Meet Our 2025-26 World House Student Fellows

Perry World House welcomes thirty-five students to its 2025-26 cohort of World House Student Fellows. The group represents each of Penn’s undergraduate schools and a wide variety of academic backgrounds and policy interests.

“I’m delighted to lead an incredible group of World House Student Fellows this year,” said Alex Weisiger, associate professor of political science at Penn. “With their impressive and diverse backgrounds, I look forward to seeing what this cohort will accomplish.”

The World House Student Fellows have weekly seminars with expert faculty and policymakers who visit Perry World House, and work on a year-long client-driven policy project with an external partner like a non-governmental organization or government office. Throughout the year, WHSFs have the opportunity to meet policymakers in the field on trips to Washington, D.C, New York City, and abroad.

“The World House Student Fellows Program is a key component of Perry World House’s student engagement,” said PWH Faculty Director Michael C. Horowitz. “Through this program, Penn students are able to complement their studies with a broader understanding of some of the most pressing issues facing the international community, helping them bridge the gap between academia and the policy world”

The 2025-26 World House Student Fellows are:

Karam Alkaissy is a junior from the Netherlands majoring in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and minoring in Modern Middle Eastern Studies. He is interested in energy, climate, natural resources, and how they shape global geopolitics.

*Naseebullah Andar is a senior at the University of Pennsylvania studying Mathematics, Economics, and Biochemistry, with minors in Statistics & Data Science and Creative Writing. His interests lie at the intersection of biotechnology, energy transitions, and development economics, with a focus on how emerging technologies—such as gene editing and AI—reshape global governance, equity, and sustainability. At Penn, Naseeb is involved in many student organizations such as the International Students Advisory Board, TedxPenn, the Penn Debate Society, and the Penn Memory Club. He is also a University Scholar and a Penn World Scholar, reflecting his commitment to global engagement and academic excellence​.

*Reem Assi is a senior from Palestine majoring in Political Science concentrating on International Relations with minors in Sociology and Modern Middle Eastern Studies. She is interested in the role of global policy in safeguarding human rights, refugee and asylum policy, and post-conflict reconstruction. Outside of Perry World House, she is deeply involved in Dischord A Cappella, UNA-USA Penn Chapter, The Excelano Project, and other student organizations. 

Glynn Boltman is a senior from Reno, Nevada majoring in Political Science and minoring in Survey Research and Data Analytics, and Latin American and Latinx Studies. She has been involved in research since arriving at Penn, and has pursued her interests with projects investigating immigration policy, democracy, ethnonational divisions, and elections. She also works with immigrant families in Norristown through Centro de Cultura, Arte, Trabajo y Educación, hosts the College of Arts and Sciences Podcast, and is a Resident Advisor in the College Houses.

Ivan Boyko is a Benjamin Franklin Scholar and sophomore from Philadelphia, double majoring in National and International Security and Earth and Environmental Science with a minor in Chinese. He is interested in international climate policy pertaining to Sino-American relations and has a special interest in energy politics and sustainable development. At Penn, he is involved in Intercol, UPMUNC, IDEV, and CSSP. Additionally, Ivan is an avid hiker, art and culture advocate, reader, and cinephile. 

Madeline Brunson is a senior nursing student from Dallas, Texas studying nursing, with a special interest in psychiatry and intensive care. She is interested in global health policy and human rights advocacy. She is an award-winning writer at 34th Street magazine, a research assistant for Penn Nursing and Ophelia Health studying opioid use disorder, and dedicated player on the Penn Women’s Club Lacrosse team. She enjoys her past time by trying new foods, exercising, and watching documentaries. 

Matt Calumpit is a senior from Hawaiʻi studying Biophysics and Neuroscience. On campus, he serves on the Transfer Student Advisory Board and the University Council, representing Penn’s undergraduate transfer students. His research interests lie in health data science, where he develops data pipelines to study racial and ethnic disparities in mortality and health behaviors. He hopes to leverage his experience in advocating for transfer initiatives as well as his involvement in a variety of public health-related research and community projects to foster meaningful dialogue and change in the evolving fields of health data science and public health. Outside of Perry World House, Matt is a powerlifter and a flamenco guitarist, performing as part of Penn Fuerza.

