Meet the 2026-27 World House Student Fellows
Perry World House (PWH) welcomes thirty-one students to its 2026-27 cohort of World House Student Fellows. Due in large part to the program’s interdisciplinary nature, all four of Penn’s undergraduate schools are represented in this year’s group of fellows.
“I am thrilled to lead this important student program at Perry World House and look forward to engaging with this year’s student fellows,” said Melissa Lee, the Klein Family Presidential associate professor of political science at Penn. “Each fellow brings a unique perspective and academic background, which is part of what makes this program so special. I am delighted to see what this year has in store for all of us.”
The World House Student Fellows meet weekly with academic and policy experts whose work affects global policy. They also work in groups over the course of the academic year to manage a client-driven policy project, working with external partners including non-governmental organizations, government offices, and policy-relevant think tanks. WHSFs have the opportunity to meet with additional policy practitioners in the field through trips to Washington, DC, New York City, and abroad.
“The World House Student Fellows Program has been Perry World House’s flagship program for student engagement for ten years,” said PWH Director Michael C. Horowitz. “This year’s cohort continues to raise the bar of academic and intellectual excellence that we have come to expect from the World House Student Fellows, and I am excited to see what they will each bring to the program throughout the year.”
The 2026-27 World House Student Fellows are:
*Karam Alkaissy is a senior 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.
Sophia-Nicole Bay is a senior in the Huntsman Program at the University of Pennsylvania, studying Finance and International Studies. Having grown up across Greece, Bulgaria, and Washington, DC, she focuses on global capital, migration, and development policy, with particular attention to East Asia. On campus, she is an Andrea Mitchell Center Fellow, works as a TA in the Operations, Information and Decisions (OIDD) and Finance departments, and is involved with Penn International Impact Consulting and The Daily Pennsylvanian. She enjoys every form of storytelling, particularly filmmaking, and planning elaborate adventures around the world.
Paul Beblavy is a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences studying International Relations and East Asian Languages and Civilizations. He is interested in international security, economic and legal warfare, emerging technologies, and military competition, specifically in the context of US-China competition. Apart from being a Student Fellow, Paul also serves as a research assistant for Professor Michael C. Horowitz, where he researches the impact of emerging technologies on military affairs, and Law Professor Jacques deLisle, where he researches Chinese law and economic policy. In the future, Paul hopes to attend law school and work in government or private practice.
*Ivan Boyko a Benjamin Franklin Scholar and junior in the College of Arts and Sciences, where he studies National and International Security and Earth and Environmental Science, with a minor in Chinese. His academic interests center on the intersection of energy transitions and national security, with a particular focus on critical minerals, geopolitics, and the strategic implications of decarbonization. He is especially interested in U.S.–China relations, Taiwan’s role in global supply chains, and the broader challenges of sustainable development. At Penn, Ivan serves as Secretary-General of the University of Pennsylvania Model United Nations Conference (UPMUNC) and Co-President of the International Development (IDev) organization, where he leads initiatives related to global policy and development discourse. Beyond his academic and professional pursuits, he is an avid hiker, a supporter of the arts and cultural engagement, a baseball enthusiast, and a dedicated reader and cinephile.
Rafaa Bukhary is a junior from Saudi Arabia studying Political Science and Diplomatic History with a minor in Legal Studies. She is interested in climate and energy diplomacy in oil-dependent economies and the politics of foreign direct investment in national economic development. Her experiences in government consulting and Saudi national policy research have inspired her to pursue a career in diplomacy and international law. At Penn, Rafaa serves as Speaker of the Undergraduate Assembly and Co-founder of the International Peer Mentorship Program. In her free time, she can be found at the gym, baking, or reading about the history of U.S.-Middle East relations!
*Srijay Chenna is a junior from Delaware in the Jerome Fischer Management & Technology program. With a strong interest in global health policy, Srijay has previously explored global health through medical innovation for access, specifically with 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. Outside of academics, Srijay enjoys Formula 1, hiking, and making coffee.
Tareque Chowdhury is a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences, studying Russia and Eastern European Studies and Political Science with a concentration in International Relations. Originally from Philadelphia, he conducts open-source research on the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its implications for European rearmament, transatlantic relations, and U.S. national security. He recently worked as a summer research intern at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, researching Russian hybrid warfare and underwater sabotage in the Baltics and South China Sea. In the future, he hopes to continue researching European and transatlantic security, expand his knowledge of the region, and further develop his skills in conflict analysis.
Khalil ElBechir is a junior from Tunisia pursuing a dual degree between the Wharton School and the College of Arts and Sciences. At Wharton, he studies Economics with concentrations in Statistics & Data Science and Behavioral Economics; in the College, he studies Political Science with a concentration in International Relations. He is interested in international development politics in Africa and the Middle East, as well as the funding structures of NGOs, which he is currently researching through the Wharton Research Scholars program. Outside the classroom, Khalil serves in the Undergraduate Assembly as the Director of the Community Engagement and Sustainability Committee and as the Finance Chair of Penn Traditions. In his free time, he enjoys building with LEGO, biking along the Schuylkill Trail, and collecting vinyl.
