Ella Shi (She/Her)

Undergraduate Student, Georgetown University
  • People
  • United States of America
Nuthi Ganesh

Student, Georgetown University

Hi!  My name is Nuthi Ganesh.  I am a junior studying Culture and Politics in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University.  My research explores how children in refugee-like situations adjust to American schools and how these children experience and negotiate their role as cultural intermediaries in schools.  I am curious about how this role shapes refugee children into advocates for human rights, especially for their right to education. My hobbies are journaling, playing violin, watching cooking/baking shows, and backpacking.  I am originally from Maine but I've lived briefly in India and France.
Leo Shih

One Health Implementation Intern / Student, Georgetown University

Hey there! I'm a Senior in the School of Health at Georgetown University, majoring in Global Health, with interests in epidemiology, international affairs, and biodefense. I served as an intern at Global Implementation Solutions, focusing on One Health capacity building and preparedness in public health emergency operations centers (PHEOCs.) I spearheaded the field trials for a One Health assessment tool for county level PHEOCs. I also worked as a research assistant at the Carlson Lab in the Center for Global Health Science and Security, exploring and modeling the impacts of climate change on bacterial dysentery using R. I presented this project as a poster at the 2024 Global Health Security Conference in Sydney, Australia, with expected journal publication in Fall 2024. Outside of my work with the lab, I serve as New Sibling at Large for Mu Alpha chapter of the Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity, sing with Georgetown Music Ministry, and write for The Caravel, Georgetown's undergraduate international affairs newspaper. I'm looking for a DC-based (or remote) global health, international development, or biodefense related internship for the 2024-2025 school year. Please feel free to reach out to me at ys913@georgetown.edu.
Isha Bahadur

Research Assistant, Georgetown University

Hi! My name is Isha and I am a rising junior in the College of Arts & Sciences majoring in Biology of Global Health. While I grew up in the suburbs of NYC for most of my life, I lived in Singapore for 4 of those years. This summer, I will be researching failed single-stranded annealing events in drosophila under the guidance of Dr. Jan LaRocque. 
Aashvi Bist

Student, Georgetown University

Emma Zhu

Student, Georgetown University

Hi! My name is Emma Zhu, and I’m a sophomore at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service, where I’m majoring in Regional and Comparative Studies with a focus on the United States and Asia, as well as the global Asian diaspora. My academic interests lie at the intersection of history, migration, and transnational political movements. This summer, my research explores the 1982 garment workers’ strike in New York City’s Chinatown—an extraordinary and often overlooked moment in Asian American labor history. Led primarily by Chinese immigrant women, the strike brought together over 20,000 garment workers in a powerful act of collective resistance. Despite differences in dialect, regional origin, and socio-economic background, these women overcame deep structural and interpersonal divisions to organize one of the most successful labor actions in Chinatown’s history. My project investigates the strike’s transnational and transcontinental inspirations, including how global labor movements, migration patterns, and nation-building movements back home influenced their organizing methods and messaging. I am especially interested in understanding how women who were often excluded from formal labor narratives carved out their own space to mobilize, negotiate with union leadership, and ultimately reshape the trajectory of immigrant labor organizing in the U.S. My research this summer is grounded in archival work and oral history interviews and draws from intersecting traditions in ethnic studies, feminist labor history, and diaspora studies. I hope this project will contribute to broader conversations about the political lives of working-class immigrant women and the cross-cultural alliances they formed both locally and globally. Outside of Laidlaw, I really like watching films, cafe-hopping, visiting museums, and traveling. 
Ishaan Jordan

Student, Georgetown University

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. 
Dristan Munroe

Student, Georgetown University

Ishya Jain

Laidlaw Scholar, Georgetown University

Hi! My name is Ishya, and I'm an incoming sophomore at Georgetown University studying International Economics in the School of Foreign Service. I grew up in Dallas, Texas, and I love trying new restaurants (especially Tex-Mex!). This summer, I'm researching the political and economic factors that influence whether countries adopt Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). DPI refers to foundational digital systems, such as digital identity programs, digital payment platforms, and secure data-sharing frameworks, that enable governments to deliver public and private services more efficiently. Through my project, I'm exploring why some countries successfully implement these systems while others face barriers, and how factors like governance, institutional capacity, economic development, and political priorities shape the adoption of digital public infrastructure around the world.
Colleen Dougherty

