Colin Powell School Fellowship Programs 2019 - 2020

2019-2020 COLIN POWELL SCHOOL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS

COLIN POWELL SCHOOL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

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In 2019, Best Value Schools rated the Colin Powell School’s pre-law program as the fifth best in the nation. It describes the program as “the most affordable in this pre-law degree ranking, and yet the school hasn’t cut any corners in building its curriculum.

In 2018-19, women and people of color comprised more than three-quarters of our students, many of whom are first generation immigrants or the first in their families to earn a master’s degree.

MPA - In a recent survey, 48 percent of our graduates worked in government, 40 percent in the nonprofit sector, and 12 percent in the private sector or outside of the country.

In its eight years, the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership has graduated more than 6,000 students. They leave with the knowledge and skills, the relationships and friendships, to make a difference as leaders in service to our world. Achieving this record of success is anything but easy.

Almost two-thirds of our students are the first in their families to finish college. Half are immigrants, representing more than 100 nations and speaking nearly as many native languages. Most come from low-income backgrounds. By finishing their degrees, our students are breaking barriers, challenging expectations and setting new trajectories—for themselves, their families, and our society. Our students’ determination to succeed enables them to take advantage of the education, mentorship, professional development and support they receive from the Colin Powell School.

CCNY ranks number one in the nation in providing social mobility for its students. Graduating the most students of the College every year, the Colin Powell School is the biggest engine for this transformation.

The scope of our success has major, positive implications for the achievement of greater social and economic equality in our country.

How do we do it? Each year we support a diverse cohort of remarkable students that want to connect their careers to issues of public import. Colin Powell School Fellowship programs provide our students opportunities for professional development and mentoring combined with essential financial support.

They prepare students as future leaders, critical thinkers, and civically engaged citizens, helping to transform the world’s most diverse student body into tomorrow’s global leaders.

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COLIN POWELL SCHOOL FOR CIVIC AND GLOBAL LEADERSHIP

T R A NSFO R M I N G T H E W O R L D’S M O ST

D I V E R SE

ST U D E N T B O DY I N TO

TO M O R RO W ’S

G LO B A L

LEADERS 4

COLIN POWELL FELLOWSHIP IN PUBLIC SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP

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PARTNERS FOR CHANGE FELLOWSHIP

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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FELLOWSHIP

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EDWARD I. KOCH FELLOWSHIP IN PUBLIC SERVICE

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CLIMATE POLICY FELLOWS PROGRAM

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SEMESTER IN WASHINGTON D.C.

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SKADDEN, ARPS HONORS PROGRAM IN LEGAL STUDIES

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STUART BERNSTEIN SCHOLARS IN INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

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THE BOUDREAU FELLOWS PROGRAM

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NEW YORK LIFE ENDOWMENT GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP

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MASTER’S IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

COLIN POWELL SCHOOL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

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THE 2020

Colin Powell Fellowship in Public Service and Leadership

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COLIN POWELL SCHOOL FOR CIVIC AND GLOBAL LEADERSHIP

The Colin Powell Fellowship in Public Service and Leadership is a two-year, intensive program for undergraduate students. The experience is designed to prepare fellows for lives of public service and active citizenship, and enable them to apply their skills to issues of public concern. Students accepted into the Colin Powell Fellowship acquire a broad knowledge of political institutions and the policy-making process, and learn about public service careers and opportunities. Fellows also explore leadership development and methods for creating social change.

There are three categories of Public Service and Leadership Fellows, each bearing the name of its generous donor. The New York Life Endowment for Emerging African American Issues supports students interested in policies that affect African Americans and other underserved groups. The Fulvio Dobrich Award supports students that are first or second generation immigrants with interests in policies and programs that impact the lives of immigrants in the United States. The William Kenan Charitable Trust funds students exploring leadership roles in government, NGOs or in the private sector.

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Colin Powell Fellowship in Public Service and Leadership - First Year Fellows

BENJAMIN FELIX Benjamin Felix is currently a junior majoring in political science and international studies with a concentration in international relations.

Benjamin is interested in the politics of international diplomacy. In the future, Benjamin would like to be a part of the diplomatic process between countries and strive for a better understanding among peoples. In the meantime, Benjamin spends his time making the community around him better.

LILY FREMAUX Lily Fremaux is a junior studying political science and social change and creative writing through the CUNY baccalaureate program for unique and interdisciplinary studies.

They are passionate about equitable and affordable access to healthcare, maternity health, and TGNC (transgender and gender nonconforming)

rights. Lily remains active in their community, both on and off campus. They are considering several paths after graduation, including applying to an accelerated nursing program or the Peace Corps.

RACHEL HOLLIDAY Rachel Holliday is a sophomore majoring in international studies with a concentration in international relations. She hopes to graduate with a broad knowledge of different cultural perspectives so that she can be equipped to serve in diverse communities. She

is also honing her leadership skills and confidence while being a member of the Colin Powell Fellowship for Leadership and Public Service. She has been elected to serve as the secretary for CCNY’s Model United Nations club. Outside of school, Rachel loves practicing yoga and reading about current events.

THEODORE KASOTE Theodore Kasote is a thirdyear, transfer, pre-dental student at City College majoring in psychology who plans to graduate in Spring 2021. Theodore

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COLIN POWELL SCHOOL FOR CIVIC AND GLOBAL LEADERSHIP

earned his associates degree in the liberal arts from the Borough of Manhattan Community College. He is president of The City Tutors, the Colin Powell School’s volunteer tutoring program.

Theodore has a passion for community engagement and health care and finds it fitting to spend his time volunteering at a dental office. To remain physically active, Theodore learned Brazilian jiu-jitsu this past summer. He is an Apple Certified Mac technician, with over ten years of experience troubleshooting and repairing Apple devices.

After graduating, his focus will be on applying to dental schools and participating in health care and education policy research, through which he can expand his impact on his community.

SARDAR KHANBILVARDI Sardar Khanbilvardi is in his fifth year at City College. He is majoring in

environmental engineering and playing his last season of collegiate baseball on the CCNY team. He is looking into internships at NOAA Crest, an organization focused on studying climate and its effects on nature and people alike. Specifically, he wants to study weather extremities and their effects on cities around the world.

Sardar is looking forward to becoming a better leader and provider to the public.

CHAMELA MARTINEZ

Chamela Martinez is a junior pursuing a double major in sociology and international studies with a minor in human rights.

Through her courses, she has become interested in international affairs and she hopes to intern at different organizations to get experience in this field.

Chamela enjoys participating in student clubs on campus because they have allowed her to meet new people and learn different ways that she can help in her community. For instance, through Humanizing Homelessness, she has been able to help homeless people by making care packages and distributing them

around the city. Outside of her academics, she enjoys spending time with her family and loved ones, and being in nature. One of her goals is to travel the entire world while learning from different cultures and meeting new people.

INA MASHA Ina Masha is a junior majoring in anthropology.

As an immigrant from Albania, Ina is very interested in the ways in which diverse communities are formed and how they hold many different identities. Through this fellowship, Ina hopes to gain a better understanding of how community policies

can help to shape or divide neighborhoods, as well as the roles that policy workers play in the way residents experience New York City and their neighborhoods.

After she graduates, Ina hopes to work with different communities to understand the dynamics that shape New York City, and possibly other cities, into areas with national and global presence.

VALERY PALACIOS Valery Palacios is a junior who chose to major in anthropology because she is interested in

human societies and their structures. She is motivated to change lives and create fairer systems. Valery believes her responsibility is to care about her community and environment because she understands how culture affects human beings and how the misconceptions that we have about race and our way of living can disrupt society. She wants to be useful to her community, and to fight for change and progress in order to improve the quality of life of the city.

For those reasons, she chose to be an anthropologist and she is preparing herself for public service.

KATE SCHERER A Queens native, Kate Scherer is currently a junior studying political science.

She became interested in public policy and service while volunteering on environmental campaigns in high school, and soon realized the impact community organizers can have on policy. Since then,

she has spent the last year working as a Community and Legislative Aide for New York City Councilwoman Carlina Rivera in the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

Passionate about housing, environmental issues, and education, she has also interned at organizations such as NYCHA, Global Kids, and the Go Project.

Kate looks forward to using her skills and the guidance of the Colin Powell Fellowship to further her career goals.

CAROLINE SCHWAB

years working with kids in the foster care system and with victims of abuse. In the future, she hopes to put her major to use helping people one-on-one, preferably in a mental health or in an educational environment.

Dani enjoys advocating for equality and volunteering to give back to others. Dani is eager to learn more about the policy-making process and careers in government through the Colin Powell Fellowship.

ANGELA VASOVIC

Caroline Schwab is a sophomore majoring in environmental engineering.

She currently works on two research projects — one that aims to predict corn droughts, and another that tracks storm formation using satellite images. She hopes to pair her long-time research interests with her passion for government and politics through the Colin Powell Fellowship, and eventually work in environmental policy. Beyond school, Caroline is one of three sisters and sings in an a capella group.

Angela Vasovic is a junior interested in international and global studies. She is pursuing her degree through the CUNY BA program focusing on two areas of study: (a) international relations and diplomacy, and (b) global economy and society. Angela aims to pursue a career in the government or at an international organization related to global issues such as peacebuilding, development, human rights, or cultural preservation.

DANI SERVIUS Dani Servius is a junior majoring in psychology.

She has spent the last two

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Colin Powell Fellowship in Public Service and Leadership - Second Year Fellows

ARIANNA ADAMS Arianna Adams is a junior at City College majoring in sociology with a minor in Spanish. Starting college right out of high school was a difficult transition for Arianna, but she was able to find out what she is truly passionate about and is working hard to earn her degree. With an interest in the Latino and Black youth community in New York City, Arianna hopes to find a career where she can serve minorities through better education and health.

DANIEL HILA Daniel Hila is City College political science major who graduated in the Spring of 2020. Daniel is interested in working on US foreign affairs and hopes to receive his master’s degree in international relations. He enjoys studying foreign languages and through them, he hopes to advance his career, as well as 8

establish deeper connections with individuals in the local and global community.

Daniel aspires to further develop strategic American interests abroad, with an emphasis on the Balkans and the Middle East.

MITALI JAHAN Mitali Jahan graduated in the Spring of 2020 with a

double major in psychology and business administration & management. She is passionate about mental health care, aspires to help children from underserved communities, and is very interested in human rights.

After graduation, her goal is to travel abroad and then obtain a master’s degree to advance a career in the health and public sectors.

LAURA JIMENEZ PEREZ Laura Jimenez Perez is a junior at City College majoring in mathematics education and business administration & management. Her goal is to become a teacher and then a principal. She has been tutoring math and computer science in high schools and middle schools in New York

COLIN POWELL SCHOOL FOR CIVIC AND GLOBAL LEADERSHIP

City for over two years. Last summer, she interned with NYC Assemblywoman Inez Dickens as a Community Liaison Assistant. She handled constituents’ cases and conducted research in support of the bill requiring vaccinations for school children, which was passed.

Laura is passionate about education, mental health, and empowering students to accomplish their goals.

She hopes to reform current educational practices by changing the structure of lessons, as well as by helping students overcome their fear of mathematics through the incorporation of fun, real-life projects in the classroom.

