed inclusivity, increased participation, built structures for meaningful student advocacy, and successfully partnered with COE administrators to improve the experience for engineering student organizations. In founding Kaleidoscope, I built a highly unique student-admin partnership to enable student leaders to define and built the support systems their peers need most. I strengthened the sense of community among Khoury student leaders, more than doubled the collaborative events clubs organized with one another, and opened new avenues of funding to enable innovative projects. Through SGA, I strengthened the collaborations with staff, increased engagement with student organization leaders, improved transparency for club policies, and expanded the previously 12-member Student Involvement team to a 4-team, 25-plus member standing division which is better equipped to handle the demands of over 500 student organizations and the dynamic future of a global university ecosystem.

Of the above examples, which do you consider your most significant achievement and why?

I consider the establishment of NER’s software team to be one of my most significant achievements. Although somewhat comparatively small, I think it has had the largest positive impact on the Northeastern and Khoury College community. NER’s software team began as a small group of students interested in learning web development who were willing to listen to me ramble and teach for an hour each Sunday. Over time, we added an interview process that allowed interested students to gain valuable behavioral and technical interview experience before joining the team. The dedication to member learning from day zero and continuous learning via dedicated learning sessions has undoubtedly afforded hundreds of Khoury students the opportunity to learn and apply critical technical and career-preparatory skills in a judgement-free environment. As the software team has expanded beyond the first web development project, new opportunities for students to learn a wider variety of software technologies and domain applications have opened up too. In the years since I left NER, their software team has continued to grow, boasting more than 80 members each semester and almost two dozen learning sessions per semester. While the software we built was objectively mediocre in the beginning, I could not be prouder of the team, systems, and structures I built that have facilitated so many students learning the skills they’re most interested in and subsequently finding their co-ops.

What honors or awards have you received during your time as a student?

[One semester on the] Dean’s List [and a] Student Government Association Delegate of the Semester for Spring 2023.

“She is a fantastic asset to NU and I have absolutely no doubt that she will remain one of our highly involved alumni after graduation.”

-Kirsten Fertuck, Biochemistry Director and Teaching Professor

What are some of your hobbies and interests?

I enjoy figure skating, watching figure skating, listening to a variety of music—from jazz to EDM to classical to punk, and watching TV shows—from the terrible to the sublime—with friends. When I have time, I also enjoy both reflective and creative fantasy writing. I am also interested in social justice movements and efforts to right historical inequities.

What are some examples of your involvement in the Northeastern community and the community at large?

I joined the [Northeastern Figure Skating] team during fall 2020 when the most we could meet was for weekly virtual workouts. During my second year, I joined the executive board as the assistant vice president of competitions and shows where the whole e-board was awarded Club Sports e-board of the year. The next year, I moved up to become VP of competitions and shows and hosted our first spring show in club history. Now I am the president of the club.

During my second year, I joined an initiative to expand health humanities programming and awareness on campus [through the Northeastern University Health Humanities Club]. This led to founding the Health Humanities Club with three other students at Northeastern. I was elected to be the present and since then, we have received official CSI recognition as a club and hosted several faculty speaker and student led panels.

The fall of my second year, I was offered a position as an undergraduate teaching fellow for general chemistry for science majors. During this experience, I discovered a love for teaching. Since then, I have been an undergraduate assistant for biology project lab two times and now I am a TA for the co-requisite lab for Foundations of Microbiology.

During the summer between my third and fourth year of university, I traveled to Ghana for a dialogue on the health systems, services, and education in Ghana. During my time there, I learned from local professors and healthcare practitioners and was given options to give back to the community there by leading dental and general hygiene classes for students at different schools in the cities we visited during our time in Ghana.

Describe some of your achievements at Northeastern

[My favorite achievement is] founding and leading the Northeastern University Health Humanities Club. [Additionally,] during my time as vice president of competitions for the Northeastern University Figure Skating Club (NUFSC), we earned our highest team placement in the program’s history [and] raised over $4,000 for NUFSC in the three shows I directed from fall 2021 – spring 2023. [I also] earned over $15,000 in research funding from several URF—undergraduate research and fellowship office—grants and Health Humanities Initiative funding, [and am] published on a bioethics paper through my second co-op.

Of the above examples, which do you consider your most significant achievement and why?

It is difficult to pick a most significant achievement as they vary greatly, but I am very proud of my leadership, especially as I see the next generation of leaders rise to continue the work that I have started. If I must pick a specific example of this, I would point to the shows I have directed for Northeastern University Figure Skating Club. During my tenure as assistant VP and vice president of Competitions and Shows, I expanded on the first holiday show we hosted in December 2019—before I attend the university—to include assistance creating large group numbers and a livestream. The next year, we added a spring show as an additional opportunity for our skaters to perform. This was a part of a larger reckoning on how to incorporate competitive aspirations with our desire for inclusivity on the skating team. By providing performance, and thus bonding, experiences outside of competitions, this allowed for a balance of these interests as well as more opportunities to raise funds which in turn, reduce dues and increase accessibility for skaters. Now the roles of VP/AVP of Competitions and Shows has been split into two roles because of how much I expanded on the existing shows content. The new directors ran two successful shows this past year and I feel confident that these shows will continue to be well run and an essential component of the team for many years. I look forward to watching them as an alumna.

What honors or awards have you received during your time as a student?

[I made the] Dean’s List every semester at university, [was an] Internal Admit to University Honors program, earned a University Honors Program Distinction with an anticipated graduation with Latin honors—summa cum laude. [Plus, I am a] Fulbright semi-finalist.

“Laurel Bellemore embodies the values of leadership, volunteerism, academic integrity, and a deep-seated commitment to Northeastern and the broader community.”

-Carmen Sceppa, Dean, Bouvé College of Health Sciences

What are some of your hobbies and interests?

One of the reasons I am so enamored with Boston is that it has so much to offer. In my leisure time, I enjoy being outdoors, whether it’s hiking scenic trails or strolling through the city, uncovering hidden gems. One of my favorite retreats from the city bustle is perched on a dock on the Charles, admiring views of the river and its intersecting bridges.

Although I wouldn’t consider myself a foodie, I enjoy trying new and diverse cuisines available in the neighborhoods of Greater Boston. Baking and cooking are my passions, and I find joy in expressing gratitude to friends and family through food. My “healthy” banana bread has been a real crowd-pleaser.

