# Students ## expand\_more [### Anna P. Fang, MD ](/people/anna-p-fang-md)Global Emergency Medicine Fellow Anna P. Fang, MD is an emergency physician and Global Emergency Medicine Fellow at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She graduated with a degree in economics from Yale University in 2014, received her medical degree from Harvard Medical School in 2021, and... ![Anna P. Fang ](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-08/Fang%2C%20Anna%20-%20Headshot.JPG?h=f046e79e&itok=VK-xyHQ_) [### Dana Naamani, MD, MPH ](/people/dana-naamani-md-mph)Global Emergency Medicine Fellow Dana Naamani, MD, MPH, is an emergency physician and Global Emergency Medicine Fellow at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Originally from Lebanon, she earned her medical degree from the American University of Beirut before pursuing a Master of Public Health... ![Dana Naamani](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-11/Dana%20Naamani3129_316%202.jpg?itok=C3AXY7rM) ## Past Students ### 2026 Student Interns expand\_more [### Kalu Okigwe ](/people/kalu-okigwe)Practicum Student Kalu Okigwe is a Geospatial Data Scientist and M.S. candidate in Geographic Information Science at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. His research centers on GeoAIapplications for hazard risk and resilience, with a focus on spatial modeling of... ![Kalu Okigwe](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-11/Screenshot%202025-11-24%20at%205.34.00%E2%80%AFPM.png?itok=SwXiW6YY) [### Sumina Suwal ](/people/sumina-suwal)Practicum Student Sumina Suwal is a Master’s candidate in Sustainable International Development at Brandeis University’s Heller School. Her undergraduate thesis offered a comparative policy analysis of U.S. and Chinese renewable energy frameworks, examining how subsidies... ![Sumina Suwal](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-11/Sumina_Headshot.jpg?itok=DlYd-hSV) ### 2025 Student Interns expand\_more [### AN Na, M.D. M.P.H. MSc ](/people/na-md-mph-msc)Practicum Student Dr. An Na is a DrPH candidate at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She has worked in humanitarian health for more than a decade. She started her global health journey as a Gynaecologist/Obstetrician for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) projects... ![picture1_01](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/picture1_01.png?itok=O1JVRpSH) [### Miriam Krimmer, MD ](/people/miriam-krimmer-md)Practicum Student Miriam is currently a graduate student at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, where she is pursuing a Master of Public Health in Health Management with a concentration in Public Health Leadership. As the founder of the Self-Defense Student... ![Miriam Krimmer](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-02/Student%20Miriam%20Krimmer_Picture.jpg?itok=CqRHrRwu) ### 2024 Student Interns expand\_more [### Alexa Tovsen, PA ](/people/alexa-tovsen)Practicum Student Alexa is an MPH student at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, graduating in May 2024 with a concentration in Women, Gender, and Health. She has been fortunate to complete her MPH Practicum on the Ukraine Trauma Care Response Program with HHI’s... ![tovsen_alexa_pa-c_09_sq23.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/tovsen_alexa_pa-c_09_sq23.jpg?itok=e578c6cX) [### Florence Awde, MAS ](/people/florence-awde)Practicum Student A recent graduate from Arizona State University, and current student at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Florence (Flo) Awde is a dedicated scholar specializing in Child Health, Public Health, Childhood Cancer health equity, and... ![flo_awde.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/flo_awde.jpg?itok=GFg95OrC) [### Zahra Saifi ](/people/zahra-asghar)Research Assistant Zahra is a current Masters in Public Policy student at the Harvard Kennedy School. She graduated from Brown University, where she studied the decision-making of multilateral institutions in crisis settings through the lens of public health infrastructure... ![zahra_asghar.jpeg](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/zahra_asghar.jpeg?itok=smUkn9Pv) [### Ethan Gacek ](/people/ethan-gacek)Research Assistant Ethan is a dual-degree Masters in Public Policy and Masters in Business Administration student at Harvard Kenned School and Harvard Business School. At HHI, he is working on the development of HHI's long-term strategy. After beginning his career in... ![ethan_gacek_headshot_1.