黑料正能量

Class of 2028
B.S. in Statistics & Machine Learning
Hometown: Dubai, UAE

Yousaf Abbasi鈥檚 dedication to community engagement is rooted in growing up between cultures. Raised in Dubai by Pakistani parents and now studying in the United States, he has experienced firsthand how identity, access and opportunity are shaped by systems that often go unquestioned. Navigating these spaces has made him attentive to the structural barriers that affect marginalized communities and motivate him to pursue work that creates measurable, equitable change.

At Carnegie Mellon, Yousaf deepened this commitment to community engagement through his research at the , where he worked on applied, data-driven projects that required translating qualitative datasets into practical insight. That experience reinforced his belief that data is not neutral 鈥� it reflects priorities and incentives 鈥� and that it can be leveraged intentionally to serve underrepresented groups. He is particularly interested in designing data-informed solutions that improve access to education, resources and opportunity for marginalized communities. By combining statistical rigor with community-centered thinking, Yousaf aims to build systems that are both analytically sound and socially responsive.

Class of 2027
B.S. in Political Science, Security and Technology; additional major in Environmental and Sustainability Studies
Hometown: Syracuse, NY

Grant is committed to community engagement rooted in service, sustainability and community revitalization. Growing up in Central New York, he saw firsthand the realities of both urban and rural economic hardship, shaping his belief that meaningful change must come from within communities themselves. Together with his studies in environmental sustainability and political science, these experiences have guided his focus toward environmental justice, sustainable development and asset-based community development.

Grant is particularly passionate about ensuring equitable access to clean air and water, healthy food, safe housing free of environmental contaminants and access to green spaces in low-income communities. Growing up in Syracuse, he witnessed the long-term effects of deindustrialization on rust-belt cities and developed a strong interest in revitalization efforts that are both sustainable and community-oriented. He believes that redevelopment and urban renewal should strengthen local economies, uplift local communities and protect the people and environments that define them.

As a Collester Fellow, Grant looks forward to designing and implementing hands-on environmental justice initiatives that support sustainable community development at the local level. He hopes to build a career working alongside communities to facilitate sustainable local growth that emphasizes existing local assets, fosters resilience and ensures that revitalization benefits the people who call these communities home.

Class of 2027
B.S. in International Relations and Political Science
Hometown: Colonia, NJ

Zach is a student studying political science and decision science whose commitment to community engagement is rooted in a belief that local institutions matter. His passion for community involvement grew through hands-on leadership experiences in student government, where he worked directly with diverse stakeholders to translate constituent concerns into actionable policy. Zach brings a perspective shaped by academic training in governance and regulation, combined with practical experience organizing forums, coordinating advocacy efforts and supporting civic participation initiatives.

As a Collester Fellow, Zach is particularly eager to pursue projects that strengthen democratic engagement. He is motivated by work that empowers individuals to participate meaningfully in decision-making processes and that lowers barriers between communities and the institutions that affect them. Zach hopes to make a lasting impact by helping design structures that outlive any single project and continue to foster engagement over time. What resonates most with him about being a Collester Fellow is the opportunity to pair rigorous academic inquiry with tangible community impact, reinforcing his long-term commitment to public service and civic leadership.

Class of 2028
B.A. in Psychology
Hometown: Westmoreland, PA

As a psychology major, Lindsay is deeply committed to expanding access to mental health care for underrepresented and low鈥慽ncome communities. Growing up in a low鈥慽ncome household, she has witnessed the struggle that comes with finding adequate mental health support from limited resources, long waits and systems that were not built with communities in mind. These experiences continue to ground her work and fuel her dedication to equity, dignity and community鈥慶entered care.

As a Collester Fellow, Lindsay brings both her academic interest in mental health advocacy and her lived understanding of the challenges many families face. She is especially passionate about helping people find affordable, accessible mental health services without feeling overwhelmed or discouraged. Additionally, she looks forward to collaborating with community organizations to strengthen outreach, reduce stigma and build support systems that feel welcoming and sustainable.

