Ilham Abdelkadir (she/her)
ilham.abdelkadir@yale.edu

Ilham is a junior in Silliman College majoring in Molecular, Cellular, & Developmental Biology with a Global Health certificate on the pre-med route. Ilham is currently a research assistant at the Yale School of Public Health, and helps lead volunteering for Yale’s Questbridge Y2HQ program. Outside of academics, Ilham serves on board of both the Questbridge Chapter and YFAM (Yale’s FGLI Advocacy Movement), and is an active community member of the MSA. In her free time, you might catch Ilham working on personal art projects or seizing the opportunity for a spontaneous hike with friends on a lazy weekend. Coming to Yale as an FGLI student, Ilham knows firsthand the mix of excitement and uncertainty that defines the experience. As someone who gained invaluable insight and support from peer mentors in the past, Ilham is eager to pay it forward and help others navigate their own journey at Yale.

Ismihan Abdelkadir (she/her)
ismihan.abdelkadir@yale.edu

Ismihan is a senior in Silliman College from McDonough, GA. She is majoring in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology on the pre med track. At Yale, she does stop codon readthrough research at the Cooley Lab. She served as an FSY counselor for the summer of 2023 and is also involved with STARS. She also was involved with organizations to serve the FGLI community like Yale’s QuestBridge Chapter and Yale’s FGLI Advocacy Movement (YFAM) and volunteers at the HAVEN Free clinic and Yale Community Kitchen. Ismihan loves to play video games, read fantasy novels, and drink coffee. She is excited to join the ASP team as a mentor, and she is always happy to answer any questions or chat over a meal!

Zenaida Aguirre Gutierrez (she/her)
zenaida.aguirregutierrez@yale.edu

Zenaida is a rising senior in Branford College studying Ethnicity, Race and Migration with a concentration in Immigration Studies. She is a first-generation Latina from South Los Angeles. Zenaida has used her studies to advocate for immigrant communities across the US including in New Haven and, most recently, in San Francisco. On-campus she is involved with ¡Oye! Spoken Word and the Latin dance team Sabrosura. Her go-to snack is Ashley’s cookies and cream ice-cream!

Sam Ahn (he, him)
sam.ahn@yale.edu

Sam is a Comparative Literature major in Berkeley College and originally in the class of the 2024 — now 2025! He is from Little Neck, NY and is the founder of the Asian American Collective of Theatermakers (AACT) at Yale. He also works as a Gallery Guide at the Yale University Art Gallery and sings with the Yale Glee Club and the Whiffenpoofs. In his free time, he likes playing guitar, journaling, and hiking!

Ashley Ake (she, her)
ashley.ake@yale.edu

Ashley is a Junior in Davenport College majoring in Ethnicity, Race, and Migration, from the East Bay area in California. On campus she is involved with Mecha de Yale, the Davenport College Office, and now the Academic Strategies Program! In her free time she’s usually trying out new coffee/tea recipes, watching tv or listening to music. Ashley is excited to be joining the ASP team and support the FGLI community, feel free to reach out if you have any questions or to talk about anything random!

Josh Atwater (he, him)

josh.atwater@yale.edu

Josh is a senior in Timothy Dwight College, originally from southern New Jersey. He’s majoring in English and is very passionate about the importance of the humanities. During the school year, Josh is a member of Yale Danceworks, a leader for Harvest first-year orientation trips, and a contributor to the Yale Herald. As a first-gen student, Josh feels a special conviction towards promoting equity & accessibility in education and would love to help you make the most of your time at Yale—be it developing relationships with professors, securing research and funding opportunities, or planning a manageable schedule!

Vimbisai Basvi (she, her)
vimbisai.basvi@yale.edu

Vimbisai is currently a junior in Trumbull College pursuing a degree in Computer Science.

Originating from Zimbabwe and later settling in New Jersey, Vimbisai has a diverse background that enriches her Yale experience. As a Computer Science major, she’s passionate about tech innovation and its potential impact, especially on the African continent.

In addition to her studies, Vimbisai enjoys working on tech projects and has been active in tech education and mentoring roles. Beyond technology, she’s an avid anime enthusiast and has a particular fondness for Nigerian movies. Her interests include African politics, and she also dedicates time to practice both French and Shona.

Strongly identifying with her African heritage, Vimbisai values cross-cultural understanding. Always eager to connect, she enjoys discussing the latest tech trends with fellow Yale students or simply exchanging life experiences. 

Maria Beebe (she, her)
maria.beebe@yale.edu

Maria is a junior in Branford College majoring in Chemical Engineering with a certificate in Energy Studies. She is originally from Nairobi, Kenya. On campus, Maria does wastewater research in the Kim Lab. She is also on the board of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Yale Chapter where she co-founded Yale’s first ChemE Car Competition team. She also serves as a Professional Development Co-Chair for the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) at Yale. Outside of research and other STEM related activities, Maria enjoys going on long runs and trying out every coffee establishments’ iteration of a vanilla latte. She is happy to answer questions on anything from how to approach PSET’s to the best running trails on campus. She is happy to grab a meal anytime and would love to connect with more of the Yale community.

