Sawhney Leadership Program

Hometown: Waterbury, Connecticut

Tamara is an English and education major at Quinnipiac. Since her junior year, she has served as editor-in-chief of Montage Literary & Arts Magazine. She has also worked as a resident assistant and helps first-year students through the QUEST mentoring program. Additionally, she has a work-study role as a donor relations assistant in the Office of Development & Alumni Affairs. After completing her MAT program and student teaching in Connecticut, Tamara hopes to work in elementary education.

Hometown: Cheshire, Connecticut

Kayla is a nursing major with a minor in global public health. She has been a part of the orientation leader staff for two years. At present, she is the secretary of the Multicultural Leadership Council and a general board member of the Black Student Union and Student Programming Board. In addition, she serves as a volunteer at the Food Bank of Connecticut and the Diaper Bank of Connecticut. After graduation, Kayla hopes to take a gap year to travel to different countries before getting a nursing job. Her eventual goal is to attend graduate school to become an advanced practice registered nurse.

Hometown: Queens, New York

Jasmine is an economics major with minors in business and data science. At Quinnipiac, she has assumed a variety of leadership roles as the co-chair of community outreach for the Big Event and as a member of the residence hall council. Jasmine plans to earn her master’s in business analytics before starting to work as a financial advisor.

Hometown: New York, New York

Emily is a political science major with minors in Latin American studies and women and gender studies. She has taken on a variety of leadership roles at Quinnipiac, serving as president of the Latino Cultural Society and treasurer of the Indigenous Student Union. She was also a peer mentor in the First-Year Immersion program and continues to work with first-year students as a QUEST mentor throughout the academic year. Additionally, Emily worked as a research fellow for the Quinnipiac University Interdisciplinary Program for Research and Scholarship and was the recipient of a research grant from the M&T Bank Women in Business Center. She is currently living in Washington, D.C., working as an intern for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. After graduation, Emily plans to earn a PhD in political science.

Hometown: Rocky Hill, Connecticut

Kinshu is a computer science major with minors in data science and finance. He is involved on campus as the president of the Quinnipiac Computing Club, overseeing various club events including the club’s semi-annual hackathons and multiple computing events. He was also instrumental in organizing the first industry-sponsored event with M&T Bank. In addition, Kinshu is a research assistant for Quinnipiac’s Office of Academic Innovation and Effectiveness, where he contributes to building predictive models of student success that inform the university’s strategic initiatives, accreditation and policy. After graduation, Kinshu plans to pursue a career within the technology and finance industries.

Hometown: New York, New York

Destiny is a criminal justice major with minors in theater and political science. As a transfer student, Destiny rediscovered her love of theater and wrote an original script that was accepted in the theater program’s 2022 New Play Lab. She credits the experience with developing her leadership skills and storytelling abilities with behind-the-scenes knowledge in producing difficult material. Her time at Quinnipiac has also inspired an interest in social justice issues. After graduation, Destiny plans to pursue her acting career and hopes to launch a business that will also give back to the community. Her future goals include expanding her social justice involvement, specifically as it relates to the criminal justice system for minorities.

Hometown: Harare, Zimbabwe and Budapest, Hungary

Anesu is a legal studies major with a minor in business. She has held numerous leadership roles in student organizations and other on-campus groups at Quinnipiac, including serving as president of the Multicultural Student Leadership Council, as an orientation leader, as a technology support supervisor and as one of the first-year student mentors in the QUEST program. Upon graduating, Anesu hopes to attend law school and pursue a career with a multinational firm.

(She/They)

Hometown: Springfield, Massachusetts

Amari is a theater and game design major with a minor in women’s and gender studies. During their time at Quinnipiac, they served as the director of New Play Lab and a panelist for the LGBTQ+ Teach-In while participating in the annual LGBTQ+ and the Student of Color Leadership Retreats. Amari is also a member of the Honors Program and was named public relations chair of the Gender and Sexuality Alliance. They were also appointed assistant director of the musical “Bulgaria! Revolt!”. After graduation, Amari plans to work on building their professional resume while pursuing directing, playwriting and game design, specifically in narrative or art design. Through their work, Amari hopes to explore the representation of minoritized communities and social justice issues through a creative lens.