Lindsay approaches every project with curiosity, compassion and a genuine desire to listen and learn from people. She values the relationship鈥慴uilding side of community engagement and is motivated by the possibility of creating solutions that last long after the fellowship. She is excited to grow as a fellow and to contribute to a program that prioritizes meaningful collaboration, reflective practice and long鈥憈erm partnership.

Class of 2028
B.S. in Ethics, History & Public Policy (EHPP) and a B.S. in International Relations and Political Science (IRPS), with a minor in American Law.
Hometown: Beckley, WV

Presley鈥檚 dedication to community engagement is rooted in her commitment to equal protection under the law. As a proud West Virginian, she has experienced firsthand the importance of equitable access to public education and the role it plays in strengthening communities. More importantly, as the daughter of a West Virginia public school teacher, Presley is an unwavering advocate of ensuring that both educators and students are equipped with the resources and support they need to succeed.

During her time at Carnegie Mellon, Presley has become increasingly motivated to expand educational access by the noticeable absence of fellow Appalachians and students from low-income communities within spaces of higher education. For her fellowship project, Presley plans to combine grassroots organizing with her experience in policy-driven initiatives to advance equitable educational opportunities within her community.

As a Collester Fellow, Presley is most excited to demonstrate that 鈥測鈥檃ll means all鈥� 鈥� that expanding opportunity requires dignity, collective investment, inclusion and a commitment to empowering students both within Carnegie Mellon and beyond.

Class of 2028
B.S. in Information Systems聽
Your hometown : Delhi, India

Manya鈥檚 passion for community engagement stems from her vision of making the world a better place by creating more inclusive communities using tech-driven solutions. To make education more inclusive, she started Learnclusive, a non-profit that develops and implements curricula for children from various socio-economic backgrounds. This experience sparked her passion for developing systems that drive long-term and scalable impact. Now, Manya鈥檚 interests lie at the center of technology, entrepreneurship and social impact. Manya is pursuing an additional major in artificial intelligence so by applying a systems-thinking approach to community engagement, she wishes to integrate data-driven decision making with human-centered design.

During the fellowship, Manya is interested in exploring projects that enhance access to educational and economic opportunity, particularly through helping organizations measure and scale impact and optimize operations. What excites Manya most about being a Collester Fellow is that it gives her the opportunity to collaborate with and learn alongside other fellows and mentors that bring diverse perspectives and experiences. She is looking forward to focusing on engaging with the community, not merely as a service but as a shared and ongoing commitment to equity and growth.

Learning from this fellowship, Manya hopes to continue her entrepreneurial journey while ensuring that her ventures and initiatives always incorporate community voice into their design.

Class of 2028
B.S. in Decision Science, additional major in Ethics, History, & Public Policy
Hometown: Orlando, FL

Hannah has prioritized resilience, reinvestment and restoration for the communities that have supported her journey not just to Carnegie Mellon, but to a better livelihood. Han is a mosaic of various communities that have all shown different facets of agency and their unique, respective powers. Living in the South as a low-income, queer Asian American, Han has experienced community as a necessity for survival, past a social lifeline. Hannah is the most familiar with grassroots organizing, as someone who did not grow up with the resources to navigate institutional action. She wants to be able to expand her understanding of organizing across different applications through models, people and practice 鈥� hopefully learning how to encourage and empower people to acknowledge and utilize their power for their respective communities.

The Collester Fellowship gives Han the space to hear perspectives from other fellows who have a spectrum of community work amongst them. Han plans to collaborate with students within and outside of the program and university for her efforts for collective action to tackle a myriad of community issues and needs 鈥� not just for longevity, but also to spread the wealth of knowledge they gain from the fellowship so that community members can have them in their tool-kit. Han wants to build her actions on collaboration with a heavy emphasis on intersectionality, which her experiences back home and during her undergraduate experience at Dietrich College have underscored the value of.

Class of 2028
B.S. in Policy and Management
Hometown: Bergenfield, NJ

Julianna is passionate about advancing community engagement strategies that address structural inequities and strengthen local capacity for progress. Her commitment is rooted in hands-on work with grassroots groups that showed her how locally led solutions create lasting impact. She is especially interested in equitable urban development, community-driven economic growth, environmental justice and the role of public policy in shaping neighborhood opportunity.