Seth Bellamy (he/him)
seth.bellamy@yale.edu

Seth is a junior in Saybrook college studying the History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health with a concentration on Medicine, Public Health, and Clinical Psychology. Throughout his time at Yale Seth has worked on a range of projects with the Yale School of Public Health to study emerging water contaminants while also working with the University of Chapel Hill to study suicide prevention. When not working on research Seth is involved in Black Pre-Health at Yale, Saybrook College Council, and Community Health Educators. Seth has a passion for addressing mental health concerns on both an individual and communal level. Seth also enjoys spending time with friends, listening to music, and playing the flute.

Vanessa Cheng (she, they)
vanessa.cheng@yale.edu

Vanessa is a senior at Pierson College from Ridgewood, NJ. Pursuing a major in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry (MB&B) on the pre-med track, Vanessa has recently started research on RNA modifications in the Gilbert Lab. On-campus, they are involved with Matriculate, Davenport Pops Orchestra, and the FGLI Pre-Health Community. Off-campus, you’ll find Vanessa screeching Nintendo music on their violin, overanalyzing film scenes, and inhaling sushi. As a first-generation, low-income student, Vanessa entered college with great uncertainty about what “normal” really meant at Yale. Thanks to the abundance of kindness and support they received from their peer mentors, Vanessa realized that everyone feels to some degree the uncertainty of what to say, what to do, and most importantly—when to ask for help. Thrilled to be joining the ASP mentor team, Vanessa aims to help guide peers with STEM-related questions, transitioning to college, the best places to nap, and anything else under the bright sun of New Haven.

Allison Cho (she, her)
a.cho@yale.edu

Allison is a senior in Davenport College from Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania. She is majoring in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology (MCDB) and hoping to pursue medical school afterwards. As a low-income student, her FGLI mentor inspired her to also become an ASP mentor. She is passionate about including music in her life. She plays the cello in the Davenport Pops Orchestra, Berkeley College Orchestra, and musical pit orchestras. She loves working with the elderly and doing genetics research at the Yale Medical School. To relax, she enjoys doing yoga, going out to eat, and playing just dance. Feel free to reach out with anything big or small.

Tammy Chung (she, her)
tammy.chung@yale.edu

Tammy is a senior in JE studying Psychology on the Neuroscience Track. During her free time, she likes to spend time with her friends, visit coffee shops, and pet adorable puppies. She does endocrinology/neuroscience research at the School of Medicine but worked with dogs at Prof Laurie Santos’s Canine Cognition Center during her sophomore year. Outside of class, you can find her drinking coffee at the Elm or the Acorn, volunteering at Connecticut Hospice, or participating in language tables. After Yale, she hopes to attend medical school and become a doctor. Feel free to ask her about the best study spots on campus, being FGLI/premed, adjusting to college being far from home, or the food scene in New Haven. 

Rudy Cordero (he, him)

rudy.cordero@yale.edu

Rudy is a senior (YC ‘2022) Eli Whitney student majoring in Mathematics and Computer Science in Trumbull. He is an ONEXYS coach and have tutored math through Yale’s Prison Education Initiative and the Math Department. He worked on independent research through the John Alan Lewis Summer Research Fellowship this summer. His research matches pure mathematical theory with practical applications in computer science and artificial intelligence through the review of Fourier Analysis.

Dylan Council (he/him)

dylan.council@yale.edu

Dylan is a junior in Benjamin Franklin College from Hereford, Texas. He is a double-major in Ethics, Politics, and Economics, and Statistics and Data Science. On campus, he works with the Yale Policy Institute, ONEXYS, Matriculate, and the Yale College Democrats, pursuing his main passion, education equity. Dylan is a huge sports fan and spends much of his free time watching hockey or playing basketball. He loves country music, and was even a DJ at a country music radio station before coming to Yale. He is always open to chat and answer questions and cannot wait to begin work as an Academic Strategies Mentor.

Dominic Curtis (he, him)
dominic.curtis@yale.edu

Dominic is a senior in Pierson College from Coal City, Illinois. He is majoring in Chemical Engineering. He enjoys doing combustion research in the Pfefferle Lab, eating at restaurants with friends, and playing videogames. Dominic is excited to be an academic strategies mentor this year.

Arushi Dogra (she/her)
arushi.dogra@yale.edu

Arushi is a senior in Jonathan Edwards College from San Diego, California. On the pre-med track, she’s double-majoring in HSHM (History of Science, Medicine, & Public Health) and English. She’s on the board of the Yale Hunger and Homelessness Action Project, partakes in health advocacy initiatives on and off campus, and conducts research at the Yale School of Medicine. She’s also involved in student journalism with the Yale Herald, the Yale Undergraduate Research Journal, and Distilled. In her ground state, she can be found with coffee and a book at Book Trader, binging any number of comedy specials, or watching sunsets from high places. She really enjoys talking and loves to listen even more, so don’t hesitate to reach out to ask any questions at all, grab a meal, or just take a saunter around New Haven!

Esther Dominguez (she/her)
esther.dominguez@yale.edu

Esther is a senior in Davenport College from Miami, Florida. She studies History and Political Science. On campus, she has been involved in community service through Dwight Hall student organizations like the Yale Undergraduate Legal Aid Association and the Yale Interpretation Network. Outside of classes, Esther enjoys reading, drinking too much coffee from the Jitter Bus or Koffee?, learning new languages, hosting game nights with friends, and exploring New Haven—everything from hiking East Rock to eating at amazing restaurants to seeing the sunset at Lighthouse Point Park. She is always happy to answer any questions and is excited to be serving as an Academic Strategies Mentor this school year!