Hometown: Randolph, Massachusetts

Aja is enrolled in the Quinnipiac accelerated dual-degree BA in Criminal Justice/MBA (4+1) program with minors in psychology and business analytics. Her on-campus activities include serving as a peer catalyst and orientation leader alongside employment at the Quinnipiac University Bookstore and the Quinnipiac Polling Institute. She has also participated in a professional internship with the Adult Probation Office of the Boston Municipal Court. After completing her MBA, she hopes to explore new business opportunities in addition to working full-time in the Boston Municipal Court. Aja's long-term goals include earning field experience before pursuing positions at the CIA or FBI.

Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Donald is a psychology major at Quinnipiac. He has served as the finance chair for the Multicultural Student Leadership Council, a member of the fundraising committee for J.U.M.P. Nation and as a peer mentor for the First-Year Immersion program. After graduation, Donald plans to earn his master’s degree in clinical psychology. He aspires to one day hold a PhD in the field.

Hometown: Bronx, New York

Cameron is a double major in English and law in society. She is a second-year resident assistant, a Quest mentor and an honors mentor. She also works with area schools as a member of QUADS (QU Advancing Diversity in Science) and has served as an orientation leader and a spin instructor. Cameron is currently interning at a local personal injury law firm in Cheshire, Connecticut, where she will work full-time as a paralegal after graduation in May. She hopes to attend law school in the future and eventually become an attorney herself.

Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria

Chizahra is a double major in political science and law in society. During her time at Quinnipiac, she has served as a resident assistant, a student ambassador, a program coordinator for Naturally Me, a justice of the Student Government Association, a DEIA co-pillar leader for the Honors Program, the director of diversity and inclusion for the International Student Association and the social events chair of the National Society for Leadership and Success. After graduation, she plans to enroll in law school to earn her JD and eventually work as a human rights lawyer helping others in need.

Hometown: Randolph, Massachusetts

Christy is an athletic training major at Quinnipiac. She has held a variety of leadership positions on campus and is the president of Quinnipiac Christian Fellowship. Dedicated to helping create inclusive communities and serving as a resource for students, she serves as a G-Board member for the Latino Cultural Society and has also been a resident assistant for three years. After graduation, Christy plans to earn her master’s degree in social work. She hopes to work as a high school athletic trainer in an underserved community and create programs promoting community wellness.

Hometown: Fair Lawn, New Jersey

Daisy is in the accelerated dual-degree BS in Biology /MS in Molecular Cell Biology (3+1) program with a minor in global public health. She is president of the Tau Phi Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and a member of both the Biological Sciences Honors Society and the Greek National Honors Society. Daisy served as a residential assistant for the first-year Live Well Living-Learning Community. Her experience includes internships at Columbia University’s Earth Institute and The University of Utah’s Genomics Summer Research for Minorities Program. She also traveled to Bolivia to study universal health care. After graduation, Daisy plans to pursue her PhD in public health and become an advocate for under-resourced populations.

Hometown: Bethel, Connecticut

Renata is a nursing major at Quinnipiac. She has been a resident assistant for the last three years, helping to create inclusive communities and to serve as a resource for students. She’s also a student ambassador for the School of Nursing and participates in open houses and academic exploration days. Outside of Quinnipiac, Renata is currently working as a patient care associate on a pediatric oncology floor at Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford. After graduation, Renata hopes to pursue a career in pediatric nursing and to explore specialties such as oncology and critical care.

Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts

Kyasha is a psychology and education major with a minor in Spanish. At Quinnipiac, Kyasha has served as the logistics manager for the annual Black Student Union fashion show. She’s also served as treasurer of the Black Student Union Executive Board. In addition, Kyasha volunteers twice a week as a tutor at North Haven Middle School with QU's Future Teachers Organization. Kyasha also works as a peer catalyst in the Learning Commons. After completing her MAT program, she hopes to teach elementary education while pursuing a Ph.D. in clinical psychology.

Hometown: Bronx, New York

Deja is a behavioral neuroscience major at Quinnipiac. She’s been active in the Black Student Union first as the Multicultural Student Leadership Council student liaison and now as the secretary. She’s also held several key positions in the Latino Cultural Society, including director of public relations, the Multicultural Student Leadership Council student liaison and treasurer. After graduation, Deja hopes to become a research assistant while she pursues her master’s/doctorate. Her professional goal is to enroll in medical school and become a neurologist.