ATEEA KAZI Ateea Kazi, who majored in political science and

minored in earth and atmospheric sciences, is also a Harcourt and Student Support Services Program scholar. She graduated in

Spring 2020, and intends to complete a master’s degree in public administration to eventually change the world.

By channeling her love for art via her Instagram page, Ateea’s Artistry, and through her passion to create change, Ateea plans to work on justice-based policy on a large spectrum, from local government to international organizations, changing the way climate change and human rights are spoken about in the world.

KETEVAN KEMOKLIDZE Ketevan Kemoklidze, also known as Qeke (pronounced KK), is a junior

at City College majoring in international studies with a concentration in international relations.

She graduated from St. Paul Preparatory High School and went to study in Spain for one semester at Marbella International University. Ketevan’s goal after graduation is to go to graduate school, then to Japan. Afterwards, she wants to come back to the US and, while working in a political field, help children from low-income families pursue

their careers. She is also passionate about writing and thinks about political journalism. Later on, she wants to return to her home country, Georgia, and pursue a career in politics, starting with becoming a Minister of Education, until she is elected Prime Minister.

LIAM LAKOTA

Liam Lakota is a junior at CCNY majoring in international studies and minoring in anthropology.

Liam calls the big blue sky state of Montana home and identifies with the Fort Belknap and Cheyenne River Indian communities.

While being fiercely Native, he also proudly embraces his Iranian heritage and aspires to become fluent in Farsi. Upon graduating, Liam hopes to work in the financial sector and fundraise for the advancement of schools in Indian reservations. Liam also aims to pursue a PhD in linguistics and conduct research in Iran and the Caucasus.

MEENA NATARAJAN Meena Natarajan is a junior at City College majoring in psychology and minoring in studio art. Meena has a

passion for social activism and after graduation, she seeks to pursue a career as a clinical psychologist working with underserved populations, specifically communities of color and the LGBTQ community.

Throughout her education and career, she wishes to promote cultural awareness amongst mental health professionals, as well as work to reduce the stigma associated with mental health, allowing people of all backgrounds accessible and adequate care.

AICHATOU NIMAGA

Aichatou Nimaga is a senior at CCNY majoring in international studies and minoring in Black studies. Of Malian descent but American-born, Aichatou is an African and a woman of Islam. She first started her college career at Mercy College but after reconsideration, she knew City College was a better choice for her future. Aichatou’s goals

are to be affiliated with NGOs or foundations that raise awareness for humanitarian acts. Through her latest internship at the Mott Foundation in Flint, Michigan, she was able to learn about the philanthropic sector. She discovered the importance of mentorship, as well as the impact of financial and emotional support as integral tools to allow students to be successful.

Her personal aspiration is to work within the public sector, which will allow her to make reforms that tackle problems such as access to education, especially for young girls.

Outside of the classroom, his passions include sports, writing, and politics, as well as advocating for those with chronic pain and disabilities.

BRANDON RILES Brandon Riles is a senior majoring in international relations and Asian studies.

Brandon’s path to earning his undergraduate degree has been unconventional; he began pursuing his career in higher education in 2008 only to take a seven-year sabbatical after completing

SADAAB RAHMAN Sadaab Rahman is a Muslim-American college student and the youngest of three boys raised in Queens by parents who emigrated from Bangladesh. He is in the Macaulay Honors Program at CCNY and is pursuing degrees in both political science and history.

Sadaab hopes to study health law and become a medical malpractice attorney. In addition to pursuing a JD, he also plans to obtain an MBA.

one semester. In 2016, he returned to City College and has been a full-time student ever since with a passion for the international community. Brandon is especially interested in Chinese culture and attended the Middlebury Chinese Language School in the summer of 2017.

He is passionate about peace building and conflict resolution, and plans to work in policy development.

Brandon believes that by encouraging governments to invest in youth cultural exchange programs, seeds will be planted for more peaceful and healthier international relations in the future.

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HERUT TEKILU Herut Tekilu, who studied political science and premedical studies, graduated in the spring of 2020.

Although she began her education at City College, she earned an associate degree in biology from Monroe Community College. After graduation, Herut plans on becoming a community doctor and public policy advocate/ educator in economically disadvantaged areas in New York. She is passionate about public health and human rights advocacy. Herut hopes to be able to organize disadvantaged communities to fight for socioeconomic and political rights.

TIMEA NICK Timea Nick is a senior at City College, double majoring in history and Asian studies, and minoring in cinema studies. She is part of the History BA/MA program, which will allow her to earn her master’s

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degree at CCNY. Timea’s primary focus in history is 19th- and 20th-century political conflicts. In addition, she is interested in South Korean and Japanese culture. As an immigrant from Hungary, she is also passionate about immigration policies.

Through the Colin Powell fellowship, she wants to get actively involved with immigration and refugee policies in the United States and to understand how they affect the local communities in her neighborhood, in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.

Timea’s experience at the International High School of Lafayette motivated her to follow in the footsteps of her teachers, who made it possible for her to adjust to American life. After graduation in 2021, she is hoping to continue on the path of education by earning her history PhD. HANNAH TOWFIEK Hannah Towfiek is a senior at CCNY majoring in international studies and political science and minoring in Arabic and Black studies. She plans to graduate in 2020. Hannah currently works with the New York chapter of the Council on AmericanIslamic Relations (CAIRNY) in their outreach department. A born and raised Brooklynite, she is adamant about giving back to the communities that raised her. Living her whole life in Brooklyn, and now going to school in Harlem,

COLIN POWELL SCHOOL FOR CIVIC AND GLOBAL LEADERSHIP

Hannah has been exposed to the everyday struggles of immigrant and minority populations. Hannah is an advocate for those who are underserved and underrepresented, and hopes to continue her career in an area that will cater to her principles and goals.

THE 2020

Partners for Change Fellowship The Partners for Change Fellowship is a one-year program for undergraduate students interested in developing applied research skills and working with community organizations. Fellows complete 150 hours of service at their internship sites and classes in community organizing and community-based research. The program instills fellows with a broad range of research and advocacy skills and a nuanced understanding of their focus areas.

TASNEEM CHOWDHURY Tasneem Chowdhury is a senior at City College. She graduated in Spring 2020, with a double major in economics and international studies and is passionate about human rights. She hopes to work in the public policy sector in economic development, ideally with think tanks and NGOs focusing on development and human rights.

in psychology and public health policy. Mubashra’s goal is to work on the challenging problems of public health policy and use evidence-based research to inform these policies. She hopes to work with public health organizations and underserved communities to improve access to comprehensive and affordable healthcare in often neglected fields such as dental health services.

MUBASHRA DAWOOD

SABINA M. DORVILE

Mubashra Dawood is a senior at City College majoring in psychology.

After graduation, she plans to pursue doctorate degrees

Sabina M. Dorvile is a senior at City College majoring in political science with a double minor in Black and Community Change Studies.

She started her college career as a pre-medical student but later found her passion in health policy and civil rights. She is passionate about communities of color because of social issues such as gun violence and healthcare. Sabina’s long-term career goal is to become an international civil rights/human rights lawyer while also working in the healthcare sector as a policymaker. She wants to empower minorities within these communities and make sure their voices are heard.

majoring in political science with a minor in sociology.

Prior to college, she was pursuing a career in the medical field but found her calling in educational policy and civil rights.

She is passionate about marginalization and exclusion of students of color, particularly in underserved high schools in New York City. Charmaine’s goal after graduation is to attend law school and pursue a career in policy making and advocacy. She hopes to enact change within the educational system that will provide equal and fair education to all, no matter their race or socioeconomic status.

CHARMAINE GENTLES Charmaine Gentles is a senior at City College

COLIN POWELL SCHOOL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

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KORI HAMBRIC Kori Hambric graduated in the spring of 2020 with a double major in sociology and Black studies with a minor in public policy.

Kori’s goal is to work for a nonprofit organization that focuses on improving the quality of healthcare in underserved communities.

She is passionate about community development and hopes to open her own recreation center to create vibrant communities and provide opportunities to residents.

wants to be as hands-on as possible and advocate for her future patients. Sarah is also passionate about helping the environment and allowing vulnerable populations to have a louder voice in society. She hopes to be active in these changes.

SARAH LIDAGOSTER Sarah Lidagoster is a senior at City College majoring in biomedical sciences and minoring in psychology. She graduated in Spring 2020

and will continue in the CUNY School of Medicine where she will graduate with her MD in 2024. Sarah has a passion for helping people and making sure that everyone is treated in a just manner. Whichever field of medicine she pursues, she

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THE 2020

Community Engagement Fellowship Community Engagement Fellowships are one-year fellowships for City College undergraduates who design and carry out projects that address community needs in sustainable ways. Fellows implement these projects by engaging with partnering organizations, teams of students and the people they serve. Fellows commit to developing a team, writing project reports and action plans, and engaging the City College community.

BRANDON ARISTY Brandon is a senior majoring in economics and also the son of two City College alums.

He has been a student advocate and has participated in various extracurricular activities such as leading the Economics, Business, and Finance Society (EBFS), mentoring students, and serving as a financial literacy volunteer within the Harlem community. He has also participated in the CUNY Innovation Summits and CUNY Hackathon, and he was recently a CUNY speaker at the Ford Foundation. His fellowship project is focused on building a peer-to-peer mentorship program for the Colin Powell School. Mentorship has always been important to him because he was able to find mentors in college who ultimately changed his life. He looks forward to getting an MBA and entering the media and technology industry.

NONYA KHEDR Nonya is an Egyptian immigrant who is pursuing international studies and human rights at City College. She is an advocate for human rights, specifically advocating for women in Africa and the Middle East. She cares deeply about Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) and started an organization called SheFFA to tackle the problem. SheFFA is dedicated to advocating against FGM/C through educational advocacy workshops and a healing justice curriculum that aims to break the taboo stigma created around FGM/C. She plans on using her skills and experience to convene stakeholders, build meaningful partnerships, and make a difference.

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THE 2020

Edward I. Koch Fellowship in Public Service The Edward I. Koch Fellowship in Public Service supports motivated students who devote 200 or more hours of service each year to nonprofit organizations and government agencies throughout New York City. Through the program, CCNY students can experience firsthand the challenges and rewards of working for the common good, interact with professionals in their chosen field of interest, and see how community organizations work to meet public needs. Additionally, Koch Scholars participate in workshops and discussions that enhance their ability to engage communities in meaningful ways and that provide opportunities for leadership development, reflection and engaged learning.

communities and fighting for universal healthcare access as a human right.

TUFAYEL AHMED

ADEREMI ADEBAYO Aderemi Adebayo is a junior at City College majoring in biomedical sciences in the Sophie Davis Biomedical Education Program. She plans to graduate in the spring of 2021 and receive her MD in 2025. She started her college education at Medgar Evers College and graduated with an associate degree in biology at the same time that she graduated from high school. Aderemi’s goal is to become a physician while also advocating to improve healthcare facilities in underserved communities. She is passionate about giving back to underprivileged 14

Tufayel Ahmed is a sophomore at City College majoring in computer science and plans to graduate in the spring of 2022. He graduated from Newtown High School with an Advanced Regents Diploma. After City College, his goal is to work with other computer scientists and develop a video game that will take the world by storm. In addition to his passion for video games, he also plays multiple sports and wants to encourage

COLIN POWELL SCHOOL FOR CIVIC AND GLOBAL LEADERSHIP

young teenagers to not only play video games, but to go outside and participate in different activities to stay healthy and fit.

