Practice Experience: My practice experience was with Likhaan, a center for women’s health in Manila, Philippines. I completed my practice experience in the summer of 2024. I was exposed to communities impacted by the social determinants of health, healthcare policy advocacy, and community organizing. I researched health inequities and investigated the impact of universal healthcare (PhilHealth) in underrepresented areas. Feel free to ask me any questions about my practice experience at my advising hours!

GPP Elective Courses Taken: “GLOBAL 110Q (Asia In Global Context) and PBHLTH 101 (A Sustainable World: Challenges and Opportunities)”

About Me: Hello! My name is Aneisha (she/her), I was born and raised in a small town in Iowa. I am a first-generation American with Sri Lankan roots. I am majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology with a minor in GPP. My future goal is to pursue a career in medicine as a surgeon. I am passionate about combating health inequity and advocating for inclusive healthcare. When I took GPP 115, my entire perspective on the world shifted for the better and I knew the GPP minor was for me. Outside of academics, I am in Danceworx (a student run dance organization on campus) and hold an officer position as design chair. I also love volunteering as an active member through Cal Habitat for Humanity. In my spare time I enjoy traveling with my family, cooking new recipes from Pinterest, mindfulness/meditation, watching TV, and spending time with my friends. Feel free to ask me any questions related to being an out-of-state student, the premed path, GPP electives/schedule planning, tasty recipes, must-watch shows/movies, or anything else you’d like to chat about! Excited to meet you during my advising hours!

Practice Experience: I’m conducting my PE with an on-campus organization through the BEST Lab called CARES, which stands for the Community Assessment for Renewable Energy and Sustainability. CARES is a multidisciplinary initiative that focuses on bridging the gap between the creators and implementers of renewable energy and sustainability technology and the end-users/recipients of these projects. I worked with Yael Perez to travel up to the Pinoleville Pomo Nation in Ukiah, CA this summer and plan and conduct various STEM activities at the summer camp for the Pomo youth. Planning and leading these experiments helped emphasize to me the importance of education as a climate change adaptation measure, especially among young people. Taking part in STEM afterschool programs is what allowed me to realize that I belong in STEM when I was young and pursuing higher education, and the various architectural, biological, and ecological experiments we planned and led helped pass on the same message.

GPP Elective Courses Taken: “Sectors and Methods: ENERES 160 (Climate Justice), Global Area Studies: SOCIOL 180I (Comparative Perspectives on U.S. and European Societies: Inequality)”

Activities: GPP; SURF 2023 (Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship); URAP (Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program); BSP (Biology Scholars Program); CARES; UCB FAM (Faces of African Muslims)

About Me: Hey! My name is Jumana (she/her) and I’m a lifelong Bay Arean. I was born and raised in the SF/Peninsula area and I’m Sudanese-American. I knew from a very young age that Berkeley was where I wanted to be, so I’m very lucky to call the East Bay home. I’m double-minoring in Anthropology and GPP, and I am especially interested in researching climate change and interdisciplinary approaches that focus on bridging the traditionally “scientific” analysis with social and critical analysis of its causes and its effects on different communities. The GPP curriculum has helped me understand how drastically poverty can increase vulnerability to climate change, and explore how addressing the structures that create and exacerbate poverty is one of the most powerful climate change mitigation and adaptation measures we can attempt to undergo, so I’m so excited to represent this program as a peer advisor this year. Slide through to my advising hours to chat with me about OURS/research opportunities as an undergraduate as well as the GPP 115 curriculum, or anything else you’d like!

Practice Experience: At the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, I work to provide legal advice and conduct research for incarcerated individuals, responding via mail. I also attend Assembly and Senate meetings at the State Capitol to keep track of ongoing legislation that affects our criminal justice system.

GPP Elective Courses Taken: “SOCIOL 149P, AFRICAM 126L”

About Me: Hello everyone! My name is Layla and I am originally from Oakland, California. My academic focus is on the criminal legal system in the United States, and I have focused heavily on how the system of mass incarceration affects families and their loved ones. After my remaining 2 years at Cal, I hope to go to law school to study criminal law. I would love to talk more about finding opportunities as an undergraduate, specifically in policy, legal research, and law. I also enjoy talking about my time studying abroad in Mexico and giving advice on how to make the most out of the travel opportunities in college.

About Me: Hi everyone! My name is Madison Lindke (she/her) and I am from Vallejo, California. I’m a third year student studying Political Science with a focus in International Relations, while also minoring in GPP and Public Policy. I took GPP115 my second semester at Cal and immediately knew that the minor was right for me and my future. I chose the GPP minor because it gives me hope that I can make a real difference during my time at Cal. Global Poverty and Practice allows me to better explore poverty locally and globally, better understand the impacts, and helps me connect with others who have the same poverty alleviation goals as I do. When I’m not in class you can typically find me grabbing a latte from a local coffee shop or locked away in a Moffitt study room. If you are interested in international relations/politics, want a coffee shop recommendation, or want to chat about GPP, feel free to schedule a meeting! Can’t wait to meet you all!

Practice Experience: I will be doing my practice in the Philippines in the summer of 2025. The organization’s name is NVC Foundation and they implement feeding and nutrition programs in remote rural areas to address stunting in children ages 6 months to 5 years old.

GPP Elective Courses Taken: “Sociology 127: Development and Globalization”

About Me: Hello! I’m Michelle, an incoming senior majoring in Sociology with a minor in Global Poverty and Practice. My journey began in Bacolod, a small city in the Philippines, where I was born and raised. In 2010, seeking new opportunities and a fresh start, I moved to the United States with my two children. Growing up in a country with a rich yet complex history, I’ve always been captivated by the enduring impact of colonization on Filipino identity. It intrigues me how some Filipinos distance themselves from their cultural roots after leaving their homeland. This personal journey has fueled my passion for understanding how immigrants navigate the delicate balance of assimilating into American culture while preserving their cultural identities. I’m particularly interested in exploring how immigrants adapt to life in the U.S. without losing their heritage—a challenge I’ve faced firsthand with my kids. Additionally, I’m fascinated by how technology is shrinking the world, making it more accessible, and transforming social norms and traditional mindsets. If these topics resonate with you, I’d love to chat and share insights.

Practice Experience: Since the summer, I’ve been interning at Agua Para La Vida, a nonprofit dedicated to improving water infrastructure in rural Nicaragua. The organization not only provides financial support but also operates a Drinking Water and Sanitation Technical School, which offers graduates certification in hydraulic training. My role includes sourcing grants and sponsors, managing social media by creating graphics and translating content from Spanish, and organizing in-person panels with Latinx RSO’s on campus, along with fundraising events. I’ll be continuing this work through the fall, so feel free to reach out!

GPP Elective Courses Taken: “Asha For Education, Berkeley, Research Assistant at UCSF Pulmonary Medicine, Volunteer at Alzheimer’s Services of East Bay”

About Me: Hi everyone! My name is Riya Arul (she/her) and I’m from Antioch, California (East Bay). I’m a third year student studying MCB with a focus in Immunology and Molecular Medicine, while also minoring in GPP. Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my friends, exploring local coffee shops and cafes (bonus points if they play slow jazz) and late night car karaoke. Although GPP 115 last fall was an eye-opening experience, it was really my time in GPP 105 and the discussions with my classmates that drew me to the program. Seeing the incredible work of my peers, along with their diverse backgrounds and shared passion for poverty remediation, made me feel both inspired and like I was part of a close-knit community of changemakers. If you are on the pre-med path, need help with selecting GPP electives and practice experiences, or just want to chat about how to become more involved within the GPP program, feel free to schedule a meeting! Can’t wait to meet everyone!