STEM Ambassadors Team

Sophia Hamdan

Before arriving at Tufts in 2021, Sophia earned her Bachelor's degree in English Literature from the University of Mary Washington and a Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from Boston College. She completed her second Master’s degree in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Leadership here at Tufts in May 2024 and conducted research on the STEM Ambassadors program to learn more about how the program impacts the Ambassadors. You can read her thesis on ProQuest here!

As the Program Administrator overseeing the STEM Ambassador program, she is responsible for the successful execution of the program and the professional development of the Ambassadors. Sophia is the main contact for Tufts' community partners regarding the STEM Ambassadors program and within the Engineering Ambassadors Network for Tufts.

Alexa Santa Cruz

Mechanical Engineering
Class of 2027

Extracurricular Activities: Tufts Encendido, Tufts Society of Women Engineers, Tufts Mechanical Engineering DEIJ Board, Tufts First Gen Collective, Society of Latinx Engineers

Internship/Research Experience: I've interned at Medtronic 2 times in the last 2 years, and I interned at Agencia ALPHA for 3 years, a non-profit in Roxbury MA, advocating for immigrants and helping legal work for citizenship.

What I want students to get out of our visits: To never be afraid to ask questions, and don't worry if your passions and curiosity doesn't align with others because everyone sparks differently!

Annika von Schoeler-Ames

Biology and Biotechnology
Class of 2026

Extracurricular Activities: Tufts Ballroom, Tufts Breakthrough Research Journal, Tufts Bio Research

Internship/Research Experience: HPV research in the Munger lab

What I want students to get out of our visits: I love learning about what others are passionate about and sharing my own interests. As a STEM ambassador, I want to help students get curious and excited about science and feel empowered on their path. I've benefited immensely from strong mentorship and I hope to share my enthusiasm for science with the community.

Christina Nguyen

Biochemistry
Class of 2025

Extracurricular Activities: Cancer Outreach Club, Tufts Biology Research Club, Leonard Carmichael Society, Vietnamese Student Club

Internship/Research Experience: Student Researcher Assistant in the Freudenreich Lab; Research Intern at Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center part of the YES for CURE program; Intern at Harvard School of Public Health in Zhu Family Center for Global Cancer Prevention); Student in Visiting and Early Research Scholars' Experiences Program (VERSE) program

What I want students to get out of our visits: I want to use my interest in biology, passion for scientific research, enthusiasm for inquiry, and background as a first-generation college student to promote learning and scientific curiosity among underrepresented youth populations. I strive to empower and mentor students to explore their unanswered questions, to participate in active learning, and to pursue STEM fields in higher education. Through leading creative STEM activities for students, teaching novel topics, and engaging with the community, I hope that students can realize their potential to problem solve, overcome challenges, voice their passions, and have fun!

Claire Lee

Computer Science
Class of 2027

Extracurricular Activities: Tufts JumboCode, Tufts Women in Computer Science, Society of Women Engineers, Korean Student Association

Internship/Research Experience: HDI Research at New York University Agile Robotics and Perception Lab, Break Through Tech AI Scholar at MIT, and Intern at Girls Who Code.

What I want students to get out of our visits: Being a STEM Ambassador provides a unique opportunity to inspire the next generation of scientists, technologists, engineers, and mathematicians. By sharing my passion for STEM fields, I can contribute to breaking down barriers and misconceptions that younger students might have about these subjects!

Diana Nguyen

Biopsychology
Class of 2026

Extracurricular Activities: I am on the e-board for Tufts Gardening Club and Tufts Legacy Project, as social media manager for both. I am also a Beast Pre-O PL and First Center Peer Leader.

Internship/Research Experience: I am in the Weera Lab at Tufts University and Yi Zhang Lab at Harvard Medical School. They both are neuroscience labs that work with animals. I have been at both since the start of my Freshman year at Tufts and I love research. I love the brain!

What I want students to get out of our visits: I chose to be a STEM Ambassador because I am committed to reaching out to underrepresented groups, encouraging them to discover the wonders of STEM and consider pursuing careers in these areas. I think that it is so necessary for us to spread the word about the STEM field because I am someone who grew up not only as a woman but a poor person of color. I was never interested in STEM because I did not hear anything about it, until one day I was watching a TLC documentary about an asian woman who was in the STEM field. It popped up randomly and led me to dig deeper into what I wanted my career to be in the future. It is the entire reason I am part of the STEM field today. I strongly believe that kids everywhere deserve to know how incredible and enriching STEM can be, we can encourage and motivate them by showing them that they can succeed in STEM if they are interested!