Jengus Ercil is a senior from Hong Kong concentrating in Finance and Management at the Wharton School. His primary policy interest is the intersection of geopolitics and energy, and how resource dynamics drive political conflict that plays out across global supply chains and markets.
Filmon Gessesse is a sophomore in the Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business, studying at the Wharton School and the College with a target language concentration in French. He plays an active role on campus, serving as a consultant with Wharton Global Research and Consulting, School Liaison Chair for Black Wharton’s Black Ivy League Business Conference, and an analyst on the Technology, Media, and Telecom team at BlackGen Capital, where he led the club’s first short pitch. His policy interests focus on climate finance, development economics, and agricultural resilience across Sub-Saharan Africa. A member of the Ethiopian diaspora, he previously worked as an analyst with FairPlanet in Ethiopia, supporting financial literacy for smallholder farmers, and directed the Africa Working Group at the Young Scholars Initiative, a cohort of over 200 members. Filmon aspires to a career at the intersection of finance and African development.
*William Grantland is a junior 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.
Gabe Greenfield is a senior from Teaneck, New Jersey, studying Political Science with a concentration in International Relations and a minor in Modern Middle Eastern Studies. His interests include conflict resolution, diplomacy, geopolitics, and identity, particularly in Israel-Palestine and the broader Middle East. At Penn, he served as Secretary-General of the Ivy League Model UN Conference (ILMUNC), President of Prism Interfaith, and founder of Breaking Bread, an initiative that fosters dialogue across differences. Gabe has studied and worked internationally in Spain, Argentina, China, India, and Israel. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, cooking, and journaling.
Hazem Hassan is a sophomore from Egypt majoring in Mechanical Engineering. He is interested in AI governance/safety, surveillance technology, and international security. Last summer, he did robotics research at Penn’s Dynamic Autonomy and Intelligent Robotics (DAIR) Lab. On campus, he is president of Effective Altruism at Penn and a Teaching Assistant for Engineering Ethics. In his free time, he writes on philosophy and is trying to learn Mandarin.
Gabriel Huang is a senior from Wilmington, Delaware majoring in Mathematics and Political Science. He is interested in international relations, emerging technology, and economic theory. He has previously interned at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Foundation for American Innovation. At Penn, Gabe is a research assistant to Professor Beth Simmons and has also conducted research at the Penn’s Development Research Initiative. Additionally, he is also involved in the Math Directed Reading Program, the Daily Pennsylvanian, and Penn Program on Opinion Research and Election Studies (PORES). In his free time, he enjoys running and playing the violin.
Ela Kolonja is a senior from Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania studying Nursing and Nutrition Science. She is interested in human rights, global health policy, and bioethics, with a particular focus on advancing equitable healthcare access and improving maternal and reproductive health outcomes. She hopes to pursue a career as a nurse-midwife and currently works as a postpartum doula. At Penn, Ela serves as President of Nursing Students for Global Health, Treasurer of the Student Nurses at Penn (SNAP), and a student liaison for the Global Health Student Advisory Council.
*Ashwin S. W. Laksumanage is a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, 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.
Lia Lenthall-Cleary is a senior majoring in Chemistry and minoring in French. She is from outside Philadelphia and has spent a gap year living abroad in Brussels. Lia has worked in both organic chemistry and biomedical research labs, in Paris and at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She is interested in the intersections of science, international policy and business, as well as the promotion of democracy.
David Liu is a senior studying Chemistry with an interest in how healthcare can do more for patients while asking less of the planet. After a summer at Aravind Eye Hospital in southern India, he became especially interested in sustainable, high-volume models of healthcare. At Penn Medicine, he explores ways to reduce the environmental footprint of surgical care. David also loves bringing chemistry to life through demonstrations with the Penn Undergraduate Chemistry Society at high schools across Philadelphia. And outside of class, David has enjoyed running, eating his way through the city, all while drinking lots of hot water.
Divyansha Nashine is a sophomore in the Jerome Fisher Management & Technology (M&T) Program at the University of Pennsylvania, pursuing dual degrees at The Wharton School and Penn Engineering in Operations, Information & Decisions (OIDD) and Mechanical Engineering, respectively. At Penn, she conducts research in the Architected Materials Laboratory, investigating architected materials and advanced manufacturing systems. She serves as Vice President of Marketing for Girls into VC at Penn, is a member of the Global Admissions Committee for the Millennium Campus Network, and has contributed to interdisciplinary initiatives spanning entrepreneurship and social impact. As a Perry World House Student Fellow, Divyansha is interested in the global governance of emerging technologies, with a particular focus on AI governance, AI ethics, and international technology policy. She is especially interested in how governments, industry, and international institutions can develop responsible frameworks for artificial intelligence that foster innovation while addressing challenges related to safety, transparency, accountability, and equitable access. More broadly, she hopes to examine how technology policy can strengthen international cooperation and support resilient, inclusive solutions to global challenges.
