Initiates at Santa Clara University (2025)
Janelle Abbott is a Sociology major with a deep passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion. At SCU, she worked as a Student Inclusion Educator at the Office for Multicultural Learning, organizing intersectional events and leading social media campaigns to amplify marginalized voices. She also researched gender equity in academia and served on the board of the Sociology Club. Janelle studied abroad in Dublin, Ireland, where she explored marketing in global business and expanded her interest in social impact strategy. After graduation, she plans to travel before pursuing a career in DEI and marketing.
Claire Alford. Claire (Absentee Shawnee) is a Public Health Science major and Biology minor. She is President of the Native American Coalition for Change, Senior Chair of the SCU Powwow, a volunteer Diabetes Program Patient Navigator at the Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley, and a 2025 Udall Scholar (in Native American Healthcare). She volunteered as an EMT at SCU. In the Wheeler Laboratory, she investigates nanoparticles. She is an ALZA Science Scholar and participated in the NSF CSN summer research program at UC Riverside and Four Directions Summer Research Program at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Claire will pursue a Master of Public Health at Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine after graduation, while applying to medical school. She hopes to serve Indigenous, Hispanic, and underserved communities as a physician-researcher.
Bailey Black. Inducted as a junior in 2024, Bailey is a Political Science and Economics double major with emphases in pre-law and the public sector. A member of the University Honors Program, he received the 2025 Shallo Prize for excellence in undergraduate political science and the 2025 Hazel Award for excellence in undergraduate economics. During his time at Santa Clara, he has served as the chief justice for Santa Clara’s Associated Student Government, a program coordinator for the Santa Clara Community Action Program, and a peer educator in political science and economics. A native of Kirkland, Washington, he has also worked as an intern with the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California, and the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office. After graduating, Bailey will attend Stanford Law School.
Cassandra Blake is double-majoring in Biology and Public Health Science, and was inducted as a junior in 2024. Cassandra does microbiology research with Dr. Craig Stephens and public health research with Dr. Kat Saxton. She won the University Library Undergraduate Research Award in 2023, studied abroad in Rome, and is a member of the University Honors Program. She has enjoyed interning at Recovery Cafe San Jose as a Valeriote Goldman Fellow, participating in the Markkula Center's Health Care Ethics Internship, and being a peer educator and teaching assistant for the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department. She hopes to attend medical school after graduation.
Cassandra Bull. Cassi is a junior at Santa Clara University, double majoring in Child Studies and Psychology. Originally from Kirkland, WA, she is passionate about supporting young learners and hopes to pursue a career in early intervention, particularly Speech-Language Pathology. For the past two years, she has led the Special Olympics program through SCCAP, coaching weekly practices and coordinating student volunteers. She also completed a semester abroad in Dunedin, New Zealand this Fall. She is currently a Clare Boothe Luce research scholar, exploring how adult feedback supports children’s vocabulary learning. Cassi also serves as rehearsal director for SCU’s a cappella group, Supertonic!, and enjoys reading, crocheting, and hiking in her spare time.
Kaitlin Dalpino is a Psychology and Child Studies major from San Rafael, California. Since freshman year, Kaitlin has been a part of the Belles Service Organization, volunteering in the San Jose community and doing 30 hours of service annually. She was also a research assistant in the Department of Child Studies under Dr. Brita Bookser, analyzing the themes that emerge from bilingual children’s books. Additionally, she worked as an intramural supervisor for the recreation center since her sophomore year. In the fall, she will be starting graduate school at CSULB to earn her E.d.S. in School Psychology.
Stevie Dean is a computer science major from Carmel, CA. At Santa Clara University, Stevie has been deeply involved in the Association for Computing Machinery, and in Theta Tau, where he served as Engineering Outreach Chair. An aspiring software engineer, Stevie has completed multiple summer and off-season internships at major tech companies, including Google and Apple, and will be returning to Apple’s Ads Engineering team in New York City for summer 2025. Outside of academics, he enjoys programming, cooking, studying Mandarin, and playing tennis. He was inducted as a junior in 2025.