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/ethan_gacek_headshot_1.jpg?itok=pcKclh6M) ### 2023 Student Interns expand\_more [### Emma Catalfamo ](/people/emma-catalfamo) Emma Catalfamo served as a graduate research assistant for the Transitional Justice Project. She graduated from Harvard Kennedy School in 2023 with a Master’s in Public Policy focusing in Political and Economic Development. She comes from a Monitoring and... ![headshot_emma_catalfamo.png](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/headshot_emma_catalfamo.png?itok=PXcmI_Ms) [### Joshua Drake ](/people/joshua-drake) Josh is an MD, MPH dual degree candidate at Tufts University School of Medicine and was an intern for the Emergency Health Systems Program. After graduating from the University of California, Santa Barbara, he worked as an EMT at the Muhimbili Emergency... ![Josh Drake Headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/josh_drake_-_josh_headshot_formal_updated.jpg?itok=Zd_Hz7xF) [### Lana Feras Aldos ](/people/lana-feras-aldos) Lana Feras Aldos served as the Education Research Intern at the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative. She received her MSPH from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in 2022. Lana uses her education and her background as a former Syrian refugee to... ![Lana Aldos Headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/lana_aldos_headshot.jpg?itok=o2aqtCJZ) [### Kevin Linn, MPH ](/people/kevin-linn)Practicum Student, Storytelling for Impact in Global Health Kevin has worked in strategic health policy and improving access to quality cancer care in Canada for over a decade in not-for-profit organizations and public health agencies. During this time, he was accountable for strategically managing relationships... ![Kevin Linn Headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/kevin_linn_1242_251-2.jpeg?itok=mvKpNgPB) [### Alaha Nasari ](/people/alaha-nasari) Alaha served as the HRIC Administrative Assistant for the Harvard Academy Internship Duration: Spring 2023 ![alaha_nasari.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/alaha_nasari.jpg?itok=eOWEsrdQ) [### Jessica Untz Lee, MD ](/people/jessica-untz-lee) Jessica served as a graduate research assistant within the Transitional Justice program. She is a British physician with a long-standing interest in the provision of care to vulnerable groups. Prior to becoming a doctor, she worked in Latin America in a... ![jessica_lee_21683.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/jessica_lee_21683.jpg?itok=hrWwkVJt) [### Gabriella Vavala ](/people/gabriella-vavala) Gabriella served as a research assistant for the Gender, Rights, and Resilience Program. She received her Master of Public Health in Health and Social Behavior with a concentration in Humanitarian Studies at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health... ![Gabriella Vavala Headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/gabriella_vavala_headshot-removebg-preview.png?itok=SFBH0VII) ### 2022 Student Interns expand\_more [### Fakiha Ahmed, MA ](/people/fakiha-ahmed-ma) Fakiha served as a Research Assistant for the Signal Program at HHI. Her research interests include applying race and gender theories as well as studying the long-term impact of colonisaton in the field with a commitment to considering the ethical... ![Fahika Ahmed Headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/headshot_-_fakiha.jpg?itok=p9l0G-3M) [### Jessica Angel ](/people/jessica-angel) As a graduate research assistant for the Transitional Justice Program, Jessica helped evaluate the effectiveness of transitional justice policies such as prosecutions, truth commissions, and reparations. She also conducted literature reviews and draft... ![Jessica Angel Headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/j.angel_headshot.jpg?itok=PCcvb8SF) [### Brinkley Brown ](/people/brinkley-brown) Brinkley Brown served as an intern for the Humanitarian Response Intensive Course and Simulation. In this role, she was involved in educational programming for HHI’s undergraduate, graduate, and professional courses which are designed to prepare students... ![Brinkley Brown Headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/brinkley_brown_-_brinkleybrown_headshot.jpg?itok=JC4WN-wT) [### Diksha Kataria ](/people/diksha-kataria) Diksha Kataria served as a research assistant for the Building a Better Response Project (BBR). She is interested in leveraging data analysis and science to better understand and solve complex social issues. Past projects include the use of game theory to... ![Diksha Kataria headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/diksha_kataria_headshot.jpg?itok=6fze5B5-) [### Arielle Kempinsky ](/people/arielle-kempinsky) Arielle Kempinsky completed her practicum project under the supervision of Patrick Vinck. She served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Senegal working on infrastructure building and behavior change focusing on malaria practices. She also worked in Kenya doing... ![Arielle Kempinsky Headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/arielle_headshot.jpg?itok=QPXie5PZ) [### Victor A. Lopez-Carmen, MPH ](/people/victor-lopez-carmen) ![Victor Lopez Carmen Headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/star_quilt_portrait__1.jpg?itok=uNd8jQ3c) [### Hebatalla