Genevieve Hayes

Biochemistry
Class of 2025

Extracurricular Activities: I am currently apart of SOLES (Society of Latin American Engineers and Scientists), ALAS (Association of Latin American Students), and ISOT (Indigenous Students' Organization of Tufts).

Internship/Research Experience: I currently do not have any internship or research experience, but I am looking forward to starting down that road this school year.

What I want students to get out of our visits: As someone who found an interest in STEM in high school, I immediately wanted to be a part of the mission to share with students of the many opportunities and fields STEM has to offer. I firmly believe that if STEM education was accessible to younger kids, more would be willing to pursue scientific careers and think differently about our universe. The chance to reach out to high school students, to develop individual science projects, and to learn more about my own interests drew me to become an ambassador.

Iris Yang

Computer Science
Class of 2025

Extracurricular Activities: Tufts Robotics, JumboTalk, Leonard Carmichael Society, Wuzee, Women in Computer Science, Chinese Students Association, Society of Women Engineers

Internship/Research Experience: Intern in Manning Lab at Mass General Hospital, DEIJ research under Professor Chris Swan,  Break Through Tech AI scholar, Human Computer Interaction Lab, Multimodal Learning, Interaction, and Perception Lab 

Why did you choose to be a STEM Ambassador? I've always wanted to support my community and share my passions of STEM in the hopes of inspiring others to pursue the field as well. I'm grateful to those who have helped me along in my journey and I now want to pass along my knowledge so they can understand STEM's impact in the world around them. 

Isabella Sidoruk

Cognitive and Brain Science, and Science, Technology, and Society
Class of 2025

Extracurricular Activities: At Tufts, I am president of the mental health club, Active Minds, and on the E-board for Girls in Stem, Girl Gains, Breakthrough Undergraduate Research Journal, Parnassus Creative Writing Club, and PEW. I am also a member of Thalia, and on the side enjoy baking, reading, playing music, going to the gym and skiing. 

Internship/Research Experience: I have been an undergraduate researcher in the Tufts Applied Cognition Lab since the summer of 2021, and through that experience have been able to lead two studies, both registered reports, which I have presented at conferences, including the annual New England Psychological Association (NEPA) conference. As a Laidlaw scholar, I have been funded to explore my research interests more, and I also took the opportunity to go to Colombia in the summer of 2023 for an internship where I could apply my research skills in the real world. 

Why did you choose to be a STEM Ambassador? I chose to be a STEM Ambassador because I am extremely passionate about science and technology and have a deep rooted belief in the transformative power of education and the impact it can have on society. By bridging the gender gap in these STEM fields, I hope to empower and inspire more women and girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. I am also excited to engage with the community and schools, creating opportunities to share my knowledge and enthusiasm with others. I aim to leave a lasting impression on future generations, nurture young minds and encourage them to embrace the limitless possibilities of the STEM world.

Jayleah Garvin

Biology
Class of 2027

Extracurricular Activities: Tufts Robotics, JumboTalk, Leonard Carmichael Society, Wuzee, Women in Computer Science, Chinese Students Association, Society of Women Engineers

Internship/Research Experience: Intern in Manning Lab at Mass General Hospital, DEIJ research under Professor Chris Swan, Break Through Tech AI scholar, Human Computer Interaction Lab, Multimodal Learning, Interaction, and Perception Lab

Why did you choose to be a STEM Ambassador? I want students to be able to feel confident in their ability to work in the STEM field!

Julia Rivera

Biomedical Engineering 
Class of 2026

Extracurricular Activities: Tufts Running Club, BEST

Internship/Research Experience: Dana-Farber Cancer Center/Mass General Hospital

Why did you choose to be a STEM Ambassador? To meet new people and educate younger students about STEM careers.

Lawer Nyako

Computer Science and Human Factors Engineering 
Class of 2027

Internship/Research Experience: I have been a computer intern at Con-Edison since December 2022, during the school year I work remotely. I also participated in a NACME run externship at Boston Scientific.

Why did you choose to be a STEM Ambassador? I want students to be engaged and enjoy the class visits so much that it makes it easier for them to remember the topic. So if they ever come across the topic discussed in the future, they would be able to remember that a STEM ambassador taught them about it.

Leonid Sakjov

Physics and Math 
Class of 2025

Extracurricular Activities: I am president of the International Club, event coordinator of the Society of Physics Students, and I work as a TA for introductory physics courses.

Internship/Research Experience: I have done research in the Department of Physics and Astronomy with Prof. Anna Sajina on counting galaxies with and PhD student Valentina LaTorre on the application of machine learning to classifying observations of galaxies.

