Swarthmore College
Michael Alonzo majors in Economics and Psychology at Swarthmore College. These dual majors follow his fascination with behavioral economics, where he combines analytical and rational analysis with a psychological background. He has already begun to do so as a Quantitative Analysis Intern on the behavioral science team at Clover Health. His hometown is Somerset, New Jersey.
Wake Forest University
Pierce Alston is a Computer Science major at Wake Forest University. During the Spring 2020 semester, he is enrolled in West, his university’s first cohort of students in an innovative semester program in the San Francisco Bay Area. While there, he is interning four days per week at Sage Digital in Palo Alto while taking classes one day. While at Wake Forest, he works twenty hours per week to help finance his education and participates in the Institute’s academic-year program in Greensboro. His hometown is Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
University of Virginia
Rasheed Christian is the first University of Virginia student to participate in the Institute. He is a Public Policy major and an Echols Scholar. He serves as a lead mentor within both the Echols program and the University Achievement Award Program. Rasheed is also a member of Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity. After graduation, he intends to work in the public policy arena, principally on matters related to technology. His hometown is Lynchburg, Virginia.
Yale University
Jaelen King majors in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at Yale University and has served as a research intern for the Yale School of Medicine. He is also involved with the Black Men’s Union, Black Students for Disarmament, and the Yale Urban Improvement Corps. He intends to pursue a career in medicine. His hometown is Columbia, South Carolina.
High Point University
Ryan Mijumbi is a recipient of the Presidential Scholarship, the highest merit scholarship at High Point University. He is a Psychology major and intends to pursue a career in child adolescent psychology following graduate school. Currently, he is heavily involved with student government as the Hearing Chair, a Student Justice, and a Senator. He is the first High Point student to participate in the Institute. His hometown is Gastonia, North Carolina.
Georgia Institute of Technology
Kyle Smith is a Presidential Scholar at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he majors in Public Policy with a minor in International Affairs. He serves as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council member for the College of Liberal Arts. He also serves in student government as the Public Policy Representative and co-chair of the Cultural and Diversity Affairs Committee. Before attending Georgia Tech, Kyle was a Page for the Maryland General Assembly and a student member of the Maryland State Board of Education. His hometown is Waldorf, Maryland.
Georgia State University
Yarayah St. Phard is the first student from Georgia State University to participate in the Institute. He is a member of the Honors College and majors in Media Entrepreneurship. He is a part of the Panther PRIME African American Male Initiative, and the Panther LEAP Leadership Program. After graduation, Yarayah intends to pursue a career in advertising, and hopefully manage his own advertising firm one day. His hometown is Atlanta, Georgia.
Morehouse College
Christian Terry-Taylor studies Sociology, Economics, and Africana Studies at Morehouse College. He serves on the executive board of the Honors Program and is a member of the track and field team. He has participated in a wide range of experiences which include the Citi HBCU Innovation and Leadership Symposium, the Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) Leadership Symposium, and the Goldman Sachs LEAD Program. He has also interned with the Borgen Project. After graduation, he intends to pursue a career in academia as a Sociology professor and researcher. His hometown is Hempstead, New York.
University of North Carolina
Samuel Timmons attends the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he majors in History. He is a member of Honors Carolina, the Honor Court, and the Black Student Movement. He became familiar with the Institute through a program the Institute operates in Durham, North Carolina in partnership with the Alpha Tau Boulé of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity. After graduation, Samuel will pursue a career in law. His hometown is Raleigh, North Carolina.
University of North Carolina
Samuel Wey is a pre-med student double-majoring in Biochemistry and Spanish Literatures and Cultures at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He has interned in the Glatfelter Biology Research Lab and is a member of the Neuroscience Club. After graduation he intends to pursue a career in neuroscience. He has participated in the Durham Collegiate Institute since enrolling at UNC. He is studying in Spain during the Spring 2020 semester. His hometown is Charlotte, North Carolina.