Hometown: Bronx, New York

Toyloy is a journalism major with a minor in sociology. He has served in a variety of leadership roles, including secretary of the Black Student Union, vice president of the African & Caribbean Student Union and managing editor of The Quinnipiac Chronicle. Toyloy is also executive editor of “For the QUlture” magazine. He has held several key internships during his college career, including roles at the Bronx Documentary Center and Hoops Prospects. After graduation, Toyloy will participate in a week long boot camp at the Sports Journalism Institute followed by an internship at USA Today.

Hometown: North Salem, New York

Jalil is a media studies major with a journalism minor. He has participated in two internships while attending Quinnipiac. One was a social media marketing role for a job recruiting firm. The other was a social media internship for a social media blogger and influencer. On campus, he is the director of public relations for the Black Student Union. After graduation, Jalil plans to study fashion or public relations in graduate school. With a master’s degree in fashion, he might work in public relations for a fashion label, or even a global conglomerate. Eventually, he would like to become a creative director.

Hometown: Springfield, Massachusetts

Joancy is a biology major with a minor in chemistry. She has served on the New Student Orientation Staff as an orientation leader, and later, as an intern. Joancy is also a peer-catalyst in the Learning Commons for first-year seminar courses. In addition, she is a research volunteer in a genetics lab at Quinnipiac and an academic tutor in the City of New Haven through a nonprofit organization, New Haven Reads. She’s also a CNA and helps lead the Biology Department’s mentoring program. After graduation, Joancy plans to earn her master’s in biomedical sciences and apply to medical school.

Hometown: Brooklyn, New York

Leilani is a psychology and criminal justice major at Quinnipiac. During her time at QU, she has worked as an after-school teacher and mentor at Graham Windham, a nonprofit that offers help to children and families in need. She helps children grow socially, academically and emotionally to become greater versions of themselves. After graduation, Leilani wants to be a forensic psychologist to improve how the mentally ill are seen and treated within the criminal justice system. She wants to ensure they have access to the services they need to recover from any trauma they have faced.

Hometown: Bronx, New York

Kodi is a finance major with a minor in entrepreneurship. She has served in a variety of leadership positions at Quinnipiac, including her role as a resident assistant with the Office of Residential Life, the finance chair with the Multicultural Student Leadership Council, and as treasurer and public relations chair with the African & Caribbean Student Union. Kodi is also the executive chair and the public relations chair at “For the QUlture” magazine, and a volunteer for Junior Achievement Day at Cheshire Middle School. After graduation, she will begin her career as a financial analyst at Citigroup.

Hometown: Braintree, Massachusetts

Cecil is an occupational therapy major at Quinnipiac. For the past three years, Cecil has been a resident assistant for first-year students, which has enabled her to build positive and inclusive communities. Currently, Cecil is a resident assistant for the Occupational Therapy Living-Learning Community. She also serves as a member of the Student Occupational Therapy Association and the ASL Club. In addition, Cecil works with first-year students as part of the QUEST mentoring program. After graduation, she will pursue her Master of Occupational Therapy at Quinnipiac.

Hometown: Mansfield, Texas

Lydia is a heath science studies major at QU. She has served as a resident assistant at Mountainview with the Office of Residential Life. She has also worked as a research assistant (interviewer/qualitative coder) with the Quinnipiac XLH Study and a mentor with the Quinnipiac University Enriching Student Transitions (QUEST) program for incoming underrepresented students. After graduation, Lydia plans to earn her clinical doctorate in occupational therapy. As a future occupational therapist, she hopes to specialize in neuroscience and hand therapy and to help design new therapeutic interventions.

Hometown: San Ramon, California

Pratibha is enrolled in the entry-level dual-degree BS in Health Science Studies/MHS in Physician Assistant program. After serving as the programming chair of the Multicultural Student Leadership Council for two years, she became the executive chair this year. She also has served in leadership roles with the South Asian Society, Relay for Life and the Minority Association for Pre-Medical Students. She has gained healthcare experience working as a pharmacy technician, contact tracer and physical therapy aid. After graduation, Pratibha plans to work as a physician assistant in oncology or OB/GYN.