Why did you choose to be a STEM Ambassador? Before entering high school, I saw Physics as a field that was entirely inaccessible, really difficult, and a bit boring. I then had the privilege of being taught in high school by an incredible woman who both sparked my curiosity for the physical world and showed me that there was no stereotypical image of a physicist: anyone with a passion, a dedication, and appropriate resources could pursue Physics. I have since done my best to spread this message and to inspire a similar curiosity for the world.

Maheen Ali

Biopsychology and Biotechnology 
Class of 2026

Extracurricular Activities: DREAM, Queer Desis, Project Connect, NeuroNetwork, FIRST Asians

Internship/Research Experience: Lab Technician for the Neuromechanics and Biomimetic Devices Lab (current) and Psychopharmacology Lab (previous)

Why did you choose to be a STEM Ambassador? It perfectly combines my passion for neuroscience and biotechnology with education and teaching. My dedication is mainly to outreach for first-generation, low-income students like myself. Having experience teaching students of all ages, I understand the profound impact that engaging, hands-on activities can have on young minds. This goes for especially those who may not have had many opportunities to explore STEM fields. I hope to inspire the next generation of innovators and collaborators, particularly those from underrepresented communities, showing them the limitless possibilities within STEM.

Nery Matias Calmo

Biomedical Engineering
Class of 2025

Extracurricular Activities: UIJ (United for Immigrant Justice) // ISOT (Indigenous Students at Tufts) // SOLES (Society of Latinx Engineers and Scientists) // Latinx Center Programming Intern

Internship/Research Experience: GBM Research at Harvard P. H. Chan of Public Health

Why did you choose to become a STEM Ambassador? Coming from the Greater Boston Area, I know what’s it like being brought up in the public education system and how difficult it may be for students to be exposed to beneficial programs that make getting a higher education possible. Being a stem ambassador would not only help me gain the confidence to lead and teach, but also give me the ability to spark change in the community by providing information that helped me navigate through high school and college.

Omar Da'darah

Biomedical Engineering
Class of 2026

Extracurricular Activities: Resident Assistant, Tufts Arab Students Association, Tufts Muslim Students Association, Tufts Pre-Med Society, Tufts Timmy Global Health, Tufts SOLES, Equity Learning Assistant

Internship/Research Experience: Current LSAMP scholar conducting research in the Kaplan Lab intestinal tissue engineering group working on a 3D model of the human intestine to study gut brain interactions and the gut brain axis, EMT class experience with hands-on fieldwork

Why did you choose to become a STEM Ambassador? I chose to be a STEM Ambassador because I am driven by a deep passion for science and a strong desire to inspire and empower others in these fields. I believe in the transformative power of education and outreach, particularly in engaging young minds and fostering curiosity and enthusiasm for STEM disciplines. As a STEM Ambassador, I aim to contribute to changing the narrative surrounding STEM and challenging stereotypes that may hinder participation, especially among underrepresented groups. I see this role as an opportunity not only to share my knowledge and experiences but also to learn and grow as a communicator and leader. By engaging in outreach activities, such as giving presentations and conducting hands-on activities, I hope to make STEM more accessible and relatable to diverse audiences, ultimately opening doors to new opportunities and possibilities. Moreover, in my upbringing and community, there wasn’t a strong representation in STEM disciplines. This lack of visibility inspired me to motivate and empower others, ensuring that more people from diverse backgrounds feel encouraged to pursue STEM.

Serena Meng

Biology
Class of 2025

Extracurricular Activities: FOCUS leader, Leonard Carmichael Society, Strong Women Strong Girls, TEDxTufts

Internship/Research Experience: Bioengineering research in Levin Lab.

Why did you choose to be a STEM Ambassador? In hopes that my stories and experiences could serve as a helpful resource for those who might be intrigued yet uncertain about delving into the broad world of STEM. I am confident that in sharing the very subjects that initially captivated me within STEM, I will also learn about other topics I have yet to explore. Through empowering students to share their own knowledge and curiosity, I hope to show them that they possess the ability to create a positive impact on the world through STEM.

Varun Sasisekharan

Biochemistry
Class of 2025

Extracurricular Activities: The Beelzebubs, Tufts Chemistry Department DEIJ Committee, Undergraduate Research Intern at MGH Brain Tumor Research Center

Internship/Research Experience: I've spent several summers in the past working broadly on antibody development / applications (in both human and canine systems). I am currently working in a neuro-oncology lab that studies the genomic drivers of brain metastasis!

Why did you choose to be a STEM Ambassador? Outreach programs have played a significant role in the way I view education and the way I’ve interacted with curricula both as a student and as a student-educator; as a STEM Ambassador, I hope to pass my experiences along to younger students.

