Terrah is a rising senior at Barnard College of Columbia University whose work focuses on educational equity, financial literacy, and college access. At 17, she founded Danalize, an initiative that helps students navigate financial aid offers, advocate for appeals, and build financial literacy skills. Through this work, she has supported more than 500,000 students worldwide. Terrah currently serves as Director of Financial Education at College for All, where she mentors students and develops resources reaching over 15,000 learners globally. She also contributes to the Academic Social Contract with Class Action, collaborating with students and legal professionals to advance equity in higher education. As Director of Operations for Connect on Campus, a nonprofit she helped found, she has supported fundraising and operational efforts that have helped students cover essential educational expenses. As a Laidlaw Scholar, Terrah researched the relationship between financial literacy and college access. Her work was selected as one of 25 projects across North America for publication through the 2025 Laidlaw Conference and Taylor & Francis. She has since presented her research at Harvard University and served as a student advocate on issues of economic opportunity and mobility at Barnard College faculty events. Her work has earned her a Truman Scholarship nomination, recognition as a Yale Launchpad Scholars finalist, and the Rising Star Leadership Award for her commitment to educational equity and student success.  In her free time, she enjoys café hopping, coloring, and playing Tomodachi Life. She can be contacted at: tdg2124@barnard.edu for any inquiries or requests for mentorship! :) 

My name is Ishaan Jordan, and I am a student at Georgetown University pursuing a major in Government alongside a minor in Tech, Ethics, and Society. Driven by a passion for public service, leadership, and systemic change, my academic and extracurricular focus centers on how policy and emerging technologies intersect to shape a more equitable world. Through the Laidlaw Scholars Program, my primary objective is to conduct research that examines the ethical implications of technology in governance, specifically how algorithmic decision-making impacts civic trust. Furthermore, I am eager to immerse myself in Laidlaw’s leadership development track, refining the skills necessary to lead with integrity, empathy, and clarity. Outside of my academic commitments, I love to stay active and explore the city. I'm a huge fan of the NBA, and I love watching and playing just about any sport. Fitness is a core part of my daily routine, and you can usually find me training at the gym or unwinding by going on long walks to take in nature and clear my head. In my free time, I enjoy trying new coffee shops and restaurants. 

Hi~ My name is Galiya, I'm from Kazakhstan, currently based in Hong Kong. Love learning about different cultures and languages, so if you want to connect and discuss literally anything, hit me up on DMs :D Briefly about my interests and achievements: I am interested in AI ethics and learning science and have built a track record at the intersection of education and AI.  My experience spans teaching, admissions consulting, and content creation in international environments across Kazakhstan, South Korea, Italy, and Hong Kong. I am particularly interested in improving access to global education and how AI is reshaping the traditional forms of education. Currently, I am developing research through the Laidlaw Scholars Programme, focusing on university-level assessment methods in the context of GenAI.

Hi! My name is Anna, and I am rising junior at Duke University studying Political Science and Economics. I am passionate about learning how to evaluate policy and find my own evidence-based policy solutions for my future work as (hopefully!) a politician. I'm especially drawn to policy related to foreign policy, economic and social equity. I'm also interested in conducting research focused on the rise of the far-right and the developments in the society that enabled it. 

Hello! I'm Tyler Carriaga, a recipient of a full-ride merit scholarship at the University of Toronto, where I'm pursuing a Masters in Geography. Drawing from my multidisciplinary and multicultural background as an American-born, Vietnam-raised Filipino, I approach questions of place, identity, and community with a global perspective. My Laidlaw projects include research on ethnic enclave development in Seattle and program development in an urban poor community in Metro Manila. As a writer, designer, and urban wanderer, I strive to continually evolve my personal and technical skills in the pursuit of co-creating healthier, more sustainable, and just communities.

Biochemistry Major on a premedical track Researcher in the Hengel Lab at Tufts Biology Research on DNA repair proteins Passionate about global and public health 

Ajibola's career journey has evolved from a management consultant role at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to becoming an infrastructure investment specialist at the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA). Her future aspirations are driven by her strong dedication to the development of infrastructure in Nigeria and throughout Africa. Ajibola has devoted her professional life to contributing to development and social impact projects in Nigeria, with an emphasis on the nation’s healthcare and infrastructure development. These experiences have equipped her with indispensable skills and expertise that fuel her commitment to advancing Nigeria's development. With a bachelor’s degree in economics, her long-term goal is to establish a Pan-African development finance institution focused on impact and infrastructure investments.

