Current Fellows

Jose Acevedo-Polo graduated from Emory University with a B.S. in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology and a minor in Religion, where he explored the intersections of medicine, culture, and health equity. As a 2025–2026 PiLA Fellow, he will work with Partners for Andean Community Health (PACH) in Ecuador as a medical assistant and contribute to community-based research projects. Jose is passionate about promoting public health and advocating for accessible, culturally responsive care across all forms of healthcare. He looks forward to learning from local practitioners and supporting local health initiatives across the Andean region.

Pranav Addepalli graduated from the University of Cambridge with a Bachelors in Chemistry and earned a Master’s in Translational Medicine from UC Berkeley. Over the past four years, he has focused on developing synthetic materials for medical applications and exploring the full development pipeline for medical devices from the ideation phase to clinical application. As a 2025–2026 PiLA Fellow, he will join Hospitalito Atitlán in Guatemala, where he will support the development office primarily through fundraising efforts and a key blood drive initiative. As an aspiring physician, Pranav aims to work at the intersection of medical innovation and healthcare accessibility to address patient needs in global contexts. He looks forward to deepening his understanding of the barriers to care in rural settings while expanding Hospitalito Atitlán’s impact in the Mayan community.

Keyana Alexis graduated from Yale University with a degree in Psychology and a certificate in Education Studies. Drawing on her nonprofit experience supporting underserved communities and her passion for youth development, she will join Yspañiola in the Dominican Republic as a 2025–2026 PiLA Fellow to support operations and development. As the daughter of a Haitian immigrant and a longtime Spanish student, Keyana is excited to immerse herself in the region’s languages and cultures while contributing to educational efforts in Batey Libertad. Keyana looks forward to learning from the community, growing as a global professional, and continuing her commitment to meaningful, community-based work.

Zara Amjad graduated from Swarthmore College with a double major in Computer Science and English Literature. As a 2025–2026 PiLA Fellow, she will serve as a STEM instructor at Antigua International School in Guatemala. Zara is excited to work with students who have no prior coding experience and to design projects that encourage creative applications of computer science. Through this fellowship, she hopes to deepen her understanding of how to expand equitable access to technology globally and empower students to think critically about the ethical implications of emerging technologies.

Eleanor Beyreis attended Bowdoin College where in addition to studying Romance Languages and Literatures & Theater, she built community in artistic and performing spaces through student productions, directing, and theatrical translation as well as engaging with the New Mainer community through her bilingualism. As a PiLA fellow, Eleanor is excited to partner with Mariposa DR Foundation to support their education initiatives and empower young women. She looks forward to making meaningful connections with Mariposa’s community and learning about the impactful work of local non-profits.

Kaitlyn Brunner graduated from Bowdoin College with a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and Hispanic Studies. As a 2025-2026 PiLA fellow, she will be working with Fundación Mariposa by educating youth on environmental sustainability through experiential opportunities. With a passion for supporting equitable access to education and meaningful community engagement, Kaitlyn looks forward to connecting her knowledge on conservation to the educational mission of Fundación Mariposa.

Ashley Danzig graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a degree in art history and Spanish. There, she focused on the cultural and political power of art in an ever changing world, whether as a means of connection or a tool for education. As a 2025-2026 PiLA Fellow, she will be working with the Mariposa Foundation in the Dominican Republic where she will continue to utilize art and language to help foster open dialogue and strong community through education. Ashley is passionate about the power of education, especially educating young women, specifically for its capacity to build a stronger and more sustainable future. She looks forward to developing a deeper understanding of successful teaching practices and contributing meaningfully to Mariposa’s mission.

Chloe Dawson graduated in May from The Ohio State University with a degree in Environmental Science and a minor in Spanish. As a 2025-2026 PiLA Fellow, she will be working with Osa Conservation in Costa Rica to identify, document and communicate the regenerative practices used on Osa Verde Regenerative Farm, as well as quantify the biodiversity that the farm supports. Chloe is passionate about environmental justice, community-driven sustainable development, and culturally relevant climate adaptation and mitigation. She looks forward to deepening her understanding of these topics and contributing to Osa's conservation and education mission.

