OUR TEAM

Who We Are

We are a team of dedicated university students and teachers from the United States working in close collaboration with governmental organizations and families on the ground in Caribbean nations. Our team has no political interests.

Shawn Shivdat

Harvard Junior, Neuroscience Researcher, New Entrepreneur

Sahan Vangala

Mercer Junior, Cancer Researcher, Inner-city High School Mentor

Katie Nguyen

Harvard Junior, Chemistry researcher, successful start-up leader

Gianna Hutton

High School Junior, Environmental Activist, Designer and Journalist

Alia Hutton

Northeastern Sophomore, Industrial Engineer, Biology Researcher

Eddie Schiffman

Organic Chemistry Tutor, Passionate Coffee Dripper

Ayana Gray

Harvard Junior, Biomedical Engineer and Researcher

Toochi Uradu

Harvard Junior, Biomedical Researcher, Passionate volunteer

Connie Chen

Northeastern Sophomore, Biochemistry and Economics major, future MD

Michael Fein

Harvard Junior, Biomedical Researcher, Statistics major

Kira Brenner

Medical Assistant, Harvard Proctor, Mentorship Program Director

Kelly Chan

Northeastern Sophomore, Journalist and Photographer

Simileoluwa Falako

Recent Harvard graduate, pursuing a Yale Masters of Public Health

Shawn Shivdat
Shawn is a current junior at Harvard University. He started this education project because he truly wants to see others succeed. Shawn believes education is the starting point, the foundations, of a successful career and a prosperous life. In his freetime Shawn enjoys eating mexican food and playing chess.

Alia Hutton
Alia Hutton is a sophomore at Northeastern University majoring in Industrial Engineering and Finance with a minor in Chinese. In her previous positions, she has successfully revamped a hospital volunteering and raised over $8,000 for a local children's hospital in Miami, FL. Outside of class, Alia participates in Northeastern's TAMID chapter, where she has successfully completed training in both consulting and investing before moving onto a team next semester to consult for Israel based start-ups. She likes to spend her free time craving rum cake, biking, and kayaking.

Michael Fein
Michael Fein is a junior at Harvard University studying Statistics and Computer Science in a dual major. In the past few summers, he has jumped around a few different roles including software engineering, Gen Z consulting, and most recently, business development at a Boston based financial technology startup. At Harvard, Michael has additionally enjoyed being a part of the Harvard Financial Analysts Club learning and practicing fundamental company valuation techniques. He likes to spend his free time watching movies, eating some great food, and coming up with excuses for skipping his workouts.

Sahan Vangala
Sahan Vangala is a junior at Mercer University in his hometown of Macon, Georgia. At Mercer, he studies Neuroscience and Economics and is interested in applying basic science research to improve economic policy and public health outcomes. In the past, Sahan has engaged in research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts, and worked with Mukikute National Patient Organization, an NGO in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, focusing on Tuberculosis treatment. He also has experience mentoring 9th-grade students at a local inner-city high school. From time to time, Sahan enjoys watching basketball and is an avid fan of the NBA's Indiana Pacers.

Eddie Schiffman
Eddie Schiffman loves helping people learn how to do stuff. Eddie has been a full-time organic chemistry tutor/coach since 2004, and now he is psyched to be a part of this. In addition to his love of something most people hate (that would be organic chemistry, of course), a big passion of his is making cold-drip coffee for himself, his friends, and his students. Here, he is pictured with his favorite column chromatography extraction device, his Yama coffee dripper!

Kira Brenner
Kira recently completed her undergraduate degree at Harvard and hopes to have a career in medicine. She currently works as a medical assistant and serves as a first-year advisor, or proctor, at Harvard. She is passionate about improving education opportunities both locally and abroad. She has served as the director of a mentorship program within several of Boston’s public schools and worked as a full-time teacher in Beijing’s public school system. Her favorite topic to teach is growth mindset.

Katie Nguyen
Katie Nguyen is a rising junior at Harvard studying Chemistry and Global Health with interests in healthcare, education, and business strategy. In the past, Katie has led a start-up marketing company, served as a senior manager at the largest student-run company in the world, performed analytical chemistry research, and tutored students in college-level chemistry. Currently, Katie engages in public health research at Harvard and non-profit development for a COVID19-relief organization.

Ayana Gray
Ayana is a junior at Harvard University. She is majoring in Biomedical Engineering with a minor in African American Studies and a language citation in French. She is a student researcher with the American Heart Association, and she works to solve biomedical issues with Harvard’s Global Alliance for Medical Innovation. Ayana is passionate about education and human rights, and she hopes to combine her interests in medicine, advocacy, and education to help bring equity to healthcare.

Kelly Chan
Kelly is a sophomore at Northeastern University, pursuing a journalism major and photojournalism minor. As the Editor-in-Chief at The Huntington News, she is a passionate writer and storyteller who aims to uncover truths, share powerful stories, and uplift underrepresented voices. For several years, she also dedicated herself to serving her community by working with Rotary International to start charity projects, lead fundraising efforts, and support humanitarian causes. Outside of these pursuits, she is an avid soccer player, and she loves to travel and look for an adventure.

Gianna Hutton
Gianna Hutton is a junior at Miami Palmetto Senior High school in her hometown of Miami, Florida. She is a student journalist and designer for The Panther, and is passionate about educating and empowering others through writing. In the past, Gianna has worked to raise awareness about environmental issues through organizations such as Fridays For Future Miami, The CLEO Institute, and Zoo Miami. She has also led service projects to directly aid animals disturbed by environmental disasters. With her free time, Gianna enjoys baking, gardening, and watching movies.

Toochi Uradu
Toochi Uradu is a rising junior at Harvard University. She is studying Molecular and Cellular Biology with a secondary in Global Health and language citation in Spanish. She interns at the Harvard College Women’s Center and is passionate about intersectional feminism. She serves on the executive board of the Kuumba Singers of Harvard College and also volunteers at Y2Y during the school year. This summer, she is conducting research on E.coli and its molecular pathways for antibiotic resistance. In her free time, Toochi enjoys reading, writing, and dancing.

Simileoluwa Falako
Simileoluwa Falako is a recent graduate of Harvard College, concentrating in Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology and minoring in African American studies. She is extremely passionate about the intersections between healthcare and education and will be pursing a Masters of Public Health at Yale University in the fall.

Connie Chen
Connie Chen is a sophomore at Northeastern University majoring in Biochemistry and minoring in Economics. She hopes to have a career in medicine one day and is interested in the intersection of healthcare and economics. For several years she has avidly participated in volunteering and community outreach whether in hospitals, through school clubs, or for local boards of public health. She is spending this summer performing COVID-19 public health research for the Massachusetts Board of Health and getting EMT certified. In her free time she enjoys baking, cycling, and staring at the stock market.