Hi, I'm Holly! I'm really interested in Psychology, Linguistics, social action, and policy. I completed my Laidlaw research project last summer (2024), on UK policy around extra-curricular activities. This summer (2025), I completed my LiA in Mexico, designing a social media campaign for an NGO supporting survivors of gender-based violence. I'm currently completing an undergraduate research project on beliefs and knowledge in Semantics and Pragmatics. Next academic year, my Master's project will look at the spread of mental health misinformation on social media. Would love to chat more if you have any questions!

Hi! I'm a student in micro-engineering at EPFL, interested in nano-science. I love travelling, biking and film-making.

Isabel Iino is an American Studies and Economic and Social History student at Barnard College, Columbia University. 

Hi! My name is Neasa Nic Corcráin and I’m an Environmental Science and Engineering student at Trinity College Dublin. My research project is titled “Investigating the link between heavy metals in menstrual hygiene products and hormonal reproductive health" This research aims to explore how heavy metals commonly found in menstrual products,  like lead and arsenic, may impact hormonal health in the short term. I’ll be testing a range of products in collaboration with an analytical laboratory, running a survey to assess self-reported hormonal symptoms, and analysing the data to understand potential risks. I’m also interested in how aware consumers are of these risks and hope the project will help advocate for safer product formulations, clearer labelling, and stronger regulations. I look forward to meeting other members of the Laidlaw community, feel free to contact me!

Hello! I am an incoming third year Mathematics student at the University of St Andrews, and my Laidlaw research project is geared at investigating the intersection between coloniality and mathematics and its impacts on students from the Global South. It is the product of my (rather polar) interests in English Literature and Mathematics!

I am a junior at Cornell University majoring in Global Development with a concentration in social and economic development. My interest lies in education, employment, and migration. Within this interest, I have delved into the correlation between education, the workforce, and migration & mobility (especially the concept “brain drain” and "brain gain"). I am passionate about improving global access to social and economic opportunities that young people have to leverage their human capital. With experience serving as Diversity Ambassador for the Cornell Undergraduate Office and Research Assistant for Professor Ivory’s “African Futures Project,” I strive to understand youth holistically from primary and secondary insight. I aspire to work in law for a youth development and/or an international organization.

Hi, I’m Caitlin. I am a History & Politics student at the University of Cambridge; in particular, I love American History, local politics and modern politics of both the UK & US. I am from Liverpool and play cricket at university. This year, I am also helping run Feminist Society and History Society at my college. 

Hello! My name is Sara, and I'm a soon to be second-year computer science undergrad student at EPFL, in Switzerland. I am passionate about technology, and how it can be used to help communities. My research this past summer was in system security, a branch of cybersecurity. I expanded and improved the accuracy of Magma, a benchmark for fuzzers - a software testing technique using randomized input (data) to reveal the faults in the program. This technique helps finding bugs (errors) that would not  have been reached using other popular tests. My goal is to find and implement Proof-of-Concepts - files that prove that a specific faulty part of the code can be reached and can trigger an error (a crash).  This summer, I will be joining HOOP Perù in Arequipa, Peru, to be an assistant teacher in their coding classes. These classes introduce tools common in many work places today in an accessible way to teenagers. This will also be a great opportunity to share my passion for computer science with others, as well as to put what I have learned this past year to use. Besides coding, I enjoy all kinds of sports (currently (beach) volleyball and basketball), as well as reading. I also enjoy spending time in nature, be it on a hike or just in a park, or by a lake. I love traveling, discovering new places and cultures, and meeting new people. I enjoy meeting new people and sharing perspectives, so please don't hesitate to contact me!

Hello, my name is Yara Alhajji. I’m a 3rd year dental student at the University of Leeds with a strong interest in public health, paediatric dentistry, and community outreach. As someone with lived experience as a Syrian refugee, I’m deeply passionate about equity in healthcare access and using my platform to give back to underrepresented communities. Over the past few years, I’ve actively participated in several outreach programmes including OpenWide, Raised in Yorkshire, and Reach for Expense, all aimed at improving dental awareness and education across diverse populations. I’ve proudly been part of OpenWide for three consecutive years initially as the Primary School Representative, then as President, and currently serving as the Outreach Representative. The society works to bridge the gap between dental professionals and the wider community, delivering workshops for people of all ages. Through the society I’ve initiated a collaboration with Raised in Yorkshire, a long term outreach and research initiative exploring public understanding of dental health and shaping how we engage communities more meaningfully. Outside of dentistry, I’m an outdoor enthusiast who loves hiking and challenging myself through physical activities. My background and personal journey continue to fuel my drive to advocate for inclusive healthcare and make a positive impact through both clinical practice and community-led research. Feel free to reach out to me on here or through my email dn23ya@leeds.ac.uk or through my Instagram account!