Danielle Jonas-Delson graduated in 2024 from Occidental College with a B.A. in Cognitive Science and minors in Linguistics and Spanish Studies. As a PiLA fellow with the DREAM Project, she spent her first year working in and leading the Department of Orientation and Psychology, supporting neurodivergent preschoolers, their teachers, and their families in inclusive classroom settings. Danielle is particularly passionate about children's speech and language development and plans to pursue a career in Speech Language Pathology. She is currently stepping into a volunteer coordinator role for DREAM's summer camp and will continue her work in the Psychology Department during her second year, while also supporting the volunteer and fellow programs.

Anette Diaz graduated from Yale University with a B.A. in Latin American Studies and certificates in both Spanish and Education Studies. She is passionate about international and comparative education, with a specific focus on sustainable and culturally relevant development. As a 2025-2026 PiLA Fellow, she will work with the Mariposa Foundation in Cabarete, DR. In her role as an English teacher, she will collaborate with the Academic and Programs teams to design and lead opportunities for the Mariposa girls to build their English language skills through engaging, hands-on learning. In addition to teaching, Anette will also take on various administrative responsibilities to support the planning and coordination of the foundation’s educational programs. She most looks forward to contributing meaningfully to the Cabarete community and to fostering affirming relationships with the Mariposa girls.

Neha Dsouza graduated from Boston University with a double major in Economics and International Relations. As a 2025–2026 PiLA Fellow, she will support education and community development initiatives with The DREAM Project in the Dominican Republic, helping expand opportunities for children and youth. She is passionate about inclusive development, economic empowerment, and the intersection of policy and practice. Through her fellowship, Neha looks forward to contributing meaningfully to DREAM’s mission and deepening her understanding of grassroots initiatives in Latin America

Darbhi Durvasula recently graduated with a BS from Tulane University, where he majored in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Political Science International Development and minored in Spanish and Latin American Studies. He has spent his past few summers at Fundación para la Conservación de los Andes Tropicales, where his research focuses on tropical rainforest conservation and reforestation in the Ecuadorian Choco. As a 2025–2026 PiLA Fellow, Darbhi will be working with Osa Conservation in Costa Rica, investigating terrestrial termite density and ecology. He is passionate about integrating environmental conservation with sustainable human development, and looks forward to supporting Osa Conservation’s mission while gaining valuable research experience and exploring Costa Rica’s vibrant biodiversity and culture.

Brinn Gammer graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania, having majored in Criminology with minors in Hispanic Studies and Latin American Studies. In her role as a 2025-2026 PiLA Fellow, she will work at the DREAM Project in the Dominican Republic—an educational nonprofit that engages with youth through literacy programs and community social work. There, she will serve as DREAM’s Monitoring and Evaluation Fellow, assessing and strengthening programming to better meet student needs. Brinn is most excited to devote herself to work in the Dominican Republic. Passionate about international advocacy and peace-building, her personal goal with DREAM is to learn: learn about her community, learn to apply research methods for meaningful change, and learn to deepen a lifelong commitment of service to others.

Anna Goldberg graduated from Duke University with a B.A. in Psychology (with Distinction) and minors in Spanish and Journalism. As a 2025–2026 PiLA Fellow, she will be working with the Mariposa DR Foundation in the Dominican Republic, supporting programs that promote girls' education, empowerment, and well-being. At Duke, Anna conducted original research on intellectual humility and taught mental health education in underserved communities in India. She is passionate about community-based mental health initiatives, language learning, and cross-cultural collaboration.

Barbara Gonzalez earned her degree in Geography with a minor in Africana and Latin American Studies from Colgate University, where she developed a foundation in environmental education, GIS, and conservation. As a 2025–2026 PiLA Fellow, she will be joining Osa Conservation in Costa Rica as a Rainforest Vertical Stratification Fellow. Barbara is especially interested in the intersections of community-based work, outdoor learning, and spatial technologies in advancing environmental goals. She’s excited to collaborate and learn from Osa’s team of researchers and experts, contribute meaningfully to their mission in the field, and explore conservation challenges and solutions in Latin America, the region of her roots.

