Hi everyone! I'm a rising junior at Barnard College of Columbia University, where I am double majoring in Political Science and Human Rights, and minoring in French. This summer I'm researching about art reinstitution and its ethical and legal components. Some of my other interests include social work, human rights, and law. Please feel free to reach me at cd3442@barnard.edu

My name is Zala Bhan, and I’m a Laidlaw Scholar at Barnard College studying Applied Mathematics with an interest in biostatistics. For me, the Laidlaw program is a tribute to my cultural roots as a Kashmiri Pandit (KP), the ethnic minority of Kashmir, and an effort to preserve and give voice to a history that’s often overlooked. In my first summer, I explored whether a truth and reconciliation framework could offer a path for the reintegration of KPs following their forced exodus of over 300,000 people in 1990. Through case studies of the South African TRC, Bosnia’s post-war efforts, and Chile’s reconciliation process, I examined what healing, accountability, and return may look like in the context of Kashmir. For my LiA, I’m building an oral history archive to preserve the memories and voices of those who lived through the exodus, alongside personal artifacts and memorabilia. This archive aims to preserve lived experiences, support future research, and spark conversations about justice, memory, and belonging. I hope to continue this work long after the summer ends, deepening the archive and expanding its reach.

I'm a current undergrad student at Barnard College pursuing a double-major in Theatre & Human Rights, with a minor in East Asian Studies. I'm often asked why I’m studying such seemingly divergent fields. For me, these subjects go hand in hand: my diplomacy and human rights practice are informed by an empathy uniquely cultivated from my experience in the arts; my acting on theatrical stages is enriched by my understanding of what is happening on the "world stage." Mastering both mediums is my answer to the seemingly unsolveable divisions we face today. My work bridges these fields in an innovative, urgent and radical effort to highlight our shared humanity at a time we need it most.

I am a 3rd year at Barnard College of Columbia University, studying History with a concentration in East Asia alongside a minor in Education Studies. My current Laidlaw research project focuses on the historical identity formation of Chinese Cuban diasporic communities, through the use of visual and textual archival analysis. I am passionate about equity and representation in academia, public engagement with historical education, and immigration and refugee justice. Generally, my research interests include migration and diaspora, gender and sexuality, postcolonial studies, and pedagogy.

Բարեւ ձեզ! I'm a Class of 2027 student at Barnard College of Columbia University in NYC. I am pursuing a combined major in Gender Studies and Human Rights with a concentration in Asian Diasporas and Asian American Studies, focusing on Armenia and the Levant Last year, I researched how Artsakhtsi women navigated decisions related to their reproductive and maternal health throughout the 2023 blockade and displacement. This summer, I am interning with the Women's Support Center in Yerevan, Armenia—the country's leading DV center and one of the most prominent advocates fighting for systemic change by combatting gender-based violence, myths and taboos regarding DV, and patriarchal structures in Armenia.

Hi everyone! I'm a student at Barnard College in New York City. I'm researching feminist consumerism in cosmetics marketing. I'm really interested in political and feminist theory, as well as many fields of philosophy! I look forward to connecting :)

My Laidlaw experience focuses on reframing the tourism industry to center the environment. In my first year, I developed a map of NYC's ecotourism, focused on environmental justice, circularity, and emissions reduction. In my second year in Santiago, Chile, I have collaborated with FEDETUR, the federation of tourism enterprises of Chile, to develop materials for tourism businesses to reduce their carbon footprint.

My name is Hannah Ramsey (she/her), and I am a senior at Barnard College studying neuroscience and English, though my research is interdisciplinary in nature, drawing heavily from the fields of medical anthropology, sociology, and narrative medicine. Currently, I am researching how clinicians' reliance on body composition indicators (BCIs) in health assessments may contribute to the stigmatization of bodies. My intention with this work is to illuminate how moral and aesthetic biases within healthcare teams can negatively influence patient outcomes as a result of the stigmatizing effects associated with body-centric paradigms of health promotion. The goal of this research is to begin conceiving alternative approaches to promoting patients' physical health and subjective well-being that are both body-affirming and size-agnostic. Apart from this research, I also have personal and academic interests in creative writing, writing pedagogy, and advocacy as it relates to the neurodiversity movement. In my spare time, I enjoy writing poetry, playing guitar, and taking long walks outside!

