Brett Bell, Class of 2006
Brett is currently serving as a US Peace Corps Volunteer in eastern Uganda, in East Africa. As a Community Health volunteer, she works at a regional health centre for HIV-positive people. She addresses a variety of issues, including ARV adherence, adolescent reproductive health, palliative care for people in end-stage AIDS, and income-generating projects for people living with AIDS and widows. Having majored in Political Science and followed the Pre-med advising track at Barnard, Brett is applying to enter medical school in 2009.
Rebecca Hayoun, Class of 2006
Originally from Brooklyn, Rebecca graduated from Barnard with a B.A. in Chemistry. While at Barnard, she worked for two years in the research lab of Professor Linda Doerrer on the synthesis and characterization of gold and platinum nano-wires. In addition to classes and research, she was a member of the Steering Committee of the Columbia University Dance Marathon (CUDM). In her senior year Rebecca was the Executive Chair of CUDM and during her tenure the group raised over $300,000 for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Having spent her entire life in NYC she decided to move across the country after graduation and is currently in graduate school at the University of Washington in Seattle. Rebecca is now in her second year of research in the laboratory of Professor James Mayer (whose daughter is a current Barnard student!), working toward a Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry. Her research focuses on the selective oxidation of alkanes. When she’s not in the lab Rebecca enjoys running and going to the theatre. She has continued to work with HIV/AIDS foundations and currently volunteers her time with the Lifelong AIDS Alliance, the largest AIDS organization in the Northwest.
Anushka Jhaveri, Class of 2011
Anushka is an international student from India, Mumbai. In her first semester, she decided to concentrate her energies towards settling into college and releasing her senses to the overwhelming and exciting experience. She is a part of the Emerging Leader’s Program and is assistant directing the spring show for King’s Crown Shakespeare Troupe (KCST). Amongst other activities, Anushka participated in the Lunar Gala Fashion Show and the Egg and Peacock 24-hour play showcase. (The next thing on her list of Things –to – Do is to participate in Club Zamana’s Spring Cultural show, “Tamasha”.) Anushka feels that there is room in Barnard life to be involved in a wide variety of activities on campus and encourages all admitted students to attend the Activity Fair during Orientation Week. Her love for the arts and sciences has encouraged Anushka to major in Architecture. If possible, she plans on doing the 2+3 Architecture & Civil Engineering Program. Anushka feels that one of the t-shirts she bought in the Barnard Student Store says it all about her impressions so far: Like all our students, she is a “Strong, Beautiful, Barnard Woman.” If you are interested in learning more about the clubs and activities Anushka participates in, please visit:
KCST: (http://www.columbia.edu/cu/shakespeare/)
Lunar Gala: (http://www.columbiaspectator.com/node/29506)
Egg and Peacock: (http://www.columbiaspectator.com/node/29176)
Club Zamana: (http://www.columbiaspectator.com/node/24722).
Ashley Keyes, Class of 2007
Ashley came to Barnard from Los Angeles, CA, and while at Barnard she majored in Women’s Studies and minored in Spanish. She sang in Bacchantae (one of Barnard’s a cappella choirs), was a peer educator at the Rape Crisis Center, a member and president of Kappa Alpha Theta, and a Barnard admissions Senior Interviewer. Ashley now lives in Chicago and is a first-year medical student at Northwestern University. An active member of the American Medical Women’s Association, this year Ashley has been a mentor for senior students at the Young Women’s Leadership Charter School, has coordinated Take Back the Night, and is Donations Chair for the Silent Auction in the spring. Additionally, Ashley serves as a Barnard Alumnae Admissions Representative in Chicago. She can’t wait for the Barnard reunion in May!
