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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Alumni relations

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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.”

Compass AWARD RECIPIENT
Bouvé College of Health Sciences

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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