Felice Dong (she, her)
felice.dong@yale.edu

Felice is a junior in Grace Hopper from Middletown, NY. She is double majoring in Statistics & Data Science and the History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health. On campus, she is involved in Danceworks, Design For America, and Matriculate. She also served as an FSY counselor the past two summers and currently works for the Student Technology Collaborative and Yale Athletics. In her free time, Felice can be found taking pictures of squirrels or playing tennis while blasting hip-hop, R&B, and house music through her AirPods.

Lily Dorstewitz (she, her)
lily.dorstewitz@yale.edu

Lily is a senior in Pauli Murray College majoring in psychology. She is from Kalamazoo, Michigan, and loves to bond with fellow Midwesterners! She is passionate about wellness and providing resources both on and off-campus to promote well-being and a healthy harmony between work and other factors of life. She is on the club swim team, she is a Yale Alumni Fund Student Ambassador and is in the Guild of Bookmakers, but being an Academic Strategies Mentor is one of her favorite and most fulfilling roles on campus. She loves puzzles and a good book or TV show, and you can always interest her in a conversation about photography, poetry, or psychology. Please reach out to connect, ask questions, or find out more about how the Academic Strategies Program can best help you succeed!

Danielle Doss (she, they)
danielle.doss@yale.edu

Danielle is a senior in Berkeley college from Virginia, majoring in the History of Science and Medicine and Public Health focusing on reproductive health. She is very involved in the Afro-American Cultural Center (The House), and as such, she is a peer liaison for the House this year. She also enjoys singing and is in the acapella group Redhot & Blue. Some of her hobbies include listening to music, working in theater on campus, dancing and studying languages. She is also involved with the Office, and will spend free time there when she is not at the House.

Ava Estacio-Touhey (she, they)
ava.estacio-touhey@yale.edu

Ava is a junior in Pierson College from South Jersey. They are majoring in Archaeological Studies, and fill the rest of their schedule with French, Ethnicity, Race, and Migration, and Music classes! During the school year, Ava works at the Asian American Cultural Center on the Wellness and Mental Health team, serves on the boards of Asian-ish, Kasama, Queer and Asian, Students and Alumni at Yale (STAY), and sings with Pitches and Tones A cappella. During the summer, you can find Ava working for Yale College Reunions and doing field work abroad. As low income student and active member in cultural communities on campus, Ava is passionate about making Yale and university life as accessible as possible. Feel free to reach out to her with any questions!

Jasmine Gormley (she, her)
jasmine.gormley@yale.edu

Jasmine is a senior in Timothy Dwight College from Boscawen, New Hampshire. She is majoring in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Biodiversity and Conservation. She loves insects, botany, and all things conservation – if you ever want to chat about Amazonian botany or Western fire ecology, hit her up! (Be prepared for too many plant facts.) In New Haven, you can find her at the climbing gym, Book Trader, or on the back porch at the Forest School. Jasmine is passionate about uplifting fellow FGLI and rural students, and has worked with Matriculate and WISAY (Women and Gender Minorities in STEM at Yale) in pursuit of this passion. Feel free to reach out to chat about anything at all!

Laura Guerra-Lopez (she, her/ella)
laura.guerra-lopez@yale.edu

Laura is a senior in Pierson College majoring in Political Science on a pre-law track. Laura is a transfer student from Miami, FL, where she previously attended Miami Dade College’s Honors College. Throughout her time at Yale, Laura has gotten involved with Dwight Hall, CLAIS, Club Venezuela, the Yale Interpretation Network, and Yale’s Undergraduate Legal Aid Association. Back home, she maintains a non-profit, Corazon Contento, Happy Heart Foundation, aimed at helping Venezuelans suffering from the humanitarian crisis. In her free time, Laura enjoys reading, playing tennis, baking, and spending time with loved ones. Laura is very excited to support ASP and the transfer community. Please feel free to reach out to her to discuss anything!

Noemi Guerra (she, her)
noemi.guerra@yale.edu

Noemi is a senior in Branford college from Garland, Texas. She is majoring in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology on a premed track and is a part of the Global Health Studies program. As a part of the Bei Lab and the STARS II program, she studies malaria vaccine candidates at the Yale School of Public Health. On campus, Noemi is a part of the Questbridge, FGLI, and La Casa communities. She has been involved with Matriculate, the HAVEN Free Clinic, and the Community Health Educators. On campus, you can find Noemi ordering a dirty chai at Steep Cafe, laughing with friends in the dining halls, and blasting latin, hip-hop, and pop music through her airpods as she walks from science hill to YSPH. She is looking forward to being a part of the academic strategies team. Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions!

Mary He (she, her)
mary.he@yale.edu

Mary is a senior in Trumbull College from Atlanta, GA. She is a Questbridge and Gates Scholar majoring in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and pursuing her MPH in Health Care Management as a 5 Year BS/MPH student. At Yale, Mary is involved in STARS, research at the Yale Cancer Center, HAVEN Free Clinic, the Trumbull College Council, and the Chinese American Student Association. Mary loves to play video games, cook (and have her friends cook for her), and play ultimate frisbee! She is always open to answering questions about anything under the sun and is excited to be an Academic Strategies Peer Mentor!

