Global Fellows Bios
My name is Amaima and I’m a freshman majoring in International and Global Studies and minoring in History. I grew up in Pakistan and most of my comfort memories are around roaming the bazaars of Lahore, gathering at my grandfather’s house, and spending quality time with my entire family on Eid. I love cultural exploration and history and hope to discover more about the world we live in and what logic informs major policy decisions. I love learning about different cultures and languages and I speak Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi, and Arabic and I’m learning Japanese! I’m super excited to interact with the diverse cultures here at Brandeis and make some incredible memories!
My name is Willow and I am a sophomore double majoring in Sociology and HSSP, with minors in WGS and Legal Studies. I am Chinese-Mongolian, born in Beijing, and spent my childhood between China and Singapore, before coming to the U.S. at the age of 10. I am involved with various student groups on campus that advocate for women's empowerment, and I have organized with nonprofits in the U.S. and beyond towards gender equality and queer liberation. I'm currently taking Spanish at Brandeis, and hoping to study abroad in the near future! I am excited to be a Global Fellow this year and I am very much looking forward to meeting fellow multilingual and multicultural members of the Brandeis community.
My name is Kyra and I'm a sophomore majoring in Biology and Chemistry and minoring in Studio Arts. I was born in London but have lived all my life in India. I speak Hindi and English fluently. I took French for 6 years but I would say I have partial fluency in it. I'm a trained Kathak dancer, and love music, drawing, and traveling. I am excited to be a Global Fellow this year and get to know and share different cultures.
This is Ruiqi Cao and I am from China. You may call me Jesse since the name is difficult to pronounce. I am a sophomore and my majors are Psychology and Computer Science. I speak both Chinese and English while I am learning Cantonese and Japanese right now. I love playing games and watching anime and TV shows. I also enjoy cooking food for myself and my friends. I am really looking forward to I Am Global Week this year and making new friends!
My name is Mariama Darboe. I am a first-year dual Master’s degree student in COEX and International Law and Human Rights at the Heller School. I was born and raised in The Gambia, which is the smallest country in Africa. I got my Bachelor’s degree in law from the University of The Gambia. I am a first-generation college student, who is always inspired and fueled by the struggles of Gambian women who had different stories because of cultural and socio-economic biases. I have 6 years of strong working experience and a background in Girl's Education, Multicultural Engagements, and Educational Leadership. So, I love and enjoy working with women and girls, facilitating elevated conversations about gender, social issues, and youth empowerment. I’m looking forward to connecting, learning, re-learning, and sharing with other global leaders and citizens at Brandeis during I Am Global Week and beyond.
My name is Kamila, a first-year MBA student at the International Business School at Brandeis, with a concentration in Strategy, Innovation, and Finance. I also have a Bachelor's degree in Tourism and a Master's degree in Project Management, as well as experience in those fields more than 5 years. In my free time, I love running, traveling, reading, broadening new horizons, and exploring new places. I am an ultrarunner, did a fundraiser for children's cerebral palsy, volunteered from 2013- till now, and visited 27 countries. I am looking forward to connecting with everyone in the Brandeis community and learning about your rich cultures, languages, traditions, and experiences.
My name is Amy. I am a second-year dual graduate student here at Brandeis. I was born in Buffalo, NY, and have lived in Japan. I always felt that cultural difference was a massive disadvantage while living in Japan. After returning to the U.S., I met several people who are unique and I realized that it's great to be different. Through “I Am Global Week,” I'm excited to learn and promote various cultures as well as share my cultural experience as a Global Fellow.
My name is Nina and I'm currently a sophomore at Brandeis. I am from Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and I grew up there too. Before coming to Brandeis I spent a year in Tel Aviv, Israel on an academic gap year program at Tel Aviv University! At Brandeis, I'm majoring in International and Global Studies with a minor in Legal Studies and a possible double major in Business. I enjoy a lot of things (like cooking/baking, coffee, sports, philosophy, and traveling) and love meeting new people! It's my dream to travel to Tokyo and maybe someday even learn Japanese. Since studying in the U.S. I have come to appreciate different cultures and since students from the Netherlands are not as common at Brandeis, I love to tell people about my Dutch culture! I'm super excited to be a Global Fellow and introduce many different cultures to the Brandeis community.
