Perry World House Announces Graduate Associates for 2024-25 Academic Year

Perry World House (PWH), the University of Pennsylvania's home for global affairs, has selected twenty students for the 2024-25 cohort of our Graduate Associates Program.

The group draws from the University's graduate schools, bringing together perspectives and expertise from many disciplines to our flagship program for graduate students. Over the course of the academic year, graduate associates will engage with our community of experts and scholars and develop skills relevant to shaping policy in their areas of study.

“Perry World House is thrilled to contribute to Penn’s graduate student experience with the Graduate Associates program,” said PWH Director Michael C. Horowitz. “This year’s cohort represents eight of Penn’s twelve graduate schools, proving that the program’s multidisciplinary nature is one of its greatest strengths. I am eager to see how these outstanding students will translate their work and research into policy relevance over the course of the year.”  

“It is a such a privilege to work with our graduate associates (GAs),” said PWH GA Director Regina Abrami. “This year’s cohort, representing a wide range of disciplines and research interests, collectively aim to influence public policy.  In the months ahead, I look forward to the great work that they will be doing to transform their important ideas into viable pitches to policymakers around the world.”

The 2024-25 Graduate Associates are:

Nicole Adrian is a doctoral student at the University of Pennsylvania in the history department. Her research focuses on the development of corporate agribusiness, inequality, and environmental degradation through financial policy in the United States during the twentieth century. Nicole holds a Masters of Public Affairs and B.S. in history, environmental studies, and conservation biology from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Prior to Penn, she worked as a public sector consultant for the U.S. federal government and in state level government.

Jaehyung Ahn is an LL.M. student at Penn Carey Law with a concentration on energy, security, and human rights. His interests lie in enhancing investigative cooperation across borders to address international crimes such as drug trafficking and cybercrime. He has served for over 13 years as a police officer in South Korea and has worked in various capacities, including the Presidential Office and the Korean National Police Agency HQ, contributing to policing and public safety policies. He earned an M.S. in business administration from Seoul National University and an LL.B. from the Korean National Police University.

Miles Arnett is a 3rd year PhD student in Bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania. His research focuses on investigating genetic vulnerabilities created by the development of drug resistance in cancer and finding ways to exploit these vulnerabilities therapeutically. He is also the Science Policy Chair for the Penn Science Policy and Diplomacy Group, through which he has planned and hosted educational workshops on science policy, taken part in a local advocacy team researching community gardening and green space in Philadelphia, and moderated a panel on responsible regulation of AI at the AAAS Annual Meeting. Miles holds a BS in Biomedical Engineering from Tufts University with a minor in Computer Science.

Kenny Calderon-Godínez is a 3rd-year PhD candidate at the College of Arts and Sciences. In his research, Kenny focuses on developing small-molecule synthetic drugs that can provide spatiotemporal control over opioid and dopamine receptors. Prior to studying synthetic organic chemistry, Kenny was trained as a biochemist and wildlife biologist. At Penn, he serves as president of ADSE@Penn, a team dedicated to providing mentorship and support to underrepresented students as they undergo the rigors of graduate school in STEM. Outside of Penn, he serves as a coordinator for Científico Latino, a 501(c)(3) organization aimed toward providing equitable opportunities to underprivileged students around the nation.

Leonardo Claure is a second year PhD candidate in the Perelman School of Medicine's Biomedical Graduate Studies Department in the Cell and Molecular Biology (CAMB) Program. He began his studies in Fall 2023 and is currently a student in the Development, Stem Cell, and Regenerative Biology sub-program. His thesis research focuses on applying stem cells to study neurodevelopment. His research interests center on understanding how government policy impacts scientific research, and to highlight the importance of discussion of emerging scientific technologies and discoveries in particular in the stem cell field. He graduated from Emory University in the spring of 2023 and holds a B.S. degree in Biology.

