Xavier Arriaga

Area of Study: Economics
Hometown: Hartford, CT
Faculty/Staff Mentor: Chelsea Cichocki, Student Support Services
Alumni Mentor: Steven Hoffler (’95), Southern Connecticut State University

Xavier, an Economics major in the fast track program for an MPA, is a First Year Experience TA and mentor and served as a peer mentor for a study abroad trip to Cape Town, South Africa. On campus, Xavier is involved in Community Outreach as an Alternative Break assistant trip director, UConn HOLDUP, SSS Leadership Board, and the boxing team. In the future, Xavier hopes to return to the city of Hartford to work to improve educational policy and improve the lives of at risk youth.

Lucas Bladen

Area of Study: Political Science
Hometown: Mansfield, CT
Faculty/Staff Mentor: Ronald Schurin, Political Science
Alumni Mentor: Rich Twilley (’96, ’04), McCormick, Paulding & Huber, LLC

A Political Science major with minors in Human Rights and French and Francophone Studies, Lucas has interned for Senator Richard Blumenthal in Washington, DC and was a recipient of an IDEA Grant, SHARE Grant, and a Bennett Research Assistantship. Lucas has served as the Director-General of the UConn Model United Nations since his return from studying abroad in Paris, France and he writes for the UConn Political Review. He hopes to become a political strategist and to run for office one day.

Jenny Blessing

Area of Study: Computer Science
Hometown: Old Greenwich, CT
Faculty/Staff Mentor: Dan Burkey, Undergraduate Education and Diversity & Engineering
Alumni Mentor: Kelly Hennigan (’97), ING U.S.

Jenny, a Computer Science major, has interned for Google working on a security and privacy team and currently works in a research lab focusing on the security of voting technology. Jenny is also a STEM scholar in the Honors program, a member of the Society of Women Engineers, and a teaching assistant within the CSE department. She has also studied abroad in Florence, Italy and Tel Aviv, Israel. In the future, she hopes to pursue a graduate degree with a focus on computer security.

Bright Eze

Area of Study: Nursing
Hometown: Cromwell, CT
Faculty/Staff Mentor: Jessamy Hoffman, Honors Program
Alumni Mentor: Nick Roy (’06), Somnio Financial Group, LLC

Bright is a Nursing major who serves as a TA for a Physiology and Neurobiology course and an Organic Chemistry course. Bright is originally from Nigeria where he attended the University of Nigeria; he moved to Connecticut to attend UConn in 2015. He is involved in the Honors Program, Rowe Scholars Program, and the LSAMP Scholars Program. Additionally, he has spent time completing his nursing clinical at St. Francis Hospital. In the future, Bright plans to get his Ph.D. and become a Nurse Researcher.

Katherine Grant

Area of Study: Education, Secondary English Education
Hometown: Groton, CT
Faculty/Staff Mentor: Dorothea Anagnostopoulos, NEAG School of Education
Alumni Mentor: Kaitlin Roig-DeBellis (‘06), Class 4 Classes

As an Education major, Kathrine is involved in the Teacher Education Student Association, UConn Future Educators, and the UConn Honors Book Club. Additionally, she will participate in an Alternative Spring Break this March in Birmingham, Alabama focused on Urban Poverty and Civil Rights. In the future, Kathrine plans to teach Secondary English in a public, high-needs district and to become involved with educational politics and administration in the public sector after pursuing a doctoral degree.

Ciera Hunter

Area of Study: Physiology and Neurobiology
Hometown: East Granby, CT
Faculty/Staff Mentor: Kristen Govoni, Animal Science
Alumni Mentor: Steve Rogers (’73, ’78), Subway Development Corporation

Ciera, a Physiology and Neurobiology major, works as a Resident Assistant on campus. Ciera is also involved in the Student Coalition for Social Justice, Net Impact, Artists for World Peace, and National Residence Hall Honorary. She also completed a fellowship with the Technology Incubation Program. In the future, Ciera hopes to create an organization that increases the network and effectiveness of non-profit resource distribution (food, medicine, emergency relief).

Susan Naseri

Area of Study: Political Science and Human Rights
Hometown: Wolcott, CT
Faculty/Staff Mentor: Jennifer Sterling-Folker, Political Science
Alumni Mentor: Jeff Ment (’89), Silver, Golub & Teitell LLP

A double major in Political Science and Human Rights, Susan works in South Campus as a Resident Assistant as well as with the Center for Students with Disabilities as a notetaker. Susan is involved with Model UN and the Middle Eastern Student Association. She has also interned for State Senator Gerratana’s campaign. In the future, she plans to attend law school before moving to the Middle East to open her own law firm to provide legal aid to internally displaced citizens, asylum seekers, and refugees across the region.