I am a rising sophomore at Columbia University where I study Human Rights and Latin American studies, with a focus on migration. My research focuses on the Venezuelan Migration crisis, the second-largest mass exodus in the world behind the Syrian refugee crisis. I will be looking at the evolution of Venezuela, as a country of immigrants to a country to emigrants, caused by the humanitarian crisis facing the nation today. My focus is on the effects of the crisis and the experiences of women, children, and families who face some of the greatest difficulties. Exploring data and accounts from surrounding Latin American nations like Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru as well as high-income European nations like Spain and Italy, I will be investigating the evolution of the family structure in Venezuelan migrant and refugee communities as well as the impact of the recent COVID-19 pandemic on resources, experiences, and for many, the forced return journey to Venezuela.

Hi all! My name is Kirsten Trevino, and I am a rising senior at Barnard College majoring in Sociology and Human Rights. My interests in identity, sexuality, and sociology led me to research the coming-of-age experience and identity formation practices of white lesbian elders who came of age during the post-WWII, Cold War period in Detroit, Michigan, during my first summer.  In my second summer, I am currently volunteering with the organization Rainbow Faith and Freedom to further their mission of securing affirmation for 2SLGBTQIA+ by ending religious-based homophobia and transphobia 🌈 

I am a rising fourth-year at Barnard College of Columbia University studying Economic & Social History with a minor in Science & Public Policy.

I am a sophomore from Seattle, WA studying History on a pre-law track. My research interests lie at the intersection of human rights, migration, and environmental justice. I am also passionate about language and writing. My research for Laidlaw is a historical case study of legal protection gaps for climate-displaced people, specifically targeted legislation and U.S. refugee provisions in the mid-late 20th century. In my free time, I enjoy reading and hiking. 

Hello! My name is Aimar Rosario Ávila and I am a third-year student at Barnard College majoring in Urban Studies with a  concentration in psychology and a minor in education. I’m from Puerto Rico and my research aims to investigate how the categorization of social spaces can reflect an interplay of political, historic, and cognitive developments through an intersectional lens.

I am a rising senior at Barnard studying history, concentrating on the history of empires and colonialism with specific interest in food history. I research how people, culture, and the environment interact through food.

Hi, my name is Aleena Mehta and I am a sophomore at Barnard College, majoring in Economics with a minor in Political Science. I grew up in Jammu and Kashmir, India, and hence have always been fascinated by the field of geopolitics. My research at the Laidlaw Foundation would revolve around extrapolating a relationship between state sovereignty and civil rights violations in the Kashmir crisis. This includes understanding the threat to the autonomy and stability of non-state actors in periods of territorial conflicts while investigating the recent socio-economic developments in the region.

Hello! My name is Ananya and I am rising junior at Barnard College, majoring in Urban studies, specializing in Environment and Sustainability, with a minor in Architecture. The world is in a constant state of change. Whether it is the ever-changing nature of sustainable urban design, climate and world events, or new methods of organizing communities in urban spaces. With change comes meaningful action, a step I want to undertake.  Having studied and experienced a multitude of cultures, I have learned a lot about community, and how it forms to bring people together in various contexts. My ongoing degree at Barnard College inspires me to explore the idea of community through urban studies, environmental sustainability, architecture, and design in a multifaceted manner.  I am excited to step out of my comfort zone and adapt to new environments. I am ready to learn a variety of skills to transcend the boundaries of design and community and coalesce them for a more productive and inspiring future. My research interests include sustainable urban planning/design, and their connections to general local or environmental policy practices across Southeast Asia. My laidlaw research aims to look at neighborhood designation in Singapore and its connection to street/mural art narratives and community representation.

Hello! I am a rising sophomore interested in the intersection between health, environment, and advocacy. During Laidlaw, I am excited to research the impact of radiation on the Pacific Islands, specifically regarding contamination in local fruit and vegetation of Kiribati island. 

My name is Tara Lago, and I am a Rabi Scholar and Laidlaw Scholar at Columbia University pursuing a major in neuroscience and behavior with a concentration in chemistry. With more than 3 years of research related to social science, depression, animal behavior, and computational neuroscience, I aim to study and apply the basic neural mechanisms that underlie human health.  I am passionate about helping my community, inside and outside of the lab. Whether that be creating inclusive programs for my first-year residents as a Resident Advisor or advocating for the freedom to read with the New York and Brooklyn Public Library, I seek to create supportive spaces that encourage intellectual, emotional, and social growth. After my undergraduate education, I plan to work in academic medicine, with the ambition of obtaining an MD-PhD in the future.