Jackson Dwelle, a Biochemistry major and Entrepreneurship minor, was heavily involved with Into the Wild, leading outdoors exploration trips for the student body and working to cultivate a healthy campus community. He founded Viniculture Santa Clara to create a community where students and faculty can learn about the blend of art and science behind agriculture and winemaking. Jackson’s other experiences include interning with CarbonBridge at the US Govnt ARPA-E Energy Conference 2025 in DC, and participation in the 2025 Venture Capital Investment Competition regionals at USC. Next year, Jackson will continue following his passion for hospitality by working at wineries in Oregon and New Zealand, before hopefully pursuing a Master’s in Winemaking in Adelaide, Australia.
Tobias Enns. Tobey, a double major in Biology and Chemistry (BA), served as an EMT on campus for the past three years, two years as a shift lead and one as the organization’s director. He conducted research in bioanalytical chemistry in the Suljak lab, supported by funding as an Alza Corporation Science Scholar. Outside of school he enjoys spending time outdoors. Tobey has interests in medical care and public safety, with plans to work as an EMT in an emergency room after graduating.
Isabela Erfort is a double major in Marketing and French & Francophone Studies with a minor in International Business, and was inducted as a junior in 2025. She studied abroad in Nantes, France, where she interned as a teacher’s assistant at a local school. On campus, she has been active in the French Club and served as both an Orientation Leader and a member of the Leadership Staff. She also works as a peer advisor and assistant in the Department of Communication. These experiences have strengthened her interest in intercultural communication and global business. Next year, she hopes to pursue opportunities that combine her passions for language, marketing, and international engagement.
Anissa Fernandez. Inducted as a junior in 2024, Anissa is graduating with a major in mathematics and with minors in computer science and sustainability. Anissa has been awarded the Darin Butz Foundation Scholarship three times by the faculty in the Mathematics and Computer Science Department. In her senior year she was awarded the Paul R. Halmos Prize and was selected to be a Rick Scott Scholar for summer 2025. She served as the president of the Association for Women in Mathematics at SCU and the Vice President for Pi Mu Epsilon. In her free time, she enjoys reading and watching women’s basketball. After graduating Anissa will start a Ph. D in applied mathematics at the University of California, San Diego, where she aspires to combine her love for mathematics and sustainability to promote the betterment of the planet.
Lauren Fuller, a Biology major and Biotechnology minor, has been involved in research on behavior and parasitism of Embiopteran insect species with Dr. Edgerly-Rooks for two years. She was also engaged in philosophy research on topics within Black philosophy with Dr. Clardy and published her work in Prokopton, an undergraduate philosophy journal. Next year, Lauren will attend Texas A&M College of Dentistry in Dallas, Texas where she hopes to become a Pediatric dentist.
Katerina Gill is a double major in Classical Languages and Literatures and Classical studies. She has conducted research on Arval Brethren inscriptions with Professor Husser of Biola University and studied the work of female Latinists in Florence, Italy. She has worked for the Classics department and tutored Latin and Ancient Greek languages and was the president of Caesar and Eta Sigma Phi. Next year, Katerina will be attending University of Richmond School of Law.
Kamyllie Gutierrez, who was inducted last year as a junior, is a Philosophy and English double major, a dancer for SCU’s dance department, and a member of SCU’s competitive mock trial team. She received the Sourisseau Award for demonstrating outstanding achievement in the study of philosophy, including a linguistics-based logical argument for the dynamic theory of time. Kamyllie also received the Lievestro Prize from the English Department for her portfolio of three critical research papers— two of which she presented at conventions for the international English honors society (Sigma Tau) as the president of Santa Clara’s chapter. The third was her honors thesis, which argues that the film and entertainment industry should use a particular type of ethnic humor to bring attention to horrors faced by non-White communities. Kamyllie will pursue a career in law.
