Civic Semester Fellows Fall 2025

My name is Abigail Burkitt and I was born and raised in Long Island, New York. I have been passionate about the environment and helping others since I was little. I make it my goal to learn from everyone around me at all times (if possible)! Over the past three years I have dedicated countless hours to cleaning up garbage in my local outdoor areas (parks, beaches, school grounds, and shopping malls) to help reduce the amount of pollution in my surroundings. It is my mission in Peru to learn how I can help the environment on the next level. A few things I love to do are spend time outside, film, read, and listen to music. This will be my very first time in Peru and in South America. I’m very excited to get to know everyone!

Sawàtdii khà! (So excited I had to start my learning of Thai early) I’m Kaliyah Cherubin, and I’ve lived in Florida, specifically Miami, my whole life–though I’m only the second generation here as both sides of my family flow from the lovely island of Haiti.
I’m thrilled to be spending my fall semester in Chiang Mai, Thailand as my first introduction to Tufts. Traveling has always been on my bucket list, because there’s so much of the world to learn from and live through–how could I stay in just one place? Between visiting the famous elephant sanctuary and enjoying the warm conversations with our Thai neighbors, the Civic Semester is starting off my first-year wonderfully.
And although the travel will be lovely, I’m eager to continue my role as a civic catalyst from Miami to Thailand and many areas around the world in the future! Apart from meeting new people and learning (and loving) new cultures, the outdoor activities of hiking and biking are some to look forward to and hobbies I aim to keep when back in Boston.
Back home (at Tufts), you may find me experimenting further outdoors taking landscape photography, on a skateboard or rollerblades, or indoors in the library, producing orchestral masterpieces or comfortably rewatching childhood animated movies–headphones often on, but trust we can always chat ;). If neither, perhaps the Faneuil Hall Marketplace in downtown Boston, where I’ll probably be singing along to an underground worldchanging musician where music meets soul and Spirit.
Wherever I am, it’ll always start with people–learning, helping, and laughing with them, and I couldn’t be more grateful that it starts with change in Thailand.

Naya Chopra is an aspiring health equity focused policymaker from Virginia. She’s worked anywhere from the tennis court (and misses her silly kids dearly!!) to political campaigns, volunteered to help register people to vote + worked with young folks interested in STEM, and is programming director for the young dems chapter in her area. When she’s not talking for change (door knocking), talking to friends, or talking to lovely strangers on the street, she plays tennis and frisbee, dives as a certified PADI scuba diver, and is a self proclaimed semi-pro photographer. As an organizer and advocate herself, Naya aspires to amplify the voices of her lovely peers (she’s certainly not one to stay quiet). She’s incredibly excited for her civic semester adventure :)

Raised in Massachusetts, Janessa is excited to broaden her horizons (literally) and travel to Peru for the Civic Semester. Over the past four years she has been involved with numerous projects and activities. Some of her favorites include teaching peers about civic engagement on a municipal level and helping run a youth outdoor STEM/hiking program. When not scrutinizing over schoolwork she bounces around spending time with her family, crafting, enjoying nature and life in general. A jewelry and tchotchke-enthusiast, she firmly believes the best projects use old materials. Drawn to community work and storytelling, Janessa is ready to embrace the unknown and the wonderful mess of trying to be good without always knowing how. She’s curious about psychology and hopes to bring a fresh perspective and humility into her future in healthcare. With the right mix of nerves and enthusiasm, she’s ready to put her textbook Spanish to the test and connect with those in her cohort and beyond!

Brandy Gutierrez is a Mexican-American who was born and raised in Naples, Florida. She loves cross-cultural connection and learning about everything from Arabic to global inequality to poetry. Her passion for environmental and policy change has led her to volunteer with Citizens’ Climate Lobby, the Youth Action Fund, and the Florida Right to Clean Water initiative. She recently explored the intersection of land conservation and politics through her work with Audubon Western Everglades, and has facilitated international education through the World in Us. Brandy is excited to immerse herself in Thai culture, learn from local perspectives on sustainability, and share meals like mango sticky rice with the community and cohort during the Civic Semester in Thailand.

Sydney Hallowell was born and raised in Lowell, Massachusetts, before moving to Georgetown, Massachusetts, a couple of years ago. In her free time, she enjoys baking, going for runs, hiking, reading, and indulging in reality TV. Throughout high school, Sydney dedicated three years to community engagement, where she connected with the elderly, listening to their stories, and volunteered at her local food pantry. She also participated in impactful projects such as Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women’s Day and Orange Shirt Day at her school. Sydney has never traveled to Asia before, but she is incredibly excited to learn about the diverse cultures and histories of the region, as well as savor some amazing food. She looks forward to meeting new people and plans to study International Relations with a minor in Arabic, continuing her commitment to service and advocacy.