Sylvanus Narh Duamor is a Master of City Planning student at the Stuart Weitzman School of Design concentrating on land use and environmental planning. He is passionate about academic research that closely influences policy actions. His research interests focus on promoting environmental sustainability through climate mitigation and adaptation. Currently, he is working with Professor Allison Lassiter on developing a Water Supplement to the UNFCCC NAP Technical Guidelines. He is also involved in the Dakar Greenbelt project, which is part of the Great Green Wall initiative in Africa. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Development Planning degree from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana.

Matt Friedrichs is pursuing an MSE in Data Science at the Penn School of Engineering and Applied Science. His research interests focus on the development of artificial intelligence technologies in accordance with international humanitarian law, and he has previously conducted research at the Naval Research Laboratory and an operational Navy command. After graduating, Friedrichs will serve as an officer in the United States Marine Corps. He holds a B.S. in computer science and cyber operations with a minor in Russian from the United States Naval Academy.

Bayan Galal is a first-year medical student at the University of Pennsylvania. She was previously a 2023 Marshall Scholar, where she pursued a Master’s in Population Health Sciences at the University of Cambridge. Prior to that, she graduated from Yale College with a double major in Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology and Global Affairs and a minor in Global Health Studies. At Yale, she served as Yale College Council President, and was the first Muslim and first Arab Student Body President elected in Ivy League history. She has interned for the International Rescue Committee, the Council on Foreign Relations, and Save the Children; she has also volunteered as a Patient Care Coordinator at the HAVEN Free Clinic and as an EMT in the midst of the pandemic. Finally, she has extensive research experience, serving as a research assistant with the Cambridge Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Yale School of Public Health, Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs, and Yale School of Medicine. She has published on a range of topics including vaccine hesitancy in the Middle East and Africa, COVID-19 vaccine uptake, and healthcare access based on insurance status. Bayan ultimately hopes to pursue a career at the intersection of medicine and global health.

Avinash Goss is a Master of Bioethics student at the Perelman School of Medicine. His interests lie in the interplay of economics, ethics, and policy, particularly in the contexts of healthcare and novel technology. Currently, he also serves as an Associate at the Rodney L. White Center for Financial Research and holds a degree in mathematical economics from the University of Pennsylvania.

Sophia Jesteen is an MPH student at the Perelman School of Medicine, with a focus on health policy, administration, and innovation. She has experience in health equity and resilience, contributing to strengthening institutional responses to major health challenges in both federal and local health government roles. Currently, Sophia supports grant-funded projects as a clinical research coordinator at Penn Presbyterian and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, working to enhance patient care in emergency medicine. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Health and Societies, with a minor in Political Science, from the University of Pennsylvania.

Andres Jurado Coral is a Colombian LLM candidate at the University of Pennsylvania’s Carey Law School, pursuing a concentration in Energy, Security, and Human Rights. He is the recipient of the Dean's Merit-Based Scholarship and the Colfuturo Scholarship. His research interests focus on human rights, global justice, transitional justice, and the intersection between law and philosophy, among other interdiscipinary approaches. Andres has worked at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Colombia, the Norwegian Refugee Council, and other leading NGOs promoting accountability, memory, peace, and the human rights. He holds an LLB and a major in Philosophy, both from Universidad de los Andes in Bogota, Colombia.

Yeshwanth Mahesh is a PhD candidate in the Department of Bioengineering. His research interests lie in genomics and AI. He is interested in science policy, particularly in translating laboratory inventions into clinical applications to maximize research impact and safeguard public health.

Srighana Nadella is a fourth-year student pursuing a D.M.D. and Master in Law at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine and Penn Carey Law School. Her research interests lie at the intersection of global health, policy, and surgical innovation in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Srighana has co-authored numerous publications in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. She also has had leadership roles mentoring dental students and contributing to policy in oral health. This past April, as part of the ADA Dentist and Student Lobby Day, Srighana engaged with House and Senate staffers on Capitol Hill to advocate for legislative measures that address dental workforce challenges and advance accessibility to dental care. She received her B.A. in Biology from the University of Pennsylvania.

