Bruna Basso
Area of Study: Allied Health Sciences
Hometown: West Hartford, Connecticut
Faculty/Staff Mentor: Kathleen Holgerson, Women’s Center
Alumni Mentor: Kaitlin Roig-DeBellis (‘06), Classes 4 Classes
Bruna, an Allied Health Sciences major, is an Instructional Assistant for the Hartford Hospital Medical Technician Training on Campus. Bruna is also involved with the Women’s Center as the student representative for the Vice President for Student Affairs Student Leadership Council and is a co-facilitator for the Greeks against Sexual Assault Program. Following graduation, Bruna plans to pursue an M.D. to continue toward her passion of working in the medical field.
Lily DeBlasio
Area of Study: Political Science
Hometown: Seymour, Connecticut
Faculty/Staff Mentor: David Yalof, Political Science
Alumni Mentor: Jeff Ment (’89), The Ment Law Group
Lily, a Political Science major, has been involved as a Resident Assistant, a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta Honors Society, and a UNIV facilitator for the Honors program. She also spent the summer as a Congressional Intern for Senator Chris Murphy and is currently the Legislative Intern for Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro. After graduation, Lily hopes to attend law school and ultimately serve on the Circuit or Federal District Court as a judge.
Zoe Demitrack
Area of Study: Environmental Engineering
Hometown: Guilford, Connecticut
Faculty/Staff Mentor: Baikun Li, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Alumni Mentor: Rich Twilley (’96, ’04), Athorus, PLLC
As an Environmental Engineering major, Zoe has been involved with Engineers without Borders, the American Conservation Experience, and has studied abroad at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. Zoe is passionate about the sustainable food movement and, over the next several years, would like to establish herself not only as an engineer, but as a farmer and entrepreneur. One day, she hopes to create her own farm and community learning center.
Joshua Hirshfield
Area of Study: Digital Media & Design
Hometown: Stamford, Connecticut
Faculty/Staff Mentor: Heejoo Gwen Kim, Motion Design & Animation
Alumni Mentor: Steve Rogers (’73, ’78), Subway Development Corporation
Joshua is a Digital Media and Design major with a concentration in Game Design who is involved on campus as the President of the UConn Game Development Club. He has programmed and developed both digital and physical games and worked as a research assistant for Courtroom 600 helping to develop an interactive, virtual reality experience of the Nuremberg trials. In the future, Joshua hopes to remain CEO of the company he founded, Pyrebug Studios, and build it into a stronger business.
Aaron Hooker
Area of Study: Political Science
Hometown: Hartford, Connecticut
Faculty/Staff Mentor: Shayla Nunnally, Political Science
Alumni Mentor: Jen Ryley-Welsh (’90), Mitchell College
Aaron is a Political Science major and serves as the President of the National Conference of Black Political Scientists Undergraduate Chapter. Aaron has worked on multiple political campaigns as well as in the offices of Senator Blumenthal and House Majority Leader Matt Ritter handling constituent services and conducting legislative research. After graduation, Aaron plans to work in Higher Education and eventually run for political office.
Ethan Kimaru
Area of Study: Marketing
Hometown: Missoula, Montana
Faculty/Staff Mentor: Angela Rola, Asian American Cultural Center
Alumni Mentor: Brooke Zelesnick (‘98), UBS AG
As a Marketing major, Ethan is involved in the Japanese Student Association, Korean Student Association, Marketing Society, and UConn Project Fashion. Additionally, Ethan interns with the Asian American Cultural Center. He has studied abroad through the Immersive Chinese Language Programme at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and spent the summer volunteering with Project NOMAD in rural Michigan. Ethan’s dream is to work within the fashion industry, particularly in the fragrance market.