As an enthusiastic sports fan and a proud New Englander, I love being immersed in Boston’s passionate sports scene whether it’s singing along to “Sweet Caroline” or cheering on the Northeastern hockey teams in the Dog Pound at Matthews Arena.

What are some examples of your involvement in the Northeastern community and the community at large?

As a three-year starter on Northeastern University’s Division 1 Women’s Club Lacrosse team (with the 2020-21 season paused due to COVID-19), I not only contributed to our national ranking—as of today, we’re ranked 11th in the nation—but also served in an executive board position.

I’ve also been a member of the Northeastern University Student Nurses Association (NUSNA) for four years, where I have enjoyed mentoring undergraduate students on various aspects of their academic journey, including course sequencing, co-op placements, and the importance of self-care while navigating the rigorous demands of being a nursing student.

Beyond campus, I’ve extended my commitment to service by volunteering as a medical aid to runners during the Boston Marathon.

Describe some of your achievements at Northeastern

Participating in a Public Health Windshield Survey video as a representative of Bouvé’s School of Nursing epitomized Northeastern’s ethos of bridging theory and practice to tackle societal issues. It was an honor to have been selected to showcase Bouvé’s commitment to addressing inequities. This experience emphasized the significance of understanding the communities we serve, not only from a medical perspective but also socio-economically, culturally, and environmentally. To provide effective healthcare, we need to consider various factors beyond medical expertise by understanding the lives of those we care for—their daily struggles, living conditions, and the obstacles hindering their access to healthcare.

During my clinical placement at the Justice Resource Institute, where I supported individuals facing HIV/AIDS and treatment adherence challenges, I wanted to explore the psychosocial elements influencing their well-being. Recognizing the impact of loneliness and despair, I sought to modernize our approach to care.

My research revealed the importance of prioritizing social connection and community integration to address mental health concerns. To facilitate communal interaction and engagement, I surveyed residents and organized a social event at Behrakis that was informed by their preferences. The event featured facilitated conversations, refreshments, games, and giveaways. Residents responded positively, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to forge genuine connections in a way that resonated with them.

I have also completed two co-ops. My first was at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, specifically on Rosenberg 6, an Acute Trauma and Surgical unit. For my second co-op, I worked at Boston Children’s Hospital on the Solid Organ Transplant and Complex Surgery Unit (10 Hale). During this placement, I was honored to receive three staff-nominated “Way To Shine” awards, acknowledging my dedication to providing exceptional care to patients and their families, as well as my commitment to supporting fellow staff members above and beyond expectations.

Considering my achievements to date, nothing surpasses the feeling of knowing that I’ve made a positive impact on someone’s life or within an organization like Northeastern that entrusted me with responsibilities. Whether it’s the simple act of brightening someone’s day with a kind gesture, providing support during challenging times, or doing more than what’s been asked, bringing pride to my school, workplace, or loved ones, fills me with a profound sense of fulfillment and satisfaction.

Of the above examples, which do you consider your most significant achievement and why?

Reflecting on my time at Northeastern, it’s difficult to pinpoint a single proudest achievement, as it’s more of a journey than a specific event. It’s woven into the fabric of my nursing education and volunteer experiences, which range from immersive clinical rotations to impactful co-op placements and everyday interactions. These opportunities have allowed me to engage deeply with individuals facing adversity or marginalization.

In nursing education, we stress the importance of empathy, the ability to understand and resonate with our patients’ experiences. While I naturally lean towards compassion, these experiences have broadened my perspective. They’ve shown me that true caregiving goes beyond empathy—it requires a genuine recognition of each person’s humanity, including their fears, vulnerabilities, and barriers.

My proudest achievements aren’t crowning moments but rather a series of “little wins” that have positively impacted others’ well-being. Whether it was successfully advocating for clients at the Justice Resource Institute, Inc., offering comfort to distressed caregivers, lending a helping hand to my co-workers, or seeing the tangible impact of my fundraising efforts for the Red Sox Foundation, these moments bring me deep satisfaction. They remind me that I’ve played a part in easing others’ burdens.

Ultimately, my most significant achievement lies in the intersection of understanding and action, where compassion meets advocacy. It’s in these moments of connection and support that I find the greatest fulfillment and motivation to continue making a meaningful difference in the lives of others, both in my career and beyond. I am deeply grateful to Northeastern for providing me with unparalleled opportunities and I look forward to seizing each one to make this world a better place.

What honors or awards have you received during your time as a student?

[I have made the] Dean’s list every participating academic semester, [am a] candidate for Latin Honors—summa cum laude with a GPA of 3.89, [and received the] School of Nursing 50th Anniversary Scholarship Award, spring 2024.

Meera Whitson, who has a 3.97 GPA and is in the Honors program, is fascinated by the intersection of computer science and linguistics—her two major areas. Much of her academic work has involved connecting the two, including a project of a neural network that converts text to color and a research project on the potential applications of new artificial intelligence technologies.

“Meera has been an interdisciplinary force,” says Professor Benjamin Hescott, senior associate dean of academic programs and student experience at Khoury. She is prepared to develop software for a global userbase, paying particular attention to language. When she interned at Cambly, a Y Combinator language education start-up in San Francisco, Meera began an initiative to improve the use of pluralization on the platforms, as plural words are used differently in other languages.

Meera is also committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Professor Jonathan Ball from the computer science department says her work on Covey.Town, an open-source, virtual meeting space, incorporated these concepts in unique features she developed with the explicit goal of inclusivity. In her work on a hate speech detection project, co-op faculty member Priyanka Bishnoi says Meera “applied her skillset in data science, natural language processing, and forensic linguistic methodologies to develop a program that can detect hate speech on an online platform,” showcasing the power of an interdisciplinary education.

Part of the Northeastern University Symphony Orchestra for four years, Meera joined the e-board her first semester, and for two years has been the main point of contact for the organization of about 100 students. She was previously librarian, a TA for Discrete Structures, and an intramural spikeball player.

Meera is proudest of the work she’s done on her three co-ops—the previously mentioned Cambly, PowerAdvocate (now Wood Mackenzie) in Boston, and HubSpot in Cambridge. “By the end of my time at each company, I had made a concrete impact on the tech stack and/or company processes,” she says. “It was important to me to get experience working at companies of different sizes. These diverse experiences were invaluable and have all made me a much stronger engineer.”

