Scholar Advisory Committee

Adnaan Elahi is a senior in the honors program at CUNY Baruch College, double majoring in Political Science and Economics and minoring in Law & Policy. He is passionate for law, diplomacy, risk & compliance, and sustainable development.  

Adnaan has studied abroad in Morocco and Turkey, and has proficiency in 7 languages. He has a keen interest in intercultural communications, stemming from his background as an Indian-Pakistani American. He works at the New York Public Library assisting immigrants and refugees with learning English, as well as translating legal documents primarily in Urdu, Turkish, and French.  

Adnaan is a Climate Justice Hub Fellow at the CUNY Graduate Center, where he researches air quality and renewable energy in the NYC area. He is also a Meridian-Cox Foreign Service fellow, was recently elected as the Vice President of the Honors Student Council, and is active on campus in the Muslim and Pakistani Students Association.  

Shanthia is a Senior Researcher for the Marriott lab at the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health. She also leads the College to County Mentorship Program as the Talent Acquisition and Communications intern at Multnomah County.  
 
Recently, Shanthia was assigned a role with the PSU Center of Research, Mentoring, and Research Program as the Proa Pathways Program Mentor for the Northern Marianas College in Saipan, CNMI.  
 
As a first-generation Chamorro-Dominican from Saipan CNMI, Shanthia finds joy in serving the AANHPI communities as a researcher, mentor, and advocate. 

Katherine Gilman is a first-generation Korean-American at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. She is currently working towards her Bachelor of Science in Psychology, with the hopes of being a clinical researcher. Katherine’s driving force is to generate further emphasis on health equity and opportunities transnationally. During her time working as an advisory board member for her county, she witnessed first-hand the vast inequalities that still exist within our healthcare systems. She hopes to not only change our approach to healthcare, but also our understanding of it overall. While at the University of Minnesota, Katherine has been able to work as a research assistant, forming data-driven, community-based approaches towards strengthening our understanding of DEl and the continued need for it within our working world. As a research assistant, Katherine has also been able to be published as a researcher, and presented at the Young Researcher’s Symposium at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. She hopes to continue to make an impact in her community through policy and advocacy roles. 

Sora is a recent honors graduate of Boston University, where she majored in International Relations with concentrations in Foreign Policy, Security Studies, and Economics. She is passionate about inclusive, sustainable economic development and creating economic stability and prosperity for moderate to low-income communities. An active organizer for progressive campaigns nationwide, Sora has worked on civic engagement, voter protection, and policy research issues. Her professional experiences include work with the U.S. Agency for International Development, Center for Strategic & International Studies, U.S. Department of State, and Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi’s immigration portfolio. 

Tri is a recent 2024 Yale College graduate majoring in Global Affairs. Growing up as a first-generation college student, Tri has always been passionate about improving opportunities and learning environments for underserved students in the Chicagoland area. In college, Tri was a part of the Yale College Council, worked with ESL students in the New Haven area, and even had his radio show. Tri has had experience working with non-profit organizations and an international bank, and he hopes to bridge his two interests to increase access to education worldwide. After graduation, Tri will work at Huron Consulting Group as a Strategy and Operations Analyst in their Higher Education practice in New York City. 

Brianna Huynh (she/her) is passionate about leveraging data and research-driven policies to enhance educational access for AANHPI communities. Her research in higher education includes studying faculty motivation for grading in Math and Physics and evaluating California’s community college transfer pathways. She received an honorable mention in the 2023 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program and was named a 2022 All-USA Academic Team Scholar. 

As a proud community college transfer student and former AANAPISI Scholarship recipient, Huynh aspires to pass on the support she received by advocating for the expansion of community college-centered resources. Through APIA Scholars, she aims to evaluate existing partnerships with AANAPISI campuses and identify opportunities for growth. Her experience in tutoring, student governance, and community engagement highlights her dedication to building inclusive spaces and promoting educational access. 

Huynh holds a BA in Mathematics from Pomona College and AS degrees in Mathematics and Computer Information Systems from American River College. She is currently pursuing her Master’s in Mathematics at Cal Poly Pomona. 

Veronica Liu is a Toisanese-American from Oakland, CA and undergraduate at UC San Diego. She is currently pursuing a B.A and B.S. in Urban Studies & Planning and Education Sciences respectively, with hopes to pursue a Masters in Education after graduation. As an undergraduate, she has participated in organizations such as TRIO Student Support Services, Student Promoted Access Center for Education and Services (SPACES), and Mixed Student Union at UC San Diego. In the future, she intends to work in the field of Education research to improve racial and educational justice for urban students. 