Camila is a proud immigrant and first-generation student. Originally from Medellín, Colombia, and raised in the Bay Area, Camila earned a Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies and Legal Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. She uses community-driven models of methodology and applies it to all aspects of her scholarship and professional work. In her time as an undergraduate, she has embarked on various international research projects. She began working under the Senior Associate Dean of the Social Sciences Division at UC Berkeley to research rights under political uncertainty. Most recently, she worked with the Democracy X Media lab at UC Berkeley in a project learning from Indigenous Mayan communities in Guatemala. Additionally, she is working with the Chair of the Environmental Science, Policy, and Management Department at UC Berkeley. They are currently organizing the second Escuela de Agua in the Andean-Amazonian region of Colombia, which seeks to promote the exchange of knowledge to challenge colonial forms of knowledge building.

Amelia Heymach graduated from Harvard University with a concentration in Statistics, a secondary in Global Health & Health Policy, and a language citation in Spanish. Her prior work has focused on advancing health equity and housing justice through evidence-based interventions, advocacy, and direct service. She is thrilled to be joining the 2025 – 2026 PiLA cohort as a fellow with Partners in Andean Community Health (PACH) in Riobamba, Ecuador. Amelia will contribute to PACH’s educational women’s health programs by developing new curricula and supporting her team with project management. She is particularly excited to collaborate with healthcare providers and communities in the region to further PACH’s mission of creating sustainable, locally driven initiatives.

Christine graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with degrees in Economics and Global Studies: Development. She has experience in research, social impact, and public sector work, having held internships at the Environmental Protection Agency, the International Rescue Committee, and UChicago’s Center for RISC. Christine has a particular interest in international development as it intersects with environmental protection and global health. She wrote her bachelor's honors thesis on health challenges facing vulnerable communities in rural Colombia and was subsequently awarded a Fulbright grant to teach in Bucaramanga, Colombia. She is deeply excited to join PiLA as a fellow at EARTH University and contribute to their vital mission of environmental regeneration and sustainable development, and is eager to explore Costa Rica’s culture and natural beauty. Away from work, Christine loves playing cello, salsa dancing, and all things nature-related.

Lauren Johnson graduated from Vanderbilt University with a degree in Human & Organizational Development and Spanish, with a minor in Latino Studies. As a 2025–2026 PiLA Fellow, she will be working at Liceo Científico Dr. Miguel Canela Lázaro, a public STEM-focused high school in the Dominican Republic. In this role, Lauren will support English language instruction, assist in curriculum development, and contribute to initiatives that promote quality education for low-income students. Passionate about cross-cultural collaboration and expanding access to global education, she looks forward to contributing to locally rooted, globally informed learning experiences and immersing herself in the local community.

Grace Jones is a recent graduate of Vanderbilt University where she studied Engineering Science, Chemistry, and Mathematics. As an Ingram Scholar, she also explored community development through summers partnering with an NGO in Bolivia and a semester studying development in Cameroon. As a 2025–2026 PiLA Fellow, she will be working with Cova in Honduras, Nicaragua, and El Salvador, supporting community-led partnerships for clean-water access. Driven by a passion for applying scientific innovation to community development, Grace is excited to draw on her background in data-driven and laboratory-based approaches to advance Cova's mission. She cannot wait to deepen her understanding of sustainable development and to get to work alongside the incredible Cova team this year.

Nathaniel Laske graduated from American University with a degree in International Relations and Latin America & Caribbean Studies. As a 2025-2026 PiLA Fellow, he will work with Endeavor, a non-profit supporting high-impact entrepreneurship in Mexico.With past experience across private intelligence, think tanks, NGOs, and government agencies, he looks forward to fostering meaningful dialogue and promoting economic development within the hemisphere.