Srijay Chenna is a sophomore from Delaware studying Bioengineering. His past pursuits in global policy advanced equitable access to modern medicine, specifically vaccines post-coronavirus. At Perry World House, he hopes to advance his understanding of global policy to compliment novel and accessible engineering solutions in healthcare.

Moira Connell is a senior from Pittsburgh majoring in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, and minoring in Consumer Psychology and East Asian Area Studies. She is particularly interested in international law, development, education, and U.S.-China relations. Outside of Perry World House, she is involved with Bloomers Comedy and enjoys crocheting, doing the crossword, and hiking in her spare time. 

Lily Davis is a senior studying political science with minors in psychology and anthropology. Her main policy interests lie at the nexus of immigration and public health, with a commitment to promoting safe and dignified migration and developing culturally-competent health care systems. While raised in Washington, D.C., Lily attended high school in Ethiopia and has spent significant time in Georgia (the country) as well as several countries in South America throughout her gap year and study abroad experiences. In addition to her studies, Lily works as a research assistant at the Penn Cultural Heritage Center, is on the leadership of Penn for Refugee Empowerment, plays on Penn’s women’s rugby team, and is the president of Penn’s Outdoors Club.

XL Fu is a senior from Singapore pursuing dual bachelor degrees in Economics and Finance, as well as an accelerated MSE in Data Science. He is interested in exploring the intersections between AI innovation, trade, and the global energy transition. Between keeping up with developments in the AI arms race, XL also enjoys connecting the dots between geopolitical events and financial markets. On campus, XL serves as a Teaching Assistant for Wharton’s Finance Department, a Research Assistant with the Penn Program on Regulation, and a Resident Advisor at Radian College House. In his final year, XL hopes to explore more national parks, play more poker, and climb the Beli leaderboard.

*David Garcia Maldonado is a junior from Oaxaca, Mexico. He is studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics with a second major in Mathematics. He is interested in indigenous rights, public policy, and Latin American development. At Penn, he is the co-director of SPEC Spring Fling Daytime.

William Grantland is a sophomore from Columbia, South Carolina studying East Asian languages & civilizations and international relations. His primary policy interest is in Japanese politics and diplomacy, especially in the context of a changing Indo-Pacific. Other policy passions include media and public opinion, democratic vibrancy, and LGBTQ rights. In his free moments, he writes for The Daily Pennsylvanian, does standup comedy through Simply Chaos, eats his way through Philly, and travels.

*Dedeepya Guthikonda is a senior majoring in Economics at the College of Arts & Sciences. She is interested in economic policy and its relation to shaping key fields, focusing on education, healthcare, and migration. On campus, she is involved with The Daily Pennsylvanian and the Dean’s Advisory Board. 

*Elena Kraines is a junior from Tokyo, Japan majoring in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics and minoring in Legal Studies and History. She is interested in reforming international law and intergovernmental organizations to better promote global peace and stability. 

*Vishal Krishnaiah, a senior from California, studies political science and economics with a minor in Chinese. He is interested in studying the emergence of new political and economic international blocs, as well as the shifting relationships between wealthy and developing nations.

Maya Kumar is a sophomore from Singapore. She studies Philosophy, Politics & Economics and Cognitive Science, with a minor in Consumer Psychology. She is interested in climate and sustainability, particularly how innovation and investment can drive equitable solutions. At Penn, she is the president of Girls into VC and serves on the board of DJ@Penn.

Ashwin S. W. Laksumanage is a junior in the College, pursuing a double major in Economics and Philosophy with minors in Mathematics and International Development. Born and raised in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Ashwin’s experiences living through the post-war period and people’s movement in 2022 that brought down the Rajapakse government sparker an interest in threats to democratic institutions in the third world- including right wing nationalism, corruption and cronyism, and economic mismanagement. They are also involved with think tank work in Sri Lanka, The Philomathean Society, Without a Net Improv Comedy, Benjamin Franklin Scholars, and Penn World Scholars along with “other bits and bobs” around campus.