After graduation, Meera will continue her work at HubSpot as a software engineer.

Professor Hescott says, “Truly, she is a force to be reckoned with.” Undoubtedly, one with a very promising future.

A first-generation Cameroonian-American and honors student, Shandy Ndjigue, has made an indelible mark on Northeastern University. She is set to graduate in May with a B.S. in bioengineering and a minor in psychology.

Time and again, Shandy has shown leadership—first as co-founder of NEUBlackConnect, where she generated a digital global initiative using Instagram to acquaint nearly 350 incoming freshmen with aspects of campus life during a global pandemic, Additionally, she was a student global ambassador of the Northeastern Global Leadership Summit, travelling to Accra, Ghana, to promote university advancement initiatives. She participated in a conference that included panels and presentations from more than 30 high-level executives—among them the Deputy Governor of Ghana, H.E. South African Commissioner, CEOs, and more. “I was granted the opportunity to listen and learn from various incredible leaders,” she says. “One of the biggest takeaways … was to never stop striving for success because resilience is an integral part of being a leader, and hardships breed extraordinary people.

In addition to those global honors, Shandy was vice president of Northeastern’s’s Black Student Association, a Husky Ambassador and visitor center assistant, a peer mentor in the College of Engineering, an external ambassador of Northeastern’s African Student Organization, and vice chair of Senior Year Experience Board—the role she considers to be a major achievement. “I’ve happily taken on the task of easing the transition from student to alumni through memorable events which exemplify Husky pride,” she says. “She helped plan the Senior Kick-Off Carnival, Friendsgiving at Dorchester Brewing Company, Beanpot Extravaganza and Senior Week.

Shandy participated in two co-ops. The first was at uniQure in Lexington, where she composed and executed more than 10 engineering test protocols, pioneered five capital projects from conception to completion, and improved qualification activities for gene therapy manufacturing. At Helios Biomedical in Natick, she spearheaded an initiative to convert the current quality management system to an electronic QMS within four months, and invented a macro code to analyze percentage of fibrosis in images of the myocardium.

Currently, Shandy is working on a capstone project—enabling rapid in vivo microscopy by mass immobilization on cultivation plates—and designing a thermoelectric chiller to immobilize data used in neurodegenerative research for clear imaging.

After graduation, Shandy plans to apply business principles to bioengineering, working to improve maternal and fetal healthcare in developing countries. Director, Student Engagement and Philanthropy C. Hawkins says, “Shandy is a gem that magnifies the luster of the Northeastern crown. The university is a better place because of her tenacious leadership.”

John Ruggieri-Lam is already a professional, entering his 20^th year as a principal dancer with the Boston Ballet. He is a filmmaker, choreographer, producer, actor, teacher, husband, and father who is juggling a demanding career while pursuing his Masters of Nonprofit Management degree at Northeastern. He is, in a word, amazing.

“We are all learners at heart,” John says. “Northeastern has sparked my love to lead and inspire others to succeed.” Northeastern’s CPS program and Boston Ballet partnership gives professional ballet dancers the opportunity to study for a degree while maintaining their rigorous dance schedules. “I continue to empower other dancers to take advantage and invest in their future through CPS, as dance is never a forever career,” John says. “I lead by example—at work and in my commitment in my studies.”

A major achievement for John has been committing himself fully to his academic journey. He formed a support group to help empower Boston Ballet students in the CPS program to be as successful as possible. His most significant achievement has been acceptance into graduate school. The “juggling act” to balance, work, school, and family is an ongoing accomplishment.

John, a first-generation Vietnamese-American who is also nominated for Huntington 100 recognition, embraces a diversity of cultures and identities. He has traveled the world with Boston Ballet, giving him the opportunity to engage with people of other cultures and learn their traditions. “This influence has led me to become more mindful and see our world through a wider, more inclusive, and more equitable lens.”

He believes that although ballet became part of his life early on, it took the right people and right programs to get him to where he is today. “Being a Husky allowed me to realize that it is possible to achieve a world-class education while fulfilling my dream to dance with a world-renowned ballet company.”

As a result of his professional career, John has been featured in many magazines and on television, and has received numerous awards such as the Princess Grace Award in recognition of young and emerging talent, and Best Dance Performance-Pentacle for his performance in Balanchine Prodigal Son. He is on the dance faculty of Harvard and has also taught in Honolulu, Providence, and San Diego.

Dean of the College of Professional Studies Radhika Seshan says, “John epitomizes the very best of Northeastern University, embodying strength, resilience, energy, professionalism, commitment and a sense of fun. John’s impact extends beyond the workplace, as he inspires and uplifts the communities he touches, serving as a role model and source of motivation for others to emulate.”

A champion of the underserved, Maria Rengifo has worked tirelessly for Boston, Northeastern, and an indigenous community in Ecuador. She maintains a 3.88 GPA, has been on the Dean’s List every semester, and is in the fifth year of the DPT program with minors in both Spanish and psychology. Her strong academic background and passion for helping others are responsible for her numerous achievements.

At Northeastern, Maria is a member of the Latin American Student Organization and member of the founding executive board of the university’ s Alpha Chi Lambda  chapter. In both organizations, Maria coordinated and participated in events to benefit domestic violence awareness organizations.

As a leader and participant in NU ACES , Maria participated in spring break service trips to Otovalo, Ecuador. There, she helped implement a learn-to-swim program for caretakers and conducted research on an aquatic physical therapy program for children. This, she says, is her most significant achievement. “It pulled volunteering, physical therapy and academia together, and although challenging, it was extremely rewarding,” she says. “The memories will last me a lifetime.”

Maria’s current international service learning  experience is the culmination of a capstone course. She is one of 11 DPT students and two faculty leaders who have traveled to Ecuador and provided pro-bono physical therapy to orphans with disabilities. Associate Professor Lorna Hayward, one of the accompanying faculty leaders, says, “Maria stands out as an absolute star.”

Additionally, Maria has participated in co-ops at Shriners Hospital for Children, where she helped treat burn patients during acute and reconstructive phases, and at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital, where she works in inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation. She has also served as a rehab volunteer at the Christian Health Care Center in New Jersey and helped physical, occupational, and speech therapists during treatment sessions for children with special needs in Texas.