Ariana Ramos Mercado graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Political Science and International Studies with a regional focus on Latin America and the Caribbean. She focused her studies on inequality, femicide, and human rights. Her honors thesis focused on the relationship between conflict and technology facilitated gender-based violence. As a 2025-2026 PiLA Fellow, she will be working with Yspaniola as an Operations and Development Fellow, supporting community focused projects and initiatives. Ariana is passionate about human rights advocacy, addressing global inequality, and increasing the connection between local initiatives and global resolutions. She is excited to be able to use her skills to support local community initiatives with Yspaniola and to learn about how non-profit organizations carry out their initiatives on the ground.

Jack Mills graduated from the University of Virginia in May 2023 with a double B.A. in Global Sustainability and Spanish with a concentration on indigenous cosmologies. He decided to apply to PILA after studying abroad Fall 2022 in Ecuador through a program focused on development, politics, and language. Throughout 2024, he was a project coordinator for an international development contractor, providing administrative and technical support for global conservation programs. More recently, he's been contracting for two different non-profits - one focused on sustainable construction, the U.S. Green Building Council, and the other based in Ecuador, focused on environmental and social programming, Fundación Futuro Latinoamericano. He's excited to bring his love for Spanish, intercultural exchange, and community impact to PILA and Fundación Casa Ronald McDonald in Colombia.

Sofia Morris graduated from Brown University with a degree in Environmental Studies, focusing on environmental justice and stakeholder engagement in climate adaptation and mitigation planning. Outside of schoolwork, Sofia was involved in refugee youth education and empowerment in the Providence area. As a 2025-26 PiLA Fellow, she will work with the Mariposa Foundation in the Dominican Republic to support their environmental education program and enrichment initiatives. Sofia looks forward to improving her Spanish, immersing herself in the vibrant Dominican and Haitian cultures in Cabarete, and learning from the students and staff at Mariposa.

Reese Jacobs Neal graduated from Yale University with a degree in Computing and the Arts, with a specialization in Architecture. His academic work focused on the built environment and infrastructure in the U.S.-Mexico border region. As a 2025-2026 PiLA Fellow, he will serve as a STEM Instructor at Antigua International School in Antigua, Guatemala. He will teach courses in 3D modeling and general technology, and support students in the school's makerspace as they explore design and engineering projects.

Niccolò (Nicco) Platt graduated from Princeton University with a degree from the School of Public and International Affairs with a minor in Latin American Studies. As a 2025-2026 PiLA Fellow, he will be working with Endeavor Mexico’s DATA team in Mexico City. He looks forward to deepening his commitment to socioeconomic development and innovation throughout the Latin American Region — and the world — through this placement.

Maria Merz Ramirez graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a degree in Cognitive Science, French, and German. Her academic focus included child psychological and linguistic development as well as German and French literature. As a 2025–2026 PiLA Fellow, Maria will serve as an English Instructor at Liceo Científico in the Dominican Republic, where she will support English classes, assist in French instruction, and contribute to community outreach initiatives. Maria is deeply passionate about child development and education, and hopes to inspire in her students the same love for languages that first sparked her own curiosity in school. She looks forward to building meaningful connections and making a positive impact through language learning and cultural exchange.

Jordan Roller graduated from Brown University in 2024 where she studied History and Environmental Studies with a particular interest in Indigenous history and land stewardship in the Americas. She has a passion for promoting sustainability at all levels, both through her past work at environmental advocacy organizations and her upcoming work at PiLA. As a 2025-2026 fellow, she is excited to work with the Mariposa Foundation in the Dominican Republic, where she will be teaching environmental science and theater classes. She hopes to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards and is looking forward to exploring Cabarete.

Emilia Santianni graduated from Princeton University with a degree in Spanish and Portuguese and minors in Urban Studies and Latin American Studies. Throughout her studies, Emilia focused on development in the Caribbean and Latin America, and how it is impacted by the region’s relationship with the United States. As a 2025-2026 PiLA Fellow, she will be working with Endeavor in Mexico City, supporting high-impact entrepreneurs in their growth journeys. Emilia is passionate about development in Latin America and looks forward to deepening her understanding thereof while contributing to meaningful change from the ground up.