Charnice Hoegnifioh (she, her)
charnice.hoegnifioh@yale.edu

Charnice is a pre-med senior in Benjamin Franklin College (the best resco!) double majoring in Classical Civilizations and Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry with a concentration in Medicine. You can find her around campus working as a Peer Liaison at the Afro-American Cultural Center, singing in her jazz a cappella group Redhot & Blue, volunteering at the Haven Free Clinic, or doing research as an Edward A. Bouchet Fellow. Charnice is a major foodie, so she loves exploring the restaurants in New Haven and is more than happy to share recommendations! Charnice is excited to support you in any way that she can as an Academic Strategies Mentor, so please feel free to reach out! :)

Maiya Hossain (she/her)
maiya.hossain@yale.edu

Maiya is a senior in Davenport College majoring in History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health and currently lives in Queens, NYC. Outside of being an Academic Strategies Mentor, she is also a Peer Liaison for the Asian American Cultural Center, an Ambassador for the Good Life Center, and a Research Assistant for the Yale School of Public Health. Throughout her time at Yale, she has also been involved with the Yale Bengali Student Association, Matriculate, and Smart Woman Securities. In her free time, she loves exploring the food scene in New Haven and spending time in residential college courtyards. Having participated in the FGLI Peer Mentor program herself when she was a first-year, Maiya is super excited to serve as a mentor and provide guidance and resources to her mentees!

Jessie Hwang (she/her)
jungmin.hwang@yale.edu

Jessie is a junior in Branford College majoring in Computer Science and Economics. She is an international student from Seongnam-si, South Korea. At Yale, she is part of the FGLI community and Yale’s Korean International Society (Hanppuri). She also works for the Amoriem Game Development Lab as a story writer and programmer. On campus, she works as a Peer Liaison for Visiting International Students (Y-VISP), and she is very involved with Yale’s study abroad, fellowships, and international initiatives. Jessie enjoys backpacking trips, video gaming (Tears of the Kingdom!!), photography, and wall climbing. Over the summer, she worked for CitySeed, a local non profit addressing food insecurity issues, and she is more familiar with New Haven than ever before! Jessie is excited to meet you all and welcome you to campus.

Laurel Jin (she, her)
laurel.jin@yale.edu

Laurel is a junior in Pauli Murray College from Irvine, CA, majoring in Economics and Psychology. In addition to being an Academic Strategies Mentor, Laurel is a member of the Varsity Swim & Dive team. Come talk to her about her summer abroad at the London School of Economics, her summer internship at Mvnifest, her cross country road trip, and more! She loves puzzles, trashy TV shows, true crime podcasts, and the oxford comma. She is so honored and excited to be part of the Academic Strategies team!

Annaelise Kennedy (she, her)
a.kennedy@yale.edu

Annaelise is a senior in Timothy Dwight College, majoring in Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies. She is from a small, rural town in North Carolina. Annaelise was the former President of The Cinemat, an organization on campus that provides educational workshops in film production skills and opens up a community for filmmakers. In addition to filmmaking, she sings in Whim ‘n Rhythm, an all senior acapella group. Annaelise has been an ASP mentor for the past three years, and is excited to continue during her final year at Yale! 

Donovan Kreul (he/him)
donovan.kreul@yale.edu

Donovan is a senior in Berkeley College from Brookings, South Dakota. He is a Questbridge scholar studying Computer Science and Mathematics and is currently working in the Computer Graphics lab with Professor Rushmeier. He is a first-generation student from rural America who is constantly thinking about how to make Yale STEM more accessible to all students. In his free time, he loves to play guitar and he spends every Friday night playing video games with his friends. He also spends way too much time browsing CourseTable and finding ‘hidden gem’ study spaces in the libraries.

Shen-Vey Lai (he, they)
shen-vey.lai@yale.edu

Shen is a senior in Pierson College from Cameron Highlands, Malaysia. He is majoring in Film Studies and Cognitive Science. At Yale, he enjoys dancing with Movement, being involved in Yale theater, and working with Iris’ after school homework program. He also enjoys reading and going on long hikes and/or walks around the area. He will also pet any dog that he’s allowed to. He is very excited to be joining the Academic Strategies team and to be working alongside his fellow peers!

Demi Lee (she, her)
demi.lee@yale.edu

Demi is a senior in TD studying Cognitive Science with the theme of Human-Centered Design. Originally hailing from Seoul and Bangkok, Demi’s current hometown is Las Vegas. On-campus, Demi works as a photography aide for TD’s Head of College Office and serves as YIRA’s Hemispheres Director. In her free time on campus, Demi loves taking candid photos and attempting to create pottery in a basement ceramics studio. Demi is thrilled to join the program and work as an Academic Strategies Peer Mentor!

Gina Lee (she, her)
gina.lee@yale.edu

Gina is a junior in Silliman College from Long Island, New York. She is majoring in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (MCDB) with a certificate in Data Science on the pre-med track. On campus, you can find her doing research with the Yale Stem Cell Center, volunteering with HAVEN Free Clinic, and making drinks as a barista at the Silliman Acorn. She loves exploring local coffee shops and restaurants, listening to music, and cooking with friends. She is very excited to work as an Academic Strategies Mentor—feel free to reach out with any questions!

