In which program are you enrolled and when is your expected graduation date?
Undergraduate Human Rights Major, graduating May 2026.
What is your research focus? What drew you to this particular issue/set of issues?
My research focuses on the intersection of human rights and public health. I was drawn to this issue because during my sophomore year, I worked as a research assistant for the Energy, Equity, Housing, and Health Program at the Mailman School of Public Health. In this position, I conducted in-home health surveys with NYCHA residents. This was the first time I truly saw the extent to which policies, neighborhood disinvestment, and environmental factors beyond a person’s control could negatively impact a person's right to health.
Which class would you recommend to other students interested in the same issues as you?
Human Rights & Urban Public Space with Professor Noah Chasin.
Where did you grow up? In which countries and/or cities have you lived?
I grew up mainly in San Diego, California. I lived in Virginia Beach for a short period during my elementary school years.
Can you describe any volunteer or extracurricular activities that you have been a part of during your time at Columbia and how this experience has impacted you?
I am a volunteer rape crisis and domestic violence advocate with the Crime Victims Treatment Center. In this role, I provide emotional and logistical support to survivors in three emergency departments in Manhattan. This experience has helped me become a better listener, problem solver, and communicator, since part of being a volunteer advocate involves developing safety plans with survivors and coordinating emergency housing.
Advocating for survivors in this capacity has shown me the strength of survivors. Especially noteworthy is how every survivor I have advocated for during my time volunteering for the Crime Victims Treatment Center has held at least one marginalized identity, such as having a disability, being transgender, unhoused, or non-English speaking. Hearing directly from survivors as to what had happened to them, many of whom were unsure if they would be able to obtain the justice they deserved due to the power dynamics at play, has solidified my decision to attend law school and advocate for survivors at a legal level.
