About Us

April Knutson (She/Her)

Position: Co-President

Year: 4th

Major(s): Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

Fun Fact: My birthday is not in April!  

Reason for Joining Operation Smile: I believe in the power of giving back and making a positive impact to those in need. By joining Operation Smile at UCSC, I've found a community of individuals who share my dedication of giving back. Together, we embark on meaningful projects and initiatives to help spread awareness and fundraise for children in third-world countries with cleft lip and palates.

Madison Seo (She/Her)

Position: Co-President

Year: 4th

Major(s): Politics

Fun Fact: I lhave a green thumb!

Reason for Joining Operation Smile: I am deeply committed to healthcare policy, and Operation Smile's mission to provide safe cleft lip surgeries to vulnerable populations deeply resonates with me. 

Paloma Olmedo (She/Her)

Position: Secretary

Year: 3rd 

Major(s): Psychology major with Literature minor

Fun Fact: Some of my favorite TV shows are Friends, New Girl, and Gilmore Girls!

Reason for Joining Operation Smile: Operation Smile is an amazing organization that provides safe surgerys to children born with cleft lip in impoverished countries. With a mission dedicated to helping them live a healthier, more fulfilling life, being apart of this club allows me to become apart of that vision by creating effective ways to raise awareness and funds towards high quality care. 

Tia Abraham (She/Her)

Position: Marketing/PR Committee

Year: 3rd 

Major(s): Cognitive Science and Biotechnology

Fun Fact: I can play guitar

Reason for Joining Operation Smile: As a pre-dental student, I wanted to experience the service aspect of a career in dentistry firsthand. Operation Smile allows me to do this through our work with children in third-world countries. 

Tanya Jairath (She/Her)

Position: Marketing/PR Chair Head

Year: 4th 

Major(s): Global and Community Health 

Fun Fact: I love being outdoors!

Reason for Joining Operation Smile: Operation Smile has given me many opportunities to give back to the community from our many events to simply raising awareness about what we do. It’s been great being part of a team with similar mindsets! 

Danielle Medina (She/Her)

Position: Outreach Committee

Year: 4th

Major(s): Human Biology

Fun Fact: I can cook!

Reason for Joining Operation Smile: I joined because of the great opportunities and experience for the medical field, also because of the work we do to help kids with cleft lip!

Eric Mayerhofer (He/Him)

Position: Finance Chair

Year: 4th

Major(s): Business Economics

Fun Fact: I love to play the piano!

Reason for Joining Operation Smile: I love helping people. I think Operation Smile is a great cause and an amazing opportunity to help those in need. 

Alekhya Meduri (She/Her)

Position: Fundraising Committee

Year: 4th

Major(s): Neuroscience

Fun Fact: My current obsessions are: the creamy jalapeno sauce at Taco Bell, BOBA, and I Know by Travis Scott! :) 

Reason for Joining Operation Smile:  I used to have an extremely misaligned teeth/jaw situation, and every professional I went to said that it couldn’t be fixed without surgery. My family and I tried so hard to find an orthodontist who was willing to treat me after we opted for no surgery, and it took years to finally find someone. It was a lengthy braces treatment, and my orthodontist went out of his way to find numerous unique techniques to help me out. I genuinely feel so thankful. It’s not the same thing as being diagnosed with cleft-lip or cleft-palate, but after this experience, I just feel like I can truly empathize with the challenges these patients may be going through, and I just want to support them as much as I can through this organization :) 

Tarah Lee (She/Her)

Position: Event Planning Head Chair 

Year: 1st 

Major(s): MCD Biology

Fun Fact: I am OBSESSED with tofu (in whatever form it comes in). 

Reason for Joining Operation Smile: Because I am pursuing dentistry, I want to experience first-hand the effect of and contribute to the quality patient care that Operation Smile provides for children coming out of cleft-lip surgery. 

Miah-Annelisa Zamora (She/Her) 

Position: Event Planning Committee

Year: 3rd

Major(s): MCD Biology

Fun Fact: I love listening to music and attending concerts 

Reason for Joining Operation Smile:  I joined Operation Smile because I love the cause of helping patients and families. I also like to be part of giving back in any way possible. 

Irie Odom (She/Her) 

Position: Event Planning Committee

Year: 2nd

Major(s): Biology

Fun Fact: I love getting outdoors,  hiking, and kayaking! 

Reason for Joining Operation Smile:  I am currently pursuing veterinary medicine, and I believed it would be a wonderful way to get experience helping others and giving back to my community!