*Eric Lee is a senior and biochemistry/biophysics major in the Vagelos Molecular Life Sciences Program who enjoys involving himself as much as possible in communities at Penn and Philadelphia. An undergraduate with a passion for biomedical research, Eric is a research assistant in the translational laboratory of Dr. William Peranteau in the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Though much of his time is spent investigating gene editing and drug delivery tools, Eric also has a passion for community health, which he developed after learning about compassionate healthcare delivery at the Aravind Eye Hospital in Madurai, India and meeting patients as a clinic coordinator in the University Coalition Hospitality Coalition in Philadelphia. Eric is involved in policy projects in areas ranging from vision health to substance use disorder at the Shelter Health Outreach Program, a student-led organization that engages Philadelphia’s unhoused population through blood pressure screenings and clinical referrals in over twenty shelters and meal distribution sites. Together with this group, he hopes to implement elements of the Aravind Model he learned while in India to enhance healthcare delivery in the United States. In his free time, Eric enjoys going on very long runs.

*Zach McGrath is a junior from Maryland studying Political Science with a minor in Urban Education. His academic interests include education policy, international peacekeeping, and sustainable development. Outside of the Perry World House, Zach works as a campus tour guide, serves as a research assistant at Penn’s Graduate School of Education, and is actively engaged in Philadelphia’s public sector.

*Keanu Nahmi Natan is a senior from Los Angeles studying Biology and Chemistry with a minor in Healthcare Management. Keanu is passionate about healthcare policy, urbanization, and agricultural infrastructure reform. His research interests span globally, including studying desertification caused by overgrazing in the Mongolian Steppe, and, the anthropological study of bioacoustic in aboriginal culture along the Pacific.

Outside of Perry World House, Keanu is a member of the PennTango Board and the Arabic Drum Ensemble. As a JHealth Medical Ethics Fellow, he explores critical ethical issues in healthcare with world class experts like Rabbi Dr. Akiva Tats. Being a member of the Tishkoff Lab in Perelman Medical School, Keanu researches modern human evolutionary history and genetic architecture.

Keanu recently received a Paideia Research grant to investigate the neurological effects of the didgeridoo. In his free time, Keanu enjoys playing the piano, reading, cooking Persian food, and calisthenics.

Noor Majeed is a senior studying Finance and Business Economics & Public Policy at The Wharton School with a minor in Political Science. She is interested in economic development in the Middle East, international trade flows, and geoeconomics. On campus, she serves as President of Penn Social Entrepreneurship Movement and Operations Co-Director of The WALK Magazine.

*Florence Onyiuke is a fourth-year student in the Huntsman Program, majoring in International Relations and Business with a minor in Spanish. She plays an active role on campus, serving as Director for Black Wharton Consulting, DEI Committee Chair for the Dean’s Advisory Board, and a Penn Abroad Student Ambassador. A third-year WHSF; her policy interests focus on migration, economic development, micro-finance in the Global South, and trade. She conducted cross-border economic development research in Ireland and South Africa as a 2022 Frederick Douglass Global Fellow. A strong advocate for global citizenship and economic equity, Onyiuke aspires to a future career at the intersection of business and international diplomacy.

Originally from Burleson, TX, Ruth Oyerokun is a senior majoring in Political Science with a minor in Hispanic Studies. A second-generation Nigerian-American, her multicultural background and international experiences—including studying abroad in Barcelona and researching asylum policy during a summer internship in New Zealand—have inspired her to pursue a career in diplomacy. Ruth is particularly interested in addressing development challenges such as education access and economic inequality. An avid language learner, she believes multilingualism fosters deeper cross-cultural understanding and connection. Ruth hopes to apply her global policy research experience and language skills in a future career that promotes international cooperation, peace, and development.

Sameeksha Panda is a junior from Pennsylvania majoring in chemistry. She is interested in the role of global policy and cross-national collaborations in protecting essential human rights for vulnerable populations, specifically regarding equitable access to healthcare, education, and migration concerning refugee resettlement.

