Drawing from all four undergraduate schools, the SNF Paideia Fellowship Program is a unique, three-year program that integrates students’ personal, professional, and academic interests through SNF Paideia designated courses, a senior capstone project, and co-curricular activities.
The Class of 2026 SNF Paideia Fellows includes:
Amelia Becerra, C’26, Hometown: Long Branch, NJ
Amelia is a student in the College of Arts and Sciences majoring in Health and Societies on the pre-med track. As an aspiring doctor and public health advocate, she hopes to increase healthcare access and equity in minority communities. She wants to better understand the root causes of healthcare disparity in the United States and explore possible solutions to reduce the disparity.
Glynn Boltman, C’26, Hometown: Reno, NV
Glynn is pursuing a double major in International Relations and Psychology in the School of Arts and Sciences. Her interests in politics and discourse emerged from witnessing polarization in her hometown, a key swing district in the 2020 and 2022 federal elections. Before coming to Penn, Glynn took a gap year to work for a nonprofit lobbying organization advocating for Montessori schools in Nevada. Looking to her future, Glynn aspires to utilize the academic knowledge and practical skills gained through the SNF Paideia Fellows Program as a negotiator working in the State Department.
Daniel Boyko, C’26, Short Hills, NJ
Daniel is a Political Science major in the College of Arts and Sciences and has a particular interest in environmental policy, election processes, and the democratic system. In addition to his academic pursuits, Daniel is an avid creative writer of both poetry and prose. He looks forward to the SNF Paideia Fellowship as an opportunity to bridge his writing and political interests.
Bill Chen, C’26, Springfield, VA
Bill is a student in the College of Arts and Sciences majoring in Cognitive Science and Computer Science with a minor in Data Science and Economics. His academic interests are informed by his experience as a first-generation low-income Chinese American student. Looking at the intersection of data science, economics, and wellness, he hopes to integrate these disciplines to develop a more comprehensive understanding of socioeconomic inequality.
Hyniff Collins, C’26, Philadelphia, PA
Hyniff is studying History, Political Science, and Modern Middle Eastern Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences. Hyniff enjoys writing and reading and considers himself a poet. He is an avid scholar of politics and aspires to be a federal attorney, in preparation for a position in the state senate.
Heaven Cross, C’26, Bel Air, MD
Heaven is majoring in Political Science and Neuroscience in the College of Arts and Sciences. She enjoys intersectional research in areas such as wellness, volunteerism, and computational biology.
Laura Gboloo, W’26, Baton Rouge, LA
Laura is majoring in Sociology and minoring in Political Science in the College of Arts and Sciences. The two disciplines provide greater understanding of how social norms and values influence aspects of government systems and the political world. Laura aspires to practice law after her time at Penn.
Dedeepya Guthikonda, Hometown: Minneapolis, MN
Dedeepya is studying Economics in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is also a writer, both journalistic and creative, and wants to combine her interests in both quantitative analysis and journalism through interdisciplinary study. She is particularly interested in education reform and narrowing the opportunity gap.
Yerahm Hong, SEAS’26, Athens, GA
Yerahm is studying Bioengineering in the School of Engineering and Applied Science and is on the pre-medical track. She is interested in interdisciplinary study such as the intersection of law, ethics, and scientific research. As an aspiring physician-scientist, Yerahm hopes to bridge the gap between patients and the development of new biotechnologies.
Sam Jung, C’26, Atlanta, GA
Sam is a student in the College of Arts and Sciences studying Computer Science and Sociology as a double-major and is interested in exploring both the technical and social implications of mass-media algorithms. Sam hopes to contribute fundamental scholarship towards technology policy, studying the subfields of algorithmic bias, data acquisition/privacy, and digital market regulation.
Enne Kim, C’26, Hometown: Buford, GA
Enne is a student in the College of Arts and Sciences and is pursuing a double major in English and Intellectual History as well as a minor in International Relations. Her primary interests lie in the intersection between arts and law, specifically the use of mediums like literature and visual art as an expression of human rights.
Madeline Kohn, Hometown: Lower Merion, PA
Madeline is pursuing a double major in Cognitive Science and Eastern European Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences. Before coming to Penn, Madeline took a gap year studying in Jerusalem at the Hartman Institute. There, she studied Hebrew, Jewish philosophy, Israeli politics, and religious texts.
Rafaella Lambrinos, C’26, Hometown: Freehold, NJ
Rafaella is pursuing a Sociology major with a concentration in Law and Society in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is interested in exploring the interrelationship between the law and society and how legal change is inspired through citizen participation. As an aspiring attorney, Rafaella hopes to advocate for those whose voices are often left unheard.
Sydney Liu, C’26, Darien, CT
Sydney is pursuing a major in Cognitive Science with a focus on pre-health studies in the College of Arts and Sciences. Her career goal is to work in a teaching hospital, utilizing her academic knowledge and the skills in dialogue and service developed as an SNF Paideia Fellow to help and connect with others.