My name is Alexandra, and I am from Bulgaria. I am still undeclared, but I am currently taking Python, International Relations, UWS, and Chinese classes. At Brandeis University, I plan on pursuing an independent interdisciplinary major. In high school, I was actively involved in different organizations and clubs. I was the chairman of the Fundraising Committee, the Creator and President of two clubs, and the ACS Representative in the Sofia Student Council, representing all schools from Bulgaria's capital. I love being part of diverse communities and am passionate about creating new ones, which is why I am also a co-creator of the first Youth Writing Community in Bulgaria. Throughout my experience in different organizations and communities, I have gained rich experience in teamwork, leadership, and time management. I have always dreamed of traveling globally and connecting with people from different backgrounds. I have always dreamed of getting a little piece of every culture and leaving a piece of my own- the Bulgarian culture. As a Global Fellow, I want to show the beauty of diversity while preserving one's cultural and national identity.
My name is Ana and I’m a junior majoring in Economics and Anthropology, and minoring in CJSP and LACLS. I was born in Mexico, and have lived in Brazil half my life. I speak Spanish, Portuguese, and English. I love playing the bass in my band, Olas de Surya, scuba-diving, and running. I also really enjoy cooking and trying new foods. I hope to share my own global cultural experiences and get to know the many others in the Brandeis community!
My name is Shamsi Mumtahina Momo. I am a freshman here at Brandeis and I plan to double major in Computer Science and Neuroscience, and minor in Mathematics. I am an international student from Bangladesh. I love painting, exploring new places, and reading. I am so excited to be a Global Fellow this year and showcase the diverse Brandeis community.
I'm Katie and I am so excited to be a Global Fellow again! I had great fun last year and would like to introduce IAGW to more friends in the Brandeis community. I'm interested in Psychology and Creative Writing. I love trying new food, and listening to music even though most of the music is in languages I cannot understand. Cannot wait to meet everyone!
I'm Sofiia Tarasiuk, originally from Ukraine. I'm currently on the exciting journey of pursuing an MBA at Brandeis University, and my heart beats passionately for the world of Marketing. When I'm not engrossed in textbooks and marketing strategies, you'll often find me donning an apron and venturing into the kitchen, where my "creative" culinary experiments can occasionally lead to some rather comical taste tests. I've perfected the art of turning everyday moments into unforgettable, laughter-filled memories with my friends. My insatiable curiosity fuels my desire to explore the vastness of our world and immerse myself in the rich tapestry of diverse cultures. I'm always up for a coffee or tea chat, so if you're interested in sharing a cup and experiencing the beauty of multicultural interactions at Brandeis, don't hesitate to reach out.
My name is Shiji Valsan and I am pursuing an MS in Global Health Policy and Management at Heller. I am an Ayurveda doctor, coming from Kerala, one of the southernmost states of India. I love to explore various cuisines and am interested in innovative cooking. I can speak Malayalam, English, Hindi and Tamil. I hope I will add one more, Spanish, to the list before I leave Brandeis. I watch movies or listen to soft melodies in my free time. Global Fellow is an opening to be involved in the Brandeis Community and I am excited to be a Global Fellow, to learn and exchange cultural diversities, have fun, and contribute to the community.
I am Anisa Yousuf, a second-year graduate student in the Global Health Policy and Management Program at Brandeis University. My academic journey and engagement in professional and community settings have equipped me with valuable skills in teamwork, leadership, and time management. I have long aspired to explore global travel and connect with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
As an international student from Pakistan, I am thrilled to be selected as a Global Fellow. This role offers an exciting opportunity for cross-cultural exchange and a deep appreciation for the richness of global diversity. I eagerly anticipate both the enjoyable experiences and the chance to contribute to our shared community's growth.