Sarah Herrington is a Biology major. She has researched the protein trafficking methods of the parasite Toxoplasma gondii for the past two and a half years in Dr. Guiton’s lab. She is an Ethics in Healthcare intern, the philanthropy chair of the pre-health fraternity Delta Epsilon Mu, volunteered at Kaiser Permanente, and has been a teaching assistant for Math 12 Honors and an introductory biology class. She will spend the next year volunteering through the Jesuit Volunteer Corps at L’Arche, a home for adults with intellectual disabilities, in Washington D.C before applying to medical school.
Vidya Jeyendran is a Psychology major from Los Gatos, California. At Santa Clara, she was a part of Rho Psi Eta, a pre-health sorority, serving as the merchandise chair for one year. She also worked as a research assistant in Dr. Sullivan’s lab in the Psychology department, where she wrote her honors thesis about the research she conducted on rejection mindset in dating apps. Outside of Santa Clara, she has worked as a behavioral therapist for children on the autism spectrum. After graduation, she plans to work in the psychology field while applying to graduate programs in clinical psychology.
Shiv Jhalani is a Computer Science Major with a minor in Mathematics. Originally from New Delhi, India, Shiv got involved with research in Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing during his freshman year, and is now a two-time published author. Throughout his time at SCU, he held leadership positions in ACM, Theta Tau and the Ciocca Center, and even worked at the Career Center as a Peer Career Advisor. He will be starting his professional career in Seattle as a Software Engineer at INRIX.
Lindsey Kendall is a Psychology major and Music minor. She has been involved with the Chamber Singers University Choir and her a capella group, Vocalicious, who were Quarterfinalists in the 2024 International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA). She has been working on research focused on second language learning in Dr. Jui Bhagwat’s Early Cognitive Development Lab, and has recently begun her own research study for her Senior Honors Thesis. Lindsey, a native of Boulder, CO, studied abroad in Melbourne, Australia and intends to embark on more international adventures in the future. She is excited for her upcoming research projects and her senior year at SCU.
Joshua Kim is a double major in Biology and Public Health Science who was inducted as a junior in 2025. He researched the structure and function of motile cilia with Professor Brian Bayless of the Biology Department. He served as an on-campus EMT, Health Professions Peer Advisor, Honors Program Class Representative, and a student worker at the campus library. He has a passion for serving the community and plans to partner with local organizations to combat food insecurity. After college, Joshua plans to take a gap year and continue his journey at medical school!
Cathryn Krajewski is a Public Health Major with a minor in Biology. She worked as a Critical Care EMT throughout her time at Santa Clara and did an internship with the Santa Clara County Department of Public Health focused on HIV prevention in high-risk communities. Cathryn sang in Measure Up, an acapella group on campus, and volunteered at San Jose Day Nursery in her free time. Cathryn will attend the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing in the fall to pursue her Master’s of Science in Nursing.
Claire Krebs is a junior double majoring in philosophy and neuroscience. She has served on the Associated Student Government Senate for the last three years and has worked as a program coordinator for the Santa Clara Community Action Program for the last two years. She has also enjoyed doing research as a Hackworth Fellow in the Markkula Center and as a member of Dr. Chen’s neuroscience lab. Next year, Claire will serve as the Student Body President. She is excited about making change on campus and beyond, and is passionate about civil rights, health equity, and combating gender based violence. Claire is planning for a career in law and/or public policy.
Elena Lugo. A San Diego native, Elena is a junior majoring in psychology with a minor in Spanish, and was inducted as a junior in 2025. She studied abroad in Salamanca, Spain, living with a host family to deepen her language and cultural understanding. For the past two years, she has worked in the Teaching and Motivation in Education Lab and currently serves as a peer educator in statistics and research methods. Outside academics, Elena is a certified barre instructor and a former member of SCU’s dance team. While looking to develop these movement-based interests beyond campus, she plans to continue exploring various paths in psychology as her final year approaches.
