New Tisch Scholars 2024 - 2025

Regina, a first-generation Ghanaian-American rising junior at Tufts University, is dedicated to addressing healthcare disparities and promoting mental health awareness. Raised in Worcester, MA, she witnessed firsthand the injustices affecting immigrants and minority groups. This drove her to major in Biopsychology and Biotechnology on the pre-med track, aiming to combine biology and psychology to tackle mental health issues in diverse communities. Regina's commitment to service is evident through her volunteer work with the Worcester Voting Rights Initiative, advocating for voting accessibility, and with the Red Cross, educating donors about the transfusion process. Her passion for mental health advocacy stems from growing up in a community where it was taboo, motivating her to serve as a Mental Health Rep on campus. Outside academia, Regina remains connected to her cultural roots as a member of Tufts' Caribbean dance team and an Africana Center Peer Leader. Through these roles, she fosters inclusivity and celebrates diversity within the university community.

Damilola is currently in her second year of college, pursuing a major in Community Health with a minor in Biotechnology. Hailing from Nigeria, her residence in the country ignited a profound interest in civic engagement and community involvement. This interest continued to develop over time, leading her to collaborate with fellow members of her church's youth group to organize food drives aimed at alleviating poverty within their community. On campus, Damilola is actively engaged in several organizations including COCOA, Tufts QuestBridge, and Timmy Global Health. Recently, she had the opportunity to partake in a medical brigade trip to the Dominican Republic under Timmy global health, where she contributed to providing healthcare services and care to low-income communities. Damilola recognizes the significance of civic engagement due to its ability to foster community cohesion and positively influence the lives of individuals across diverse communities. Driven by her interest in the intersection of global health and civic engagement, Damilola aspires to further her understanding through participation in the Tisch Scholars Program. 

Awo Ali is a sophomore majoring in Data Science from Hargeisa, Somaliland. Her journey began in high school, where she participated in a tutoring program for orphanage students, imparting crucial English and Math skills to empower and elevate their academic journeys. Awo's commitment to fostering educational growth extended into her gap year, during which she volunteered at Edna University. There, she played a pivotal role in enhancing the English proficiency of university students, further exemplifying her passion for contributing to her community's educational advancement. Through Tisch Scholars, Awo aims to enhance her civic engagement in education and mentorship, broadening her influence in communities and intertwining academic goals with social betterment.

Tyler Alphonse is a rising Sophomore studying International Relations with a minor in Spanish Language & Culture from New Orleans, Louisiana. His civic engagement journey began while he was in high school where he led his school's Student Activities Council by helping to coordinate events, food drives, and clothing drives for the less fortunate. Outside of academics, he is the social media co-chair for Tufts Black Men's Group, an Africana Center peer leader, Tufts Pre-Law Society member, and co-founder of AAFRO, a student organization dedicated to celebrating Generational African Americans and culture at Tufts. Through the Tisch Civic Scholars Program, Tyler hopes to develop long lasting relationships as well as make a positive and significant impact on marginalized communities.

Yaa is a rising sophomore at Tufts studying biology. She was raised in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, and other states along the east coast. In high school, Yaa was deeply invested in providing grade-level appropriate learning material to students of all backgrounds. She continued to help her community by volunteering at local clinics and hosting book drives for elementary school students. Alongside her academic pursuits, she finds joy in participating in cheerleading and various campus clubs, enriching her collegiate experience with diverse interests and activities. 

Abi Bayog is a rising sophomore from Massachusetts intending to study Biology and Civic Studies with a possible minor in Entrepreneurship. In the past, she engaged in Affinity Groups at her high school, interned with a public interest lawyer, and advocated for mental health awareness. Currently, she is involved in Tufts University Prison Initiative at Tisch College (TUPIT), a Civic Engagement Ambassador for Tisch College, and an E-Board member of the Tufts Chapter of Habitat for Humanity. After working as a nurse aide during her gap year, she developed a passion for reforming the healthcare system to be more person-centric and equitable, while working inside it to care for those in immediate need. She hopes to bring a willingness for vulnerability and passion to the Tisch Scholar program. 

