Richelle Caday (she/hers) is a recent graduate from the University of Southern California with two Bachelor of Arts degrees, one in Psychology and another in Non Governmental Organizations and Social Change, and a minor in Organizational Leadership and Management. During her time at USC, Richelle has been actively involved in her Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) community in which she has served as the president of her Pilipinx student organization Troy Philippines, the assistant director of the Asian Pacific American Student Assembly, the founder of the Southeast Asian Student Coalition for Ethnic Studies, the center coordinator for the Asian Pacific American Student Services, and the residential assistant for the APIDA Leaders Community. She has many professional interests, including those in the nonprofit sector, higher education student affairs, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Nevertheless, regardless of what career Richelle is in, she wants to facilitate positive social change by empowering marginalized and underserved communities. This summer, Richelle has been able to apply her passions in DEI, community organizing, and social advocacy to her internships at CAPAL, Act to Change, and Seramount.

Fellows interviewed: Renee and Leslie

Roberta Maratita (she/her/hers) is a rising senior at Boise State University in Boise, Idaho, pursuing a major in Sociology with a minor in Psychology. She is from an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean called Rota, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and the first person in her graduating class of 2018 to seek higher education in the Mainland. During her time at Boise State, she have been recognized for my academic performance by being on the Boise State College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s List with High Honors for 3 consecutive years. She is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, the Boise State Psi Chi Chapter, The International Honor Society in Psychology, the Trio Rising Scholars, and one of the Founding members of the Boise State CNMI Million Dollar Scholars Cohort. As a First-Generation College student who is a part of one of the rarest ethnicities in the world, Chamorro, it is important for her to further her knowledge on the aspects of cultural preservation, diversity, and marginalized communities in order to gain the proper understanding and tools to further aid in approaching these delicate topics. Through her passions, she aspire to be a Cultural Sociologist who focuses her research on the effects that systems of inequalities have on Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Scholars (AANHPI).

Fellows interviewed: Cheryl and Patrice

Vishni Samaraweera (she/her) is a third-year student at Brandeis University majoring in Health, Science, Society, Policy and minoring in Economics, Legal Studies and South Asian Studies on the pre-law track. Vishni’s family comes from Sri Lanka and she is deeply connected to her Sinhalese roots. Vishni received a Millennium Fellowship from the United Nations for the Beautiful Brown Project (@beautifulbrownproject) which she is the co-founder for. The project aims to start conversations and raise awareness on issues prevalent in the South Asian community. The hope of the project is to invoke change and bridge the intergenerational gap, teaching young South Asians across the globe to unapologetically love their brown skin and the culture that comes with it. Her Sri Lankan heritage mixed with her passions for social justice and healthcare have influenced her to pursue a career in global health/law with a focus on women’s health inequities in South Asia.

Fellows interviewed: Rosie and Gena

Aashna is a second year student at Duke University studying environmental science & policy and political science. At Duke, she is a currently serves in her student government, is a member of the Undergraduate Environmental Union as well as Duke's South Asian Student Association, and is a student researcher in an ecology lab. She is passionate about implementing equitable policies that support all students, sustainability, mental health services, and environmental justice. She also serves as a staff writer and is a member of an International NGO focused on human trafficking awareness where she has gotten the opportunity to help research and outline testimony presented in Congress. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking, watching nature documentaries, and spending time with her friends and family.

Fellows Interviewed: Juliet and Laura