Cansu Birsen

Computer Science & Engineering Psychology
Class of 2025

"I am grateful for people who supported me through my journey of becoming a Computer Science student as a female, low-income, international student, and I would like to be there for student from difficult backgrounds like me to keep this chain of support going."

Sam Goldberg

Biology 
Class of 2025

"STEM has historically been a field that does not value or consider diversity, equity and inclusion and has been inaccessible to so many. As a queer trans person in STEM I have witnessed firsthand how this lack of representation can impact young people who don't fit the typical hold of what a scientist or engineer should look like. I hope that as a STEM Ambassador I am able to contribute to the initiative of encouraging students of all backgrounds to pursue STEM and change the historic paradigm."

Daphne Garcia

Biology and Biochemistry
Class of 2024

"I love mentorship! I really enjoy talking to others about our respective passions and other's plans for the future. I had a strange path finding my niche in biology, and had it not been for great mentors and representation in the field, I might not be where I am. I also went to MA public schools and my mom works in them. Though I always loved science, I was discouraged because I didn't fit the demographic of everyone else in the class, and I would try to hide my heritage. I also wasn't excited by any particular field they taught in depth. I now love talking about niche fields in science that they don't teach in school. I want to help others see themselves as scientists and show them that there's always a niche field perfect for them!"

David Michel

Civil Engineering
Class of 2024

"Growing up in South Central Los Angeles, I was constantly amazed by the skyscrapers, freeways and infrastructure that make up downtown Los Angeles. At the same time, however, I was frustrated by how different these were for low-income communities compared to more affluent areas. This has invoked a drive to hopefully one day be able to transform the lives of people through the engineering of the built environment that values and respects the needs of those communities that are often left unheard like my own."

Dennis Bazan Tello

Civil Engineering
Class of 2024

"I believe everyone has their own story to tell; I always believed that every story could be inspiring for someone. Therefore, I want to share my passion for engineering and personal experiences with underrepresented and first-generation students like myself. I want to inspire them to not be afraid to pursue their interests in STEM because no matter the background one comes from or their life circumstances, anyone with the willingness to serve others and improve their talent can be successful in the field."

Fatimah Mumuney

Biomedical Engineering
Class of 2024

"I had heard it all before. 'You got this!', 'You can achieve anything you set your mind to!'', 'Nothing is impossible!' and the likes of other popular motivational phrases. It was not until I met another black Muslim woman, who had achieved great feats in the world of STEM, that these words of ‘empowerment’ really began to sink in. She had come to give a presentation back in my local high school in Nigeria, where she talked us through her journey into the STEM field. That was the eye-opening moment for me. If this young lady, with the same skin shade, same beliefs, and same background as me, could do it, then what excuse did I have for not doing the same? It was with this newfound determination that I began to apply to colleges in the United States with the hope of studying engineering. What seemed like such a faraway dream is now a reality in the making. I want to be, to another person, as this lady was to me. If there is a chance that someone might feel empowered by my experiences and learnings into the world of STEM, then I will more than gladly grab on to that opportunity."

Hamida Giwa

Biomedical Engineering
Class of 2024

"You might come from an unrepresented background and you might doubt yourself. But have confidence, find your role models and support system! Besides, you don’t have to be a genius to pursue STEM. Of course you need to be able to problem solve, ask the right questions, and be willing to learn, but you don’t need to have some crazy IQ or really high test scores to succeed."

Sandra Le

Biochemistry
Class of 2024

"With STEM being an rapidly growing field, I believe that STEM ambassadors have an important role in encouraging young people to pursue careers in STEM. And so, I chose to be a STEM ambassador to help make a difference in inspiring the next generation of mathematicians, scientists and engineers. As a STEM Ambassador, I also want to address the lack of diversity in STEM, as women and other marginalized minorities such as first-generation students like myself, are often underrepresented in the STEM field. I hope to be able to promote diversity and inclusion by sharing my own experiences and encourage students with similar identities to also pursue careers in STEM."

Tallia Dudley

Biomedical Engineering
Class of 2024

"I want to inspire and provide resources to students like myself. Having attended Lynn public schools for all of my education leading to Tufts University, there were not many opportunities to meet people in STEM who looked like me or had grown up in similar environments. That being said, I understand the impact of representation on one's confidence in their own ability. As a young biracial woman who was raised by a single mother in a low-income household, I know just how far out of reach things may seem. Because of this, I want to make sure kids in similar situations know that they are capable of anything they put their mind to."

Wanda Schlumpf

Biology & Biotechnology
Class of 2024

"Students should choose STEM because it encompasses every aspect of our lives. Behind every new product or innovation, there is a team of scientists and engineers making it possible; there is a true impact on society. Furthermore, there are so many different, exciting paths one could follow within STEM that the opportunities are seemingly endless."

