Fellows at the Forefront

Program Overview:

Fellows at the Forefront is an innovative, faculty-led summer program through the Center for Public Service and Engaged Scholarship that empowers students to address some of the world’s most urgent social issues through research, policy, and advocacy initiatives. The program centers on peer-to-peer learning, with a weekly faculty-guided seminar series. Each summer, a cohort of approximately 10 fellows is selected to explore a pressing issue from a variety of perspectives.

Fellows participate in the program through one of two roles. Half of the cohort works with community organizations, gaining firsthand experience with the strategies and challenges of addressing social issues through policy or practice. The other half of the cohort works directly with faculty or affiliated researchers, contributing to research and analysis related to the program’s core topic.

2026 Fellows

Alyssa Ao

Fellow at the Forefront

Global Oncology Education Development Specialist

Alyssa Ao is a rising sophomore in Lowell House from Wayland, Massachusetts. She currently plans to study Neuroscience and Art, Film, & Visual Studies and hopes to develop her interests at the intersection of health equity, humanitarian medicine, and art...

Daniel Kim

Fellow at the Forefront

Social Impact Strategy Student Intern

Daniel is a graduating senior (Class of 2026) concentrating in History and Science with a secondary in Government. On campus, he was a part of Harvard Undergraduate Consulting on Business and the Environment (CBE) and the Harvard International Review...

Hannah Lee

Fellow at the Forefront

Global Oncology Education Development Specialist

Hannah Lee is a candidate for an A.B. in the History of Science at Harvard University, expected in May 2026.With an interest in healthcare and medical humanities, she is currently a research assistant at the Center for Global Cancer Medicine at Dana...

Martina Jaramillo

Fellow at the Forefront

Education Intern

Martina Jaramillo is a rising sophomore at Harvard University studying Economics and Government. Born in Italy and half Ecuadorian, she later lived in Switzerland for a while and mostly grew up in Miami. Her academic interests center on climate governance...

Michelle Wong

Fellow at the Forefront

Social Impact Strategy Student Intern

Michelle Wong is an incoming senior at Harvard College studying Psychology and Environmental Science and Public Policy. Her interests center on the intersections of public service, environmental justice, mental health, and community-based program design...

Zahra Mohammadi

Fellow at the Forefront

Research Intern – Climate Change and Primary Health-Seeking Behavior

Zahra-Marie Mohammadi is a rising junior at Harvard College concentrating in Neurobiology with a secondary in Global Health and Health Policy. Originally from Miami, Florida, her work is driven by a commitment to addressing disparities in cancer care...

Kaitlyn Tran

Fellow at the Forefront

Humanitarian Affairs Intern

Kaitlyn Tran is a graduating senior at Harvard College studying Government with a secondary in History. Within her studies, she is interested in legacies of colonialism, political memory, and state repression and violence. This summer, Kaitlyn will be...