Connect with a Grad Diversity Ambassador

The Graduate Diversity Ambassadors are current MIT graduate students who partner with OGE GradDiversity to create a more diverse, equitable and inclusive community at MIT.

Over the past year, our Graduate Diversity Ambassadors engaged with over 775 prospective graduate students by attending 12 diversity recruitment conferences, hosting eight GradCatalyst sessions, reviewing 20 statements of objectives of our MIT Summer Research Program – General (MSRP) alumni applying to MIT graduate programs, evaluating almost 500 applications for MSRP, acclimating MSRP interns to the MIT community, and established a Graduate Students of Color Advisory Council to foster collaboration across student organizations and enhance the overall graduate student community.

The legend below indicates the various ways the ambassador is involved in Grad Diversity programs during the academic year. Prospective students are invited to reach out to the ambassador of their choice with any questions.

Aeronautics and Astronautics (Course 16)

Christopher Kwon

Degree Objective:
Doctor of Philosophy, (PhD)

Undergraduate Institution(s):
University of Virginia

Hometown:
Burke, Virginia

You can ask me about:

Grad Student Life, Fellowships, AeroAstro Grad Program, Graduate Application Assistance Program (GAAP), Off campus housing

Ryann Hee

Degree Objective:
PhD

You can ask me about:

MIT Summer Research Program, Grad Student Life (first-gen experience), AeroAstro, Graduate Application Assistance Program (GAAP), Off campus housing

Biology (Course 7)

Oscar Molina

Degree Objective:
PhD

Undergraduate Institution(s):
University of California, Los Angeles

Hometown:
San Diego, California

You can ask me about:

Biology Grad Program, Moving across the country, high school outreach programs

Juana De La O

Degree Objective:
PhD

Undergraduate Institution(s):
University of Chicago

Hometown:
Chicago, IL

You can ask me about:

Navigating the graduate admissions process (GradCatalyst), MIT Housing, off-campus housing, finding well-priced food/groceries, finding/building community making friends (like me!), MIT Summer Research Program (MSRP) General or Biology

Chemistry (Course 5)

Ayannah Lang

Degree Objective:
Doctor of Philosophy, (PhD)

Hometown:
Edgewater, MD

Undergraduate Institution:
Spelman College

You can ask me about:

Chemistry Grad Program, Grad Student Life, Grad Student Council, MISTI, Off-campus Housing, Transition from HBCU

Civil and Environmental Engineering (Course 1)

Isabel Albores

Degree Objective:
Doctor of Philosophy, (PhD)

Undergraduate Institution:
Williams College

Hometown:
Silver Spring, MD

You can ask me about:

MIT Summer Research Program, CEE Grad Program, Off campus housing, Grad Student Life, Work Life Balance, Gap Year transition

Zane Schemmer

Degree Objective:
Doctor of Philosophy, (PhD)

Undergraduate Institution:
University of California, Berkeley

Graduate Institution:
University of California, Berkeley

Hometown:
Park City, Utah

You can ask me about:

MIT Housing, Outdoor Activities, West Coast to East Coast Transition

Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences (Course 12)

Alexandra Cabanelas Bermudez

Degree Objective:
Doctor of Philosophy, (PhD)

Undergraduate Institution(s):
Nova Southeastern University

Graduate Institution(s):
The Ohio State University

Hometown:
San Juan, Puerto Rico

You can ask me about:

Grad Student Life, MIT-WHOI Joint Program, Off-Campus Housing, Fellowships, Outdoor Activities, Meal-prepping

Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology (HST)

Julian Rojo-Gallegos

Degree Objective:
Doctor of Philosophy, (PhD)

Undergraduate Institution(s):
University of New Mexico

Hometown:
Albuquerque, New Mexico

You can ask me about:

MIT Summer Research Program, HST Ph.D. program, first-generation college student

Kimberly Bennett

Degree Objective:
Doctor of Philosophy, (PhD)

Undergraduate Institution(s):
University of California, Riverside

Hometown:
Mojave Desert

You can ask me about:

First-generation/Low-income graduate experience, off-campus housing, moving from West to East coast, fellowships (NSF GRFP, Ford Foundation, HHMI Gilliam, etc), MIT UCEM/PEM program, HST PhD program, translational research, mentoring, women in STEM, Latinx in STEM, first-gen Mexican-American identity, moving from a rural/small town, co-advisors, grad student life, work-life balance, DEI advocacy