Chinelo Chigozie-Nwosu was born in Nigeria, but currently lives in New Jersey. Chinelo is currently a rising junior pursuing a degree in International Relations. As a kid, Chinelo would often spend her time volunteering at her local food bank, recreational center or church. However, her civic journey escalated in her junior and senior year of high school. She served as a mentor to elementary school students for the Friends Program and was a member of a council, called Prevention Innovations, that helped address students’ concerns and reevaluate school values to better meet their needs. At Tufts, Chinelo continues her civic journey serving as Resident Assistant and a member of the Africana Advisory Alliance and Inter-Cultural Council in order to foster a more inclusive and connected community. Outside of the classroom, Chinelo is also a member of COCOA dance team, which is the only competitive African dance team on campus. Chinelo is excited to further her outreach to the greater Boston area community through the Tisch Scholars Program!

Elaine is a rising sophomore from Broomfield, Colorado. Facing the realities of what it meant to come from a low-income, immigrant background early on made it difficult to navigate the world when she had very different perspectives and lived experiences than those around her. Yet, this influenced her desire to use her privileges and increased resources to help others with backgrounds similar to those of her family. She began her involvement in civic engagement through various volunteer opportunities that slowly transitioned into more demographic specific work including technology tutoring and support for the migrant community navigating American society. Coming to Tufts and participating in the Civic Semester only consolidated her aspiration to continue her civic engagement with a more community-based approach. After returning to campus, she decided to expand her knowledge by involving herself with the community of Haitian immigrants through an academic partnership with ABCD Head Start. As she continues her education, she is excited to embrace the possibilities that come with being a Tisch Scholar and use them to further engage with people and foster a culture of healthy advocacy that prioritizes the voices of those in the communities she gets the opportunity to connect with.

Chinoyenim Hycent is a Nigerian from Houston, TX. She's a rising sophomore, pursuing a major in community health with a pre-med track. Chinoyenim is highly passionate about environmental health justice and the social determinants of health. While in high school, she co-founded ReDo, a company that made sustainable jewelry to promote mindful consumption and empower individuals experiencing homelessness. She also co-led a school-wide community service project that focused on mitigating the struggles faced by the homeless population and inspiring others to do the same in their everyday lives. At Tufts University, she is involved with the Tufts Legacy Project, KDSAP (Kidney Disease Screening and Awareness Program), and the Tufts Shokotan Karate Club. Chinoyenim's ultimate goal is to spread hope to communities worldwide by becoming a global health physician. She's excited to gain the necessary skills and knowledge required to develop effective solutions to complex problems in collaboration with others through the Tisch scholars program. 

Yashini is a rising sophomore from Dublin, CA. Due to her strong belief that the core of civic engagement lies in fostering community, she spent much of her high school life striving to bring people together. Yashini’s desire to improve access to healthcare/patient experiences led her to work specifically with mental health patients in various avenues. Through numerous leadership positions, she organized ongoing community projects to support patients in a psychiatry ward, worked one-on-one with physical therapy patients with neurodegenerative conditions, and carried out cross-cultural research on the quality of life of schizophrenic patients. At Tufts, she remains an active volunteer with the Brain Exercise Initiative - and continues to tutor students with educational impairments in her own time. In addition to her extensive work in the healthcare sector, Yashini hopes to “bridge gaps” by improving inclusivity through advocacy. In high school, her experience with Model UN and Interact allowed her to regularly engage with ongoing global issues, further education/sensitivity, and fundraise. She continues recognizing her Indian-American roots through SAPAC (the South Asian Political Action Community) at Tufts. Yashini hopes that her diverse background and experiences will be a starting place for further growth through the Tisch Scholars program. 

Sophia Kschwendt is a rising sophomore from New York City pursuing a major in International Relations. During her senior year of high school, Sophia got involved at the W.O.W. Project, a community initiative in New York City’s Chinatown centered around the intersection of art and activism. Sophia’s experience at the W.O.W. Project sparked a passion for political activism through community-building and art-making. Sophia also participated in the Tufts Civic Semester, a program based in Urubamba, Peru with a focus on civic and community engagement. In Peru, Sophia interned at a foster home and took classes that helped her reflect on her core civic values. Since being on campus, Sophia has gotten involved with the Tufts Asian Student Coalition and is very excited to work with communities in the Greater Boston area as a Tisch Scholar. 

Thea Loh is a rising sophomore, from Cambridge, MA. She’s in the combined SMFA/Tufts program, at Tufts interested in studying RCD, urban studies, community health and Anthropology. She’s been involved in community organizing since highschool, working at a food justice and youth development non-profit called The Food Project in Boston. At Tufts, she’s a member of the Tufts Asian Student Coalition, an editor of the magazine Voices & Rising, a volunteer at the student-run Craft Center, and a member of the Mountain Club, the Taiwanese Association of students at Tufts, and the club soccer team. Thea hopes to continue her civic engagement through Tisch scholars, rooted in community and place.