MAHNOOR BUTT

Mahnoor Butt is a junior at City College, double majoring in international studies and psychology.

For over a year, Mahnoor interned at the Office of New York City Council Majority Leader Laurie A. Cumbo. There, she served as the chief intern assisting with legislation, constituent services, and communications.

Throughout her tenure,

she has worked with the most underrepresented and underserved communities within our city — including Black women and minorities, the elderly LGBTQ population, and immigrant students — on issues such as homelessness, food insecurity, and medical injustice. She has also helped draft landmark legislation ending educational disparity within New York City’s public schools, legalizing medical marijuana, eradicating racial/ gender marginalization and the pay gap within work settings, and incorporating more environmentallyfriendly resources to encourage sustainability. It is Mahnoor’s mission to help eradicate educational and medical disparity among minorities within New York City. Last spring, Mahnoor worked as an outreach intern for the New York State Senator Kristin Gillibrand at her NYC regional office.

DIANE DELOSSANTOS

of Medicine and anticipates graduating in 2021. He is an avid member of the Medical Career Success Program, the Black Male Initiative affiliated project within CCNY. He works in the Sophie Davis admissions office as a Medical Ambassador. Derek started the College Now program in his junior and senior Diane DeLosSantos is a years of high school before sophomore at City College. matriculating into the Sophie She is enrolled in the Sophie Davis Program. His aspiration Davis Biomedical Education to enter the medical field Program with the intent of as a healthcare professional becoming a neonatologist. has fueled his passion for She plans to graduate in the community service, and thus spring of 2021 with her BS he has managed a variety of degree and in the spring volunteer opportunities in of 2025 with her MD. Her interest in medicine developed the Harlem community, in addition to his academics. from her passion for helping people and her love for kids.

ARLIND KACIRANI Diane realized that medicine provided her with the best of both worlds because she would be able to help a greater number of people, make more of a difference in people’s lives, and work with children.

This same passion has led her to volunteer at New York Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Arlind Kacirani is a junior Children’s Hospital, where she at City College majoring in assists Child-Life specialists chemical engineering and in making kids as comfortable double minoring in chemistry and as happy as they can be and mathematics. He started while in the hospital. his college education at Queensborough Community DEREK HODGE College where he graduated Derek Hodge is in his with an honors degree in second year in the Sophie chemistry. Arlind plans to Davis Biomedical Education pursue his PhD after he Program at the CUNY School graduates from City College and impact the lives of people through education and research. He is also a strong advocate for equal opportunity to education and in his free time, he enjoys reading about world history and how we can learn from it.

ARSLAN MOHAMED Arslan Mohamed is a sophomore in the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education BS/MD program at the CUNY School of

Medicine. He is majoring in biomedical sciences and plans to graduate in the spring of 2021. Arslan started his college education at the Macaulay Honors College at Brooklyn College before transferring to City College in 2018. His ultimate goal is to become a physician and public health advocate.

Arslan also has a passion for public service and hopes to work as a medical officer at a federal or international level.

IVIE ODIASE Ivie Odiase is a third-year student in the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education BS/MD program at the CUNY School of Medicine. She plans to graduate in the spring of 2020 with her BS degree and an MD degree in 2024.

She is currently working on advocating for Black women’s maternal health and hopes to continue this throughout her career.

JANNIE RAVN Jannie is an international student at City College majoring in international studies with a focus on development. She currently interns at a nonprofit organization that aims to empower women to follow their dreams through education and selfdevelopment. There, she is responsible for assisting in

workshop execution, data collection and processing, and outreach. She has also helped organize several events for the nonprofit.

Jannie is an S Jay Levy fellow and plans to pursue a summer internship working on environmental protection. She recently won the Donald and Mary Ellen Passantino Scholarship for International Students. In her free-time, she enjoys volunteering at beach cleanups and reading about topics that she is passionate about, such as ocean protection and international politics. Jannie prioritizes spending her time and work in a meaningful manner, and hopes to leave the world in a better state than it is in now.

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THE 2020

Climate Policy Fellows Program The Climate Policy Fellows Program is designed to support CCNY undergraduate students from the sciences, social sciences, architecture and engineering degree programs with training, professional development, and internship opportunities that link climate-related science, engineering, and economics to public policy. Fellows participate in four intensive workshops led by a range of senior national and international climate policy leaders. The workshops prepare fellows to understand how science, engineering, and economics research affect public policy, and how policy-making shapes these fields of research. The Climate Policy Fellows program is generously support by grants from Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Heising-Simons Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the David and Lucille Packard Foundation, and Turner Construction.

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COLIN POWELL SCHOOL FOR CIVIC AND GLOBAL LEADERSHIP

SHANLEY AUGUSTIN

Stars Project, a national nonprofit, and the Mount Sinai St. Luke’s Hospital.

During his free time, Shanley enjoys theater and films, specifically related to stage combat and stunts.

LESLY CALLE

ARJETA BALIDEMAJ Shanley Augustin grew up in Haiti and moved to the United States in 2016.

He came to City College as a biology major but later joined the Colin Powell School to study economics and finance due to his strong interest in the social sciences, based on the circumstances in which he grew up in Haiti.

Having been exposed to the economic impacts of political instability, natural disasters, deforestation, and health crises, he hopes to build a career centered on the environmental and social impacts of financial institutions. As a Climate Policy Fellow, Shanley hopes to learn from lawmakers and get a closer look at how policy can affect carbon emissions, energy consumption, economic growth, and green job creation. He is a co-founder and the Vice President of the City College Club for Nature, Rational Thinking and Humanity, whose mission is to create an environment that welcomes curious minds willing to engage in thoughtful conversations on social issues, science, philosophy, and our future as a species.

In the past, Shanley has volunteered with the All-

Arjeta Balidemaj is a sophomore at Macaulay Honors College at CCNY. She is a biology major who is eager to expand her science knowledge and help make a difference in every way she can. Science was always

one of Arjeta’s favorite subjects in school because it allowed her to question her surroundings and the way the body and the world work. Her experience in an aging and metabolism lab at Mt. Sinai in the summer of 2017 ignited a passion for neurology. Currently, she works at a public library and interns at the CCNY President’s Office. Her hobbies include collecting and reading Stephen King novels, finding cozy coffee spots in the city, and going to the gym. Arjeta is the oldest of four children, and she loves to spend time with her siblings whenever she can. Her vibrant and ambitious nature allows her to achieve whatever she sets her mind to.

Lesly Calle was born and raised in New York City.

She is the daughter of Ecuadorian immigrants and, as the first in her family to attend college, she feels incredibly fortunate to have found support at City College. Lesly is a Macaulay Honors scholar pursuing a degree in business administration and economics. She is most interested in exploring the connection between sustainability and economic policy in the United States.

Her interests include environmental sustainability, minority rights, and economic inequality.

ORLANDO CASTILLO Orlando Castillo majored in physics at City College.

He conducts research at the CUNY Advanced Science Research Center in the nanoscience initiative, where

he helps to build clean energy engines that run on evaporation and that can be used to power boats and

vehicles. He would like to pursue a master’s degree in sustainability and the urban environment at City College.

Orlando wants to help NYC become the first large city to run on clean energy and have a zero carbon footprint.

He intends to focus his attention on commercial and residential buildings and waste management.

As a climate policy fellow, he is eager to learn the fundamentals of public policy, how climate policies are passed, and how they affect people at the national and international levels.

AKIB CHOWDHURY

Coming from a country that has experienced devastating events due to global warming and climate change, and having experienced them firsthand, Akib has always wanted to help change the way we utilize our resources.

Currently, he is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at CCNY. Through classes on fluid mechanics and heat transfer, he has developed a better understanding of how human interactions have greatly affected the state of our planet. He wants to use this knowledge to work in the field of energy engineering and

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sustainability. In the future, Akib wants to contribute to making NYC a model, modern city that has taken great steps toward tackling climate change and has done its part to help improve our environment. With the recent deadly heat waves striking Europe and the global temperature constantly rising, he sees the need for more legislation like the Paris Accord and Obama-era fuel economy standards for cars in order to help build a more sustainable future. Akib believes the best way that we can tackle climate change is by having government officials lead us with new policies and legislation. As an engineer, he wants to contribute to these policies, use his knowledge to work together with others, and be a part of this change in order to help maintain a safe and viable planet.

JENNIFER DUONG Jennifer Duong is a second-year environmental engineering student at the Grove School of Engineering at City College. Jennifer has had extensive experience working at various research facilities throughout New York City. Previously, at Long Island University, she worked to develop simple methods for large-scale, eco-friendly synthesis of electrospun nanomaterials for applications in thermal energy storage. She is now working to assess lake water quality and quantity using satellite remote sensing at NOAA-CREST. Recently, Jennifer was selected to

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participate in the 2019 Energy Boot Camp offered by the CUNY Building Performance Lab, where she learned about the high demand for energy efficiency in New York City and how policy has helped to boost this demand. After meeting and speaking with leading industry professionals,

Jennifer’s interest in environmental policy has only grown. She is excited to further explore this interest as a Colin Powell School Climate Policy Fellow.

COURTNI HOLNESS From a young age, Courtni has been concerned about the damage that human activities contribute to the environment. The daunting headlines about the existential threat that climate change has created, along with her love for the earth, helped her interest in the environmental sciences bloom. Courtni began environmental studies at Hunter College in 2015 after she moved from Arizona to New York. After she

COLIN POWELL SCHOOL FOR CIVIC AND GLOBAL LEADERSHIP

was accepted to The Grove School of Engineering in 2017, she transferred to City College to continue her studies in Earth system science and environmental engineering. Alongside her engineering coursework, she is involved in professional development and leadershipbuilding opportunities on campus. Her main goal is to educate people about climate change and inspire them to engage in proenvironmental behaviors.

Courtni is currently conducting undergraduate research where she is applying her technical engineering skills to estimate current and future distributions of cloud forests in Mexico. In the future, she hopes to continue applying her efforts toward climate change mitigation using an interdisciplinary approach to provide frameworks for the implementation of sustainable practices.

State and being able to conduct research on energy policies in US cities. He would like to help create carbon-neutral, urban environments across the country. In his spare time, he enjoys biking around the city, looking for new places to eat, and taking photos.

MICHAEL HUBBS Michael Hubbs is a senior at CCNY’s Grove School of Engineering. He is majoring in Earth system science and environmental engineering, and plans to minor in computer science. Michael chose this major because he wants to attain the technical expertise to address an issue

MOHAMMED HOSSAIN Mohammed Hossain is majoring in mechanical engineering at the Grove School of Engineering, with a concentration in clean energy and sustainable systems. He has spent the last three years focusing on building science and climate policy within US cities. Over the past three years, he has participated in internships through City College’s Zahn Center of Innovation. These internships have given him the opportunity to expand his knowledge in multiple fields, including promoting Wi-Fi thermostats to communities in New York

that he sees as one of the biggest challenges of his generation, and to make a positive impact. His past internships include working as a Process Research and Development Intern at the NYC Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Wastewater Treatment; an Energy Efficiency Intern at ICF through NYC’s Retrofit

Accelerator program; an RFCUNY student researcher at CCNY; and a TRELLIS Summer Bridge intern at CCNY. Through his studies and work experience, he has acquired various skills and discovered passions for data analysis, computer programming, and process engineering and design.

