Executive board

Ayah Al-Zubi

A huge welcome to HGEM's page! I am Ayah Al-Zubi, HGEM's president. I am a third-year at Harvard studying sociology and psychology. You'll find me in Leverett on campus, but I am originally Jordanian and residing in Ohio. My work falls into youth empowerment, female empowerment, and sports empowerment. I have started an organization, Impowera, that works to create culturally sensitive sports curriculum for young girls in Jordan. I have taught a sports justice course that featured NBA players and Olympic athletes, as well as given a Tedx Talk on diversity and youth leadership. On campus, you can find me directing a public service program, HOOPS, that works to build interpersonal and intrapersonal skills in elementary school students or balling out on the Women's Club Basketball Team. In my free time, you'll find me nature-ing, playing hoops, traveling, and learning about new cultures.

Emily Tsai

I’m a sophomore in Eliot House concentrating in Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology. At Harvard, I am part of Taiwanese Cultural Society and MIHNUET, which plays music for nursing homes and hospitals. Outside of class, I love to catch sunsets, take walks in thunderstorms, and play with dogs. I love being part of HGEM and I’m so excited for all our upcoming conferences!

Desiree Rickett

Hello World! My name is Desiree, and I am a sophomore at Harvard studying Economics with a secondary in either Computer Science or Statistics. I work closely with Harvard’s Institute of Politics and various occupational activities such as Women in Business, Smart Woman Securities, and the Women in Law Association. I am also a member of Harvard’s Intercollegiate Model UN team and am involved in various Harvard International Relations Council activities as well as Harvard Model Congress. At HGEM, I am the Director of Tech and Multimedia and help to manage our lovely website. I joined HGEM because I am passionate about extending opportunities to everyone to succeed, and in my free time, you can find me fishing, bullet journaling, traveling, exploring new restaurants, trying new hobbies, and obsessively collecting stationary.

Larisa Shrestha

Hi! My name is Larisa, and I am a senior in Pforzheimer House studying Neuroscience with a secondary in Economics at Harvard. Outside of classes, I work as a research intern at the Valera Lab within Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. During my time at Harvard, I have worked as a Course Assistant and a Peer Tutor for biochemistry and neurobiology classes. One of my favorite summers at Harvard was when I studied abroad at Oxford University and got to travel around the UK. Besides classes and research, I love making coffee, bullet journaling, warm fuzzy socks, and the smell of old books.

Hien Le

Hi everyone! My name is Hien, and I am a sophomore studying Social Anthropology and East Asian Studies, with a potential secondary in Statistics or Mathematical Sciences. I'm originally from Vietnam, and now Adams is my home away from home. When I am not frantically translating Korean texts for my research, you can find me on a spontaneous sunrise hike, teaching English to newly immigrated kids, or wandering along the Charles with my favorite books. This academic year I will be serving as the Director of Content for HGEM, in charge of the program-planning process for our much-awaited conferences. Please feel free to say hi and talk about education, innovation, changing (healing) the world with love and compassion (or literally whatever you want)!

Uluç KadıoGlu

I'm a junior at Harvard studying Government and Neurobiology with a secondary in Economics. I also pursue research in political science and in neurobiology/animal behavior. I joined HGEM during my first year at Harvard and have since served as Director of Philanthropy and Chief of Finance. Outside of Harvard, I am interested in learning new languages, traveling, watching football, and aviation.

Trinh Nguyen

Hi! My name is Trinh Nguyen. I am a freshman at Harvard College, studying Biomedical Engineering on the Pre-med track. Outside of school, I love to read, explore nature, and listen to Taylor Swift.

Tram Nguyen

I'm a senior in Leverett House, concentrating in Social Studies with a secondary in Ethnicity, Migration, and Rights. I am from Vietnam, but my family moved to Minnesota when I was twelve, and we have been calling Minnesota home since. I spent all of my junior year in Austin, Texas, with friends from Harvard and UT Austin, where I discovered my love for food trucks and live music. Throughout my summers at Harvard, I have studied abroad in Spain, participated in the Summer Urban Program with the Phillips Brooks House Association (a service organization on campus) with the Boston Refugee Youth Enrichment program, and most recently, interned as an analyst on the Corporate Strategy and Development team at TIAA. Outside the classroom, I love making chocolate chip cookies (the only thing I can bake, so please don't @ me), hiking and finding the best waterfalls, and listening to NPR!