Griffin Pitt is a senior from North Carolina studying Water Management through Urban Studies and Environmental Studies. Before coming to Penn, she took a gap year and interned at the World Bank, later working at a consulting firm in Costa Rica and as a Congressional Intern in the U.S. Senate. Her interests lie at the intersection of water security, climate diplomacy, and environmental law, with a focus on transboundary negotiations, urban stormwater management, and drought and flood resilience. On campus, she is a Benjamin Franklin Scholar, a 2024 Hayden Scholar, a SNF Paideia Fellow and a 2024 IUR Fellow researching the socioeconomics of water infrastructure. She previously rowed for the Penn Women’s Rowing Team, competing at the Royal Henley Regatta, but these days is more often found debating climate security policy over dinner, hosting weekly soireés or reading 20th-century literature.

Solemei Scamaroni, a sophomore from Houston, studies Politics, Philosophy & Economics. She is particularly interested in climate politics and geopolitics. Beyond Perry World House, she is deeply involved with the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy, Wharton Global Research and Consulting, Penn International Impact Consulting, The Daily Pennsylvanian, and the Penn Glee club. Solemei hopes to use her time at Perry World House to prepare for a future in policymaking. 

*Collin Schneider is a senior from California studying Political Science with a concentration in International Relations, minoring in Africana Studies and Spanish. He is interested in conflict resolution, transitional justice, and counterterrorism. At Penn, he is on the board of the International Relations Undergraduate Student Association, and a Benjamin Franklin Scholar.

*Evan Stubbs, a College junior from Denver, Colorado, studies Political Science and International Relations with a minor in East Asian Area Studies. He is most interested in Taiwanese foreign affairs, having spent a year abroad in Taipei, Taiwan, on a National Security Language Initiative scholarship. Outside of Perry World House, Stubbs enjoys writing crosswords for the Daily Pennsylvanian and exploring the city of Philadelphia (ask him for recommendations!).

*Ashti Tiwari is a junior from New York studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics with a minor in Data Science and Analytics. She is interested in global policy issues related to human rights, gender equity, and governance in post-conflict states. Outside Perry World House, Ashti is an opinion columnist for The Daily Pennsylvanian and a math tutor for the Weingarten Center.

Diego Varela, a senior from Hermosillo, Mexico, studies Earth & Environmental Science with a minor in Physics and Sustainability and Environmental Management. His research at Penn has primarily focused on the impact of climate change on the nutrient cycles of the oceans, involving fieldwork in Greenland to study nutrient fluctuations from glaciers, as well as the use of global climate models. He has also worked with his home state’s environmental agency to monitor air pollution trends across different cities. Diego is interested in leveraging climate knowledge to support the sustainable development of Latin American countries and advancing regional climate adaptation strategies.

Shivaek Venkateswaran is a junior from Atlanta, GA, studying Biology and Health Policy with a minor in Statistics. He is deeply interested in advancing global approaches to chronic disease prevention and management, particularly through equitable access to early detection and care. His work focuses on how health systems can harness data-driven policy, innovation, and community engagement to address disparities in cancer and other noncommunicable diseases. Beyond Perry World House, Shivaek is active in research, student government, and serves as a campus tour guide!

Carolyn Vaziri, a senior from Ohio, majors in History & Political Science. Her interest in immigration and refugee issues began after volunteering with a nonprofit dedicated to the empowerment of resettled individuals and families in her hometown. At Perry World House, Carolyn hopes to leverage her research background in international migration, technology, and business and human rights. Carolyn has experience as a research assistant for two advocates in the human rights field and currently serves as an intern at a public interest law firm based in DC. At Penn, she serves as an editor of the Penn History Review, mentors in Kindergarten classrooms in West Philadelphia through CSSP, and competes for the club field hockey team. In the Philadelphia community, Carolyn also works with the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, supporting the language access team with policy communication. 

*Amelie Zhang is a junior studying in the Huntsman Program of International Studies and Business with concentrations in French and Finance, along with a minor in Data Science. Raised in both New York and Hong Kong, she is passionate about global economics, particularly in its role in international relations. She is interested in learning about development and trade policy, and how they influence global markets and diplomatic strategy. Outside of Perry World House, Amelie is a Teaching Assistant for OIDD 1010 and FNCE 1000, and is involved with Wharton Women and the Wharton Communications Program. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, exploring Philadelphia, and taking long walks with friends.

*Denotes returning World House Student Fellow