Upon graduation, he would like to combine these skills with his desire to address environmental issues. He is excited to be a climate policy fellow, to learn about environmental policy, and to develop a more holistic understanding and skill set with which to combat environmental problems. In his free time, Michael enjoys singing, making beats, and playing piano and guitar.

ISABELLA JOSEPH

Isabella Joseph is a fifthyear undergraduate student and Macaulay Honors University Scholar majoring in architecture and minoring in anthropology. Her academic and professional development is driven by her commitment to learning how architecture can build a synergetic relationship between people and their environments. In pursuit of her goal of becoming a civically-engaged architect, she has held internships at the New York City Housing

Authority’s Energy and Sustainability Department, at the Bond Center for Urban Futures, and most recently, at the global architecture firm Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF). At KPF, she works on the Changi International Airport expansion project in Singapore, which is on track to become the world’s largest airport facility. As a member of the inaugural class of Colin Powell School Climate Policy Fellows, Isabella hopes to continue to contribute her voice, skills, and perspective to form interdisciplinary and contextually-specific solutions to the most pressing urban issues, including climate change.

ARYAANA KHAN Aryaana Khan was born and raised in Bangladesh, a country that experiences massive flooding every year as a result of climate change.

Four years after moving to New York, she began doing climate advocacy work with various nonprofit organizations, such as Global Kids and the Alliance for Climate Education. She has taught hundreds of youth and adults from around the country about the science of climate change and encouraged them to take action. As a youth activist, she has done grassroots organizing for actions such

as the 2016 People’s Climate March and the 2018 NYC Zero Hour Climate March, and participated in policy work on a local, national, and international level. This year, she became a NYC Youth Poet Laureate Ambassador and began using spoken word poetry to further spread awareness around varied issues, including the climate crisis. She is an undergraduate student majoring in biology at City College. In the future, she hopes to continue using her creative voice for good, as well as to pursue a medical career in which she can mitigate health impacts caused by larger issues such as environmental inequity and climate change.

DARREN LIN Darren is a mechanical engineering student at City College. Growing up as a Boy Scout, his love for nature and the environment translated into an interest in sustainability and clean energy. As a senior at the Grove School of Engineering, he wants to learn more about how science and engineering can influence climate policy to build a more sustainable future.

Darren had his first real experience in clean energy and sustainability at Resonant Energy, a solar development startup aiming to expand solar power to underserved markets, primarily lowcredit/income homes and community centers.

Last year, he worked at Willdan, an energy solutions company, to conduct an audit of the lighting, HVAC,

and domestic hot water systems in their Brooklyn office. With a growing set of analysis, research, and communication skills, Darren is looking forward to shaping the future through engineering and public policy.

SALINA LIU Salina is a second-year Macaulay Honors College student who is majoring in mechanical engineering.

She is excited to be part of the Climate Policy Fellowship and to learn how she can promote sustainable practices amongst individuals and in communities as a whole. Her main interests are related to plastic waste disposal and materials production policies because she has been very passionate about ocean conservation since she was a child. Her love for animals and for the conservation of nature’s beauty and resources drives her to pursue the search for solutions using her creativity and technical standpoint as an engineer.

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ABUSALEH MASUD

Abusaleh was born in Bangladesh, where he attended primary school. He immigrated to the United States at the age of seven and enrolled in second grade. At first, the language barrier proved to be tough to overcome but, after a year or two, he managed to pick up English and make significant progress toward embracing and thriving in his new environment. Throughout the years, he has fostered a love for astronomy, the natural sciences, and all things technology-related.

As a result, he has great respect for nature, which compels him to want to address the numerous problems surrounding us today, such as the hazardous climate change situation.

Realizing the dangers related to climate change, Abusaleh is drawn to climate policy as a means of helping to improve conditions for future generations.

VIOLET NASH GREENBERG

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Violet is a native New Yorker studying architecture at the Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture at City College. She transferred to Spitzer from Bard College, where she was studying mathematics and music.

Violet gravitated towards architecture because she recognized its potential to be a vehicle for change, and that is the driving force for her pursuit of knowledge.

These days, when she is not in the studio, she is working with children and honing her skills as an educator. She is particularly interested in education and the impacts that schooling can have on society. The further she dives into her own pursuit of knowledge, the more she realizes just how interconnected everything is, and that inspires her to dive deeper. She looks forward to the opportunities that the climate policy fellowship will present to her along her journey.

MELISSA OLIVAR Melissa is currently a junior majoring in sociology and international studies. She aspires to pursue a master’s degree in sustainable development and is interested in working with developing countries such as Haiti and Senegal to help improve their quality of living, and to help communities maintain food and water security.

Melissa became interested in learning more about sustainability after studying abroad in Costa Rica last year and witnessing the

COLIN POWELL SCHOOL FOR CIVIC AND GLOBAL LEADERSHIP

devastating consequences of climate change on the impoverished communities within the country. She hopes that through her involvement with the fellowship, she will be able to become better aware of the United Nations’ role in aiding countries that are most affected by the effects of climate change.

LUCY PIACENTINI Lucy Piacentini is a fourth-year environmental engineering major at the Grove School of Engineering at City College. Lucy interned at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in the summer of 2018. While there, she focused on oil release prevention for the Maryland GSFC campus. Lucy has also been a research assistant in the Land Ocean Atmosphere Lab, where she worked on a NASA-funded project that examined the Long Island Sound’s ecology.

As President of CCNY’s Society of Women Engineers (SWE) for the 2018-2019 academic year, Lucy was

instrumental in corporate outreach efforts to provide members with education and employment opportunities.

She hosted a successful internship panel with her SWE team and created STEM outreach programs for children. Lucy hopes to use her academic and practical experience in a career that promotes sustainability in building practices and facilities, processes, and the environment. Additionally, Lucy is captain on the CCNY Women’s Track and Field team, which won the CUNY Championships for the 2018 indoor and outdoor season.

APARNA RAMANATHAN RAMESH

Aparna Ramanathan Ramesh is a second-year architecture student in the Spitzer School of Architecture at City College. Aparna is ethnically Indian, but was raised in Dubai and moved to New York to attend university.

The various cities and environments they have grown up and interacted with have shaped their love for nature and understanding of climate, which they hope to enrich through this fellowship.

Policy-making often falls in the hands of the majority and Aparna hopes to be the diverse face it needs. They look to this fellowship as a guiding light in this endeavor.

JAYLENE SALAS

Jaylene is a first-generation college student majoring in physics. She spends most of her time conducting research on ways to improve clean energy through the fabrication of thin films and semiconductors. She also works on finding new ways to help minority groups stay in the STEM fields. Her scientific pathways reflect who she is as a person.

From early on, Jaylene knew that she wanted to work in science for the purpose of saving the earth and improving the climate, which is why she began to major in marine biology.

Working in a lab, she learned firsthand that our actions as people can have great effects on the environment around us. She hopes to work toward creating a sustainable world that relies on clean energy.

TANI SALMA Tani Salma is a senior in international studies and public policy at the Colin Powell School. Having

interned with the Committee on the Status of Women in the spring of 2018, Tani has become a strong advocate for gender equality and human rights. He previously worked with Amnesty International as a canvasser, during which he helped raise awareness and funds for the Rohingya refugee crisis in Myanmar.

Tani is most interested in the human rights aspect of climate change. He is from a community of farmers in Togo. Having witnessed the direct impact of climate change on the quality of life of his community due to a sudden change in rain patterns, Tani is determined to learn more about sustainability to be able to go back and help improve the living conditions of his community.

HERUT TEKILU

Herut Tekilu is a Colin Powell Fellow at City College, studying political science and community change studies. Herut’s experience in community outreach and organizing fueled her passion to join causes focused on social, climate and economic justice. After graduation, Herut plans on becoming a public policy advocate/ educator in economically disadvantaged areas in New York. She is passionate about community organizing and

public policy and hopes to be able to serve and organize disadvantaged communities to fight for socioeconomic and political rights.

WALI ULLAH

Wali Ullah is a City College and CUNY BA (CUNY Baccalaureate for Unique and Interdisciplinary Studies Program) student majoring in political behavior and analysis. He cares about civic engagement, political organizing, policy research/ advocacy, community outreach, and political strategy, and he is open about his personal and cultural experience as an AsianAmerican student with disabilities such as Tourette’s Syndrome and ADHD. He is most concerned with policy issues concerning higher education, environmental sustainability, economic inequality, and government accountability. Wali also carries over student organizing experience with NYPIRG, Student Government and CUNY University Student Senate from his time at Bronx Community College, from which he graduated in Fall 2018. Wali plans to graduate

by Fall 2020, after which he hopes to pursue doctoral studies in political science and work with political candidates, organizations,

and advocacy groups as a political consultant.

HAZEL VAQUERO Hazel Vaquero is a born and bred Brooklynite, currently an undergraduate student at City College. She is majoring in environmental earth systems science with a concentration in hydrology and is working toward pursuing an environmental engineering degree. Her interest in environmental science started in high school when she had the opportunity to pursue a summer job at Uprose, an environmental communitybased organization.

There, she developed a dedication to promoting sustainability and resiliency to her community. She helped organize yearly climate summits for other youth in the city and was a moderator for a District 38 NYC nonpartisan council

debate. Upon completion of her undergraduate studies, Hazel plans to go to graduate school and continue her studies in hydrology and sustainability. With her education, she hopes to work for the NYC Department of Environmental Protection, where she would like to manage and inspect New York City’s public water system. In her spare time,

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Hazel enjoys watching films, documentaries, and reading webtoons. She is the designated photographer for family events.

GABRIELLE VARGHESE

MARJORIE VARGAS Marjorie Vargas is a senior at City College majoring in environmental engineering with a concentration in the energy field. Her interest in energy first began in her sophomore year, during a science class in which a lecture was dedicated to different types of renewable energy. She later interned at the CUNY Building Performance Lab, where she learned about building efficiency. In her internship, she was able to learn about the upcoming changes that will move NYC toward becoming a greener and more efficient city. Her

interest and curiosity began to expand, and she learned about the importance of managing building energy consumption in order to reduce carbon emissions in cities. Marjorie hopes to be able to expand and focus her career on the use of renewable energy as a means of improving building efficiency. When she is not learning about buildings/HVAC analysis and new technologies, she enjoys reading, hiking and watching baking shows.

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Gabrielle graduated from City College in May 2019 with a degree in environmental engineering.

During her time in college, she obtained two internships related to environmental health and safety and water resource management by working at the School Construction Authority and the Department of Environmental Protection.

In addition to this, Gabrielle was involved in a studentrun organization. Having held a few positions within the National Society of Black Engineers, she has experienced the many responsibilities of leadership roles. While in school, she focused on taking courses geared toward water resources, but over time, she realized that she was more interested in solid waste management and climate policy. She hopes to utilize the skills and knowledge attained over the years to aid in resolving climate issues, specifically with respect to the solid waste sector.

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THE 2020

Semester in Washington D.C. The Colin Powell School’s Washington, DC Semester Program offers students an outstanding opportunity to live, work, and study in the nation’s capital. Students spend the spring semester interning at the government agencies and non-profit organizations while completing 12 credits, including two special courses designed just for them and taught in DC. The Program also provides a series of guest lectures, organizes cultural activities, and sponsors networking events. Five students in the Semester in DC Program were supported by a generous donation from Dan and Debby McGinn.