Amisha Paul
Area of Study: Physiology & Neurobiology and Economics
Hometown: Southington, Connecticut
Faculty/Staff Mentor: Anne Kim, Honors Program STEM
Alumni Mentor: Nick Roy (’06), Somnio Financial Group, LLC
Amisha is a Physiology & Neurobiology and Economics double major and has a minor in Global Studies. She has done summer research in the Conover Lab through the Holster Scholars Program and is involved in Global Health Spaces on Campus. Amisha has also volunteered for Hartford Hospital Mobility is Medicine and on a service trip to Cusco, Peru through MEDLIFE. Amisha hopes to pursue an MD/MBA to combine her passions for medicine, public service, and business and increase access to affordable and quality healthcare.
Priscilla Perleche
Area of Study: Physiology and Neurobiology
Hometown: Hartford, Connecticut
Faculty/Staff Mentor: Jennifer Cheng, Puerto Rican / Latin American Cultural Center
Alumni Mentor: Steven Hoffler (’95), Southern Connecticut State University
Priscilla, a Physiology and Neurobiology major, has been involved on campus in numerous capacities including the Peruvian Student Association, B.A.I.L.E., Pre-Med Society, Collegiate Health Services Corps, and has served as a mentor for METAS. Additionally, she volunteers off campus at Windham Hospital, Hartford Hospital, and the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. After graduation, Priscilla plans to become a pediatric doctor, travel the world to help children in need, and ultimately fix the health disparity system in her home community.
Sage Phillips
Area of Study: Political Science
Hometown: Old Town, Maine
Faculty/Staff Mentor: Glenn Mitoma, Thomas J. Dodd Research Center
Alumni Mentor: Rich Twilley (’96, ’04), Athorus, PLLC
As a Political Science major with a minor in Native American & Indigenous Studies, Sage serves as a representative on the Vice President for Student Affairs Student Leadership Council and serves on the President’s Council on Race & Diversity. She has been involved on campus as an FYE Mentor, with HackUConn, and Native American Cultural Programs. Sage hopes to attend law school to eventually advocate for her tribe or find a career in Tribal Health & Policy.
Alexandra Schaible
Area of Study: Psychological Sciences and Human Development & Family Sciences
Hometown: Shelton, Connecticut
Faculty/Staff Mentor: Sarah Scheidel, First Year Programs & Learning Communities
Alumni Mentor: Annette Lombardi (’76), Retired from State of CT, Department of Social Services
Alexandra, a double major in Psychological Sciences and Human Development & Family Studies has a passion for helping others. She serves as a Peer Advisor in the Psychological Sciences Advising Department and is involved with Community Outreach Alternative Breaks to Costa Rica and Detroit. She also supports students as a Teaching Assistant for the First Year Experience Program. Following graduation, Alexandra hopes to attend graduate school for Social Work to pursue areas of interest including education, family dynamics, and social issues.
Harry Zehner
Area of Study: Political Science
Hometown: New Haven, Connecticut
Faculty/Staff Mentor: Phoebe Godfrey, Sociology
Alumni Mentor: Jeff Ment (’89), The Ment Law Group
As a Political Science major with a minor in Environmental Economics and Policy, Harry is involved with many sustainability initiatives including Sustainable CT and the UConn Office of Sustainability. He is also involved with the Daily Campus as opinion editor where he works to ensure that student voices are heard. Harry gives back to his community by working as the Program Director for the Nathan Hale Homework Club and serving as a tutor for New Haven Reads. After graduation, Harry hopes to work in environmental policy and urban planning.
Michael Zhu
Area of Study: Molecular and Cell Biology & Economics
Hometown: Woodbridge, Connecticut
Faculty/Staff Mentor: Vincent Moscardelli, Office of National Scholarships & Fellowships
Alumni Mentor: Nancy Dupont ('85, '10), UConn Health & John Dempsey Hospital
Michael, a double major in Molecular and Cell Biology and Economics, interned with the Health and Medicine Counsel of Washington and volunteered at the Yale-New Haven Hospital Elder Horizons Program. On campus, he is involved as a Resident Assistant, Research Assistant in the Broderick Lab, and the Captain of the Club Water Polo Team. Michael hopes to become a physician and work within health policy in the government or a non-profit organization.