Julianna brings a systems-level perspective to community work, combining her interests in research, storytelling and data to better understand how history, power and place influence outcomes. During the fellowship, she hopes to pursue projects that elevate community voices in planning processes, strengthen partnerships between institutions and local organizations, and expand access to resources for historically underinvested neighborhoods. She is particularly motivated by initiatives that translate community knowledge into actionable policy or program design. She envisions making a lasting impact by helping build models of engagement that are collaborative, locally led and sustainable.

The aspect of being a Collester Fellow that resonates most with her is the opportunity to learn directly from community partners while working alongside peers committed to social impact. Ultimately, Julianna hopes to contribute to a future where development is not done for communities, but shaped with them.

Class of 2028
B.S. in Information Systems
Hometown: Uniontown, PA

Jake Pajerski is a sophomore pursuing a B.S. in Information Systems. Originally from Uniontown, PA, he is passionate about expanding access to computer science education and college-preparatory resources for students in under-resourced communities. Growing up in a rural public school district, Jake witnessed firsthand the disparities in access to advanced coursework, mentorship and exposure to technology-driven career paths. These experiences ignited his commitment to using technology not only as a professional pursuit but as a tool for empowerment and equity.

At 黑料正能量, Jake combines his interests in software engineering, data systems and entrepreneurship with community-focused initiatives that aim to bridge opportunity gaps in STEM education. He is particularly interested in designing scalable digital tools and outreach programs that make technical knowledge more accessible and approachable. As a Collester Fellow, Jake hopes to develop sustainable partnerships with local schools and community organizations to create long-term educational impact. He believes meaningful community engagement is rooted in listening, collaboration and building systems that continue to serve others beyond a single project or semester.

Class of 2028
B.S in Ethics, History & Public Policy; additional major: Health Humanities
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA

Makenzie鈥檚 commitment to community engagement has grown from her time in Pittsburgh Public Schools, where she saw how school funding disparities, neighborhood resources and access to health support services shaped students鈥� daily lives and opportunities. Very early on, it was clear to her that health and education were deeply connected, as she saw the implications of local policies and legislation that directly affected families and communities, especially those of color. As a student studying ethics, history and public policy and health humanities at 黑料正能量, she is interested in the intersection of community health, substance misuse management and treatment, human service policy and maternal and child health. Through these lenses, she is passionate about examining how inequalities from incarceration rates to healthcare access have been structurally produced and sustained under various political justifications.

During the fellowship, Makenzie hopes to work on initiatives that address issues evolving from coordination between health systems and human services, thereby improving outcomes for underserved communities rather than targeting them. What resonates most about being a Collester Fellow is the opportunity to pair academic work and a commitment to critical research and analysis with tangible impact in the communities she calls home and hopes to continue to serve.

Class of 2028
B.S. in Statistics and Machine Learning
Hometown: Jinan, China

Jingru is a statistics and machine learning student who is passionate about creating value at the intersection of technology, art and community engagement.

Jingru鈥檚 journey into community service began as a volunteer pianist, where performing at nursing homes taught her that authentic interaction and empathy are the heart of meaningful connection. This experience inspired her to found a Women in Data Science Club when she was in high school; the club actively worked to dismantle gender stereotypes in STEM through dialogue and hands-on projects. On the technical front, Jingru developed Nockfort, an AI-enhanced security system designed to improve safety for women living alone, demonstrating her ability to translate academic knowledge into real-world impact. As the Director of the Well Music Festival, she also displayed strong leadership and integrity by prioritizing ethical standards during complex organizational challenges.

As a Collester Fellow, Jingru looks forward to applying her expertise in data science and human-computer interaction to collaboratively develop inclusive solutions for Pittsburgh communities.

Jingru is eager to learn from her peers about sustainable community engagement and navigating ethical dilemmas. Ultimately, she aims to use technology ethically and empathetically to empower and protect marginalized groups. She remains committed to the belief that community engagement is a continuous process of breaking down biases through open conversation and shared achievements.