Elena Chatrchyan

Student, Cornell University
  • People
  • United States of America
Eleanor Campbell

Student, Columbia University

Hello! My name is Eleanor Campbell, and I am a 2021 Laidlaw Scholar. I am a student at Columbia University in the City of New York, and I am originally from Raleigh, NC, USA. I major in Economics and am particularly interested in Behavioral Economics. During my first year with Laidlaw, I worked with Professor Hitendra Wadhwa of the Columbia Business School in developing a leadership fellowship for aspiring young changemakers. For my Leadership in Action project, I worked with World Vision on a menstrual hygiene management campaign in West Gonja, Ghana.
Michael Officer

Graduate Research & Teaching Assistant, Trinity College Dublin

Hello, my name is Michael and I'm a recent Zoology graduate from Trinity College Dublin. My Laidlaw research investigated factors contributing to the transmission of avian influenza to farmed poultry. And I completed my Leadership in Action project with Think Pacific on the Environment & Sustainability programme in Rarabasaga, Fiji. I'm delighted to remain a part of the Laidlaw community and am as excited as ever to get to know many of you! My current research interests are in freshwater ecosystem responses to multiple stressor effects. But really anything!
Mira Kudva Driskell (she/they)

Student, Cornell University

Hello! My name is Mira—I'm a student at Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences studying International Agriculture and Rural Development, with minors in Latin American Studies and Urban and Regional Studies. In the past, my research focuses have included ecology in the Nilgiris biosphere, plant pathology, indigenous citizenship regimes, landscape design, the politics of resource extraction, with other areas of interest including indigenous ways of knowing, anti-racist citizen science, and climate justice. Through Laidlaw, I hope to investigate on the conflicts and interactions between grassroots organizers and political parties in Spain, with a particular focus on populist discourse at the national level and Participatory Action Research (PAR) at the communal level. In my free time, I enjoy farming, hiking, and cooking with friends (over Zoom for the time being!).  
Lia Sokol

Student, Cornell University

Hi! My name is Lia, and I am in my final year at Cornell University. I'm majoring in Government and pursuing an independent major that combines politics, international studies, and sociology. My first-year Laidlaw project was focused on researching Russian political parties in the lead-up to the country's 2021 parliamentary elections. During my second summer, I traveled to Choma, Zambia through the Laidlaw centralized project with Columbia University.
Kristin Ramsay

Former Laidlaw Scholars Program Manager, Cornell University

Kristin began the Laidlaw Leadership and Research Scholars program at Cornell University and was responsible for undergraduate engagement in the Einaudi Center for International Studies. She now provides remote support for Global Cornell. A Cornell alumna, Kristin majored in international agriculture and rural development then worked in agriculture and community development with an NGO in Kenya for six years. Her graduate work focused on community leadership development. Kristin enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her family (and 3 dogs).
Chris Rivera

Student Researcher, Cornell University

Chris Rivera is a Puerto Rican first-gen, Cornell University undergraduate, majoring in Environment & Sustainability at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and from the South Bronx. As a summer research fellow, his interests were in: Post-disaster resilience strategies for food security, the potential behind small-scale, local food systems, and community garden projects. He enjoys writing poetry, horror movies, photography, chess, Latin dance, walking around NYC, and spending time with family and friends. His passions are rooted in volunteerism, activism, and environmentalism.
Andrew Talone

Laidlaw Scholar, Cornell University

Hello! My name is Andrew Talone. I am from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I am a first-year student in the College of Arts & Sciences at Cornell University, planning to double major in Government and Economics and minor in Arabic. My academic and research interests include (but are in no way limited to) human rights, international and U.S. politics, political theory, macroeconomic policy, and foreign languages. As a Laidlaw Scholar, I plan to research the Implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities in Barbados. Feel free to reach out if we share interests or you would like to connect!
Ainav Rabinowitz

Laidlaw Undergraduate Scholar, Cornell University

Hi! My name is Ainav Rabinowitz, and I’m a rising Junior at Cornell University. I’m planning to double-major in Government and Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and minor in Near Eastern Studies and Public Policy. My research project investigates the militarization of law enforcement in the Middle East, analyzing the way in which civilian police forces have become more militarized and the way militaries have taken on law enforcement responsibilities. My research will more specifically focus on the consequences of militarization on human rights over the past two decades, offering a broad overview of the Middle East as well as a closer analysis of 2-3 countries across the political spectrum. I will be working with Professor Flores-Macías, who focuses on the consequences of militarization in Latin America. Feel free to reach out! Some other facts about me: I love anything art-related (I primarily create digital illustration and acrylic paintings), and also always love sharing my favorite books:)
Shilvaan Patel