A student who gives generously of her time, Maria has been a peer mentor, team leader, tutor, lab teaching assistant, fundraiser, translator, personal care assistant, and sports medicine student manager. Once she completes her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at Northeastern, she hopes to work as a pediatric physical therapist.

Professor Hayward says of Maria, “As a future physical therapist dedicated to healthcare and the service of others and diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, I am confident that she will continue to grow into an adept and compassionate Husky alumna.”

Nicole Page shows it all—leadership, volunteerism, academic integrity, and commitment to Northeastern. Additionally, she shows an amazing level of entrepreneurism.

Set to graduate in May with a B.S. in biochemistry and minor in Spanish, Nicole, who holds a 3.98 GPA, founded and leads Northeastern’s Women’s Research Engagement Network , a student-led program aimed at supporting female-aligned students interested in research on campus. She also created the WREN Summit, the nation’s first interdisciplinary undergraduate research conference that highlights the achievements of women.

Nicole also serves as chief education officer of Community HealthEd, a 501(c)(3) organization, leading teams of over 55 to create and distribute educational health newsletters.  She self-developed a clinical research co-op with the MGH Paralysis Center and is currently a clinical research coordinator at the Center for Rare Neurological Diseases at MGH, where she will continue full-time after graduation. She will manage clinical trials for patients with adrenoleukodystrophy, a neurodegenerative disease.

An experienced flautist, Nicole is president of the Northeastern Wind Ensemble and conducts various chamber ensembles. She has been a research assistant in the Music, Imaging, and Neural Dynamics lab on campus since her freshman year. “I work on research related to how music affects the brain, particularly of those with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia-related disorders.” Currently, she is completing Honors in the Discipline in Biochemistry in the lab of professor Psyche Loui, who says, “I believe Nicole is a rising star in the field of music and medicine and will be a leader in academics, research, and clinical work.”

Nicole has served the community in many ways. As part of Boston Partners in Education, she taught weekly tutoring sessions in STEM 1:1 to Boston Public Schools students, including those with learning disabilities. In 2020, Nicole assisted rural village members in Ecuador to restore a community center as part of NU ACES. She also tutored English to immigrant class members through the Potencia organization in Bedford, Massachusetts and was a patient escort for both English- and Spanish-speaking patients at MGH.

Her clinical experience includes being a newborn hearing screening technician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and a nursing assistant at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Boston.

Nicole has been much lauded and awarded for her accomplishments, having received the Joseph A. Coolidge Award for “leadership, service, and achievement,” the Hanson Creative Writing Award for a poetry chapbook submission, and the Sears B. Condit Honor Award for “outstanding scholastic achievement.”

Biology professor Johanna Farkas says of Nicole, “I count her efforts among the most impressive things I have ever seen a student do, and she possesses an exceptionally rare level of initiative, creativity, and leadership.”

The world is Katie Oliver’s oyster, and she is the pearl. Katie, a cultural anthropology major with a 3.6 GPA, has consistently shown leadership, volunteerism, academic integrity, and global civic engagement since she began her Northeastern journey.

Katie wanted her first co-op to be international and landed a position as the program director of the Manna Project International in Ecuador in 2020. However, the pandemic forced a change in plans. While working remotely, she trained and supervised 12 interns, wrote grants, and headed the organization’s fundraising and outreach. Additionally, she taught three online ESL classes and created a curriculum that was relevant to each community.

Since she couldn’t get to Ecuador, Katie began a supplemental part-time co-op as an in-person teacher’s assistant in the preschool classroom of the Transportation Children’s Center. She says, “The experience with this and working in my other co-op has really opened my eyes to the impact of community-level programming at even early ages.”

Still, she wanted more and began another co-op as the social development coordinator at the Baobuyu Learning Center in Zambia. She designed activities for staff and female empowerment groups, produced resources and books to inspire women, taught after-school workshops for children, and helped with fundraising. In 2022, Katie returned to Africa, this time to Kenya, for a third co-op—Better Me Kenya, an NGO that provides education, food security, and healthcare for more than 300 vulnerable and orphaned children.

At Northeastern, Katie has been involved with the Women’s Rugby Club, the Changing Health Attitudes and Actions to Recreate Girls (CHAARG) club, and is on the CSSH Student Advisory Council—perhaps her greatest achievement. “What I enjoyed the most about these experiences was being able to work hands-on with my NU community and others in my major to find areas for improvement to positively impact the experiences of future students,” she says. She also volunteered as an intergenerational program coordinator for Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly in Boston, and this year is interning at the BPS Office of Equity, Strategy, and Outreach as the My Brother’s Keeper equal opportunity intern.

Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Academic Affairs Mary Mello says of Katie that “She embodies a commitment to leadership, volunteerism, justice, the community, dismantling hegemony, and empowering the disenfranchised (or under-resourced).”

After graduation, Katie plans to continue her work in Sub-Saharan Africa, working with NGOs in community development and ultimately in the public health sphere.

Don’t be surprised if in the not-too-distant future, the name “Jake Okrent” becomes synonymous with urban design. A senior, Jake has a 3.82 GPA, placing him among the top of graduating seniors. As a junior, he received the School of Architecture portfolio prize—the only time a non-senior or graduate architecture student was awarded the school’s top design honor. That’s just the beginning of Jake’s many accomplishments.

“I firmly believe that every experience you have as a designer molds your creative morality and spirit,” Jake says. “The arts have the opportunity to be in dialogue with each other, giving the resulting works newfound potential.” Throughout his time at Northeastern, Jake has proven just that—by using all his skills and interests to enrich the school and the community. He co-founded the award-winning student-run publication “Infra-structures” that provides emerging Northeastern architectural students with an outlet to explore their creativity beyond the studio. Jake considers “Infra-structures”, which received PEAK Award Funding and the AIA Haskell Award for Student Publications, to be his most significant achievement because it “gives my peers a chance to delve deep into their passions.”

Jake himself is also much lauded. He won the RISE Research Conference Focus Award: Data and Digital Storytelling, a series of architecture school studio awards, including “Best in Class for Urban Landscapes” and “Studio Schoolwide Portfolio Competition”, a Northeastern Scholarship for Artistic Accomplishment, and made the Dean’s List.