Diego Lopez (he, him)
diego.lopez@yale.edu

Diego is a senior in Berkeley College majoring in Political Science. From Los Angeles, CA, Diego is a fan of anything and everything “chill,” including supporting Chelsea F.C., vibing with friends, and listening to the latest hip hop and rap music. At Yale, Diego is involved with First Gen/Low income community through the YFAM, the Yale College Council, and YHHAP.

Fernando Lopez (he, him)
fernando.lopez@yale.edu

Fernando is a junior in Silliman College majoring in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology with a certificate in Education Studies. He’s from Chicago and during the academic year, he works as part of the Lab Safety Team in the organic chemistry labs and is excited to be working as an academic strategies peer mentor! He’s a big horror movie fan and loves spending time with friends and family. He enjoys sunbathing and listening to Lana Del Rey. He’s also involved in Camp Kesem and is an active board member of Amnesty International at Yale.

Karen Lu (she, her)
karen.lu@yale.edu

Karen is a senior in Benjamin Franklin College and hails from sunny South Florida. She is majoring in Economics and has a love/hate relationship with coding in R. She’s currently involved with Yale Movement (a K-Pop dance group), but has previously worked with Yale Globalist, YIRA, and the Yale branch of the Sycamore Institute (super interested in international affairs, if you couldn’t tell!). She enjoys picking up new hobbies, but her go-tos are cooking/baking, drawing, and writing. She is looking forward to meeting new people on campus and supporting them as an Academic Strategies Mentor, especially those who are first-gen and minorities!

Alicia Mazzurra
alicia.mazzurra@yale.edu

Hey y’all! I’m Alicia, and I’m a senior in Grace Hopper college and a Jack Kent Cooke College Scholar! I’m from Georgia and am a lover of poetry, trees, and the ocean (and a hater of dark winter days). On campus, I love being a part of Yale’s Asian and Asian American spoken word group Jook Songs, working various part-time jobs, and planning delightful but ridiculous events with friends. I am so excited to support you in whatever way possible!

Rachel Merrill (she, her)
rachel.merrill@yale.edu

Rachel is a rising senior in Trumbull College, majoring in Physics and working on an Advanced Language Certificate in Modern Hebrew. She is both a community college transfer and a non-traditional Eli Whitney Student. In addition to her work with Academic Strategies, Rachel is a peer tutor in the Physics department, and has worked as an ONEXYS coach for the past four summers. When she isn’t working or in class, Rachel enjoys hanging out in the Music Library at Sterling Memorial Library or Kroon Hall at the School of the Environment, grabbing gelato from Elm, or savoring a ginger snap latte at Koffee? This is Rachel’s fourth year working for Academic Strategies, and she is looking forward to meeting students and sharing all the tips, tricks, and advice she’s gained from other mentors in the program through the years.

Sophia Moore (she, her)
sophia.moore@yale.edu

Sophia is a senior in Berkeley College from Greenwich, CT. She is majoring in Computer Science and Mathematics, as well as pursuing a certificate in Data Science. Outside of being an Academic Strategies Mentor, Sophia is a member of the Varsity Swim & Dive team and is collaborating with Girls Who Code to help bring the nonprofit organization to Yale’s campus. She is all too happy to talk about her summer abroad through Yale’s program at the London School of Economics. When she’s not at Payne Whitney, you can find her at one of New Haven’s many coffee shops. She is so honored and excited to be part of the Academic Strategies team!

Ketty Nguyen (she, her)
ketty.nguyen@yale.edu

Ketty is a junior in Morse from Ames, IA and Austin, TX. She studies Medical Anthropology and Global Health, with interests intersecting healthcare and immigration work. On campus, Ketty is happily involved as a FOOT leader, Morse aide, and weaving enthusiast. She also has experience working with IRIS + other local nonprofit immigration organisations and volunteering with HAVEN. Please reach out to Ketty if you want to chat about growing up FGLI, finding community in all forms at Yale, all things green & outdoorsy, or if you just want someone to listen to you and share space (: 

Tramy Nguyen (she, her)
tramy.nguyen@yale.edu

Tramy is a senior in Saybrook College from Houston, TX. She is majoring in Cognitive Science with a focus in Law and Policy and pursuing certificates in Education Studies and Data Science. Tramy is a first-generation, low-income student and a Jack Kent Cooke College Scholar. On campus, she is involved in clinical psychology research at the Fineberg Lab and leads the Dwight Hall Community Mental Health Fellowship. She also serves as a Saybrook FROCO and senior advisor for the Vietnamese Students Organization. Outside of academics, Tramy is trying to pick up new hobbies and is currently trying pottery. She is excited to dedicate her time this year to supporting her peers on their academic journeys.