I am a rising Junior studying Computer Science and Quantitative Economics. My love for civic life and engagement has been largely inspired my experiences as a Indian-American Muslim growing up in the suburbs of Massachusetts. Coming from a marginalized identity, communities such as family, friends, my local mosque and more have been essential spaces for building up my identity and fuel my interest in community organizing. On campus, I'm a part of MSA (Muslim Student Association), Interfaith Ambassadors with Chaplaincy, and more!

Simrin Mehra is an Indian-American student from New York City who studies International Relations and Civic Studies. Her experience with civic life started from a young age – growing up in New York she was able to observe the inequalities around her, particularly in the public school system. While always passionate about injustice, her civic interests narrowed in her senior year of high school as she became interested in criminal justice reform and restorative justice. She spent months conducting a research project into restorative justice, interpersonal harm, and conflict resolution in relation to disciplinary practice in schools. At Tufts, she has continued pursuing these civic interests by joining the Petey Greene Program leadership team and further volunteering as a tutor with the organization. 

Jheili Montiel Huerta is a rising sophomore who grew up in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Her civic engagement began in high school, where she worked with non-profits and her peers to begin to bridge the language gap that existed in her community. As a child of immigrants, she understands the struggles that come with a language barrier, but at the same time, she holds her bilingualism as an important part of her identity. Living in a predominantly white town, she learned that often times minority community members get ignored and must be advocated for. Through her past involvements with civic life, she learned the importance of using her voice and, since then, has realized that any small contribution can have an impact. She hopes to further her engagement with her new community and continue to fight for immigrant rights. 

Teagan is a rising sophomore studying International Relations and Civic Studies. As a lifelong Medford resident, Teagan grew up learning the importance of grassroots organizing and coalition building. At Tufts, she is interested in studying human rights and the criminal legal system through a lens of ethics and morality. She is also interested in reforming international development for a more equitable world, a topic she explored while participating in the Civic Semester in Peru. On campus, she is involved in the Tufts University Prison Initiative, writes for the Tufts Daily, and is an Oslo Scholar. Teagan is excited to learn and grow as a Tisch Scholar and continue her journey as an activist for social change. 

In high school, I engaged in civic life as a proctor. Having been both a day and boarding student, as a proctor, I had the responsibility of fostering a fun, comfortable environment for domestic and international boarding students. I see civic life as active engagement in the concerns of the community, and having lived on campus and possessing this role, my job was to do just that. Living on campus meant that the boarding community was the most prevalent in my life, and for me, participating in civic life is about more than just attending meetings or volunteering for causes; it's about actively engaging with the people around me, building meaningful connections, and creating positive change, one interaction at a time. I continued to develop experience in civic life through this role by organizing community-building events or by simply lending a listening ear to those in need. Through my continued involvement in civic life, I hope to continue to make a difference in the lives of others. 

Nia Oparaji is a Nigerian-American student from New Jersey planning to major in Political Science and English. For Nia, community building, social justice, and civic engagement have always been a core aspect of her extracurricular life. After the start of quarantine during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Nia volunteered at her church where she helped the new Grab-and-Go ministry, a ministry dedicated to providing healthy, easily accessible food safely during the pandemic. As an avid participant in her high school’s cultural competency programming, Nia also helped plan and promote various events to expand her and her peers’ worldviews. At Tufts, Nia has gotten involved with the Mock Trial Team and Tufts Legacy Project. Nia feels incredibly grateful to have been selected to join the Tisch Scholars program and looks forward to strengthening her community-building skills and serving her new community!

Harshit Pal is a first-generation Indian-American rising sophomore from Tewksbury, Massachusetts, planning to major in Political Science with a minor in Entrepreneurship. His interest in civic engagement sparked in high school when he became the student body representative for his town's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, creating events to help educate town members on DEI and foster an inclusive space with equal opportunity amongst all. He also interned for his hometown state representative, helping plan and execute events such as fundraisers and community outreach programs, while interacting with constituents to help address their concerns. Since his time at Tufts, Harshit has been an avid member of the South Asian Political Action Committee and a proud student dining worker. He is incredibly excited to join the Tisch Scholars program, and is ready to explore the concept of civic life with other amazing scholars as well.