For two years, Jake has been a teaching assistant for several Northeastern professors and participated in two architectural co-ops—at GRADE Architecture + Interior Design in New York City and Utile Architecture + Urban Planning in Boston. At the latter, he helped design and document multi-family residential projects and new urban proposals, which required construction document development, 3D scene rendering, data illustration, and urban mapping.

Daniel Adams, director of the School of Architecture, and Sara Carr, undergraduate programs coordinator, say “This is an exceptional case of a student capitalizing on all the resources and paths of study that Northeastern offers, to excel, but more importantly identify a passion of study that they continue on into the future.”

After graduation, Jake plans to work in the architecture and urban design fields as he organizes his graduate education and licensure.

“Not one to shy away from a challenge, Joseph Blanchet has thoughtfully addressed and successfully accomplished everything presented to him during his time at Northeastern.” Those are the words of the BIOE Awards Committee for a December 2022 Northeastern graduate who has made countless contributions to the university’s community.

Joe received his B.S. in both bioengineering and biomechanics, proving from his first year on campus that he was exceptional in many ways. He joined a Dialogue of Civilization to Italy—2000 Years of Engineering, Technology, and Inspiration—the summer after his freshman year. He was a Presidential Ambassador that fall and contributed to the program until his graduation as the Lead Presidential Ambassador. Additionally, he was in the Honors program and received NACME, LSAMP, and Engineering Legacy Scholar recognition.

Joe not only promoted Northeastern through the president’s office, but he also built programs and offered support to his peers and future classmates. He helped found COExist, a College of Engineering student mentorship program that helps new students acclimate to college life and sets them up for success during their time at Northeastern. He started COEXIST participating in his first co-op at Medtronic, where he was a medical device systems engineer.

Joe was a member of the NU Triathlon team, Beta Theta Pi, the Biomedical Engineering Society, and was a co-host, producer, and communications lead  of the Sherman Center for Engineering Entrepreneurship Podcast. It was the podcast, Joe says, that “enabled me to get my voice and perspectives out into the Northeastern community and talk about important topics about diversity and inclusion and how those things tie in with entrepreneurship.” The triathlon allowed him to push his physical limits in uncomfortable waters, literally, and was a reminder “that I can always start new things and even become good at those things. I should always make a little bit of progress every day and when things get tough, I’ll be ok as long as I keep my head up and keep looking forward.”

He’s made more than a “little bit of progress.” Joe completed a systems R&D engineer co-op at Fresenius Medical Care in Lawrence, Massachusetts and an operations co-op at WHOOP in Boston. At its completion in February 2023, Joe was hired  as an associate business systems analyst in his first post-graduation role.

“Joseph Blanchet is the student with their hand raised, eyes engaged, and lips turned up in a smile,” the committee says. “They were always offering their perspective, support, and allyship.” Joe is someone you want on your team

Kristine Aleksandrovica wants to see a more sustainable world. Set to receive her B.S. in business administration and economics in May with a 3.64 GPA, Kristine “has clearly demonstrated strong academic and professional performance, service to the DMSB and NU communities, and impact on the global community,” says Todd Alessandri, associate dean for undergraduate education at D’Amore-McKim School of Business.

“I love supply chain, sustainability and design,” Kristine says. She is researching forced labor and human trafficking in supply chains with Dr. Shawn Bhimani, and learning about industries under the highest risk of modern slavery. “It is important because it is such an enormous contemporary problem,” she says, “and despite regulation, most companies don’t track lower-tier suppliers.” Her goal is to build one or more completely slave labor-free and environmentally sustainable companies.

To show her commitment to sustainability, Kristine founded DeLaKika, a naturally sourced and sustainable crystal jewelry brand, and co-founded NU Clothing Swap, the first clothing swap initiative for students to exchange clothes for free to reduce waste and cost. Additionally, she tries to find ways to re-design products so that they can be re-used or composted at the end of a lifecycle.

Kristine has been equally committed to Northeastern and served as a global student mentor to over 20 international freshmen, was a co-op peer advisor to 33 exchange students and people in special programs at Northeastern, and was the former director of finance and operations for Disrupt and NUimpact. She was also an exhibited artist and organizer at Smolensky Passage & O’Flaherty’s Gallery in both Moscow and New York.

Perhaps her greatest achievement was co-founding Northeasstern’s first interdisciplinary art club, Art Blanche. “I believe in balance in life. Having a space to express creativity regardless of your major will allow you to succeed in any other area in life, including your studies.”

In addition to her involvement with Northeastern clubs and her volunteer work, Kristine has completed three co-ops. The first was at Boston Consulting Group, one of the world’s most prestigious consulting firms. The second was a self-developed co-op in the global transportation team at L’Oréal in Paris, where she was able to pursue her passion for supply chain management. The third focused on Strategy and Product Management for Upfront in the financial technology industry.

Graduating cum laude, Kristine is a recipient of the UPS Foundation Scholarship, awarded to the most impactful supply chain graduates. She twice received the Carol and Darren Campili Competitive Advantage Award, a PEAK Ascent Award for research on forced labor and human trafficking in supply chain, PEAK Base Camp for her work on forced labor in the furniture industry, with her area of future venture building, and was a 2021 L’Oréal Brandstorm candidate.

Sarrah Asokumar, a first-generation college graduate, has proven that one can bring heart to auditing. Sarrah received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in December 2021 with a major in accounting and minors in leadership and human capital. “I am grateful to be able to graduate from college with high academic standing when neither of my parents had the opportunity,” she says.

C. Hawkins, Director of Student Engagement + Philanthropy, Northeastern University Alumni Relations, says Sarrah is “well respected by her peers and good at training others.” She was President and Vice President of Campus Relations for Student Alumni Ambassadors. When Hawkins first became involved, he says he was “impressed with her tenacity in keeping the organization running and helping me understand the history.” Sarrah says being a Student Alumni Ambassador was a major achievement. “I have been able to help students find a welcoming organization on campus, help alumni maintain their connection with Northeastern and make a greater impact on the Northeastern community.”