Student, Cornell University

I am a freshman from San Mateo, CA studying Policy Analysis and Management in the College of Human Ecology at Cornell interested in using economics and public policy to identify and implement policies that can increase economic opportunity for the underserved.
Medha Bulumulla

Student, Cornell University

I grew up in Upstate New York, near Albany, NY, and spent my freshmen year at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I’m studying Information Sciences with a concentration in Data Science I hope to help make sustainable changes in the world through data analysis and research. In my free time, I enjoy painting, crocheting, and making clothing.
Makenna Ramsay

Student and scholar , Cornell University

I am a Senior at Cornell University studying Animal Science. I plan to pursue vet school after graduation or go to grad school. For fun, I like to train and show dogs, ride horses, read, travel, and spend time outside. I have grown in my research and leadership skills as a Laidlaw Scholar. I had an amazing experience traveling abroad to pursue a meaningful experience helping others. 
Maiko Sein

Student, Cornell University

Hello! I am currently pursuing a Bachelor of Architecture at Cornell University. My home is Brooklyn, New York. I am interested in using architecture to tell stories and about people and place.
Kobi Rassnick

Student, Cornell University

Hey, I'm Kobi and I’m an undergraduate Laidlaw Scholar studying Biological Sciences with a concentration in Animal Physiology at Cornell University. I’m currently a junior from Ithaca, New York pursuing the pre-veterinary track, and my academic interests lie in veterinary medicine, genetics, and molecular biology. My research focused on evaluating Holstein dairy cattle genomic data with the goal of identifying genetic regions associated with cattle health, dairy production, and disease resistance in order to inform cattle breeding and management decisions internationally. My LiA experience took place in Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala where I worked with FARVets, a group that implements sterilization clinics abroad. Outside of academics and research, I am passionate about traveling, sustainability, animals, and all things music.
Desai Wang

Student, Cornell University

I am a second-year student in the Bachelor of Architecture program at Cornell University. I am passionate about design and exploring how the built environment can positively impact people and cities. Through the Laidlaw program, I hope to research how the street characteristics affect people’s travel mode choice and collaborate with communities to create more walkable streets. In my free time, I enjoy running and hiking. I also love exploring new places and learning new languages!
Dana Oshiro

Student, Cornell University

My name is Dana Oshiro, and I am a freshman at Cornell University.  I am majoring in Neurobiology & Behavior. I also plan on pursuing an MD degree after college. Last summer, I researched the Economic Costs of Domestic Violence. I am grateful to have continued along that topic this summer in Vietnam where I developed interventions to combat adverse childhood events.
Ethan Goldman

Scholar, Cornell University

I am from South Orange, New Jersey and I am currently studying Computer Science and Linguistics at Cornell University. I’ve always been fascinated by the interdisciplinary nature of technology and my goal is to find ways to connect technology with other fields to affect positive change. I’m incredibly excited to implement this technological approach in my research project, where I’ll be using data to analyze local effects of maquiladoras and international policies. Outside of academics, I’m an Arts and Sciences Ambassador and Peer Advisor, a member of the Cornell Blockchain club, and an avid rock climber.
Kimberley Guy

B/Sc Adult Nursing , University of Leeds

Sarina Zhou

Undergraduate Researcher, Cornell University

Hi, everyone! My name is Sarina Zhou, a Class of 2024 student at Cornell University! I am major in Economics and minor in Law and Society. The aim of my research is to implement the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Barbados, bridge the gap in understanding between legislators and their constituents, and improve the lives of those in disadvantaged and marginalized communities. I always seek opportunities to develop my skills and knowledge in various subject areas, particularly in the fields of law and business. I hope to pursue a career in immigration or corporate law in the future. Also, fun fact: I am an artist specializing in acrylic landscape painting and graphite portrait drawing! Please don't hesitate to connect with me! :)
Maria Valenstain

Student Researcher, University of York

I am an undergraduate Laidlaw Scholar studying Philosophy and Politics at the University of York. I am very interested in climate education. My project investigates collective responsibility regarding climate change in the primary years of school.
Cath Brislane

Subject Lead/ Undergraduate Scholar, University of York

I am a final-year undergraduate scholar pursuing a BA (Hons) in English Literature and Linguistics at the University of York. Besides being a scholar, I am the Arts and Humanities Subject Lead on the Scholar's Network and the 2020-22 Arts and Humanities faculty rep at the University of York! My first summer of research was based in phonetics, entitled 'The untapped potential of human language: Investigating the perception of typologically unattested and rare sounds'. In it, I get to look at phonemes that are not commonly found in speech, if at all! My Leadership in Action project was based around the experiences of students with disabilities and long-term health conditions when accessing Higher Education in the UK. I'm currently creating teacher training based on the paper I wrote for this project, and working with UCAS to help inform UK university admissions policy.