ADEREMI ADEBAYO Aderemi Adebayo is a junior at City College. She is majoring in biomedical sciences in the Sophie Davis Biomedical Education Program. She plans to graduate in the spring of 2021 and receive her MD in 2025. She started her college education at Medgar Evers College and graduated with an associate degree in biology at the same time that she graduated from high school. Aderemi’s goal is to become a physician while also advocating to improve healthcare facilities in underserved communities.

She is passionate about giving COLIN POWELL SCHOOL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

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YESSENIA BENITEZ SALVADOR

Yessenia Benitez Salvador is a senior at City College double majoring in political science and psychology, and graduated in Spring 2020.

She entered City College as a computer science major but changed to psychology and political science. She has been a recipient of the CUNY Mexican Studies Institute Scholarship program since 2016. She has also received the Colin Powell Partners for Change fellowship and the New York Immigration Coalition’s DREAM fellowship. During the DC Program, she interned at the office of US Representative Eliot L. Engel [D-NY-16]. Yessenia plans to pursue a Master in Public Administration and aims to work with immigrant communities. Yessenia was one of this year's McGinn Fellows.

SARAH CHERNIS Sarah Chernis is a thirdyear student majoring in political science and minoring in legal studies.

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She is part of the S Jay Levy Fellowship for Future Leaders, which provides students who are in the top 20% of their class with professional development opportunities, including two electives and access to prospective employees. As an admissions ambassador, Sarah conducts weekly campus tours for prospective students and represents City College at off-campus events and open houses on campus. She interned with the Democratic National Committee in DC during the Spring 2020 semester.

LUIS R. CORNELIO

Luis R. Cornelio is a senior at the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership, where he is pursuing a BA in political science and a minor in legal studies. Luis is passionate about political affairs, public policy, and international politics. His interest in politics and government began when he noticed the inefficiencies and corruption of the government of his native country, the Dominican Republic. Luis moved to the US in 2011. In the 2019 spring semester, Luis made it to the Dean’s List after earning A’s in five political science courses. Luis is a

COLIN POWELL SCHOOL FOR CIVIC AND GLOBAL LEADERSHIP

writing tutor at City Tutors, a volunteer organization at CCNY, where he tutors two classes, PSC101: U.S. Government and Politics and PSC124: Political Ideas & Issues. He works closely with students to ensure that they are improving their writing skills. Luis works as the Messenger Center Coordinator of Hearst Magazines, where he supports a variety of editors and executives. Additionally, Luis is the owner of two small businesses and has generated close to $200,000.00 in gross sales in five years. As part of the DC program, Luis interned at The Heritage Foundation, where he joined a cohort of 60+ highly-accomplished leaders from around the country. He was placed at Heritage’s Center for International Trade and Economics. During his free time, Luis enjoys watching C-SPAN. MARTA FERNANDEZCOPPEL Marta Fernandez-Coppel is an international student from Spain, currently a junior double majoring in international studies and political science and minoring in public policy.

She has been the Secretary for the Model UN Club at CCNY for almost three years and has participated in UN conferences both as a delegate and as staff.

She is interested in foreign affairs, environmental issues, intelligence, and national security. Marta studied

abroad in Costa Rica where she conducted research on marine conservation and ecotourism. One of her passions is volunteering internationally. Last summer, she went to the Volta Region in Ghana where she lived and worked in an orphanage and supported sustainable development

initiatives, as well as worked in construction. She has also volunteered in Cuba, France, and Spain. In her sophomore year, she interned at City Hall with Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez, during which she learned useful policy-making skills. She interned with Senator Chuck Schumer [D-NY] through the DC Program.

In the future, she wants to pursue a master’s degree in international affairs with a specialization in security studies and become a foreign service officer, work in an intelligence agency, or become a diplomat.

MAUREEN HOGAN Maureen Hogan is a junior at The City College of

New York. She is a double major in international studies and philosophy with a concentration in comparative public policy.

This past semester, she was able to hold two internships, which allowed her to learn many new skills and explore new areas of interest. She interned at The Polis Project, where she researched mass graves that have occurred around the world since 1800 to create a central archive for people to refer to, as well as to uplift atrocities that have been silenced. In addition, she was able to intern with Zoel Productions, which produced a movie about gender inequality in the restaurant industry. This film raised awareness about Paid Family Leave, for which Maureen conducted research and advocacy outreach to legislators. Both opportunities have allowed Maureen to further her professional goals in policy research. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a master’s degree and work in the area of policy analysis.

For the spring semester in DC, Maureen was very excited to be interning at the International Center for Research on Women and was grateful for the opportunity.

IRIS-KELLY KAMANA Iris-kelly Kamana is a senior at City College majoring in international studies with a concentration in culture and communication. She is also double minoring in French and anthropology.

Born in Burundi and raised in Switzerland, Iris-kelly has been residing in New York since 2011, attending Hostos Community College before CCNY. She was an administrative intern at the YMCA in Harlem, where she tutored adult immigrants who were

related to the traumas caused by the genocide and civil wars, primarily to women and children. Iriskelly has a strong interest in activism and international development, and she is determined to make a change one day.

This past semester, she interned with the Dream Project in DC. Iris-kelly was one of this year's McGinn Fellows.

moving to New York, Sophia has devoted a lot of her time to public service by spending every week at her local soup kitchen and working with children whose parents are incarcerated. She worked with the Dream Project as part of the DC Program.

KELSIE O’LEARY

SOPHIA MCCOY

studying to get their GEDs. She speaks French, Swahili, Kirundi, and English and she was able to use her language skills to help her tutees understand their assignments and different paperwork. The horrors that Iris-kelly witnessed in her childhood caused by the genocide and civil war have fueled her passion for public service and justice.

She believes that these systems can be changed globally through education and economic development policy initiatives. She is particularly concerned with fighting for and protecting human rights, especially as they pertain to women and children, who are usually the most vulnerable populations in many societies. Iris-kelly is interested in policies that empower and benefit women to prevent these issues from remaining cyclical. Her long-term goal is to create an NGO based in Burundi that will offer therapy and counseling

Sophia McCoy is a junior at City College majoring in international studies with a concentration in comparative public policy.

She studied abroad in France under the Global Chancellor’s Scholarship.

Sophia has a passion for global health, specifically for global food security.

This interest was informed by growing up as a dancer, which she pursued professionally. In the summer of 2017, Sophia went to Arusha, Tanzania and worked as a medical volunteer. Last year, Sophia

was a part of the CUNY Service Corps and worked with Girls on the Run, a nonprofit that targets the confidence of young girls in all five boroughs of New York City by way of physical and mental health. Since

Kelsie O’Leary is a junior at City College where she is majoring in political science with a minor in Spanish.

After graduating from high school in Columbus, Ohio, she moved to Los Angeles to work for an AmeriCorps education nonprofit called City Year. For two years, she worked full-time supporting students in high-needs middle schools. Her inspiration for working in public education came from attending Columbus City Schools, where she witnessed educational inequities firsthand. Last summer, she enjoyed working at Camp Junior with the Fresh Air Fund, and she plans to spend this summer studying abroad in Spain. In the future, Kelsie aspires to work on education policy to make quality K-12 public education accessible to all. During the DC Program, Kelsie worked at the office of US Senator Sherrod Brown [D-OH].

Kelsie was one of this year's McGinn Fellows.

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MANZURA RAKHIMOVA Manzura Rakhimova is a senior at City College majoring in international studies with a concentration in international relations.

Born and raised in Uzbekistan, she moved to the United States six years ago. In her first semester at CCNY after transferring from BMCC, she was selected as the CCNY NGO Youth Representative to the United Nations Department of Public Information.

While serving as a Youth Representative, she attended high-panel meetings with representatives from various NGOs, state missions, and delegations on the topic of “Safe and Secured Migration” and co-hosted events by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. This experience sparked her interest in further exploring the area of foreign affairs and international law.

Maureen interned for Congressman Gregory W. Meeks [D-NY-05] as part of the DC Program. She was very excited to intern and spend her final semester in Washington DC.

a junior at City College majoring in political science and minoring in public policy and community change studies. 2019 was Gabriel’s most exciting year thus far. During the 2019 spring semester, through the Caucus CUNY Scholars program, he interned for New York State Assembly member Victor M. Pichardo, where he assisted staff with constituent casework. During the summer, he visited his motherland, Puerto Rico, for the first time. There, he spent two weeks performing community service through the CUNY Service Corps Program, during which he worked on hurricane disaster relief, cultivated his culture and traditions, and witnessed first-hand the dire inequalities resulting from Hurricane Maria. His passion for grassroots political activism also led him to join a local protest to demand that Ricky Rosello, Puerto Rico’s Governor at the time, resign. This experience abroad was lifechanging for Gabriel and further motivated him to continue his grassroots political activism by volunteering for the Bernie 2020 campaign and attending meetings with local organizations. He aspires to pursue a career in public service at a grassroots

GABRIEL REYES Gabriel Reyes is a proud south Bronx native, and

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COLIN POWELL SCHOOL FOR CIVIC AND GLOBAL LEADERSHIP

level to transform public policy. In DC, he interned with The Education Trust.

Gabriel was one of this year's McGinn Fellows.

JASON SANTIAGO

Jason Angel Santiago is currently a senior at the Colin Powell School for Civic and Public Leadership.

He was born and raised in the South Bronx. His experience and upbringing have informed much of his studies, pushing him to become a student of the social sciences and towards work in the field of social justice and equality. It is his passion to give back to the Bronx and make it a better place, and much of his work has coincided with these interests. Throughout his college career, he served as an advocate and representative of students in the capacity of a student government senator, as a board director in the New York Public Interest Research group, and in collaboration with the University Student Senate during his time as a student at Bronx Community College. He has continued volunteer work in various capacities at City College for these organizations. Since spring of 2017, he has worked for College Discovery as a tutor in

modern world history, political science, interpersonal communication, and psychology. During the summers he has worked on local, state, and federal political campaigns for public office. In the future he hopes to converge these experiences toward the goal of giving back to the community through social entrepreneurship, among other ventures. Last semester, Jason worked for the Democratic National Committee in DC. Jason was one of this year's McGinn Fellows.

CHIOMA URUAKPA Chioma Uruakpa is a senior at City College majoring in international studies with a concentration in culture and communication, and minoring in sociology. Since attending City College, she has been involved with

CCNY’s chapter of the Young Democratic Socialists of America and the LGBT+ Open Alliance. She enjoys film photography, going to concerts, overanalyzing films and music, and dedicating her time to public service and advocacy.

Chioma interned for the National Disability Rights Network last semester.

THE 2020

Skadden, Arps Honors Program in Legal Studies The Edward I. Koch Fellowship in Public Service supports motivated students who devote 200 or more hours of service each year to nonprofit organizations and government agencies throughout New York City. Through the program, CCNY students can experience first-hand the challenges and rewards of working for the common good, interact with professionals in their chosen field of interest, and see how community organizations work to meet public needs. Additionally, Koch Scholars participate in workshops and discussions that enhance their ability to engage communities in meaningful ways and that provide opportunities for leadership development, reflection and engaged learning.