Sarrah’s organization skills have helped her when she was an audit and assurance intern at Deloitte. She managed the loan confirmations process for more than 1,000 positions through daily bank and client correspondence and ensured their accuracy. As a tax intern for Andersen, she analyzed and compiled financial statements and tax returns for more than 70 high net-worth individuals, trusts, and corporate accounts. As a global controlling accountant for Converse, Inc., Sarrah helped improve organizational processes.

Throughout her time at Northeastern, Sarrah was active in several organizations. She was treasurer of NU State, NU’s largest performing arts organization, and was a fellow for the Building Belonging Fellowship program, working 60-80 hours a week while maintaining leadership roles and organizing events such as Mayor of Huntington Avenue and Husky Spirit Day.

As a community volunteer, she worked with Round Table Community Center and in the Husky Hugs effort of donating stuffed huskies and funds to children’s hospitals. Sarrah was also a member of Sunrise Northeastern, a volunteer group working to stop climate change as part of the Sunrise Movement; a member of Women in Business; and a member of the intramural broomball team.

Sarrah is currently studying for the CPA exam and hopes to pass it before she begins working later this year as a full-time auditor for Deloitte.

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I have been able to help students find a welcoming organization on campus, help alumni maintain their connection with Northeastern and make a greater impact on the Northeastern community.”

Sarrah Asokumar

How one student can accomplish so much in just a few short years is amazing. Anisa Amiji is amazing. On the Dean’s List with a 3.91 GPA, she will receive her Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences. While at Northeastern, Anisa has proven to be a leader committed to both the university and the community.

Anisa has participated in Peer Health Exchange since her freshman year and has held several positions, including president. When the National Peer Health Exchange Organization severed ties with the Northeastern Chapter and others in 2021, Anisa and a classmate stepped up to fill the void, creating the Boston Health Initiative (BHI,) which advocates for health equity and provides health education in underserved communities. “I believe [it] is a testament to the dedication and passion that our volunteers have,” she says. “This semester, we received 168 volunteer applications and can now have a Chapter of 120+ members growing in their knowledge of teaching and health education.”

More of Anisa’s achievements include mentoring high school students as a STEM research program co-coordinator of the Young Scholars Program (YSP.) Anisa was also a founding member of the team that organized a two-day regional global health conference as part of the Global Health Initiative (NUGHI) and a Black Health Matters fundraiser that raised more than $35k.

In addition, Anisa participated in two co-ops. At Brigham and Women’s Hospital, she served as a patient care associate in the burn, trauma, surgical and renal transplant ICU. She was a medical assistant at Boston Health Care for the Homeless, where she currently works part time. Anisa was also a health equity intern at the Institute of Health Equity and Social Justice Research and received a PEAK Base Camp Award for her research.

Anisa has served the community as a volunteer at St. Francis House, preparing and serving hot meals to homeless people; at Project Stree as a fundraising ambassador; and at the American Red Cross as a blood donor ambassador.

She credits her father, Dr. Amiji, a Northeastern faculty member, for her dedication to service. “He taught me that character matters and believing in something bigger than yourself is important.”

Anisa plans to pursue a joint PA/MPH degree from George Washington University. According to the Dean of Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Carmen Sceppa, “Anisa embodies the core values of Northeastern, and there is no doubt that she will continue to make Northeastern proud.”

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Anisa embodies the core values of Northeastern, and there is no doubt that she will continue to make Northeastern proud.”

Dean of Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Carmen Sceppa

Nicole Occidental has a 4.0 GPA and is on track to receive her Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Neuroscience in May with a minor in health, humanities, and society. Nicole says her favorite class—Writing to Heal—has influenced her future role as a physician-scientist and believes “that patients are more than just a bundle of cells to be studied and cured. It reminded me that we need to put the humanity back into medicine and research.” 

Her desire to bring humanity to medicine is evident in all that she does. As a founding member of the Health Humanities Advisory Board, Nicole helps students look at healthcare issues through a humanistic lens. It helps them think about how literature, ethics, history, art, and economics can influence a person’s access and view of the healthcare system.

Nicole is a peer programmer for Northeastern University Alliance of Civically Engaged Students (NU|ACES,) which recruits students to volunteer at local organizations to build their leadership skills while servicing the community. She is also a College of Science Peer Ambassador; NEURONS Peer Mentor; and President and Events Chair of Nu Rho Psi – NU’s chapter of the national neuroscience honors society.  

In addition to her focus on her courses, Nicole has participated in undergraduate research in Dr. Ziv Williams’ lab, where she designed, built, and implemented a novel behavioral paradigm studying inequality aversion, rank hierarchies, and mice cheating/theft. She’s also worked as a research assistant in the University’s Center for Cognitive and Brain Health and the Bernardo Sabatini Lab at Harvard Medical School.

Even with her many academic endeavors, Nicole has made time to give back at the University as a College of Science ambassador and note-taker at the Disability Resource Center. Nicole is also a tutor at Boston’s Peer Tutoring Center and a gastrointestinal department volunteer at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital.

Much lauded for her outstanding academic performance, Nicole is a nominee for the Rhodes, Marshall, and Churchill Scholarships and has received several awards including the 2020 President’s Award for being in the top 10 of her graduating class.

The future looks bright for Nicole. She’s hoping for a Fulbright to study for a master’s in cognitive neuroscience at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. “Given Nicole’s student leadership, commitment to service, and academic excellence,” says Dean Hazel Sive of the College of Science, “she is the clear choice to represent the College of Science through the Compass Awards.”

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Given Nicole’s student leadership, commitment to service, and academic excellence, she is the clear choice to represent the College of Science through the Compass Awards.”

Dean Hazel Sive of the College of Science

It’s rare when a student starts college while actively engaging in a full-time career that started when she was three years old. Lauren Herfindahl is one of those rare young women. She has been a professional dancer with the Boston Ballet for most of her life and is now poised to graduate from the Northeastern University College of Professional Studies.

“Lauren is a leader in the classroom, on pace to graduate with high honors in Spring 2022,” Interim Dean of the College of Professional Studies, David Fields says. “Beginning her studies in Fall 2014, Lauren has taken coursework both full time and part time and currently holds a 3.77 GPA. She has made Dean’s List in every term she was eligible while working full time as second soloist for the Boston Ballet.”