Kimberly Noronha is a doctoral candidate in City and Regional Planning at the University of Pennsylvania’s Weitzman School of Design. She studies the lived experience of urban informality in the global south, focusing on the production and use of space to create and perpetuate the intersectional urban identities and the inequalities of informality, poverty, climate change, and gender in India and Ghana. She employs participant observation, visual ethnography, photovoice, and participatory mapping to explore these questions and their implications for urban planning in rapidly urbanizing cities of the Global South. With over 15 years of experience in the development sector, Kimberly has worked on urban policy, livelihoods, education, and sanitation across India. She holds an MPhil in African Studies from the University of Delhi, an MSc in Development Studies from SOAS University of London, and a BA in Anthropology and Sociology from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai. Her research has been supported by Penn’s Center for the Advanced Study of India (CASI), the Mellon Humanities Urbanism and Design Initiative, the Center for Experimental Ethnography, and the Penn Presidential Fellowship.

Anthonia Odarkor Odartei is an MSW student at the School of Social Policy and Practice with a focus on criminal justice and medical Social Work. Her research interests center on addressing education policies, human rights and global health issues in developing countries and the marginalized communities. She currently doubles as a fellow at Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) and a Social Work intern at the Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Department of Community Education and Department of Pediatrics (Career Path Program) at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). During her first year, she worked as a research assistant on the Shared Decision-Making Research Project at the Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine. She also currently doubles as a research assistant at Penn Nursing on the topic "Re-Imagining Childhood Asthma and Electronic Health Records: A Community-Based Approach" exploring how medical information systems can be improved to provide better care for young, marginalized asthma patients, and at the Center for Guaranteed Income Research of SP2. She is school garden mentor at the Netter Center. She holds a BA with a major in Social Work and minor in Sociology from the University of Ghana.

Daniel B. Rosario-Paredes is a dual citizen of the United States and the Dominican Republic, currently pursuing a Master of Science in Organizational Dynamics at the College of Liberal and Professional Studies. His research focuses on how organizational structures and business practices can help Latin American manufacturers meet the demands of nearshoring while complying with the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and maintaining exemplary corporate citizenship. He is the Principal and Founder of Pan American Consilium, an advisory firm originally focused on Capital Formation for Private Real Estate M&A, which has recently expanded into providing Climate Finance Solutions. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from the Rutgers Business School in Newark, NJ.

Aleezay Saeed is a LLM Student at the Penn Carey Law School with a focus on corporate law geared towards corporate governance and minority shareholder protection Her research interests center on addressing the lack of women and diversity groups representation in corporate boardrooms and how minority shareholder litigation can be improved in developing countries. Currently, she is an Associate Editor of the Journal of Business Law at Penn Carey Law. Before Penn Carey Law, she was a student at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), in Lahore, Pakistan where she completed BA-LLB (Hons) in Law and Public Policy.

Joselyn T. Salazar Garcia is a dual-degree graduate student at the Lauder Institute, pursuing an MBA at the Wharton School and a Master of Arts in International Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. Her academic and research interests focus on Europe, with a particular emphasis on the intersection of policy, technology, and sustainability. Notably, she has published thought pieces on ESG commitments leading up to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Prior to her graduate studies, Joselyn held roles at Google and the Boston Consulting Group, where she provided strategic management consulting to private and public sector clients. She holds undergraduate degrees in Mathematical Economics and French, both from the University of Pennsylvania.

Patience Yeboah is a PhD student in the Bioengineering Department at the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. She works in the Rehabilitation Robotics Laboratory and her research interests center on robot therapy, brain computer interfaces and prosthetics. Currently, she is working on two projects in her lab where she is trying to evaluate the effect of HIV and increasing cognitive demand on the aging population in one study and investigating how cognitive impairment can promote the Learned non-use behavior in stroke patients on the other study. She holds a Bachelors degree in Biomedical Engineering from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and a Masters degree in Biomedical Engineering from Arizona State University.

Feifei Yu is a MBA student at the Wharton School with double majors in Quantitative Finance & Business Analytics and a Master in Law student at Penn Carey Law School with Finance focus. At Wharton, she focuses on investment management and building her AI platform. Before Wharton, she was Head of China Trading at Schroders Investment Management. She holds a master's degree in software engineering from Peking University.