Lucy Henrich was born and raised in Oakland, California. A lifelong musician, Lucy has sung with the award-winning Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir for over a decade, touring nationally and internationally to countries including Germany, Denmark, and Costa Rica. Through music, she has connected with people across languages and cultures, fueling her interest in global studies and cross-cultural collaboration. Active in student leadership and passionate about the intersections of culture, identity, and social change, she is excited to begin her college career by grounding her work in civic engagement abroad. Lucy looks forward to expanding her understanding of Thai language, culture, and community during her Civic Semester in Chiang Mai.

Ana was born and raised in a small town in Vermont. She loves reading, listening/playing music, crocheting, and being outside. She loves animals and has an adorable dog and 10 chickens. Ana is passionate about human psychology and hopes to work with young kids one day. She is excited to explore Peru and the language, and hopes to bring back a greater understanding of a new culture and their customs. She believes that traveling is essential to create empathy and is the best way to explore oneself. Due to her hispanic heritage she has traveled to South America several times to visit family, both Venezuela and Ecuador, and is passionate about continuing to develop her language skills. Ana is excited to embark on this journey and explore all the opportunities Tufts has to offer in the future. She can’t wait to meet everyone!

Tammy was born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan. She enjoys watching tennis, drawing, shooting on her film camera, scrapbooking, and traveling with friends and family. Passionate about leadership, she served as her school’s Student Council President and Secretary General of its Model United Nations Conference. Tammy is also deeply involved in climate activism: she founded the Taiwanese branch of Fridays for Future, organized youth climate strikes, represented the Arctic Angels globally, and participated in the 28th UN Climate Conference (COP28). She’s super excited to continue exploring the intersections of environmental policy and local culture by connecting with grassroots organizations in Peru. Tammy can’t wait to spend her first semester in Urubamba and make the most of this opportunity.

Axelle was born and raised in Kigali, Rwanda, and she carries a deep love for technology and a wild spirit. Axelle spends her time coding beautiful things, journaling, making playlists for every mood, and romanticizing life’s small moments. Axelle first discovered her passion for empowerment through teaching others how to code and leading tech workshops for women and girls. Alongside her love for tech, Axelle has always enjoyed acting and storytelling. Axelle is excited about the civics semester in Thailand. She’s here to listen, learn, and leave a little brighter than she came.

Hello! I am Tyrin Joiner, an incoming freshman and am very excited to participate in the Tufts Civic Semester. I will be going to Peru and am very excited to use the Spanish I've learned in school in day-to-day life. I was born in Pensacola, Florida along the Gulf Coast but moved to San Antonio, Texas when I was one and lived there for ten years before moving back to Pensacola. I am very excited to experience another big city, Boston, and different cultures along my way. For fun I listen to many different types of music, participate in sports and other physical activities, enjoy nature, tutor, cook, and learn about random facts. I have never been out of the southern USA and am very excited to meet people from all over the world. My dream is to graduate from Tufts and eventually join the FBI academy where I’ll train to be a field agent. The FBI has been my dream for years, I love to help people and I believe fighting crime is my calling. I hope that this program can give me new experiences and better help me understand more people around the world. I believe that through languages and cultural appreciation, I can better help people in my future.

Avery Lee was born in Houston, Texas, but moved around a lot during his youth before settling in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. He is currently hoping to major in Biology with the hope of becoming a doctor in the future. He enjoys listening to music, trying new food, and hanging out with friends. In high school, Avery enjoyed spending his time rowing, playing the violin, and picking his way through the abnormally large menu at his local diner. Avery’s time abroad awakened his curiosity towards new cultures and experiences, leading him to the Civic Semester program. As a part of the Chiang Mai cohort, he is excited for the opportunity to explore Thailand and immerse himself in its culture. He is also excited for the chance to practice civic engagement, as well as connect with a new community abroad.

My name’s Alexis and I was born and raised in Brussels, Belgium. There you’d often find me cycling, playing tennis or meeting with friends in some park. For the last two years, I’ve lived in Tanzania, finishing school at UWC East Africa in Arusha. While there, I discovered a passion for the outdoors. Hiking up volcanoes like Kilimanjaro and swimming in mangroves opened up my view to locations and peoples different to the flat landscapes of Western Europe. Surrounded by the beautiful Andes and Andeans, I’m so excited to start Civic Semester in Peru next year. My Peruvian friend has already briefed me on all things Peruvian (including the guinea pigs) and so I can’t wait to experience it first hand! I’m looking forward to learning Spanish, some Quechua and meeting new people and places in Urubamba!