Mohamed ](/people/heba-mohamed) Heba Mohamed served as a Research Intern for the Signal Program on Human Security and Technology where she was involved in the research and development of the Visual Response Simulator (ViRS), a modeling tool that simulates and visualizes disease... ![Heba Mohamed Headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/headshottt_2.jpg?itok=ZC_dNHjb) [### Mrinalini Narayan ](/people/mrinalini-narayan)Research Intern, Infectious Diseases and Epidemics Program Mrinalini worked as an intern for the Infectious Disease and Epidemics Program (IDEP). She was involved in supporting the implementation and evaluation of home-based care and hygiene interventions for patients recovering from COVID-19 in Honduras. She is... ![Mrinalini Headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/mrinalini_idep_headshot_1.png?itok=vTWcJeCd) [### Ankita Panda, MPP ](/people/ankita-panda) Ankita Panda graduated with a Master’s in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School in 2022. At HHI, she served as an intern for the Gender, Rights, and Resilience Program. She is interested in gender policy, with a focus on gender-based violence and... ![Ankita Panda Headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/ap.jpg?itok=efHlWFvw) [### Stefan Pataky, MS ](/people/stefan-pataky-ms) ![Stefan Pataky Headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/profile_picture_pataky.jpg?itok=gA1Jw0gD) [### Noah Rossen ](/people/noah-rossen) Noah Carton-Rossen supported the Emergency Health Systems’s Ukraine Trauma Care Response project. As the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) intern, he helped test the monitoring and evaluation tools before the collection of data... ![Noah Rossen headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/headshot_01.jpg?itok=UkTBUiiL) [### Chloe Rudnicki ](/people/chloe-rudnicki)Intern, National NGO Program on Humanitarian Leadership Chloe Rudnicki worked with the National NGO Program on Humanitarian Leadership. She graduated in May 2022 from Boston University with a B.A. in International Relations and Political Science. Five years volunteering within the same village near Cap-Haitien... ![Chloe Rudnicki headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/hhi_headshot.jpg?itok=mN5Tpw2t) ### 2021 Student Interns expand\_more [### Julianna Brill, MA ](/people/julianna-brill-ma) Working with ENP beginning in Spring 2021, Julianna provideed dedicated academic and technical support for online and onsite professional development sessions using platforms such as the HHI Learning Management System, Zoom platform, and others. Her work... ![Julianna Brill](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/julianna_brill_0.jpg?itok=8jTByISY) [### Kendall Carpenter, MD, MPH ](/people/kendall-carpenter-md-mph) Kendall was a student in MD/MPH dual degree program at Harvard Medical School/ Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She received her MD in 2022 and her MPH in 2021. Kendall conducted her MPH practicum project under the supervision of Dr. Albanti... ![Kendall Carpenter](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/kendall_carpenter_0.jpg?itok=SSz2uF89) [### Shannon Chun, MD, MPH ](/people/shannon-chun-md-mph) Shannon completed his MPH practicum at HHI under the supervision of Dr. Albanti measuring social impact and organizational effectiveness for humanitarian organizations. This involved conducting systematic literature review, developing process maps, and... ![Shannon Chun](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/shannon_chun_0.jpg?itok=ZO2ID39x) [### Louisa Iselin ](/people/louisa-iselin) Louisa served as an intern for the Infectious Disease and Epidemics Program at HHI. She is a PhD student in Interdisciplinary Bioscience at the University of Oxford. She completed her undergraduate degree in Cell and Systems Biology, also at Oxford, in... ![Headshot of Louisa](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/louie_headshot_0.jpg?itok=IrW6fTn3) [### Maya James, MTS ](/people/maya-james-mts) Maya James was a student research assistant for HHI’s Peace and Human Rights Data Program-“Developing and Using Indicator Frameworks for Locally Led Peacebuilding in Central Africa." She has previously worked for the World Bank Group, Georgetown... ![Maya James](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/mjames_profile_pic_medium_0.jpg?itok=7Epm3jDo) [### Riyana Lalani ](/people/riyana-lalani) Riyana worked with Dr. Albanti on her MPH practicum project on strategic management where she researched evidence-based strategic frameworks, explored HHI’s program and partnership development approach, and examined HHI’s overall strategic planning and... ![Riyana Lalani](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/riyana_lalani_0.jpeg?itok=o-oz-mB6) [### Darby Lee ](/people/darby-lee) Darby Lee worked with GR2 