Her achievements with the Boston Ballet are public knowledge. Her first performance with the main company was in The Sleeping Beauty when she was 10. She signed her first contract at 15 with Boston Ballet 11 and was awarded the silver medal at the Boston International Ballet Competition Junior Division in 2012. The next year—at the age of 17—she joined the main company.

Lauren’s achievements at Northeastern show her dedication and ambition. The most significant? “I have risen to the challenges and goals I have set for myself to graduate,” she says. “I learned to believe that I can have a second career outside of the dance world. I hope to bring my determination and hard work to my continued education and goal of working in the healthcare field.”

Even with the demands of a full-time career and her college course load, Lauren makes time to volunteer. She has encouraged new company dancers to take courses at NU, and she mentors the younger members of Boston Ballet as well as the highest-level students at Boston Ballet School. She co-hosts informal monthly conversations on topics relevant to their stage and rehearsal work, and answers dancers’ questions when they are struggling with personal or professional issues. “I want to foster a supportive and helpful environment for these budding professionals and stop the culture of intimidation and coldness that I experienced as a young professional.”

Dean Fields describes Lauren as “hard-working, professional, experiential, high-achieving, passionate, highly successful. She has proven to be a disciplined, dedicated worker inside and outside of the classroom…precisely what it means to be a Northeastern University Husky.”

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Hard-working, professional, experiential, high-achieving, passionate, highly successful. She has proven to be a disciplined, dedicated worker inside and outside of the classroom…precisely what it means to be a Northeastern University Husky.”

Dean of the College of Professional Studies, David Fields

A brilliant thinker, social justice leader and generous colleague – that’s how Professor Elizabeth Britt of the Department of English describes Yachi Christie Lee, who will graduate in May with a Bachelor of Science in English and Biology and a 3.95 GPA.

Christie, who plans to attend law school at New York University to focus on health and racial justice has been an active participant in many organizations and activities at Northeastern. She founded NAACP Northeastern and organized town halls with NUPD and BPD, conducted Narcan training, and wrote for The Huntington News and NU Sci magazine. Christie claims her essay “Morality of Identity: Whitman in Chamoiseau and Glissant”—which was published in NU Writing—to be her most significant achievement. “I firmly believe that the personal is the political,” she says, “and that literary analyses are profoundly important to every one of our individual lives and our communities at large.”

Professor Britt says Christie was a top student in two of her courses, including Rhetoric of Law. “Christie impressed me with her fearlessness in wrestling with complex ideas and her commitment to social justice. Her proposal for her final project, and the final project itself, far exceeded what most students are able to accomplish in this course, especially when they do not have a background in rhetoric, which Christie did not.”

Christie’s ambition and ability to take on the unknown will help her when she pursues health law and policy in law school and beyond. She was a research intern at NUSL’s Health in Justice Action Lab, investigating media reports of overdose deaths prosecuted as “drug-induced homicide.” As a lay advocate at the Center for Law and Education, she supported lower-income and underrepresented youth in the Boston Public School system. She also participated as a paralegal in a co-op at O’Malley and Harvey, LLP and interned for Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly.

Volunteerism is important to Christie. She is a Student Athlete Support Services tutor and was an undergraduate assistant for Biology Project Lab. Additionally, she hosted phonebooks for president candidate, Bernie Sanders and Boston mayoral candidate, Michelle Wu.

Professor Britt lauds Christie as “an exceptional reader, writer, and verbal communicator. And she is tenacious and committed to the causes she cares about.”

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College of Social Sciences and Humanities

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An exceptional reader, writer, and verbal communicator. And she is tenacious and committed to the causes she cares about.”

Professor Britt

Imbued with an entrepreneurial spirit, Jack McKim has made his mark on the Northeastern community. Jack will soon receive a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with concentrations in Finance and Entrepreneurship and a minor in Consulting.

Apart from his dedication to academics, which is reflected in his 3.88 GPA, Jack has embraced all that Northeastern has to offer. He is an active, engaged member of the student community who has proven his leadership skills in countless ways. He co-founded Huntington Ave Ventures and founded and served as president of Northeastern Private Equity & Venture Capital Club, a university-sanctioned community focused on educating and connecting students with PE/VC deal professionals. To date, more than 300 students have participated in PEVC events, including a Shark Tank event that led to a $50K investment in an NU startup.

Building the club, Jack says, is his greatest achievement. “When I started the club, I had no idea what PE/VC was. I wanted to create an organization that was community based and would help Northeastern students and alumni in the long run.” PEVC has already helped many students. “Our inclusive approach has not only allowed the club to grow immensely, but it’s also led to numerous team members getting jobs at reputable firms like Insight Partners, Summit Partners, Waterfall Asset Management, Citibank, and more.”

Jack created five co-ops, along with off-cycle PE internships. He helped raise $2M to invest in Northeastern-affiliated entrepreneurs, facilitated more than $600K in investments in the female-led startup, Mount, and co-hosted an entrepreneurship summit that brought in six founders and investors and more than 150 attendees.

The list of business-related ventures Jack has had a hand in goes on. He also has donated his time. As a freshman in an exchange program in London, Jack volunteered at Spitalfields Crypt Trust, providing practical help to people overcoming homelessness, mental health needs, and addiction. As treasurer (and then president and captain) of the Men’s Lacrosse team, he balanced out the negatives caused by the onset of Covid and kept the team running, engaged, and connected and reached out to alumni to raise thousands of dollars for the team. Jack has also been a co-op peer mentor to finance students.

Finance co-op faculty member, Namaratha Shetty says, “I have been very impressed with his true commitment to supporting young DMSB students. He is very generous with his knowledge and time…and does all of this in a humble, understated manner.”

After graduation, Jack will join Silversmith Capital Partners as a growth equity investor and will likely set the business world on fire.

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D’Amore-McKim School of Business

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I have been very impressed with his true commitment to supporting young DMSB students. He is very generous with his knowledge and time…and does all of this in a humble, understated manner.”

Finance co-op faculty member, Namaratha Shetty

During the height of the pandemic, most things shut down or tried to adjust to a “new normal.” Carrie Tam, a 2022 candidate for a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering & Architecture, instead forged ahead, convincing 30 undergrad students that they could design a net-zero energy building—producing a set of structural and architectural construction documents in the process. This, she believes, is her most significant achievement to date—and that’s from among a plethora of achievements.