Jonathan was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, and has lived there his whole life. He is a proud supporter of New York sports teams, in particular, the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Giants. His favorite activity is spending time with friends by playing basketball, getting something to eat, or watching something. He often reflects on ways he can help improve his community through both social and physical change. Although he doesn't travel much, Jonathan is excited to visit Peru and explore the opportunities it has to offer. He hopes to improve his Spanish and is ready to work at the local level alongside others who share his passions. He's excited to build new friendships and have new meaningful experiences while in Peru.

Kevin Nicolas was born and raised in Mesquite, Nevada. He is hoping to dual-major in political science and international relations. He enjoys gardening, baking, and playing with Legos. During Tufts Civic Semester, Kevin hopes to improve his Spanish skills and learn about the fascinating history of the region. He also wants to embrace the local culture and cuisine. He was attracted to the Tufts Civic Semester because he had never lived abroad, and he shares Native American ancestry. He hopes to challenge himself with such a unique experience and hopes to learn more about himself through his classmates, mentors, and adventures!

My name is Shelley Osbourne and I grew up on the outskirts of London in England. As if being an international student at Tufts wasn’t already enough, I didn’t hesitate at the opportunity to spend my first semester in Peru. Being a travel and language enthusiast, I look forward not only to setting foot on the continent of South America for the first time, but also learning Spanish, in such an immersive and authentic way. I currently study French, and I am excited by the challenge of studying two languages at once! Moreover, I am keen to explore Peru’s landscapes on hikes and excursions and my passion for gardening makes the semester’s focus on organic farming especially appealing - I will be on constant watch for techniques that I can apply on my family allotment back home. Most of all, I look forward to learning alongside, and building friendships with, like-minded peers as we navitage this exciting new experience together.

My name is Yeili Osornio-Castrejon. I am from Gurnee, IL but raised in a Mexican household. I enjoy going out with my friends and family. I love going to museums, trying new food, and listening to music from Adele, Sza, Karol G, and Selena Q. Throughout my time in High school I was involved in a lot of clubs, but the two that I hold closer to my heart is Oportunidades Para Todos (OPT) where I advocated for and helped a lot immigrants in my community and Bee Keeping. I hope to learn more about the Thai culture and politics and apply that knowledge to my dream career as an immigration lawyer.

Julia was born in Miami FL, but spent most of her life growing up on Mt. Desert Island in Maine. She fell in love with exploring new adventures in nature, specifically swimming, hiking or just spending a nice day out in the sun. Throughout her life, Julia saw the importance of language and culture from her father who taught her all about his life in Puerto Rico and the love he had for his community. Julia continued to explore her love for linguistics and culture in her school years where she learned French from Kindergarten until 9th grade and then took all the Spanish classes her high school had to offer. The Civic Semester Peru program will be Julia’s first time in South America and she is so excited to dive into a new adventure where she can be immersed with a new language, new communities and in a way, a new version of life.

Shuntavi Schuman-Olivier grew up in Lexington, Massachusetts. She is happiest when on her nighttime runs, hikes in the White Mountains, playing ultimate, sewing, singing, throwing pottery, and writing. She was originally drawn to Tufts because of the Tisch College’s emphasis on community building and service to others—values that resonate deeply with her. Throughout high school, she worked to combat the mental health crisis in her region fueled by the social isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic. For patients at a local Cambridge hospital, she produced newsletters that promoted mental wellness self-care practices and facilitated connection. She is excited to connect with and learn from the indigenous communities of Urubamba, especially through the lenses of community health, arts, and education. Having never learned Spanish before, she is looking forward to language classes and the opportunity to be immersed in a totally new culture.

Flora was born in Beijing, China and went to school in Dallas, Texas for 5 years. She has moved between China and the US multiple times throughout her middle and high school, gaining an appreciation for different cultures and perspectives. In her free time, Flora enjoys creative writing, watching movies, visiting museums and traveling. Through her traveling and participation in summer programs, she has made friends from all over the world. Being bilingual in English and Chinese, Flora’s passion for languages led her to study Latin at school and French on her own. Flora is always eager to experience new cultures and customs because she believes seeing different layers of the world helps us better understand our place in it. After visiting Thailand when she was ten and being immediately mesmerized by it, she cannot wait to return to that land once again not as a tourist, but as a learner, an observer, and a participant.