Melody Luo, C’26, Hometown: Long Island, NY
Melody is double majoring in Political Science and English with minors in Urban Education and Legal Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences. Her interests include analyzing Taiwanese political relations, advancing educational equity for marginalized communities, and diversifying the stories told in popular media.
Sarah Ming, W’26, Hometown: Lexington, KY
Sarah is pursuing a major in Economics and a concentration in Environmental, Social, and Governance Factors in Business in The Wharton School. Sarah is interested in building bridges through dialogue by finding common ground and plans to utilize her academic knowledge and skills developed as an SNF Paideia Fellow to advocate for better climate practices within industry.
Connie Ni, C’26, Hometown: Chattanooga, TN
Connie is a student in the College of Arts and Sciences majoring in Health and Societies and double minoring in Chemistry and Consumer Psychology. She plans to pursue her combined interests in health, policy, and human rights as an SNF Paideia Fellow and explore how dialogue, citizenship, wellness, and service intersect to influence socioeconomic determinants of health and quality of life.
Ruth Oyerokun, C’26, Hometown: Burleson, TX
Ruth is a prospective Political Science major and Hispanic Studies minor in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is considering careers in law and public service with a keen interest in researching and rooting out corruption and organized crime in developing countries.
Bedansh Pandey, C’26, Hometown: Johns Creek, GA
Bedansh is a student in the College of Arts and Sciences with interests in International Relations, Communications, and is pursuing a Spanish language certificate. As a SNF Paideia Fellow he seeks to study concepts related to democratic freedoms, how these freedoms can be utilized to empower communities but also be co-opted to chip away at the basic underpinnings of a healthy democracy. He aspires to attend law school after Penn.
Kiara Perez, N’26, Hometown: Passaic, NJ
Kiara is a student in the School of Nursing with a minor in Global Health. Her current aspiration is to specialize in Labor and Delivery and Midwifery nursing. Combining her Global Health minor with the SNF Paideia Fellows Program, she plans to utilize the experience to improve healthcare for underserved communities globally.
Griffin Pitt, C’26, Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Griffin is a student in the College of Arts and Sciences majoring in Politics and Economics. She is fascinated with the intersection of water- and agro- technology, economics, and poverty alleviation. She looks forward to further exploring the intersection of equity, environmentalism, and technology as a SNF Paideia Fellow.
Natalia Ramos Bellido, C’26, Hometown: Mexico City, Mexico
Natalia is majoring in Art History in the College of Arts and Sciences and is on the pre-med track. Although these academic interests may seem like an unlikely pairing, both pursuits come from a place of wanting to foster a sense of security for those who have been marginalized historically. Her concentration in Art History is queer art and her pre-med studies stem from her goal of being a gynecologist for LGBT communities. Both require skills she hopes to develop as an SNF Paideia Fellow.
Serene Safvi, C’26, Hometown: Chicago, IL
Serene is in the College of Arts and Sciences and is pursuing a major in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics. Serene aspires to work in the political circuit, being a political consultant. She hopes to work toward improving the system of government in the US by increasing voter rights, facilitating legislation to change election processes, and altering the political climate around elections.
Francesco Salamone, W’26, Hometown: Palermo, Italy
Francesco plans to double major in Environmental, Social, and Governance Factors for Business and Finance at The Wharton School. He is interested in the intersection of capital markets and social impact, particularly given the speed and accessibility of the private sector.
Natalie Vasquez, C’26, Hometown: La Quinta, CA
Natalie is an aspiring Political Sciences and Urban Studies double major in the College of Arts and Sciences. As a SNF Paideia Fellow, she hopes to develop the skills to address challenging situations both domestically and abroad, that have cross-disciplinary implications and touch on multicultural issues.
Sydney Wiggins, C’26, Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Sydney studies Political Science with minors in Survey Research/Data Analytics and ASL/Deaf Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences. After graduation, she aspires to help her community by creating inclusive dialogue and analyzing data empathetically to create effective, meaningful legislation.
More information about the Fellows will be available throughout the summer on the SNF Paideia website and social media channels.
About the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Paideia Program
Through the intellectual and financial support of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, the SNF Paideia Program serves as a hub for civic dialogue in undergraduate education at Penn. SNF Paideia collaborates with many campus entities to promote opportunities for students to develop the knowledge, skills, ethical frameworks, and experiences necessary to be informed, engaged, and effective community members and leaders in society. The SNF Paideia Program encourages the free exchange of ideas, civil and robust discussion of divergent views, and student and community wellness through SNF Paideia-designated courses, a Fellows program, and campus events. For more information visit our website at snfpaideia.upenn.edu.
CONTACT
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Paideia Program: info@snfpaideia.upenn.edu