Craig McFarland is a rising senior at Harvard College studying Neuroscience & Philosophy with a minor in Global Health & Health Policy. At Harvard, he has served as President and Founder of Harvard Undergraduate Ethics Society, Chair of STEAM Policy at the Institute of Politics, and an elected Student Representative in Harvard’s student government. Outside of campus, he serves as a Society for Neuroscience policy ambassador to Congress and conducts neuroscience, applied ethics, and law research at Harvard Medical School, Harvard School of Public Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, and in France from where his work has been published in journals such as the American Journal of Bioethics and the BMJ Journal of Medical Ethics. In his free time, he loves exploring different coffee shops and learning different languages. 

He is a father of three, athlete, and scholar. Employed at The Writing Center as a tutor, he aims to complete a Bachelor’s of Arts in Literature with minors in writing and philosophy. He enjoys assisting others in the writing process and facilitating one-on-one and group workshops or tutoring sessions. He finds satisfaction in helping students overcome their writing challenges, guiding them to express their thoughts clearly and effectively. He hopes the skills he learns in his current position will translate and carry him along in his next opportunity. 

His journey began with a deep love for literature and the written word, inspiring him to pursue a degree in Literature. His academic journey has been marked by excellence, achieving recognition on the Dean’s List multiple times. His passion for writing and philosophy drives him to explore the depths of human thought and expression, aiming to understand and articulate complex ideas. 

Beyond his academic and professional pursuits, he has a keen interest in personal fitness and sports. As an athlete, he understands the importance of discipline, perseverance, and teamwork—qualities that he brings to his tutoring sessions. He believes that the skills developed through athletics, such as strategic thinking and resilience, complement his academic endeavors and enhance his ability to mentor others.

Peter Nguyen is a Vietnamese-American, 1st-generation, recently graduated college student from Waukesha, Wisconsin. Peter graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Computer Science, and works as a Software Engineer in St Paul, MN. Throughout their undergrad, Peter was involved with their University’s Asian Pacific American Resource Center (APARC), where they were introduced to the AANAPISI Scholarship and APIA Scholars. Peter received the 2023-2024 APIA/United Airlines AANAPISI Scholarship. Peter is passionate about mentorship and empowerment in education among youth in Asian-American communities, and is involved in a few organizations local to Minnesota. Their goal is to one day return to schooling for higher education and eventually work in the nonprofit sector in order to continue supporting the community around them. Outside of that, Peter loves listening to music, public transport, anything that is maccha flavored/themed, and hopes to continue traveling the world and trying new foods :) 

Christina is a Vietnamese American and first-generation college graduate whose journey was profoundly shaped by the support of the APIA Scholars program. Inspired by her personal experience navigating higher education, she is passionate about advocating for APIA college students. With a background in higher education and community service, Christina has actively contributed to initiatives such as facilitating COVID-19 financial relief and creating the only STEM program for undocumented and underserved students in her community college’s district. She brings strong leadership, cultural sensitivity, and effective communication skills to her role, aiming to foster inclusive educational environments. Committed to advancing APIA Scholars’ mission, Christina seeks to empower AANHPI communities through strategic advocacy and impactful initiatives that promote equity and access to education. Her dedication to diversity and inclusion drives her efforts work with APIA Scholar to ensure all students thrive and succeed within the the community and beyond. 

Misimatoka Tuamasaga Unutoa (he/him) is a Samoan-Pacific Islander who recently earned his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Hawai’i at Manoa. Currently, Misi serves as a GEAR-UP Special Projects Coordinator at UH Manoa. He has been actively involved in various higher education initiatives, including the TIDES-AANAPISI program, LGBTQ+ Center, and the College of Engineering Student Academic Services Office. Misi received the 2024 Manoa Career Center Student Employee of the Year Team Award for his work as an Engineering Peer Advisor and was honored with the Pasifika Excellence Award at the 2024 Pacific Graduation for his dedication to supporting the Pasifika community. 

Misi is a passionate advocate for increasing Pacific Islander representation in higher education, especially in STEM fields. His commitment to this cause is driven by his experiences as one of the few Samoan graduates in his engineering classes, his participation in Pasifika organizations such as the Pan Pacific Association, ‘Ilima SACNAS, and Pasifika Allies Association, and his upbringing in the fa’asamoa tradition. 

Misimatoka is the son of Tofaaga Levi Salatielu-Unutoa (Ta’u, Manu’a) and Tuamasaga Mata’aga Unutoa (‘Aua, Tutuila, American Samoa).