Thomas Joe Mathew. Thomas is a double major in Biology and History, inducted as a junior in 2025. On campus, he works as a research assistant in the Abbyad Lab, where he conducts microfluidics research on single-cell sorting devices for applications in cancer detection and immune cell research. He is also a writing tutor at the HUB writing center, assisting students on a variety of writing projects that range from class assignments to personal statements. His primary historical research interests include the history of medicine and the Gilded Age. Outside of school and work, he enjoys cycling and hiking. Post graduation, he plans on attending medical school and becoming a primary care physician and writer.
Sofia Messersmith is a junior University Honors student double majoring in Neuroscience and Biology with a Spanish minor on the pre-medical track. She serves as President of SCU’s Partners in Health Engage Club and is a Neuroscience peer advisor. Sofia also works in Dr. Lang Chen’s Lab of Cognitive Neuroscience and has assisted with clinical research for the University of Colorado Department of Neurology. Committed to service, she led the SCU Belles Women's Service Committee and volunteered directly with patients at the Anschutz hospital. This summer, she will conduct breast cancer research in Dr. Jennifer Richer’s lab through a University of Colorado fellowship. Sofia plans to pursue a career in medicine.
Agustin Pace. Inducted as a junior in 2024, Agustin is a graduating Economics and Italian Studies double major. He has been a part of leadership for the Men’s Ultimate Frisbee Team for the last three years and has served as co-president of the Italian American Club. Since his freshman year, he has worked as a research assistant under Evelyn Ferraro, where he assisted in translating Italian-American propaganda from the 1930s. That experience inspired him to pursue an independent research project, and he received the Provost Research Fellowship in 2024. Learning Italian drove him to study abroad in Milan, Italy, where he worked part time as an intern for a crowdfunding consulting firm. For his efforts in the Italian Studies Program, he was awarded the Richard F. Rebello Phi Sigma Iota Award in 2025. After graduation, he plans to apply to graduate programs in Italy.
Avinash Rajiv Patni. Avinash, better known as Avi, is a Psychology major who spent three years conducting research that explores the impact of generative AI and VR. He also served as a lead peer advisor for the Psychology Department for three years, giving advice to undergraduate students about their classes and workloads. He will present his research on the effects of mixed reality on social interactions at the International Communications Association later this year and looks forward to a career in UX research in the future.
Maylin Pollack is an Environmental Studies major with minors in Sustainability, Sustainable Food Systems, and Public Health. She completed an internship with The Conservation Volunteers in London, doing practical field conservation work around the city. She has worked at the Center for Sustainability as the Engagement Outreach student coordinator and on sustainability and food justice research projects for her capstone and other classes. Throughout her time at SCU, Maylin has been the event coordinator for the Club Swim Team and competed on the Nationals team all four years. Additionally, she has worked as the Copy Editor for the Redwood Yearbook for the past two years. Maylin plans to continue working in the field of sustainability after graduation.
Imaan Qureshi is graduating with a double major in Psychology and Political Science, and a minor in Spanish Studies. At Santa Clara University, she conducted developmental psychology research on how children learn moral lessons from stories, presenting her work at the Western Psychological Association conference, the SCU Alumni Science Conference, and the Provost’s Undergraduate Research Showcase. Her academic excellence earned her awards in both comparative politics and political philosophy. Beyond the classroom, Imaan worked at a local hospital and with children at the Kids on Campus preschool, gaining hands-on experience in both clinical and educational settings. She also served as a Senior Senator in student government and was deeply involved in campus advocacy. This fall, Imaan will begin a PsyD program in Clinical Psychology at Rutgers University.
John Redinbo is a Public Health major with a minor in Music. He was an arts journalist, Radio DJ, Forge Garden Apprentice, Valeriote Goldman Fellow, performer in multiple music ensembles and leader of game development in the Imaginarium lab. As a research assistant on multiple Public Health and Communication projects, he explored topics spanning the health impacts of early childhood experiences to self-image in VR environments, traveled to conferences in St. Louis and Queensland, and eventually authored a qualitative research study on game development working conditions. Next year, John plans to work as a Public Health researcher in the Bay Area.