The Skadden, Arps Honors Program is a unique partnership between Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP—one of the preeminent law firms in the world—and The City College of New York that prepares students from low-income and underrepresented groups for successful legal careers and to enrich and diversify the legal profession.

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Cohort 11 SHAFURA ALAM

Shafura Alam was born and raised in Queens, New York.

She is a first-generation college student, majoring in political science and minoring in philosophy and psychology. She is the first person in her family to pursue law. Shafura has worked in various law firms, and hopes to find her own field of passion one day. She wishes to see more diversity in law school student populations and in law firms. In her free time, Shafura really enjoys traveling to other states, listening to music or watching films.

JACQUELINE BAUM

Jacqueline Baum is a double major in political science and Jewish studies. She is a Goldstein Scholar, S Jay Levy fellow, a writing

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tutor for City Tutors, and a Hebrew language tutor.

Through the Opportunities in Research and Creative Arts Program, she conducted legal research on vagrancy and loitering laws in NYS. She is also a Policy and Advocacy Intern at WE ACT for Environmental Justice, an environmental justice non-profit organization based in Northern Manhattan. She wants to be an environmental justice lawyer.

ADAM BURBY

Adam Burby is a junior studying political science at City College. He is a triple minor in theater arts, journalism, and legal studies.

Adam is also an S Jay Levy Fellow and Vice President of the CCNY History Society, for which he was awarded the Robert Buchman Prize for leadership. Adam finds time to continue acting, playing cello, and bonding with his puppy.

DARLENIS CABRAL Darlenis Cabral, known as Lenny, is a Bronx native and first generation American.

Her family immigrated from the Dominican Republic.

COLIN POWELL SCHOOL FOR CIVIC AND GLOBAL LEADERSHIP

hopes to one day incorporate her love of research into studying international law and diplomacy.

IBTIHAL CHAMAKH She is a junior at CCNY majoring in sociology and double minoring in black studies and legal studies.

At City College she has taken leadership roles such as NYPIRG Board Rep. and the president of the Omicron chapter of Sigma Lambda Upsilon/ Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority. She hopes to pursue a career in international and human rights law, one day working for the United Nations.

CLAUDIA CAMPANELLA

Claudia Campanella was born and raised on Long Island and currently lives in Brooklyn. She is part of the CCNY Honors Program and the History BA/MA program. She currently researches the intersectionality between sexuality, gender, and race in addition to participating in Model European Union. She

Ibtihal Chamakh was raised in Queens, NY. She is a sociology major and S Jay Levy fellow. Her passion for the social sciences influences her understanding of the

law. She hopes to pursue a career in either criminal or international law.

GABRIELLE CILIBRASI Gabrielle Cilibrasi was born in Manhattan and raised in Woodstock, NY. She transferred from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts to City College in the spring of 2018.

Gabrielle plans on attending law school and has a growing interest in criminal and environmental law.

Gabrielle plays for CCNY’s women’s soccer team.

KATE DOROZHYNSKA

Kate Dorozhynska was raised in Ternopil, Ukraine, and has lived in the US for several years. She is majoring in political science and is interested in economics, business, and history. She hopes to work in corporate law after law school.

MOHAMED ELLAKIS

Mohamed Ellakis was born and raised in NYC. He is pursuing a major in political science and a minor in legal studies. He has interned at Ankor Management and is interested in a corporate law or criminal law career.

in politics and diplomacy between countries and hopes to have a career as a diplomat to strive for better understanding between people. In the meantime, Benjamin spends his time making the community around him a better place.

TONY HUERTAS Tony Huertas was born and raised in Queens NY. After a long career as a paralegal and a food and beverage manager, Tony began his education at BMCC where he majored in Liberal Arts and graduated with Honors in May 2019. Tony plans to study law at CUNY School of Law in the Fall of 2021. Tony is a passionate advocate for human rights and plans a career

BENJAMIN FELIX Benjamin Felix was born in Finland and moved to New York when he was three.

He is currently a junior at City College of New York and is majoring in political science and international studies with a concentration of international relations.

Benjamin is interested

representing the LGBTQ community and others.

NONYA KHEDR Nonya is an Egyptian immigrant who studies international studies and human rights. She is an

her work as a stage manager in local theater. She plans to run for class representative on the Macaulay Scholars Council and to continue fundraising for Student Activities. advocate for human rights, particularly for women in Africa and the Middle East.

She founded an organization called SheFFA to tackle the problem of femail genital mutilation and cutting, which provides educational advocacy workshops and a healing justice curriculum to break the silence around the issue. She hopes to use her career to make a meaningful difference in the world.

KAY KELLY

Kay Kelly studies anthropology and biology at Macaulay Honors College at City College. She is interested in studying law from an interdisciplinary perspective, specifically where science and culture meet policy. Kay hopes to build a career in law that betters the lives of her fellow New Yorkers. Beyond the classroom, Kay has served as treasurer for the nationallyranked Macaulay Marauders Quidditch team and enjoys

AMMARA KHAN

Ammara Khan was born in Brooklyn but lived for several years in Pakistan.

She is majoring in political science and minoring in legal studies. She is passionate about politics and playing an active role in her community. She sees a future in which she is a lawyer helping her community.

JENNIFER MERCEDES Jennifer Mercedes is a first-generation college student, born and raised in the Bronx. She is majoring in political science. In the future, she hopes to practice law and help blighted communities. During her free time she enjoys molding clay, painting, and writing short stories.

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Cohort 11 DAYRA RIVAS

Dayra Rivas is a Bronx native, currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in political science with a women’s studies minor. She is the first in her family to pursue a college education. Dayra currently holds a position under the Mayor’s Office where she is a Public/ Private Partnerships Intern, acting as a bridge between corporate partners in NYC that are seeking volunteer opportunities within New York City’s government agencies and community based organizations. Her aspiration is to become an immigration attorney serving immigrants who lack the resources to acquire effective counsel.

science major with a double minor in legal studies and sociology. Hallie has written for many social justice publications and hopes to continue her advocacy through a career in criminal law.

SHILPA SHAJU Shilpa Shaju is a firstgeneration college student and Macaulay Honors

Scholar. She is pursuing a dual major in political science and international relations, with a minor in legal studies. Shilpa also works as a legal assistant at The Law Firm of Moumita Rahman and serves as the President of The Macaulay Honors College Pre-Law Club. Shilpa aspires to become the first lawyer in her family and practice immigration law. She is specifically interested in helping immigrants who qualify for VAWA or asylum.

KEVIN SHANKER

HALLIE SEBASTIAN Hallie Sebastian was born and raised in Sauquoit, New York. She is a political

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Kevin Shanker was born and raised in Queens. He hopes law school leads to a successful career in both the private and public sector,

COLIN POWELL SCHOOL FOR CIVIC AND GLOBAL LEADERSHIP

and ultimately wants to work within the highest levels of government.

HAJIRA SULTANA Hajira Sultana was born and raised in Chicago. She is majoring in international studies with a concentration in international relations.

She is a senator of the CCNY Undergraduate Student Government, and she interned at an immigration law firm.

DANIEL TALERO Daniel Talero was born and raised in Queens.

He graduated with honors from LaGuardia Community College where

he served on the Faculty Student Disciplinary Committee and as a member of the President’s Society. He served as a Constituent Affairs Fellow for Assemblyman Brian Barnwell and as a Legal Research Intern for Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz. In the future, he hopes to turn his interest in criminal justice reform into a career as a prosecutor and change the system from within.

BRITTANY WOOD Brittany Wood was born and raised in NYC. She is studying philosophy at CCNY. Her interests include aesthetics, logic, and the philosophy of law. Brittany enjoys skating and drawing in her freetime. Brittany wants to study constitutional law in the future.

Cohort 10 KAWTHAR ABDULLAH

Kawthar Abdullah was raised in Yemen and NYC. She is a CUNY BA student studying Middle Eastern Studies and International Relations. Kawthar has a deep passion for Middle Eastern politics, women’s rights in developing countries and religious studies.

Indrit decided to major in political science. He spent a semester in Washington, DC interning for Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer and volunteering as a business research assistant for the Library of Congress. While in DC, Indrit developed a profound interest in finance and technologies. Last summer, he managed data and strategized a blueprint for operational success to improve compliance metrics for a healthcare tech startup.

CHRISTIAN BLAKE Christian Blake was born and raised in New York City. He is a first generation college student. Christian has worked a full-time job throughout his time in

Indrit hopes to expand his knowledge in business to become a well-rounded transactional attorney. He was the Valedictorian for the S Jay Levy Class of 20182019 and is the first elected president of the S Jay Levy Alumni Board of Advisors.

dance center in Manhattan.

He has danced professionally and was a member of a number of punk and hardcore bands before attending CCNY. Carlos plans to pursue a career in public interest law.

KIRA CHARLES

NAILAH GARARD Nailah Garard is from Long Island and currently lives in Harlem. She is double

Kira Charles is a Political Science major and Legal Studies minor at City College. As an engaged member of her local and global community, she has served as a CUNY Caucus Scholar and also as a CUNY Service Corps-Puerto Rico cohort member. She plans to become a well-rounded civil rights/criminal defense attorney.

SYDNEY CLARKE

CARLOS CANEDO college. He hopes to become a corporate lawyer.

INDRIT CAMI Indrit Cami was born in Macedonia and is MuslimAlbanian. After discovering his passion for law and politics in high school,

York City. She is a poet who writes personal essays about her experiences as a Black woman born to South American parents. She plans to pursue an entertainment law career while nurturing her creative abilities to support other artists and publish her own work.

Carlos Canedo founded and runs The Tango Company, a

Sydney Clarke was born in Brooklyn, NY, but gained academic and cultural experiences attending school in North Carolina, Georgia, New Hampshire, and New

majoring in international studies and anthropology with a focus on global and local ways to address criminal and health justice.

She aspires to work as a public defender. She is a scholar-activist and researcher for Beyond Identity: Under the Politics of Sexual Violence initiative where she specializes in black feminist theory, incarceration and gender violence. Her developing political work includes polemics, poetry, and visual media to raise sociopolitical consciousness and engage the community. On-campus, she serves as a Community Service Chair for the National Council of Negro Women and a peer mentor.

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Cohort 10 ADRENA LAMBERT Adrena Lambert was born and raised in the Bronx. She is majoring in political science, with a minor in Black studies.

A member of CCNY’s National Congress for Negro Women, she is committed

to the advancement and empowerment of women through networking opportunities and community service. She is a first generation college student, and hopes to be the first person in her family to graduate from law school and become an attorney.

Although she is interested in intellectual property, she holds a special place in her heart for public interest law, especially issues surrounding housing law and how it impacts poor communities of color.

CAROLINA MENDOZA Carolina Mendoza is a political science major who graduated in May 2020.

Her interest in law began as she observed the process her parents went through to attain legal status in the US. She often served as

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translator between them and their lawyers. She plans to apply to law school after graduation and hopes to attend law school in NYC. KATLYN PALMATIER Katlyn Palmatier was born born and raised in upstate New York. She is a Macaulay Honors student and an alumna of the S Jay Levy Fellowship and the

degrees in both political science and history. Sadaab hopes to study health law and become a medical malpractice attorney. In addition to pursuing a JD, he also plans to obtain an MBA. Outside of the classroom,

his passions include sports, writing and politics, as well as advocating for those with chronic pain and disabilities.