“Carrie stands out as one of the top students in the Civil Engineering Program, with a 3.76/4.0 in her rigorous combined major,” says Gregory Abowd, Dean, College of Engineering. She has already received several scholarships and grants and participated in study abroad programs in Denmark and Australia.

While at Northeastern, Carrie founded the Northeastern Solar Decathlon team, which encourages members to design an affordable, resilient and net-zero energy building for the Department of Energy’s multidisciplinary collegiate competition. Her team made it to the competition’s national finals—unusual for a first-year entry. Since 2018, Carrie has been a research assistant at the STReSS Laboratory in Boston, where she assisted with the construction and testing of a full-scale composite steel deck diaphragm subjected to cyclic loading to study the failure mechanisms and investigate the impact of structural resilience in steel buildings. She is currently interning at E4H Environments 4 Health Architecture, a national company that specializes in healthcare and health sciences architecture. Her previous co-op experience was at Walker Consultants, a civil engineering consulting company.

Carrie has worked closely with her advisor, Professor Hajjar, on several research projects funded by the National Science Foundation, the American Institute of Steel Construction, the American Iron and Steel Institute, and other industry organizations. Professor Hajjar says, “Carrie is a highly intelligent, creative, poised, driven student and an exceptional leader among her peers. She is excited about her studies and her future in civil and architectural engineering.”

Speaking of the future, Carrie plans to attend graduate school in the fall and pursue an M.S. or PhD in structural engineering. Her desire is to “design unique structural systems worldwide.” Dean Abowd says, “As Carrie looks forward to graduate school, her top-notch scholarship, leadership capabilities, and technical expertise are sure to lead to her success.”

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College of Engineering

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As Carrie looks forward to graduate school, her top-notch scholarship, leadership capabilities, and technical expertise are sure to lead to her success.”

College of engineering Dean Gregory Abowd

“Fiona’s list of accomplishments is so long, and stretches back so far, that it makes me question how I spent my time in high school and college,” says Professor and Director of the BS in Cybersecurity program, Christo Wilson. In addition to having a 3.975 GPA, Fiona McCrae has made herself an invaluable asset to the Northeastern community and will undoubtedly do the same in her post-graduate endeavors.

For Fiona, choosing Northeastern was an easy decision, as she wanted a school with a rigorous cybersecurity program. Shortly after beginning her freshman year, Fiona secured a spot on the highly competitive Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (CCDC) team. In 2019, her team was a local winner in the DOE CyberForce competition; Fiona individually ranked 20^th out of 400 competitors. She has also been on the e-board of the NU Security Club and a member of the Khoury Student Advisory Board. In all her activities, Fiona says, “Having the chance to interact with younger cybersecurity students to help from a community within the major has been something I am so proud to have contributed to, even if there is no concrete landmark event for that.”

She also brilliantly worked two competitive co-ops in cyber resiliency at MITRE in Bedford, MA. During her time there, she helped develop pen test software and payloads for satellites and attended testing for Satellite Penetration Evaluation and Environment Demonstration (SPEED).

Fiona’s contributions to NU extend beyond cybersecurity. She was the events coordinator for CoSMO, the computer science mentoring organization that works to connect students across the discipline. She was also a teaching assistant for Discrete Structures, Foundations of Cybersecurity, and Object-Oriented Design. Professor Jason Hemann worked with Fiona in 2020 and says, “She went out of her way to create detailed guides and documentation to help students learn better in this new modality. When there’s a problem lurking, or a solution that needs to be implemented, Fiona steps up.”

After graduation, Fiona will work as a cybersecurity engineer at MITRE. Newly engaged, she is excited to celebrate with friends and family. “She’s warm, outgoing, witty, strong, personable, dependable, and honest,” Professor Hemann says. “She’s the kind of person that other people want to be around.”

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Khoury College of Computer Sciences

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Fiona’s list of accomplishments is so long, and stretches back so far, that it makes me question how I spent my time in high school and college,”

Professor and Director of the BS in Cybersecurity program, Christo Wilson

The best journalists see things from multiple viewpoints and have limitless interests. Taraneh “Tara” Tabib-Azar has a head start, as she is also a photographer, performing artist (guitar, piano, bass, and banjo,) 3D visual artist, and activist with an interest in documentary filmmaking, harm reduction, and mutual aid. A candidate for a bachelor’s in Journalism and Political Science, Tara has a 3.8 GPA and has been on the Dean’s List all semesters.

Tara has already taken the first steps toward her career as an investigative journalist. She served co-ops at NBC News Investigations Unit and the NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt in New York City. Additionally, she was an intern at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) where she wrote articles about humanitarian crises.

Committed to community service, Tara has been involved with several mutual aid organizations in Boston, including Chrysalis Collective where she cooks with fellow members and distributes food and clothing. Tara worked with Program RISE, a harm reduction organization where she helped organize NARCAN (Naloxone) trainings and distributions. She also volunteered her time with the Dorchester Art Project (DAP) as a print intern and in their shop.

In addition to her volunteerism, Tara has proven to be a leader on campus. She was named editor-in-chief for Storybench, NU’s School of Journalism publication and editor of the Northeastern University Political Review. As co-director and political education coordinator with NU SAID (Students Against Institutional Discrimination,) she arranged and moderated a speaker event with New York Times best-selling author of How to Be an Antiracist and director of BU’s Antiracist Research Center, Ibram X. Kendi.

Even with so many other important obligations, Tara still finds time to pursue her passion for photojournalism, fine art photography, and the performing arts. “I am a musician and frequently perform live shows in New York,” she says, “and am currently working on my second full-length album, which will be released in 2022.”

After graduation, Tara will complete a summer internship with USA TODAY’S investigative unit and then apply to The New York Times Fellowship Program. She plans to publish a book on the socio-political impact of memes and viral content.

Tara’s future looks bright. According to Prudence Hkinda Chaiban from the UNFPA, “Tara walked in and lit the place up with a can-do attitude and creativity—and most importantly, with empathy and wisdom. No task was ever too difficult for Tara.”

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College of Arts, Media and Design

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Tara walked in and lit the place up with a can-do attitude and creativity—and most importantly, with empathy and wisdom. No task was ever too difficult for Tara.”

UNFPA Member Prudence Hkinda Chaiban