Think & Do Tank
Alvin Mak
Alvin Mak is a junior at Rutgers majoring in Political Science with a minor in Biology & French. Outside of being part of the inaugural cohort of the Think and Do Tank, Alvin works as a legal intern for Hoagland Longo, a premier law firm in New Brunswick and the Northeast. On the side, he works as an Editorial and Acquisitions Assistant at the Rutgers University Press, as well as being a Scarlet Ambassador for the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. In terms of extracurriculars, Alvin writes for the Rutgers Undergraduate Law Review, is an Aresty Research Assistant, and is on the executive board for Phi Alpha Delta, the Pre-law fraternity. Alvin looks forward to pursuing a law degree after college and hopes to work in medical malpractice law in the future.
Ananya Bongoni
My name is Ananya Bongoni and I am a senior majoring in ITI and Data Science with a minor in Critical Intelligence Studies. I have a strong interest in technology and problem-solving, but I also enjoy the creative side of working with people and bringing ideas to life, which is why I joined the Rutgers Democracy Lab. Over the past few years, I’ve taken part in different projects and events, including hackathons and student organizations, which gave me the chance to grow my leadership, teamwork, and communication skills. Outside of academics and work, I love exploring new hobbies, meeting new people, and taking on challenges that push me out of my comfort zone. I value collaboration, integrity, and personal growth, and I try to bring positive energy into whatever I’m part of.
Andrea Lee
Andrea is a junior in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, majoring in biochemistry. She loves to participate in research and hopes to find a career path in it post-education. So far, she’s been in two labs and currently works at Colgate-Palmolive as a research and development intern. Andrea also likes music and enjoys playing both violin and guitar. Growing up, Andrea felt that civic engagement and the scientific community didn’t have as much overlap as the two fields should and is eager to learn how to make a difference through the Think and Do Tank. Outside of class or the Eagleton Institute, you might find Andrea enjoying the noodle bowl at Livingston dining hall or trying new food places on George Street.
Arfa Rana
Arfa Rana is an undergraduate student at Rutgers University pursuing a double major in Information Technology & Informatics and Communications with a minor in South Asian Studies. At Douglass Residential College, she is a participant of the Global Leaders Program and works as a Creative Content Intern at Douglass Residential College, where she produces media that highlights student stories and campus events. She also works as a Computer Lab Consultant for the Rutgers Office of Information Technology, providing tech help to students and staff. This summer, Arfa interned at New Jersey Citizen Action through the Rutgers Scarlet Service Internship, creating social media content to support civic and community advocacy. She is passionate about civic engagement, leveraging technology and media to uplift underrepresented communities, and experimenting with new recipes.
Ashiyana Ahamed
Ashiyana Ahamed is a senior in the School of Arts and Sciences and Douglass Residential College at Rutgers, majoring in Computer Science with minors in Political Science and Critical Intelligence. She was previously an intern at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York in the Complex Frauds and Cybercrime unit. She is currently an intern with the Center for Election Reform and supports ranked choice voting advocacy through Voter Choice NJ. With her involvement in electoral reform, she has been able to build coalitions across the state, connecting leaders throughout the state. She currently serves as Secretary General for Rutgers Model United Nations 2025 through the Institute for Domestic and International Affairs. She is also the Senior Advisor for the Malayali Association at Rutgers (MAR). Ashiyana cares deeply about protecting civil liberties and aims to continue in advocacy and civic engagement work throughout her academic and professional career.
Ava Bandelli
My name is Ava Bandelli and I’m a sophomore in Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences from Westfield, NJ. Currently, I’m double majoring in Sociology and English with a minor in Economics, in pursuant to a pre-law track. I’m very passionate about how crime and social justice are related, studying instances of police brutality and other consequences stemming from flawed implementations of law enforcement practices such as Broken Windows policing and Zero Tolerance policies. In past years, I had interned at two law firms learning about matrimonial and criminal procedures. Additionally, I spent multiple summers shadowing a Civil Supreme Court judge in Brooklyn, NY, learning how court systems and judicial proceedings function on a day-to-day basis. In my free time, I host a DJ slot for the Rutgers University radio station, WRSU-88.7FM New Brunswick!
Betul Yildiz
Charles (Olen) Taylor
Daniel Menendez
David Vanegas
Gianna Rosa
Grace Keaveny
Jane Teran
Jane Teran is a junior in the School of Arts and Sciences, majoring in Geography with a minor in Latino and Caribbean Studies. Her passion for civic engagement stems from her research interests in urban Latinx geographies, shaped by her upbringing in a Latinx neighborhood in Elizabeth, New Jersey. This fall, she will serve as a Gardner Fellow, conducting research on the economic and social dynamics of her neighborhood to inform local and state urban renewal policy. On campus, Jane has advanced voting engagement within the Latinx community at Rutgers as the Political Chair of the Latin American Student Organization (LASO), creating politically informative content through an online series titled, LASOVision. Beyond campus, she is committed to environmental advocacy as a Manager for Groundwork Elizabeth, an environmental nonprofit addressing the city’s most pressing environmental challenges. Through her academic work, community leadership, and environmental initiatives, Jane strives to promote equity, sustainability, and informed civic participation.
Kat Rich
Mahima Thoguru
Molly Garvin
Molly Garvin is an undergraduate student at Rutgers University, New Brunswick majoring in Public Health and Political Science with a minor in Criminology. Her academic interests center on the intersection of law, healthcare, and social justice, with a particular focus on immigration law and sexual violence prevention. Molly plans to attend law school and pursue a career as an attorney after graduation and continue to support and uplift vulnerable communities. Outside of school, Molly has remained engaged with promoting the health and wellbeing of the community through non-profit work focused on cardiovascular health and sexual violence awareness, as well as working as Certified Nursing Assistant. Through Rutgers Democracy Lab, she hopes to combine advocacy and research in order to create equity-driven solutions and support democracy. In her free time, she enjoys acrylic painting and spending time with her two cats.
Nicholas Diodato
Born and raised in South Jersey, I'm a filmmaker studying at Mason Gross School of the Arts, with a passion for communicating knowledge and perspective to large audiences. I've worked closely with Emmy and Academy Award-winning documentary filmmakers to understand the art of communicating truths and studied propaganda to help comprehend how media can mislead audiences, so I can effectively counteract altered materials. Visual media explain dynamic concepts in simplified terms, and as a result, this causes a complex relationship with politics. My role in the Democracy Lab is to help explain the personability of politics and gain perspective on how civic engagement affects millions, whether at the local, statewide, or national level.
Rohini Malagi
Ryan Kalin
Sharanya Devarakonda
Shayan Chaudhury
Shayan Chaudhury (he/him) is a sophomore in the honors college studying Political Science and History. His interest in democratic engagement began in his senior year of high school when he competed in the We the People competition nationally, and continued into his experience as an Education Intern at the National Constitution Center this summer. Shayan is interested in improving the accessibility of politics at every level, which he pursues as an opinion columnist for the Daily Targum. He is also the Vice President of External Relations for the Rutgers University Mock Trial Association. After graduating, Shayan hopes to join Teach for America and attend law school, advocating for civil liberties as an attorney. In his free time, you can find Shayan playing Steve Lacy songs on the guitar, rooting for the Detroit Pistons, or watching a new sitcom.
Shraeyah Nandhini Rajeshwaran
Timothy Kuang
Varshini Rajanikanth
