Sawhney Leadership Program

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.