NICK RUDOLPH Nick Rudolph was born and raised in the Bronx to immigrant parents from Guyana. While studying political science at CCNY, he works part-time as a Legal

CUNY LGBTQ Leadership Program. Katlyn is majoring in political science and minoring in women’s studies. She hopes to focus on LGBTQ advocacy and civil rights law in her future career.

SADAAB RAHMAN Sadaab Rahman is a Muslim-American senior raised in Queens by parents who immigrated from Bangladesh. He is in the Macaulay Honors Program at CCNY and is pursuing

COLIN POWELL SCHOOL FOR CIVIC AND GLOBAL LEADERSHIP

Assistant at Willkie Farr & Gallagher, LLC. He is also a member of Pi Sigma Alpha, the CCNY chapter of the National Political Science Honor Society. His passion for criminal justice reform drives his pursuit of a law degree. His love of prose and poetry has developed his

writing and interpretation capabilities. Nick hopes these skills translate in a law school classroom.

JASPREET SINGH Jaspreet Singh is a Punjabi Sikh American majoring in political science and legal studies. As the President of the school’s AwardWinning Mock Trial Club, he coached this year’s team for the February 2020 trial competition. He initiated CCNY’s first Sikh Student Association Club to bring

awareness to the Sikh identity and shed light on ongoing hate crimes in his community. He is preparing to attend law school to become an attorney fighting hate crimes.

SANZIDA TALUKDER Sanzida Talukder was born and raised in the Bronx.

She is a first-generation college student, double-

majoring in political science and international studies.

She currently works as a Community Associate at a Bronx Community Board.

She hopes to practice international law in the future to defend human rights.

MARLA ALVAREZ TORRADO Marla Alvarez Torrado was born in Puerto Rico and came to the US to study at City College. They are majoring in political science, with a minor in Black studies. They have worked as a Community Outreach Coordinator at the Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College and as an intern aiding

asylum seekers at Northern Manhattan Improvement Project. Marla hopes to work on international or environmental issues in their legal career. They recently completed a semester abroad in Paris.

VICTOR ANTHONY VALERIO

Victor Anthony Valerio was raised in the South Bronx. He attended Hostos Community College, where he received his Liberal Arts Associate Degree. Victor graduated with his bachelor’s degree in political science and a minor in legal studies in May 2020. Victor attended Chicago Kent Law School’s Scholar Plus program. He

dreams of becoming a judge or an elected official, so he can positively impact his community.

AZALEA WILLIAMS

ARIEL VELEZ Ariel Velez was born and raised in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. She is currently a senior at City College, who is double majoring in sociology and political science and minoring in legal studies.

She previously attended Borough Manhattan Community College, where she graduated with a Liberal Arts Degree. Ariel stays involved in local politics, including volunteering for a number of political campaigns. She also enjoys painting and exercising.

Azalea Williams is a Brooklyn native who currently lives in the Bronx.

She is majoring in psychology, and doubleminoring in legal studies and public policy. In her downtime, she enjoys reading and candid photography. Azalea’s interest in the law ranges from public interest to intellectual property, and she plans to build a career around these interests.

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THE 2020

Stuart Bernstein Scholars in International Studies The International Studies Program at the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership prepares students for careers in a wide array of fields, from diplomacy and global governance to NGOs and multinational corporations.

The International Studies major offers a flexible curriculum, in which students take classes with faculty across many departments and programs at CCNY, including anthropology, Black studies, economics, history, Latin American and Latino studies, political science, and sociology. The Program draws on the rich diversity of City College’s student body as well as on the academic, institutional, and cultural resources of New York City to give students the skills and experience necessary to engage with the most pressing international and global issues of our day. The Stuart Bernstein Scholars are generously supported by Stuart A. Bernstein, Ambassador to Denmark from 2001 until 2005.

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COLIN POWELL SCHOOL FOR CIVIC AND GLOBAL LEADERSHIP

KEITH MULET Keith Mulet is a first-generation Guatemalan-American in his final year at City College. As an international studies undergraduate major, he has paired his education with a dual-BA/MA degree in history in order to gain greater context for understanding IR theory and humanitarian policy. While at City College, he has been awarded the Best Essay on Women’s History and Feminist Theory, inducted into the Golden Key International Honour Society, and invited to the National Society of Leadership and Success.

As both a native New Yorker and a product of economic displacement in response to the Guatemalan civil war, Keith is passionate about addressing the conditions that drive modern-day displacement, the criminalization of migrants, and the shifting paradigms of race rhetoric employed in political, journalistic and legal discourse. His activism has been featured in the TimesLedger newspaper, The Advocate magazine and in Here! TV’s movie documentary “Here with Pride.” Keith has worked for several local, national and international mission-driven organizations in a wide variety of contexts. His professional experience includes working with child and family service accrediting bodies, LGBTQ youth centers, Hague international adoption agencies, and, most recently, as an animal welfarist. Inspired by his transnational roots, his work in social advocacy and his scholarly research in migration and race, Keith plans to continue his studies by way of Columbia University’s Master of Science program in Nonprofit Management. He aspires to continue leading the invaluable impact of nonprofit organizations on at-risk communities. Upon graduation from City College, Keith Mulet will be the first in his family to hold a graduate degree.

NAILAH GARARD Nailah Garard is a senior in the Macaulay Honors College at City College. She is double majoring in international studies and anthropology with a focus on global and local ways to address criminal and health justice. She is earning a pre-law/legal studies degree under the Skadden Arps Honors program with aspirations to work as a public defender. Currently, she is interning at the New York City Comptroller’s office writing policy and legislative background for the 2019 New York City Agency Annual Report Card on minority and women-owned businesses. She is a scholaractivist and researcher for Beyond Identity under the Politics of Sexual Violence initiative where she specializes in black feminist theory, incarceration and gender violence. As a Partners for Change Fellowship recipient, she researched student trauma and student perceptions of health & wellness resources available on campus.

Her developing political work includes polemics, poetry and visual media to raise sociopolitical consciousness and engage community. On campus, she serves as the City College Chapter Representative for the Roosevelt Institute, Community Service Chair for the National Council of Negro Women, and a peer mentor.

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THE 2020

The Boudreau Fellows Program

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COLIN POWELL SCHOOL FOR CIVIC AND GLOBAL LEADERSHIP

The Boudreau Fellows Program honors the Colin Powell School’s inaugural dean, Vince Boudreau. Boudreau Fellows are supported with mentoring, advising and opportunities to engage in special projects, as well as assistance to find professionally relevant internships in between their two years of support.

The Boudreau Fellows are eligible for two years of scholarship support ($5000/year), with the second year of the scholarship contingent on being in good standing academically and within the fellows program. The Boudreau Fellows program is generously supported by Mr. William Janetschek.

RAINUK AHMED Rainuk Ahmed is a junior studying economics at the Colin Powell School with a focus in finance. In his sophomore year, he was part of the Partners for Change Fellowship, during which he researched college access. Rainuk grew up in Qatar, an immigrant country. His academic interests are in understanding economics from a micro and macro perspective and utilizing that information in financial decision making. He is a sports fanatic and a petrolhead. He was brought up by a caring and pragmatic father and a strong and hardworking mother, and he will persevere to make them proud.

SABRINA MOHAMMED Sabrina Mohammed is a junior at the Macaulay Honors College at CCNY. She is majoring in economics with a concentration in financial economics. Sabrina is a second generation Trinidadian-American who resides in Queens, New York. She is passionate about her studies, making the Dean’s List each year. When she’s not studying or doing work, you can find her dancing and choreographing with her Bollywood fusion team, City Chaahat. She also enjoys travelling and playing her guitar from time to time. After college, Sabrina would like to go into investment banking.

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THE 2020

New York Life Endowment Graduate Fellowship Each year the Colin Powell School selects five graduate students from the social science graduate programs offered through the Colin Powell School (economics, international affairs, mental health counseling, public administration, psychology, and clinical psychology) to participate in the Colin Powell Fellowship for a one-year period. Graduate students are encouraged to explore ways in which their developing academic expertise can be used to address urgent public problems in underserved communities.

Fellows take part in weekly seminars that meet regularly throughout the year. They also take part in special events and have opportunities to hear from distinguished public figures.

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COLIN POWELL SCHOOL FOR CIVIC AND GLOBAL LEADERSHIP

ELVIN GARCIA

Elvin Garcia is a government affairs professional and community organizer with over eight years of experience in local and state government, various political campaigns, and strategic project management. Currently, Elvin is pursuing a Master of Public Administration at City College. In 2019, he interned with the Hispanic Federation in Washington, DC, where his work focused on holistic immigration policy research, 2020 Census fair count coalition coordinating, and continued advocacy for Puerto Rico’s recovery efforts. Elvin is currently a Presidential Fellow at Open Society Foundations, a two-year executive office residency focused on international social justice, human rights, and good governance.

In 2017, Elvin was a candidate for the New York City Council in the Democratic primary, where he ran a progressive, grassroots campaign based on a platform of education reform, fairer community policing, and more efficient transportation proposals.

Before running for office, Elvin was the Bronx Borough Director for Mayor Bill de Blasio for nearly

three years, during which he coordinated the roll-out of thousands of new pre-K seats, empowered over 500 small businesses with access to city grants and services, and worked hand-in-hand with NYPD and community stakeholders to make the city safe and fair for everyone.

In 2016, Elvin was named a 40 Under 40 Rising Star by City & State New York and a 2015 alumnus of the New Leaders Council InstituteNYC chapter. He is also a former Nevada campaign organizer for President Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection. Elvin earned a Bachelor of Architecture from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2011. Elvin Garcia is a born and bred New Yorker, a life-long resident of the Bronx, and a first-generation DominicanAmerican, whose parents are from Licey al Medio, a suburb of Santiago de los Caballeros in the Cibao Valley of the Dominican Republic.

ANUSHA KUMAR

Anusha Kumar is a secondyear doctoral student in the clinical psychology PhD program at City College. She received her undergraduate degree in psychology and human resource management

from Rutgers University in 2017, where she worked as a research assistant in the Youth Anxiety and Depression Clinic, as a teaching assistant, and as a writing tutor. She was named a Dorothy and David Cooper Fellow, a Paul Robeson Scholar, and an Aresty Research Scholar in her efforts to investigate the complex and emotional coping behaviors of children with anxiety disorders. Her senior honors thesis, which examined the interaction of coping behaviors, parental control, and childhood anxiety, won the John Abella Award for Excellence in Research in Clinical Psychology. She was one of eight students selected to be an Ignite Speaker at the Tedx-styled Mark Leadership Conference at Rutgers University, one of the largest student-run conferences in the nation, where she advocated for the importance of vulnerability and mental health.

Currently, her research interests include exploring trauma, dissociation as a consequence of trauma and the impact of adverse experiences on health behaviors and mental health outcomes.

Anusha is no stranger to at-risk, resource-poor identities at the individual, familial, and societal levels in the US and India, as she spent half her life in each.