for the Spring 2021 semester. She provided research support for GR2's ongoing projects at the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative. Darby has worked in Iraq, Jordan, Turkey and Myanmar on Child Protection, Education in Emergencies... ![Darby Lee](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/darby_lee_0.jpeg?itok=M7lWltwh) [### Michelle Olakkengil, MS ](/people/michelle-olakkengil-ms) Michelle Olakkengil worked with the Program on Gender, Rights, and Resilience. She received her Master of Science in Global Health and Population from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She has experience working on professional projects for... ![Michelle Olakkengil Headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/mo_0.png?itok=nr8y14qy) [### Avery Robinson ](/people/avery-robinson) Avery worked with Dr. Phuong Pham and her team from Winter 2020 until Spring 2021. The team is partnered with UNICEF to collect survey data from individuals in Africa and the Middle East that measure their protective practices, health-seeking behavior... ![Avery Robinson](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/avery_robinson_2_0.jpeg?itok=RfWktEfx) [### Angelique Santiago ](/people/angelique-santiago) Angelique Santiago worked with the ATHA team for the Spring 2021 semester. She explored the intersection of mediation, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and bottom-up development strategies. Angelique's belief that conflict is an opportunity for growth... ![Angelique Santiago](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/angelique_santiago_0.jpg?itok=E0SEDvwd) [### Leah Waid ](/people/leah-waid-0) Leah Waid was a research intern with the Program on Gender, Rights, and Resilience (GR2). She worked with Dr. Jocelyn Kelly on a variety of projects related to forced displacement, gender based violence, and human trafficking. In 2022, Leah graduated from... ![Leah Waid Headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/leah_waid_headshot_2_0.jpg?itok=NxMrp4rA) ### 2020 Student Interns expand\_more [### Mari Bothner ](/people/mari-bothner) Marian served as a Research Assistant for the Summer & Fall 2020 semesters at the Signal Program on Human Security and Technology. At the Signal Program, she worked on expanding the Signal Code and developing protocols for data protection in humanitarian... ![mari_bothner_0.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/mari_bothner_0.jpg?itok=RWaSQre0) [### Gabrielle Cahill, MPH ](/people/gabrielle-cahill-mph) Gabrielle worked with ATHA/HHI on research projects and case studies related to humanitarian diplomacy and the burden of armed conflict on healthcare delivery. She also worked as a Research Associate for the Program in Global Surgery and Social Change at... ![gaby_cahill_0.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/gaby_cahill_0.jpg?itok=ifgzG1HM) [### Roshni Chakraborti ](/people/roshni-chakraborti) Roshni served as a Research Assistant for the Summer & Fall 2020 semesters at the Signal Program on Human Security and Technology. At Signal, Roshni worked on the Signal Code with a focus on data protection and humanitarian obligations. Her research... ![roshni_chakraborty_0.png](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/roshni_chakraborty_0.png?itok=QOW9ZqBf) [### Katie Laurila ](/people/katie-laurila) Katie joined the ATHA program as a Research Intern for the Fall 2020 semester. Katie provided support for ATHA’s research on investigative processes related to sexual misconduct in humanitarian response settings and contributed to research dissemination... ![kate_laurila_0.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/kate_laurila_0.jpg?itok=_nSS_6i6) [### Sweet Hope Mapatano ](/people/sweet-hope-mapatano) Sweet Hope worked as an intern with the Program on Gender, Rights and Resilience (GR2) from June 2020 until the end of Fall 2020. She provided programmatic and administrative support for GR2's ongoing projects, particularly USAID’s RISE grant supporting... ![sweethope_0.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/sweethope_0.jpg?itok=ID6h4xhe) [### Emanuel Sapalo ](/people/emanuel-sapalo) Emanuel served as a Research Assistant for the Summer & Fall 2020 semesters at the Signal Program on Human Security and Technology. At Signal, Emanuel researched the role of conflict in the implementations of health interventions in the 10th Ebola... ![emanuel_sapalo_0.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum6866/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/humanitarianinitiative/files/emanuel_sapalo_0.jpg?itok=yUG6FEo1) [### Grace Yeboah-Kodie ](/people/grace-yeboah-kodie) Grace served as a Research Assistant for the Summer & Fall 2020 semesters at the Signal Program on Human Security and Technology. At Signal, Grace researched the role of mathematical and computational modeling during historical Ebola outbreaks to inform... person