Stephan Oliveira (he, him)
stephan.oliveira@yale.edu

My name is Stephan, I use he/him pronouns, and I’m a transfer student from a California community college majoring in the Bachelor of Science track for psychology. Previously, I worked in a psychology lab and currently, I focus my work on anticolonial psychiatry and the mental health care practices that can arise from such perspectives, especially as I am in the process of applying for PsyD programs. Since I’m part of the class of 2024, I will be completing my senior thesis on new research practices for categorizing gender in biological and social sciences. I also work with the Graduate Department of Psychology’s Committee for Race, Equity, and Justice to consider changes to the Psychology Department that would encourage more inclusive practices in research and academics at Yale. Aside from my academic and career shenanigans, I work off campus at Strange Ways and run my own small business, on campus as an Academic Strategies Peer Mentor for transfer students, and host a WYBC Radio show, TransferTabs. I’m excited to get to meet y’all! :-) 

Denise Peng (she, her)
denise.peng@yale.edu

Denise is a junior in Ezra Stiles college from Queens, New York. She is majoring in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology on the pre-med track. A FGLI student and Questbridge scholar, Denise works with YFAM on outreach and project management. She can also be found on campus working with Bridges ESL or over at the School of Medicine doing research for the Koleske Lab. In her free time, Denise enjoys cooking up concoctions with friends in the Stiles student kitchen and finding new podcasts to dive into. She is so excited to join the ASP team and meet you all!

Fadhina Petit-Clair (she, her)
fadhina.petit-clair@yale.edu

Fadhina is a Junior in Berkeley College majoring in History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health on the Pre-Med track. She was born and raised in North Miami, Florida, and is of Haitian descent! Outside of being an Academic Strategies Mentor, Fadhina the President of The Pi Alpha Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated here at Yale! She is also the Student Resource Officer for Black Pre-Health at Yale, a dancer with Dzana (Yale’s first West African dance team), an undergraduate research assistant under Professor Carolyn Roberts’s mentorship, and interprets for Yale Interpretation Network. In her free time, Fadhina enjoys getting ice cream and long walks with friends. She is excited to work with fellow students on campus as an Academic Strategies Mentor. Don’t ever hesitate to reach out to her with any questions that you may have!.

Linh Pham (she/her)

linh.pham@yale.edu(link sends e-mail)

Linh is a junior in Jonathan Edwards College majoring in Statistics & Data Science. Originally from Nashville, TN, Linh Pham is a first generation, low income student ambassador. On campus, she does research with Professor Doherty at the Yale Law School on sentencing convictions. She has formally been involved with the LILY lab on NLP research as well in the Yale School of Public Health. On the weekends, she spends her time in the Branford pottery studio, playing Nintendo games, or playing with her cat.

Tony Potchernikov (he, him)
tony.potchernikov@yale.edu

Tony is a senior in Saybrook College from Nashville, Tennessee returning from a gap year. He currently studies Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry. He is a Hahn Scholar and undergraduate researcher under the mentorship of Prof. De La Cruz and also works with community organization Stand Up Nashville. In his free time, Tony enjoys cooking, figuring out how to play piano, and impromptu painting. He is excited and grateful for the opportunity to be an Academic Strategies Mentor and looks forward to working with fellow students on campus—and please feel free to reach out to him with absolutely any questions!

Jesús Ramos (he, him/el)
jesus.ramos@yale.edu

Jesús is a junior in Davenport College from Oxnard, California majoring in Ethnicity, Race, and Migration. As a FGLI student and proud Mexican-American, he is passionate about mentorship and advocacy work. On campus, he is the co-Head Peer Liaison for La Casa Cultural and is an Advising Fellow with Matriculate. He is actively involved with Mecha de Yale where he helps lead meetings as co-moderator and finds ways to empower the Latine community in New Haven. Jesús is also heavily involved in the Davenport community where he works as a College Aide and can be found cooking quesadillas late at night in the Dive. In his free time, he loves to binge-watch tv shows and grab a cup of coffee with friends. Jesús is excited to join the ASP mentorship team and is always willing to talk about anything, academic or not. Don’t hesitate to reach out!

Karla Ramos Gonzales (she, her)
karla.ramosgonzalez@yale.edu

Karla is a junior in Morse college from Phoenix, Arizona. She majors in Architecture and recently went to study abroad in Denmark for the summer. On campus, she is on the board of Ballet Folklorico Mexicano de Yale as an Artistic Director and works with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions as an Ambassador. In her free time she likes to watch youtube videos, go to coffee shops, and have karaoke nights with her friends. As a first-generation low-income student, Karla loves helping other students navigate their transition to college and answering any questions about community or finding resources at school. You can always send her a message to ask about anything!

Anya Razmi (she, her)
anya.razmi@yale.edu

Anya is a senior in Pierson College majoring in English in the Writing Concentration. She is a lead Writing Partner, the editor-in-chief of the literary magazine The Foundationalist, and the editor of The Scope, Yale Scientific Magazine’s research blog. She is also the head of research at Nunchi, an organization increasing mental healthcare access to immigrant-origin youth, a staff member at Ori, where she is working to design a novel, sustainable menstrual product, and a software content designer at Workiva. Anya is passionate about educational equity, career changes (she once used to be pre-med!), and navigating life as a first-generation American. In her free time, she enjoys fiction writing, reading poetry, and drawing.