Kelsey Richard

Area of Study: Individualized Major: Global Health
Hometown: Madison, CT
Faculty/Staff Mentor: Kaitlin Heenehan, Honors Program
Alumni Mentor: Rich Twilley (’96, ’04), McCormick, Paulding & Huber, LLC

Kelsey has an Individualized Major within Global Health and works as an undergraduate intern with the UConn Health Research Program. She currently serves as an Alternative Break Coordinator for a trip to the Dominican Republic. On campus, she is involved with the Pre-Medical Society, Alpha Phi Omega, the Medical Humanitarian Society, Alpha Lambda Delta Honors Society, and UConn’s Special Program in Medicine. Kelsey hopes to become a physician and to join the military to serve her country.

Stephen Sam

Area of Study: Computer Science
Hometown: East Hartford, CT
Faculty/Staff Mentor: Joseph Cooper, Sport Management
Alumni Mentor: Nicole Lindsay (’96), The ZOOM Foundation

Stephen, a Computer Science major, is the current president of Brothers Reaching Our Society at UConn. He is also involved in the African Student Association, the National Society of Black Engineers, and the Ghanaian Catholic Youth Ministry. He has interned with Countrywide Product and with The Hartford Insurance. He also studied abroad in Brazil with the ScHOLARS House. In the future, Stephen hopes to work as a software developer and eventually as a Chief Technology Officer.

Aziz Sandhu

Area of Study: Individualized Major: Global Health
Hometown: Tolland, CT
Faculty/Staff Mentor: David Ouimette, First Year Programs and Learning Communities
Alumni Mentor: Annette Lombardi (’76), Retired

Aziz, an Individualized Major in Global Health, is involved in Alternative Breaks and will serve as trip director for a Spring Break trip focusing on Healthcare. Additionally, she is involved as a TA and Mentor for an FYE course and with the Sikh student association. She was also a Hayley Elizabeth Petit Injury and Violence Prevention Fellow at Connecticut Children's Medical Center. Aziz hopes to have a career that explores the intersectionality between responsible policymaking, social justice, and advocacy.

Juan Santiago

Area of Study: Urban Studies and Economics
Hometown: New Britain, CT
Faculty/Staff Mentor: Alaina Brenick, Human Development and Family Studies
Alumni Mentor: Brooke Zelesnick (‘98), UBS AG

A double major in Urban Studies and Economics, Juan founded the Branchfer Club in effort to help better acclimate students transferring from regional campuses. Juan completed an urban semester where he interned for Community Solutions, Promise Zone Location, Our Piece of the Pie, and Leadership Greater Hartford. He is also involved on campus in Pi Kappa Phi and the Student Coalition of Social Justice. In the future, Juan hopes to work with, support, and someday manage nonprofits.

Mary Szarkowicz

Area of Study: Political Science and Accounting
Hometown: Watertown, CT
Faculty/Staff Mentor: Virginia Hettinger, Political Science
Alumni Mentor: Sean O’Connell (’83, ’92)

A double major in Political Science and Accounting, Mary has interned with Senator Blumenthal’s office in Washington, D.C. as a legislative intern and assistant to the Chief of Staff. She also interns for the Department of Justice, serves as the 2018 Conference Director for UConn Model UN, and works as a Student Administrative Assistant in the Office of the Registrar. In the future, Mary hopes to pursue a graduate or law degree to focus on foreign policy and return to Capitol Hill to work in the Senate.

Tara Watrous

Area of Study: Psychological Sciences
Hometown: Niantic, CT
Faculty/Staff Mentor: Suzanne Onorato, Student Health Services
Alumni Mentor: Jen Ryley-Welsh (’90), Mitchell College

Tara, a Psychological Sciences major, worked with Student Health Services this past summer to create and pilot the Healthy Husky Challenge, a health-related activities challenge for all undergraduate students. Tara also works as a career intern in the Center for Career Development, is involved in Alpha Kappa Psi and volunteers as a peer mentor for students on academic probation. In the future she hopes to pursue a career in higher education, advocating for the needs of undergraduate students.