Zainab Yaqub

Computer Science
Class of 2024

"I've struggled quite a bit over the years as someone going into a STEM career but I've really learned from all of it and I want to show that you don't have to be any specific 'type' of person to succeed in STEM!"

Bijan Harandi

Biology
Class of 2023

"I hope that students understand the importance of STEM's impact on the world and furthermore attain the confidence in themselves to pursue their respective STEM interests, regardless of their background."

Britnie Nguyen

Engineering Psychology
Class of 2023

"A new sense of curiosity and another perspective on topics! STEM is highly interdisciplinary - while the field may seem black-and-white on paper sometimes, there are many different ways to attack a single problem."

Cristina Arellano Chiroque

Human Factors Engineering
Class of 2023

"Just as much as I believe technology is never neutral and is always shaping our social fabric, I believe that embracing this tool of the future will prove to be a feat. I can see us rebuilding and refurnishing both the technological and social construct we live in by closing the distance between action and impact. As an aspiring web designer/consultant, I find that seizing this opportunity is what motivates me. Similarly, I believe that this effort is not done in the hands on one individual but rather a generational effort. I believe that by being a STEM Ambassador, I will be able to aid in this pursuit by helping others grow at their pace."

Enrique Rodriguez

Biomedical Engineering
Class of 2023

"As a first generation, latinx and queer identifying student in engineering, I never saw anyone like me growing up and involved in STEM in my local community. By being able to participate in STEM Ambassadors, I hope to impact and inspire someone like me."

Joshua Leferman

Math and Music
Class of 2023

"I am very passionate about the inequity within education in general. Many students cannot obtain a quality education due to financial constraints, and others are discouraged due to stereotypes. Furthermore, I believe that the current curriculum in schools are not conducive towards sparking interest in learning or creating passionate scholars. By being a STEM Ambassador, I can hopefully provide students with that spark and allow them to transcend their financial or racially induced barriers."

Leslie Jaramillo Martinez

Mechanical Engineering
Class of 2023

"Although my neighborhood wasn’t full of scientists or engineers, it was full of people who greatly inspired me. Their dedication and ambition have fueled my own. To me, engineering is much more than a career choice. It is a way I can help the people who raised me. Through designing and building, I will be able to provide some form of support to the community that has given up so much for me."

Marianne Chuy

Biomedical Engineering
Class of 2023

"I hope students learn that STEM can be an outlet for creativity, a place that allows them to think critically but also helps them dream big. STEM can push you to think in ways that feel completely foreign and confusing at first, but those concepts can later inspire you to think boldly and confidently when approaching a new problem."

Maximo Mateo

Chemical Engineering
Class of 2023

"I want to help other first-generation student to become excellent scientists, researchers, and engineers. Growing up, I didn’t see many engineers that looked like me. I want to inspire other students that are not well represented in STEM fields to contribute to the scientific community! As an ambassador, I want to help student think outside of the box through many hands-on projects."

Roshni Bhat

Biopsychology
Class of 2023

"I chose to be a STEM Ambassador because I am passionate about making STEM fields and content more accessible to underrepresented students. I still remember the role models and mentors I've had that have helped me along my path in a STEM-related course of study and I hope that being a STEM Ambassador will allow me to fulfill that role for someone else so that they, too, can envision themselves in a STEM-related career."

Steph Karam

Civil Engineering
Class of 2023

"For most of my childhood, I was that student. It was not until my sophomore year of high school, when a teacher recommended me for the Cooper Union Summer STEM Academy and the TA of the course was a woman of color currently pursuing a degree in civil engineering at the institution. It was after that experience, that I seriously began to think of engineering as a possible career. I truly believe that this experience was a defining factor in why I am a civil engineering major today and hopefully I can do the same for students of color as a STEM Ambassador."

Vanesa Gonzalez Torres

Human Factors Engineering
Class of 2023

"I want to show students like me that pursuing a profession in STEM is possible and to not let anything hold them back from doing so, even if the people in STEM fields do not look like them."

Zainab Olushoga

Biomedical Engineering
Class of 2023

"I chose to become a STEM Ambassador because I grew in an underrepresented community. Many of the kids I grew up with were so discouraged by the many obstacles in their path, that they never bothered to pursue their interests in STEM. I want to be there for younger generations and cheer them to overcome whatever stands in their way; to show them that someone who has shared their struggles, who looks like them, and someone that they can relate to has made it this far in their life. To show them how cool STEM really is and show them how STEM is an option for them too."