Juan Recoaro (he, him)
juan.recoaro@yale.edu

Juan is a senior at Benjamin Franklin College majoring in Physics (intensive). He grew up and lived in Rosario, Argentina until he moved to the United States for college. A member of the FGLI community, Juan has been involved with experimental physics research, where he joined AMO (atomic, molecular, and optical) physics labs working on levitated optomechanics and levitated supercooled water. He did a Yale-supported research internship in ultracold atoms in Austria, and he was a Peer Tutor for introductory physics for two academic years.   In the extracurricular space, Juan joined the Yale Curling Club in 2021 after trying the sport for the first time at Yale. Currently, he is the president of the club; he is always happy to introduce others to the sport. Some of Juan’s hobbies include traveling, cycling, photography, and specialty coffee (his favorite coffee shop in New Haven is The Coffee Pedaler).   Juan participated in many Academic Strategies programs as a first-year student, so he is extremely happy to be able to support other students as a mentor. Feel free to reach out and ask any questions you may have!

Taylor Russ (she, her)
taylor.russ@yale.edu

Taylor is a senior in Johnathan Edwards college majoring in the History of Science and Medicine. She’s lived in Mississippi since she was 5, but enjoys traveling to places that have a rockier terrain for hiking. Taylor enjoys baking cakes from old recipes books and is working on ranking every restaurant in New Haven. She knits sweaters when it’s not too hot outside and also admits to having a slight obsession with jigsaw puzzles. At Yale she has worked with the Pedagogical center, Dwight Hall, and Onexys. She is always open to answering any of your questions and cannot wait to begin working with her fellow students as an Academic Strategies Mentor.

Daisy Sanchez (she, her)
daisy.sanchez@yale.edu

Daisy is a senior in Trumbull College, majoring in History of Science, Medicine, & Public Health. She’s a proud Chicana and FGLI student from Fort Worth, TX with roots in Guanajuato, MX. Outside of classes she’s involved with MEChA, MedSci, and Girls on the Run. She also volunteers at the HAVEN Free Clinic and is involved in research studying the effects of early life stress in mice. In her free time, she loves hanging out with her dogs, reading tarot cards, and watching telenovelas. At Yale, you can find her looking for new study spots with tons of natural light, riding around on her scooter, or lounging with friends on Cross Campus. Daisy is excited to be a resource for her peers and support them in their academic journeys!

Naomi Sellers (she, her)
naomi.sellers@yale.edu

Naomi is a senior in Timothy Dwight College, majoring in Global Affairs with a Chinese language certificate. She grew up in Mesa, Arizona (which has the most beautiful sunsets on the planet). On campus, she spends most of her time working in the TD Art Studio or coordinating events as a TD Aide. Naomi is also passionate about faith communities at Yale, serving as a Student Deacon at UCY and member of Yale Students for Christ. Her participation in an FGLI Peer Mentorship group as a first-year and sophomore was immensely formative, so she is excited to become a mentor herself!

Katie Taylor (she, her)
katie.taylor@yale.edu

Katie is a senior in Branford College from Somers, New York. She is majoring in History, but she has dabbled in everything from global affairs to proof-based math. On campus, she has served as an undergraduate learning assistant for the Directed Studies program and an editorial intern for the Yale Law Journal. During her leave of absence in the fall of 2020, she worked on political, legal, and policy-based teams. She is happiest spending time with friends, being outside, and exploring new coffee shops in New Haven. She is so excited to be serving as an academic strategies mentor—please reach out with any questions!

Tan Yi Tseung (she, her)
tanyi.tseung@yale.edu

Tan Yi is a junior in Ezra Stiles College returning from a gap year in Japan. Originally from China, she’s lived in New York City since she was 12. Tan Yi currently majors in history with a special interest in Asian American and immigration studies. In her free time, Tan Yi loves learning new languages, dancing, and theater. As an FGLI student herself, Tan Yi is thrilled to be on the ASP Mentors team and looks forward to supporting fellow students as they navigate through Yale!

Kalisa Vasquez-Minas (they/she)
kalisa.vasquez-minas@yale.edu

Kalisa is a junior in Morse College from Los Angeles, California! Majoring in Earth and Planetary Sciences, she is an FGLI student still learning to navigate Yale with the help of groups like Ballet Folklorico, the Morse College Aides, and the Paleoarchaeology Lab. She is a lover of all things music and culture and is currently trying to pick up on K’iche’ and (super complicated) music theory. You can find Kalisa hanging around Morse with friends, thrifting for the cutest pieces, or watching anime.

Hillary Warolin (she, her)
hillary.warolin@yale.edu

Hillary is a Senior in Trumbull College and an Eli Whitney student from Stillwater, Minnesota. She is majoring in English with a certificate in Kiswahili and also works as a Writing Partner in the writing center. Outside of classes and work, she enjoys comics (particularly anything from the Mignolaverse), snowboarding, Dungeons and Dragons, and exploring museums. Having used many of the Academic Strategies resources herself, she is thrilled to be a part of the ASP Mentors team and looking forward to connecting with other students!

Wren Wolterbeek (she, her)
wren.wolterbeek@yale.edu

Wren is a senior in Davenport College from Rindge, New Hampshire. She is majoring in English and is also an Education Studies Scholar. As a low income student she is passionate about education equity and is a Head Advising Fellow with Matriculate at Yale. Through Matriculate she helps first generation and low income students navigate the college application process and also writes for their blog. She also loves to teach with Splash at Yale and worked at LEAP in New Haven strengthening literacy education for high school students in New Haven. She loves trying different coffee shops in New Haven and is working on learning new languages and trying new baking recipes! When she is not drinking coffee or tea you can find her reading or playing card games, Just Dance, and IMs. Wren is excited to work as an Academic Strategies Mentor and to talk about anything from reading loads to reading recommendations and beyond!