Caitlyn Hayworth Rock is a Biology and Neuroscience double major and is a research assistant in Professor Laura Cocas's research lab, studying the impact of epilepsy and seizure activity on brain development. She is a coauthor on the lab's most recent manuscript, Adolescent seizure impacts oligodendrocyte maturation, neuronal-glial circuit Formation, and myelination in the mammalian forebrain. She is a recipient of the ALZA Corporation Science Scholars Research Award, and a 2025-2026 Healthcare Innovation Fellow. She’s also extremely passionate about medicine and children's health, and after graduation plans to apply to medical school.
Natalia Shaheen is a double major in Public Health Science and Psychology with a particular interest in the intersection of physical and mental health—a focus she explored during her internship at Recovery Café San Jose. She also performed in as many of SCU’s dance shows as she could while working part-time at a local dance and theatre shop. Next year, she plans to gain clinical experience in preparation to apply to a Physician Assistant program.
James Shepard is a double major in Psychology and Spanish and an Economics minor. He served as a research assistant in Dr. Bruchmann's social cognition and comparison lab and is in the psychology honors program. He played trumpet in several groups, including the wind ensemble, jazz band, and pep band. He also competed as a member of the club triathlon team. This past year, he worked as a tutor for the Drahmann center and as a desk assistant in Finn Residence hall. Upon graduation, he will be completing a year of service with Jesuit Volunteer Corps in New York City, assisting clients with public benefits applications.
Anthony Sukendro, a double major in Bioengineering and Biochemistry with a Biology minor, has worked as a student researcher in the SCU Microfluidics Lab for the past two years. He has also tutored for the Drahmann and Math Learning Centers for the past three years. He has worked on creating a wearable sweat sensor which he presented in Baltimore along with an intracranial pressure sensor for Senior Design. He will pursue a Master's in Bioprocess Engineering at UC Berkeley.
Andrea Villacís is a Psychology major graduating a year early. For over a year, she has worked with Dr. Kathryn Bruchmann of the Psychology department on two research projects: one investigating the effects of body shape mindsets with TikTok, and the other examining self-compassion and academic self-efficacy. Andrea also served as a peer educator for a Statistics and Methods Psychology class. In her free time, she enjoys reading mystery novels and playing the piano. Her upcoming plans include continuing her research with a stipend award from the REAL Program and gaining work experience. Afterward, Andrea plans to attend graduate school for either Developmental Psychology or Neuropsychology.
Ellen Woodley, known to most as Ellie, is committed to interdisciplinary learning with a double major in Psychology and Political Science and a minor in Art History. She studied abroad in Florence and completed a summer program in Munich, reflecting her passion for global learning. At Santa Clara, she worked as a student assistant in the Psychology department and interned at a domestic violence shelter, supporting their legal advocacy services. Upon graduation, Ellie plans to obtain her yoga certification and pursue a law degree. She is interested specifically in child welfare and public service, hoping to advance the greater good.
Annie Yaeger is a Sociology major with minors in Mathematics and Studio Art, and was inducted as a junior in 2025. She enjoys her work as a research assistant in the Sociology department studying disability and preparedness for climate-related disasters, and she had the chance to collaborate with faculty to develop an honors Difficult Dialogues class, serving as a peer educator in the course. Outside of the Sociology Department, Annie is involved in the performing arts on campus, taking on leadership roles in her a cappella group and performing in musicals and student films. She hopes to pursue a career using her data-based skillset to promote social justice.
Akira Zone (they/them) is a triple major in Engineering Physics, Mechanical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering and has a minor in Computer Science and Engineering. They were inducted as a junior in 2025. Apart from classes, they are a part of the Santa Clara University Pep Band, and are a founding member of the Santa Clara University Disabled Students' Union. Their dream is to create a world where disabled people can have the same independence and dignity afforded to able-bodied people by using robotics as assistance devices. For the past two years, they have been doing research on quadrupedal mobility assistance robots for the disabled and elderly. They plan to continue this project as their senior design thesis. After graduation, they plan to pursue a Ph.D. to continue working to make their dream a reality.