Cassia Schuler is a 2022 graduate of Wellesley College, where she studied Environmental Studies and Spanish. For the past two years, she has been a member of the Student and Young Adult Workforce Development team at the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. As a 2025–2026 PiLA Fellow, she will be joining the Mariposa DR Foundation to support the development of environmental education curriculum. Cassia is deeply committed to advancing equitable, community-driven solutions that protect the natural environment through education. She’s excited to connect with the Mariposa students and fully immerse herself in life in the Dominican Republic.

Ramona Shelton graduated from The College of William & Mary in 2023 with a degree in International Relations and Hispanic Studies, where she focused on post-conflict transitions in Latin America. Over the past two years, Ramona has taught English as a New Language at a high school in Tennessee while earning her Master’s in Education from Lipscomb University. Her master’s thesis examined how ENL classrooms can preserve and honor students’ cultural and linguistic identities, emphasizing the importance of culturally responsive pedagogy in multilingual settings. As a 2025–2026 Princeton in Latin America (PiLA) Fellow, she will work at the Honduras Independence Bilingual School (HIBS) in Quimistán, Honduras, supporting the school’s bilingual curriculum and global initiatives. Ramona is excited to merge her passion for post-conflict development and education by supporting students in a region shaped by complex social dynamics. She looks forward to applying her ENL teaching experience in the U.S. to meet the needs of her students abroad and contribute meaningfully to HIBS’s mission of nurturing the holistic development of all learners.

Kennedy Smith graduated from Georgetown University with a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service. She concentrated in International Relations and Economics, focusing her studies on U.S. development policy through a post-colonial lens. As a PiLA fellow, Kennedy will join Pomona Impact in Antigua, Guatemala, where she will support investment operations for growth-stage social enterprises across Latin America. She is eager to deepen her understanding of social impact investing and her knowledge of the regional entrepreneurial landscape.

Abby Smith graduated from Georgetown University in May 2024 with a B.S. in Business & Global Affairs and minors in Spanish and Sustainable Business. Throughout her time at Georgetown, she developed a keen interest in the overlap between the public, private, and social sectors in tackling global challenges and the unique role of emerging markets in driving sustainable solutions. Since graduation, she has worked in both international economic development and institutional development, with a particular emphasis on climate and sustainability. As a 2025-2026 PiLA Fellow, she will be working with EARTH University in Costa Rica, supporting their accreditation and communications strategies. Abby is passionate about food and food systems and is excited to gain hands-on experience in the region while contributing to EARTH’s vision of achieving sustainable and shared prosperity for people and the planet.

Adriana Apaza Tintaya holds a degree in Economics from Drexel University with a minor in Business Administration. Her academic focus and early career have centered on economic development, infrastructure consulting, education, and nonprofit work. As a 2025–2026 PiLA Fellow, she will work with Endeavor as a Marketing Growth Services Fellow in Mexico, supporting high-impact entrepreneurs in reaching their goals while building stronger support systems. Adriana is passionate about leveraging technology to drive sustainable economic development and looks forward to collaborating with the Endeavor team to amplify Mexico’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Seo Yoon (Yoonie) Yang is a recent graduate of the University of Pennsylvania where she studied in the dual-degree Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business. Through this program, she pursued a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies, with minors in Hispanic Studies and Latin American Studies, at the College of Arts and Sciences and a Bachelor of Science in Economics in Legal Studies and Business Ethics at the Wharton School of Business. As a 2025-2026 PiLA fellow, she will be working with EARTH University as an EARTH Futures Fellow and looks forward to supporting the university's fellows in their transition to and success at EARTH. With future legal aspirations to defend local communities against multinational corporations, Yoonie is further excited to encourage agricultural development across the Latin American and African continent through entrepreneurship and enterprise development. She looks forward to hiking to remote waterfalls and living among the lush and diverse wildlife of the beautiful country of Costa Rica!