Isaiah Wright (he/him)
isaiah.wright@yale.edu

Isaiah is a senior in Timothy Dwight College from Oklahoma. He is a political science major. On campus, Isaiah is a member of the Yale Men’s Rugby Team, the Yale Club Wrestling Team and on board for Yale Model Congress. He also works for the Yale Athletic Department and has been a counselor for Trio Upward Bound for the past two summers. Isaiah enjoys watching movies, playing video games, and spending time with his friends and family. Isaiah is always happy to chat or answer questions about anything, so feel free to reach out. He is thrilled to serve as an Academic Strategies Mentor this year!

Isaac Yu (he, him)
isaac.yu@yale.edu

Isaac is a senior in Berkeley College from Garland, Texas. He is a Questbridge scholar majoring in American Studies with a focus in politics. He is a student journalist with bylines in the Yale Daily News, the New Haven Independent and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He is also a Production & Design editor and Instagram editor at the News. Isaac is in Mixed Company, Yale’s oldest all-gender all genre a capella group. Outside of school, he loves nearly burning himself in the kitchen, laughing with/at his friends, and begrudgingly exercising. You can find him at Starbucks, the AACC or Atticus Market. He is addicted to cappucinos.

Karley Yung (she, her)
karley.yung@yale.edu

Karley is a junior in Berkeley college majoring in Biomedical Engineering with a certificate in Education Studies. She is a proud FGLI and Asian-American student from Canton, Michigan, and is excited to be involved with the Academic Strategies Program. Outside of classes, she is passionate about menstrual equity and is the president of YaleBleeds as well as the project chair for GREEN’s Sustainable Menstrual Products project. She is also involved with the Society of Women Engineers and Danceworks. When she has free time, she is working on decorating her postcard collection and taking new book recommendations. Please send them her way!

Emily Zenner (she, her)
emily.zenner@yale.edu

Emily is a senior majoring in Ethics, Politics and Economics. Born and raised in El Paso, Texas, she calls Silliman College her home while at Yale. When not in class, Emily is heavily involved with the Independent Party of the Yale Political Union and engages with Jewish life, but you can also often find her playing with dogs in courtyards, learning something on the bass guitar, or lining up for a bagel. This past summer, she made good use of Yale funding to work for the Environmental Protection Agency, and would love to share her tips for navigating similarly incredible experiences on and off campus. As a low-income QuestBridge scholar who has benefitted immensely from the ASP program herself, Emily looks forward to helping others in any way she can!

Amber Zettle (she, they)
amber.zettle@yale.edu

Amber is a junior in Trumbull double majoring in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Psychology. They are originally from Snow Camp, North Carolina, a small town outside of Chapel Hill. At Yale, they are involved with the Yale Undergraduate Prison Project and they are also an associate editor for Broad Recognition, Yale’s only feminist publication. They are also involved with the FGLI community at Yale. In their free time, they enjoy grabbing coffee with their friends, reading romance novels on Cross Campus, and repeating words of affirmation to their many plants.

Beichen Zhang (she, her)
beichen.zhang@yale.edu

Beichen is a second-semester senior in Pierson College studying Economics. She’s an international student originally from Shanghai. She has been involved in various mentorship positions, serving as an OISS PL for two years and as a FroCo last year. She was also a fellow for the President’s Public Service Fellowship. In her free time, you could find her practicing Wushu (Chinese martial arts) or exploring different parts of campus. She’s super excited to meet everyone!

Yingying Zhao (she, hers)
yingying.zhao@yale.edu

Yingying is a senior in Timothy Dwight majoring in English. Born in Massachusetts, she now lives in Princeton, New Jersey. On campus, she has been involved with various student publications, such as the Yale Daily News and The New Journal. She also worked for the Yale Law Journal this past year as an undergraduate intern. Outside of academics, Yingying enjoys dancing with Yale Movement (a K-pop dance group) and figure skating at The Whale with her friends. She is excited to join the Academic Strategies program and help students find their passions and achieve their goals!

Anna Zhong (she, her)
anna.zhong@yale.edu

Anna is a senior in Branford College from St. Louis, Missouri. She is studying Computer Science and Mathematics and is pursuing a Certificate in Data Science. At Yale, Anna does stand-up and sketch comedy with The Odd Ducks, loves going to WGiCS (Women and Gender Minorities in Computer Science) events, and practices Kendo. Anna loves to read Webtoons, eat yummy food with friends, and drink mango slushes with mango popping boba.

Helen Zhou (she, her)
helen.zhou@yale.edu

Helen is a junior in Pierson College from Newark, Delaware majoring in Computer Science. For the past two summers, she has done research on human-robot interaction with Yale’s Interactive Machines Group. Outside of academics, Helen has been involved with the Student Technology Collaborative, enjoys attending CASA and WGiCS events, and is excited to be one of the co-presidents for the Davenport Pops Orchestra this year. She enjoys trying New Haven restaurants, reading (her current read is The Poppy War!), baking with friends, and going on long walks. Helen is excited to become an Academic Strategies Mentor and looks forward to meeting other students!