Julie Malyn, Class of 2009
Julie hails from Radnor, PA, a suburb of Philadelphia. Julie is a Psychology major and is also a participant in the Barnard Leadership Initiative (BLI). Next year, her senior thesis will focus on women and leadership, combining psychology and her BLI coursework. Julie has been working with Professor Rafaeli on his research on Empathic Accuracy in relationships in Affect and Relationships Lab for the past three years. Outside of the classroom, Julie serves as the Public Relations Officer for the McIntosh Activities Council, where she formerly served as Community Committee Chair, planning Midnight Breakfast and other campus events and traditions. She has been active in the Admissions Office as a Student Admissions Representative and tour guide. Julie was a Resident Assistant for the Barnard Pre-College Program last summer and continues as a Resident Assistant for transfer students in Elliott Hall. She has also served as an Orientation Leader and Crew Chief for the New Student Orientation Program. This past year, Julie interned in the Corporate Communications Department at Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization behind Sesame Street. This summer, Julie will be interning at Lehman Brothers in Human Capital Management, where she will work with programs to foster and support women leaders.
Bianca Passos, Class of 2008
After changing her major(s) from Neuroscience and Theatre to Women’s Studies to Italian and now to American Studies with a Women’s Studies concentration, Bianca has taken full advantage of the flexible liberal arts curriculum at Barnard! Since she has plans to teach in bilingual elementary classrooms in NY public schools, Bianca is currently completing the Barnard Elementary Education Program for Initial NYS Certification for grades 1-6. She received an International Baccalaureate diploma from Suncoast High School in Riviera Beach, FL, and while her “hometown” is Delray Beach, FL, Bianca grew up between Florida, New Jersey, and in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where she was born. Bianca speaks Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian fluently. Bianca is photographer for the Barnard Bulletin, and held the position of Photo Editor in the past. Off campus she works through Barnard’s Babysitting Agency. As a senior Bianca is currently committing most of her time to writing an American Studies thesis about tattooed women in the late 19th/early 20th centuries. Last semester, she student-taught 2nd graders at a local public school in a dual (Spanish) language, special education inclusion classroom. In earlier years at Barnard Bianca was an Orientation Leader for the New Students Orientation Program and worked for Admissions as a Barnard Student Admissions Representative and a Senior Interviewer. She studied abroad in Florence, Italy, and received two Office of Career Development grants for summer internships as a Drama Outreach Intern in a local elementary school and for an Editorial Internship position with Sesame Workshop’s Sesame Street Magazine. She worked as an assistant at the Barnard Toddler Center in the Psychology Department and danced in Orchesis Dance Group.
Ranya Saadawi, Class of 2008
Ranya, a senior at Barnard, is double-majoring in Political Science/Asian & Middle Eastern Cultures, and comes from Franklin Lakes, NJ. She graduated from Bergen County Academies. Ranya is an intern this semester at ABC’s Nightline, Coordinator of Turath’s (Columbia’s Undergraduate Arab Student Association) Arab Cultural Week, and a former Barnard Senior Interviewer/Senior Admissions Fellow. She has used her time at Barnard to pursue her love for languages, as she simultaneously studied Chinese and Arabic, while also trying to pick up phrases in other languages from the diverse mix of students at Barnard. Ranya studied abroad last year in London and is getting ready to graduate this May, which means she’s a self-professed “thesis-writing fiend” right now. Luckily, Barnard allows second-semester seniors to stay in housing even if they’re part-time, as Ranya is this semester, so she’s still on campus and can be an active member of the community right to the end.
Kelly Ann Taddoino, Class of 2010
Kelly majors in Political Science with a minor in Environmental Science. Additionally, she plans pursue the Barnard Leadership Initiative curriculum, in which she has just begun taking classes. Though originally from Long Island, Kelly Ann’s family moved to Charlotte, NC, ten years ago so she graduated from Charlotte Latin High School. At Barnard Kelly serves as a Resident Assistant in the First-Year Focus program (and has plans to be the Wellness RA next year). She is also the scholarship chairman for her sorority and an active member of both Columbia Catholic Undergraduates and Columbia Roadrunners. Kelly Ann’s goal is to run the NYC marathon before she graduates! Off-campus, she volunteers with Achilles Track Club, which is a running club for disabled athletes (she will run as a guide for her partner in his first half-marathon later this month). This past summer Kelly Ann studied abroad at the University of Cadiz in Spain. Her free time is spent running in Central Park (daily), visiting the Metropolitan Museum, and exploring NYC with friends as often as possible.