Daria Oliinyk is a junior from Ukraine studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, with minors in Economic Policy and International Development. Having experienced the impacts of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine firsthand, she is particularly interested in how international institutions and global cooperation can prevent an armed international conflict and promote peace, resilience, and long-term stability. At Penn, she conducted research in collaboration with the World Bank and Penn Development Research Initiative – DevLab on land governance and development outcomes. She has conducted research on development and governance issues, including land administration and infrastructure outcomes, and previously interned with the Mission of Ukraine to the European Union in Brussels, where she supported research and policy analysis on Ukraine–EU relations. Outside of academics, Daria is passionate about travel and cross-cultural exchange and has visited more than twenty countries for the past three years.
*Sameeksha Panda is a fourth-year student from Pennsylvania studying Chemistry with minors in Mathematics and Political Science. Her interests lie in global health, education, climate diplomacy, and migration. On campus, she is deeply involved with the Student Committee on Undergraduate Education, Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT), and the Daily Pennsylvanian, as well as an undergraduate researcher. As a strong advocate of global citizenship and health equity, Panda aspires to a future career bridging the role of global policy and cross-national collaborations in protecting essential human rights for vulnerable populations.
Sanaa Patel is a senior from New York studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics with a minor in Legal Studies and History. She is interested in financial regulation and emerging financial technology policy, with a regional interest in East Asia and the Middle East, shaped in part by living abroad. Sanaa has conducted research in Wharton’s Legal Studies department on central bank decision-making. She has also researched international organization legitimacy in Penn’s Political Science department. This past summer, she worked at the Federal Reserve Board as an economic research intern. Outside of academics, she co-leads the Penn Chinese Language & Culture Club and plays the clarinet in Penn Wind Ensemble.
Niklas-Gabriel Romberg is a senior at the University of Pennsylvania studying International Relations with a minor in European Studies. Originally from Germany, with family roots in Romania, he focuses on transatlantic relations, the war in Ukraine’s impact on Europe, and European populism. At Penn, he serves as president of the German Society and is a member of the European Studies Institute, where his research examines how Europe’s far right responds to geopolitical shocks. In his free time, he enjoys reading English classics, playing tennis, practicing piano, and pursuing film photography.
Solemei Scamaroni, a junior from Houston, studies Economics and Political Science. She is particularly interested in climate policy, national security strategy, and development finance. Beyond Perry World House, she is deeply involved with the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy as a Student Advisory Board Member and Kleinman Apollo Fellow as well as on the board for Penn International Impact Consulting. Solemei hopes to use her time at Perry World House to engage in lively debates with brilliant peers and scholars.
Bhavya Surapaneni is a senior from Castle Pines, Colorado studying Electrical Engineering with minors in Math and Data Science. She is interested in how technology development interfaces with global inequity and geopolitical conflicts, with other interests in urbanization and climate. Bhavya is a Benjamin Franklin scholar, the President of Penn’s chapter of Engineers Without Borders, and is also involved in Penn Society of Women Engineers, engineering research, Bloomers Sketch Comedy, and the Kite and Key Tour Guide Society.
Adam Sutter is a senior from St. Louis, Missouri, studying finance and marketing & operations management with a minor in political science. He is interested in how food systems and global markets contribute to geopolitical stability. He is also interested in public-private partnerships as a mechanism to reduce capital and capacity requirements for public policy. He developed these interests through the Penn in Washington program, where he interned at the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Outside of Perry World House, Adam is involved in the Wharton Dean’s Undergraduate Advisory Board and Wharton Undergraduate Peer Advising. In line with his food-related policy interests, Adam loves to try new restaurants and stays up to date with food and beverage trends.
*Ashti Tiwari is a senior from New York studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics with a concentration in Globalization and a minor in Data Science and Analytics. She is interested in defense AI policy, global security, and international arbitration in the Latin American and Caribbean region. Outside of Perry World House, Ashti is an opinion columnist for The Daily Pennsylvanian and a math tutor at the Weingarten Center. In her free time, you can find her playing tennis or biking along the Schuylkill River.
*Shivaek Venkateswaran is a senior 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 smarter early detection and care. His work focuses on how health systems can harness data-driven policy, market innovation, and payment reform to make healthcare more affordable and to improve outcomes in cancer and other noncommunicable diseases. Beyond Perry World House, Shivaek is active in research, student government, and serves as a campus tour guide.
Kevin Xu is a sophomore from Maryland majoring in nursing and minoring in consumer psychology. He is interested in global health policy, particularly in rural areas, along with international development and economic policy.
*Amelie Zhang is a senior 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 Operations, Information & Decisions 1010 and Finance 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.
Calvin Zhou is a sophomore from San Jose, California in the Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology, studying Artificial Intelligence and Finance at Penn. He is interested in AI governance, emerging technology policy, and climate, particularly how advances in autonomous systems and machine learning can address environmental challenges while reshaping global security and economic competition. At Penn, Calvin conducts research on robotics and has explored education and defense applications of AI through internships and projects. Outside of academics, he enjoys badminton, golf, hiking, and photography, and is an avid basketball and football fan.
*Denotes returning World House Student Fellow