Assistant Director, Center for Research & Fellowships, Georgetown University

Colleen manages the Laidlaw Scholars Leadership and Research Programme at Georgetown University. Through her work, Colleen aims to increase accessibility in fellowships advising for all Georgetown students with a special focus on reflective practices intended to help students identify and develop personal and career goals. Prior to joining Georgetown University, Colleen served as the Assistant Director for Early Career Initiatives with NASPA- Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, where she managed professional development programs for undergraduate student, graduate student, and new professional members. Colleen holds a master’s degree in Student Development in Higher Education from the University of Maine and bachelor’s degrees in Women and Gender Studies and Anthropology from the University of Delaware.
Florence Cheung

Student , Georgetown University

Hello! I am a junior in Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service studying Science, Technology, and international affairs with a minor in Australian, New Zealand and Pacific Studies.  As a Laidlaw scholar, I am working under the Atmos Jones Lab guided by Dr. Taylor Jones. My research utilizes ECOSTRESS data from the international space station and the Quantum Geographic Information System (QGIS) software to map average evapotranspiration rates and land surface temperatures in Washington, DC neighborhoods. The objective of this research is to understand how local DC communities can utilize ECOSTRESS data to combat extreme heat days. Outside of Laidlaw, I am an implementation team member for the Global Governance Strategy for Planetary Health under the Helm Lab at Georgetown University. My research is focused on the role of the Commission of Small Island States on Climate change and International Law (COSIS) in reducing international law fragmentation. In my free time I love spending time at the beach and exploring new places. I am an avid scuba diver and have had the opportunity to dive in 7 countries all over the Caribbean.  Please feel free to reach out to me here or at fc689@georgetown.edu !
Abdur Rahman

Student, Georgetown University

Hi! My name is Abdur, and I am a rising junior at Georgetown studying Government and Philosophy on a pre-law track. I enjoy and feel fulfilled doing work related to prison policy reform. For hobbies, I love cooking, hiking, biking, working on fashion, and playing poker. 
Felecia Selgrade

Student, Georgetown University

Shiza Saad

Laidlaw Scholar, Georgetown University

Isaiah Almaguer

Student, Georgetown University

Suyay N. Ccari Roque

Student, Georgetown University

Rishika Singh

Student, Georgetown University

Hi! My name is Rishika Singh and I'm a rising sophomore at Georgetown University majoring in Human Science. As a Laidlaw Scholar, I am investigating how socioeconomic and demographic factors, including income, insurance status, educational attainment, employment, race, and ethnicity, influence healthcare seeking behavior and symptom severity among patients with acute rhinosinusitis. Beyond research, I love being active and spending time with my friends. I also love food and my favorite cuisine is Thai food. Feel free to reach out here or at rs2298@georgetown.edu!
Itiafa D. Ayeni

Student, Georgetown University

Hi, I'm Itiafa Ayeni, a rising sophomore from Nigeria at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service in Qatar. I major in International Politics with minors in Africana Studies and a certificate in Energy Studies. I am also pursuing the French proficiency academic pathway. My academic interests are deeply shaped by my experience growing up in Nigeria and center on Africa’s future, the place of identity, and the advancement of women and girls globally. This summer, I will be researching how “Y2K” Nollywood (the formative period of Nigeria’s film industry spanning the 1990s and early 2000s) influenced the women who contributed to and consumed it, across a representative social circle that includes actresses and women in the diaspora.
Nina Park

Research & Leadership Scholar, Georgetown University

Grace Ye

Laidlaw Scholar, Georgetown University

Dhruvi Parikh

Student , Georgetown University

Hello everyone! My name is Dhruvi, and I am a rising junior studying Healthcare Management and Policy at Georgetown. My research for this summer focuses on understanding the biochemical effects of short-chain forever pollutants in living organisms to contribute to our understand their health effects in humans.