Jen Thum, Class of 2009
Jen will be blogging from Egypt and Israel, where she’s studying abroad this semester as a part of her Archaeology major. She has been on three digs so far (in Israel, Cyprus and Egypt) and will be posting lots of updates and photos of her adventures there. While on Barnard’s campus Jen is the founder of GLAM (Gotham League of Archaeology Majors), serves on the Student Activities Time-Out Committee, and volunteers in the Archaeology Lab by drawing pottery from the Strong Collection. She works as a Barnard Student Admissions Representative as a tour guide, and at the Barnard Student Store as their Web designer and a Sales Assistant. Off campus Jen returns to her home “turf” in Brooklyn, NY, where she gives freelance tours of historic south Brooklyn. In keeping with her background in art—Jen graduated from Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts—Jen practices henna artistry.
Julia Tolentino, Class of 2010
Julia comes to us from Englewood Cliffs, NJ. She works for Barnard’s Residence Life office as a first-year focus Residential Advisor. She also serves as coxswain for the Men’s Heavyweight Crew Team at Columbia University. In addition, Julia is a Barnard Writing Fellow, a member of Liga Filipina, and serves as a math and science tutor in Queens for a rowing program for inner-city high school girls. As a Chemistry major with a (pending) minor in Political Science and plans to go on to medical school, Julia’s a great example of student taking full advantage of the flexible curriculum available at Barnard.
Mariel Villere, Class of 2008
Mariel is treasurer of Barnard EcoReps, where she represents the Wellness Floor and does a lot of part-time work through the Barnard Babysitting Program. She also serves as a Barnard Senior Interviewer/Senior Admissions Fellow. Mariel is majoring in Architecture with a minor in Art History. Originally from New Hope, PA, where she attended New Hope Solebury High School, Mariel has traveled quite a bit during her time at Barnard. She spent last spring studying abroad in Bologna, Italy, and after receiving a fellowship for travel related to research for her senior thesis, spent five weeks in New Orleans this past summer. Several of Mariel’s classes this semester involve outings into the city—one class actually meets only at the American Museum of Natural History. She’s also taking an art history on the Harlem Renaissance, for which she will research the murals in Harlem Hospital. As a nice capstone to her Barnard experience, Mariel has been selected as the student feature for the 2008 Torchbearer’s Reception in April, where she will speak alongside President Shapiro and an alumna at the ceremony.
Rachel Wilkinson, Class of 2010
Rachel is a sophomore originally from Elon, North Carolina. As a Political Science major she loves taking advantage of all the great lectures on campus. Rachel is involved in Columbia University Democrats and in the Global Justice Club, and serves as publicity coordinator for Barnard’s own Smart Women Lead. Her biggest time commitment, aside from studying, is working as a Resident Assistant for First Year students. Off campus, Rachel volunteers with New York Cares and is currently working as an intern in Senator Hilary Clinton’s office. Last summer Rachel worked for a non-profit in Kentucky doing home repair for people living in poverty. She plans to spend next spring abroad in South Africa, where she’ll continue to explore her interest in political science as well as anthropology, literature, and French.
Ebony Wiresinger, Class of 2001
Ebony hails from El Paso, TX, but has been in New York City almost long enough to call it home. As a Marketing Associate at Lehman Brothers, she focuses developing advertisement and educational pieces for the Firm’s Investment Banking and Investment Management divisions. Prior to her work in the Marketing group, Ebony worked in Lehman’s Staffing group where she focused on building the Firm’s workforce and actively developing younger talent. With a passion for women’s issues and youth empowerment, Ebony volunteers as a Barnard Alumna Admissions Representative (BAAR) and with Step Up Women’s Network (an organization that provides resources to women and girls in the community). Also, she is serving as Vice-President and Reunion Chair for Barnard Class of ‘01. In her spare time, Ebony enjoys volunteering, reading and traveling. She has recently has taken up skiing and devoting a great deal of time to studying for the GMAT (business school entrance exam).
