Subha Ahmed is an anthropology and international studies major who intends to pursue a doctorate in cultural anthropology. Her deep interest in culture and young people drives her desire to deepen her understanding of socio-economic issues related to educational issues in Harlem. 

Born and raised in rural Connecticut, Olivia Bailey is an international studies major whose concentration is in development. Olivia’s academic interest includes exploring the barriers that women and other underserved populations face in breaking the cycle of poverty and in obtaining rights.

Born in Houston to immigrant parents from Guinea, in West Africa, Abdullah Beretay is a history major at CCNY. His focus is Africa’s social and political movements and its diaspora, and he hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in African history.

Joslyn Duncan, a native of Philadelphia, is an MFA candidate in film and video at City College. A writer and producer of both film/video and theater works, Joslyn is the founding director of GRIOTWORKS, an arts education organization. Her goal is to connect communities through the production and distribution of storytelling and culturally based mixed-media projects.

Elena Escalona, a Cuban-American, is pursuing a master’s degree in bilingual childhood education at CCNY. She started her undergraduate studies at Arizona State University before transferring to St. Francis College in Brooklyn, where she majored in international cultural studies with a minor in fine arts. Bilingual education, she says, is truly her passion.

Joanne Mercedes Fernandez is a third-year student at the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education who is minoring in Spanish. Joanne believes that the key to being a successful physician is to not only treat her patients but to advocate for their rights through improved health-care policies.

Chrysothemis Kishore, a native of Guyana, is a student in the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education. Chrys's goal is to improve public service programs that address health-care disparities and related inequalities. 

Cerere Kihoro, an international student from Nairobi, Kenya, is a political science and economics major in the City College Honors Program. Cerere plans to further his education in public administration as well as attend law school.

Yoo Jin Lee is a third-year architecture student at the Spitzer School of Architecture and a student at the Macaulay Honors College at City College. Yoo Jin is focused on the ways architecture can help provide solutions to climate change, affordable housing, and other issues related to urban planning.

Born in Kenya, Michelle Muita spent portions of her youth living with her family variously in the Sudan, the Netherlands, Israel, and Tanzania. These experiences, she says, influenced her decision to major in international studies and political science with a focus on gender development and policy.

Ernest Nkansah-Dwamena is a master’s degree candidate in CCNY’s new environmental sustainability program. A native of Ghana, Ernest holds a bachelor’s degree in natural resources management from Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Ernest plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Environmental Policy Studies and hopes to combine a teaching and research career with one advising major stakeholders and assisting Ghana toward a sustainable future.

Wilson Okumu Owuor, a native of Kenya, is a physics major at City College. His goal is to become a resourceful educator as well as a policymaker who can help revitalize the educational system to make learning more palatable and effective.

Born and raised in the East Village of Manhattan to Filipino immigrants, Brian Paragas graduated from Stuyvesant High School and now is majoring in political science at CCNY. Brian is specifically interested in the intersection of human rights and culture, and hopes to contribute to positive social change and development through public policy research and analysis.

Karla Rodriguez, a native of Catalonia,  is senior in the CUNY Baccalaureate program. Her concentration is Leadership, which combines political science, law, and business courses. A fellow in the Skadden Arps Honors Program in Legal Studies, Karla is also studying Mandarin Chinese as her sixth language.

Anastasia Sagalovitch is a graduate student in CCNY’s public service management program, where she is pursuing a master’s degree in public affairs with a concentration in environmental policy. Anastasia hopes to help deploy renewable energy technology and further develop sustainable markets by working at the intersection of the public and private sectors.

Nicole Sample is a third-year student at the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education. Eventually she hopes to practice as an obstetrician-gynecologist and use her experience in pubic health to help alleviate some of the health disparities affecting minority populations.

Kamisha Smith is an M.F.A. candidate in film and video production with CCNY’s Media and Communication Arts Department. As a filmmaker, Kamisha is focuses on representations of African-Americans in the media and on the media’s coverage of issues that affect African-Americans. Kamisha intends to use film as a vehicle to help positively influence public policies.

Hongzhi Zou, a native of Nanchang, China, received her associate’s degree in economics from the Nanjing University of Science and Technology. Her eventual goal is to share her knowledge at the academic level, enabling students in the next generation to contribute to an environmentally sound world.