Alvin He Hi there! My name is Alvin He, and I am a junior majoring in Economics. Coming to UMass, at first I was undecided, very indecisive, and shy when it came to meeting new people. I tried forcing myself outside of my comfort zone, signed up for 60 clubs, and tried my best to find my sense of belonging. Luckily, I came to find so many incredible people at UMass who I looked up to and aspired to be like, and it motivates me now to be that person for others. Now, I am heavily involved in the Entrepreneurship Club as Co-President and work with many startups doing marketing consulting on the side. Outside of school, I enjoy playing guitar, tennis, and

photography. I want to do what I can to help provide a great sense of community at UMass and help people find and focus on their passions. Hope to get to know you personally!

Deanna Cook My name is Deanna Cook and I am a sophomore legal studies major and a member of the honors college. I am from Malden, MA and I come from a big family of seven people and five pets. After I graduate I hope to go to law school. I joined AFP my freshman year and it was one of the best decisions I had ever made. It provided me with a sense of community when I was feeling the most alone and helped me have a great start at UMass. I knew I wanted to be a Diversity Fellow so I can give back what AFP gave to me. I love trying new things, hanging out with my friends, binge watching my favorite shows and baking. I am always open to meeting new people and hope to meet you at

future AFP events!

Meet This Year's Amazing Diversity Fellows!

We are so excited to introduce our 2020-21 team of Diversity Fellows! Diversity Fellows support AFP students by designing and hosting events, developing resources, and fostering a warm and welcoming community and sense of belonging for all SBS students who identify as first-gen, BIPOC, and/or from families with low incomes

Greta Garcia Jalil Melendez Hello, my name is Greta Garcia Jalil Melendez. I am a sophomore studying Political Science with a minor in Arabic Language. I was born in Mexico, but I live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Outside of class, I enjoy visual arts, reading books, being with family and friends, and learning languages. I love visiting my family in Mexico because I get to enjoy Mexico from a tourist and local perspective. When I was a first-year student, I joined the Academic Fellows Program, and the community helped make my college transition smoother. Through AFP, there have been opportunities to interact with AFP alumni through community dinners and panel discussions.

Not only do they provide valuable advice, but they also are an inspiration to BIPOC and first-generation students. I became a Diversity Fellow because I believe in the importance of contributing to and advocating for an impactful community. I look forward to working with AFP and with you!

Jasleen Maldonado My name is Jasleen Maldonado. I am from Malden, MA. Academically, I am very passionate about politics and law. I hope to keep educating myself on our legal systems and why they are set up the way they are. I hope to one day attend law school for either immigration or criminal law. I want to be able to help those in need and fight for their justice. Personally, I am very into painting and drawing. I find that these help me relax and feel accomplished. During quarantine, I did a summer internship with David Buchwald who was running for a seat in Congress. This internship was very interesting and taught me some details on running a political

campaign. I wanted to become a Diversity Fellow because I understand what it feels like to be alone or confused, especially as a first-gen student. I want to be able to use my voice to help push others in the right direction.

Kaego NDlweka Hi! My name is Kaego NDIweka. I am a junior here at UMass Amherst. My major is Political Science and I am a member of the Commonwealth Honors College. I am also an Emerging Scholar. I got involved with AFP during my freshman year because I realized that being part of a community would be beneficial for me. Before I came to UMass, I did not have that, and I struggled with it. Being an in AFP and the Emerging Scholars program, I have met some of my closest friends. I also have space where I feel comfortable enough to share my specific experiences as a Black woman. As a Diversity Fellow, I hope that AFP feels like space where

Black, Indigenous, people of color, and other marginalized students can ultimately express their goals and concerns and feel that you are part of a community. Regarding my major, I am interested in public policy and international law, so I plan to go to law

school. Another reason I became a Diversity Fellow is that I enjoy helping people. I want to help

others and provide access to the resources people may need but cannot obtain themselves. I am

currently writing my honors thesis on public policy and healthcare inequalities. Lastly, some of my

hobbies are reading, writing, listening to music, and fashion.

Kristal Yee My name is Kristal Yee and I am a senior majoring in Political Science and Legal Studies with a minor in Chinese. I have been involved in the Academic Fellows Program since my freshman year and credit much of my academic and professional success to the program. Through AFP I have been able to attend Alternative Spring Breaks to Washington DC that helped launch my interest in politics, various professional development workshops, and networking opportunities with professors and alumni. During my time at UMass Amherst, I have completed internships at the United States House of Representatives, the Massachusetts State Senate, and various political

campaigns. Without AFP, I truly believe I would not have been equipped with the skills and confidence to enter the workforce. As a Diversity Fellow, I hope to help improve campus climate, create engaging programming, and foster a community through these unprecedented times.

Kwarkor Quartey

My name is Kwarkor Quartey and I am a senior majoring in Political Science with a minor in Information Technology. I’m also a member of the Commonwealth Honors College. I grew up in Ghana and moved to the United States when I was 18 to further my education. Before transferring from Mount Wachusett Community College, I was in a similar program called the Visions Program and I was concerned about finding such an opportunity in a bigger university like UMass Amherst. Fortunately, I received an email and I was ready to be part of another great program.

Through AFP, I’ve met amazing people, some of whom are in my close circle of friends, colleagues who are BIPOC or first generation like me, and faculty who genuinely want to see members flourish in any area they find themselves. AFP made my academic year more meaningful through events like ‘Dinner with Alumni’, where I finally found out how to approach your professor and the kind of questions to ask that prevented awkward silence moments after you introduced yourself. I also attended the ‘Welcome Event’ where I received a laptop during the raffle that made me so excited and relieved. I applied to be a Diversity Fellow because it is a great opportunity to work with such a diverse group, and to be a leader that other students may approach in time of need. I speak English, Ga and I know basic Spanish. I hope I can improve my skills before I forget the little I know. It’ll be great seeing you all at AFP events this year!

Rania Henriquez Hey everyone! My name is Rania Henriquez and I use she/her pronouns; I am currently pursuing a dual degree in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies, and Political Science. I became a Diversity Fellow because I wanted BIPOC and first-generation students like myself to feel seen at UMass. Being involved in AFP helped me feel like there was a community of people who were rooting for me to succeed! That’s something that I hope you all will experience this year. A couple of fun facts about me are that I went to South Africa with SBS, I grew up speaking Spanish at home and I love reading and writing poetry. I’m

excited for this year and I hope to see you soon!

Sari Saint-Hilaire

My name is Sari Saint-Hilaire and I’m from Revere Massachusetts. I am a Neuroscience and Sociology major with a minor in Biology. After college, I want to get a MD-PhD in Neurosurgery and Neuroscience. I want to do research with the brain and connections to both human interaction and generational traumas and traits.

I am part of the Student Alumni Association (SAA) and I had the opportunity to attend Council for Advancement & Support of Education: Affiliated Student Advancement Programs (CASE ASAP)

conference. It allowed me to meet people I would’ve never met under normal circumstances. I received so many tips on networking, putting my best foot forward professionally, asking for opportunities, and bonding with my classmates.

Looking at me, you might not know that I grew up in Haiti. It’s a big part of who I am because the customs here are so different. I became a Diversity Fellow to push myself even further. I want to maximize my college experience and learn as much as I can.