These experiences allow her to understand how discriminatory laws and policies have poisonous, trickle-down effects while

appreciating the value of basic necessities. Her background has allowed her to grasp the intensity of urban environmental factors and the powerful role they play in exacerbating or strengthening coping, stress, trauma, psychological well-being, and help-seeking behaviors. As a current researcher and therapist-intraining who identifies as a bicultural, bilingual, lowincome woman of color with two immigrant parents, she understands what it means to lack resources in both developed and developing countries. Anusha hopes that the dissemination of her research and clinical work into marginalized and under resourced communities will allow those members and her patients to feel relief in a world that is unfortunately, more often than not, unsympathetic to their needs. She also enjoys dancing, painting, and appreciating nature in her free time.

KATE O’PHALEN

Kate O’Phalen is in her final year of the Masters in Public Administration program at City College and intends to further her work as a birth and reproductive justice advocate upon graduation.

She spent the past summer working at the NYC Mayor’s

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Office’s Commission on Gender Equity, and she is the proud recipient of an MPA program Changemaker research scholarship and social innovation fellowship that she has used to investigate birth trauma and innovative, forward-thinking solutions to the problem.

Kate spent a decade working as an actor, producer, and screenwriter whose independent film CHOICE — about the difficult societal pressures faced by women — premiered at the Los Angeles International Women’s Film Festival. Her off-Broadway play about Anne Boleyn featured a modern twist and opened to rave reviews. She serves as the youngest National Councillor elected to the board of her union, Actors’ Equity Association, where she co-founded and chairs the Young Worker

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Committee. After experiencing the failings of our maternity healthcare system firsthand during her daughter’s birth, Kate decided to embark on an MPA degree to improve the way we honor and respect the rights of birthing people. The birth of her son in between semesters has kept her on her toes ever since!

LAURIE PIERRE-PAUL Laurie Pierre-Paul is a graduate student in the general psychology master’s program. She conducts research in Professor Sarah

COLIN POWELL SCHOOL FOR CIVIC AND GLOBAL LEADERSHIP

O’Neill’s Attention and Neuropsychological Development (ATTEND) lab. She is also an adjunct lecturer in the psychology department where she teaches various courses, including Psychology of Adolescence, Developmental Psychology, and Abnormal Personality. Laurie is interested in mental health disparities in pediatric populations and plans to apply to clinical psychology PhD programs, where she can continue her research on disparities in the assessment and treatment of mental health problems. She is dedicated to using her research to educate healthcare providers, educators, and communities about mental health issues.

Laurie is the mother of a three-year-old girl who motivates her to be the best she can be every day.

VALERIE POULOLO Valerie Poulolo was born and raised in Paris, France, and moved to the United States in 2010. She is currently studying for a master’s degree in international affairs at the Colin Powell School and a master’s degree in French at Brooklyn College. She is interested in humanitarian work and development. She is thinking about pursuing a PhD in French and international human rights in the French-speaking world at the CUNY Graduate Center, or working for a nongovernmental or intergovernmental organization in West Africa.

THE 2020

Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) Scholarship Program

The Edward I. Koch Fellowship in Public Service supports motivated students who devote 200 or more hours of service each year to nonprofit organizations and government agencies throughout New York City. Through the program, CCNY students can experience first-hand the challenges and rewards of working for the common good, interact with professionals in their chosen field of interest, and see how community organizations work to meet public needs. Additionally, Koch Scholars The Colin Powell School’s Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) program prepares students to be leaders and managers participate in workshops and discussions that enhance their ability to engage communities in meaningful ways and that in government, nonprofit organizations, and social enterprises. The MPA program offers three Changemaker Scholarships: provide opportunities for leadership development, reflection and engaged learning.

Management, Research, and Social Innovation.

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STANLEY AZUAKOLA

affairs at NYU Langone Health. Her ideal job is to work for an organization in the healthcare industry, specifically handling development and fundraising matters. She earned a BA in psychology from Stony Brook University.

Stanley Azuakola is an international student from Nigeria who formerly worked as a communications adviser to the Ministry of Industry, Trade, & Investment. He earned a BA in Electrical Engineering, and speaks Kalabari, English, and Omoku fluently. Before Nigeria’s 2019 elections, Stanley created a KnowYour-Candidates (KYC) online platform, which used technology to present the issue positions of candidates and helped voters directly compare the candidates in order to make informed choices. He also founded ScoopNG, Nigeria’s first online news platform dedicated solely to policy, politics, and public affairs.

Stanley was recently invited to the United Kingdom to participate in the British Council’s Future Leaders Connect.

TARIK FATHALLAH Tarik Fathallah is Assistant Director of the Center for Student Success & Engagement at Mercy College. He is passionate about socioeconomic mobility and speaks Arabic and French fluently. As part of his role he creates

THALIA CHAVEZ

ELVIN GARCIA Elvin Garcia has more than eight years of professional experience in government relations management and community organizing. He worked at the Community Affairs Unit at the Office of the Mayor, and as a Community Liaison for the NY State Assembly. Elvin interned at the Hispanic Federation in Washington,

Thalia Chavez works as a project associate at the office of development & alumni

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new initiatives for practical student learning including developing new skills training programs, career development workshops, and guest speaker events noteworthy for divisional funding. Tarik earned a BA in international relations from Mercy College.

COLIN POWELL SCHOOL FOR CIVIC AND GLOBAL LEADERSHIP

DC in summer 2019 and he was recently named one of only three recipients of the notable Open Society Foundation Presidential Fellowship. Elvin is focusing on expanding voting rights and addressing the lack of civic engagement in the city.

FELIX GARCIA Felix Garcia earned a bachelor’s degree in Latin American & Caribbean Studies & Sociology from the University of Albany. He has more than five years of experience in client advocacy and case management including working with formerly homeless and mentally ill populations. Felix now serves as Director of Constituent Services in New York City Council District 16 in the Bronx, where he has worked for more than two years. He is passionate about raising consciousness on the affordable housing crisis in New York City and wants to strengthen advocacy efforts that will change the way rent is calculated for rentstabilized units.

MUNEEBA HASSAN Muneeba Hassan earned a BA in Health Service Administration. She served as a mental health ambassador at her undergraduate university and sees herself working for a nonprofit organization to uplift lowincome communities in the United States or abroad. She

is also passionate about public health and women’s rights.

Last summer, Muneeba was a development intern at Public Citizen, an advocacy group based in Washington, DC. ANTONIO LOPEZ Antonio Lopez earned a BA in retailing and consumer services and he is passionate about advocating for LGBTQ

communities and those living with HIV/AIDS. Antonio is exploring storytelling and new public cultural programs as a means to connect to Generation Z Latinx youth in the Bronx and Harlem and hopes to create more culturally responsive sex education. He previously worked as a Fashion Donation Development Coordinator

at Housing Works, and he recently began working as a Development Manager at The Lower East Side Ecology Center.

AISSATA NIANGADOU Aissata Niangadou earned her BA in public accounting with honors from Fordham University. She has more than eight years of experience in accounting. Originally from West Africa, she worked for five years for Care International in Mali and Haiti. She is now a Senior Auditor at the NY State Comptroller’s Office. She

wants to continue working in public sector or establish her own nonprofit to eradicate Female Genital Mutilation, or join an internationally recognized organization as an advisor.

SHEILI POLANCO Sheili Polanco is the Program Director at the 82nd Street Academics. She is passionate about social justice and wants to be involved in policy reform processes to develop more inclusive and culturally diverse policies and

legislation. She earned her BA in political science from John Jay College.

KANTOMALALA RASEDOARA

Kantomalala Rasedoara is originally from Madagascar and speaks French and Malagasy fluently. Kanto was CUNY Women’s Tennis Captain in 2016. She recently graduated from Lehman College with a BA in Media Communications.

The worsening state of Madagascar inspired her to build a career in public service and help her home country by working with an international nonprofit organization or establishing her own.

HAFIDA RASOOL

Hafida Rasool studied English literature in Pakistan and Adolescent English Education at Hunter College. Hafida served as a development intern at the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, and as a Partnership Cultivation Intern at NYC Department

of Sanitation, where she built a professional development curriculum for new staff.

She was recently appointed as Program Manager, Media and Entertainment Training at the NYC Department of Small Business Services.

actively recruits program participants on a rolling basis.

He sees himself working in the nonprofit sector with education reform as his primary focus.

BRIAN ST JEAN

DAJUANA SIMMONS DaJuana Simmons is a Housing Case Manager at the Guidance Center of Westchester. She earned a BA in Health Service Administration from Lehman College and wants to work Brian St Jean earned a BA in the healthcare field. In her in communications from current role, Dajuana helps University of Albany and is the Community Relations Coordinator at the Ryan Community Health Network.

He wants to become an Executive Director of a community health center and implement programs that combat different health risks. individuals living with mental health issues, substance abuse, and chronic illnesses transition from homelessness to stable housing.

CHRISTOPHER SPEIGHT Christopher Speight earned a BA in history from Morris College and has more than five years of working experience in education. He is a Program Director at an intermediate school where he creates academically enriching programs for students from grades 6-8 and

XIN YING WU Xin Ying Wu graduated from City College with a BA in Economics. She is very

passionate about financial literacy and wants to establish a program that would increase financial literacy on CCNY’s campus. She currently works as a college assistant at the Colin Powell School. Xin is interested in program and project management and is currently exploring various fields including government and higher education.

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B O ARD O F VI SI TO RS C O L I N PO W EL L S CHO O L FO R CI V I C AND G LOBAL LEADERSHIP

Marco Antonio Achรณn Head of Santander Corporate & Investment Banking US CEO of Santander Investment Securities Inc.

Richard M. Krasno President, William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust Jeffrey T. Leeds President and Co-Founder, Leeds Equity

Madeleine K. Albright Former Secretary of State

General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret.), Chair Former Secretary of State

Shahara Ahmad-Llewellyn Commissioner and Philanthropist

Linda Powell Actress and Philanthropist

James A. Baker, III Former Secretary of State

Andrew Rich Dean, Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership

Thomas J. Blair Chairman, Blair Investment Companies

Stephen C. Robinson Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP

Vince Boudreau President, The City College of New York

David M. Rubenstein Co-Founder, The Carlyle Group

Robert B. Catell Chairman, AERTC, Stony Brook University Martin Cohen Executive Chairman, Cohen & Steers, Inc.

Jin Roy Ryu Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Poongsan Corporation and Poongsan Group

Cesar Conde Chairman, NBCUniversal News Group

Stephen Schwarzman Chairman and CEO, The Blackstone Group

Fulvio V. Dobrich Principal and CEO, Galileo Asset Management

Sy Sternberg Retired Chairman and CEO New York Life Insurance Company

General Samuel E. Ebbesen, USA (Ret.)

Linda Kaplan Thaler Chair, Kaplan Thaler Management

Harold M. Evans Former President and Publisher, Random House

Beatrice Welters Philanthropist

Vartan Gregorian President, Carnegie Corporation of New York

Fareed Zakaria Editor at Large, Time, Inc.

Vernon E. Jordan, Jr. Senior Managing Director, Lazard Henry A. Kissinger Former Secretary of State

Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership

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The City College of New York

160 Convent Avenue, North Academic Center 6/141, New York, NY 10031 T.: 212.650.7500 I F.: 212.650.5865 I www.ccny.cuny.edu/colinpowellschool I colinpowellschool@ccny.cuny.edu 44

COLIN POWELL SCHOOL FOR CIVIC AND GLOBAL LEADERSHIP