I’m Phoebe Shea Perez and I’m class of 2023. I currently am changing my major every week, but I’m passionate about (evolutionary) economics, indigenous histories and futurisms, and poetry. I’m still very much confused about what the future holds, but I know that wherever the wind takes me, my life and work will be grounded in an awareness of, and relationship with, the natural world in which I participate. A time-honored effort of mine has been learning K’iche’ - my mother’s Maya language; currently that’s taking the form of writing poetry about water, trees, birds, and movement. One of my favorite words is no’j, which means knowledge, and I often write b’ixal no’j - songs to knowledge. I believe in the wisdom of the natural world and this semester I’m excited about centering specificity in my relationship with nature - to find the sacred in learning names, to differentiate the similar-looking species, and to honor the diversity in existence I’ve often reduced to generalities in the past. 

My name is Kyaralind Vasquez (KEE-ARR-uh-lind VAS-kez), and I am currently a sophomore at Wellesley College. I am from Boston, Massachusetts, and identify as Afro-Latina. Three words that best describe me are: playful, dedicated, and detail-oriented. If I had to choose a favorite place, it would be between the Dominican Republic where my family is from and the Boston Public Library. At school, I can be found at the student org ETHOS social events. Outside of school, I am either spending time with my best friends, being a foodie, or exploring nature. A hope that I have for this upcoming academic year is to join more student orgs and form a soccer club to stay active and build community. My overall goal for my time at Wellesley is breaking out of my comfort zone and developing new disciplines for myself.

I’m a triplet, one of three born on Christmas Eve, who grew up and am residing in Connecticut: on Long Island Sound and on a train line to NYC. I’m a senior majoring in computer science with a possible religion or english minor: I’m one credit shy of both.

At Wellesley (and while remote), I have found a family away from home in Bates Hall, on the ultimate frisbee team: the Whiptails (whiptail lizards is the common name for Cnemidophorus: a genus of lizards in the family Teiidae which can be all-female!) and with whom I have ambled around campus in the pouring rain at night. At the beginning of Quarantine, I watched: God Friended Me, Brooklyn 99, Atypical, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, Dear White People and Ramy. I read: one book was Falter by Bill McKibben which I would recommend reading if you are interested in climate change and AI.

My inspiration for applying to the Paulson Initiative is my interest in climate change (since 5th grade- it’s in writing!), the phenomenal Paulson student programming and to apply my studies towards making a positive difference towards our planet. I plan to pursue graduate studies in biocomputing or bioinformatics.

Finally, I urge you to buy stamps and send mail to save the United States Postal Service (USPS) and if you can vote in the US, to know how, when and where you're going to vote for the Presidential Election this Tuesday, November 3, 2020. Send in a mail-in ballot asap!

Lily is an English and Environmental Studies double major interested in subverting the consumerist mindset that inspires environmental exploitation. Raised on a farm in rural Appalachia, she enjoys strolling through the pawpaw trees of her local forest, harvesting (re: consuming) vegetables from the garden, and napping in the apple orchard on Summer afternoons. While conscious, Lily dabbles in mountain biking, crafting elaborate omelets, and observing the Twitter accounts of her favorite poets. Lounging on a patch of moss or a comfy rock -- book in hand -- is her preferred pastime, and she frequently sprawled across the grassy alcoves surrounding lake Waban in the pre-COVID era. While working with the Paulson initiative, Lily looks forward to collaborating with her peers to make Wellesley's landscape accessible, inclusive, and comfortable for its diverse student body.

Hi! My name is Aaliyah Beckford and I'm a rising sophomore. I currently live in Connecticut, but not many people know that I was born and raised in Jamaica. It is something that is very important to my identity and I honestly recommend anyone to go there and enjoy the tropical climate (including the beaches, of course). I chose to participate in the Summer Research Program because STEM is really important to me, hence, why my potential major is physics. In my spare time, I like to read, watch movies, sing and spend quality time with my friends and family. I do, also, like having meaningful conversations with people, so if you want to talk to anyone, come talk with me! I'm always open to meeting new people and getting to know them, so it's a win-win in my book.

Hello Everyone! My name is Nafisa Rashid and I am currently a sophomore (class of 2023) planning to major in Cognitive and Linguistic Sciences and Environmental Science. I am Sierra Leanean-American and currently living in Poughkeepsie, NY. From childhood I've always been curious about nature and our various ways of interacting with it. I spent this past summer working with Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant as a part of the Paulson-Frost Practitioner Fellow Internship, researching the indigenous and local names of animals around the world, particularly in North America, South America and Africa. Specifically I looked at the etymology and cultural stories of the animals and their names. This internship allowed me to delve more into my interest in languages, history and ecology/environmental science. I was also able to learn more about the interesting intersections of these subjects while doing my research. Outside of class I enjoy listening to and playing music, as I am currently a member of Yanvalou Drum and Dance Ensemble and Wellesley Aiko. In my free time some of the things I enjoy doing are watching tv shows and movies, reading novels, creating art, trying to teach myself new skills like crocheting and coding, speaking and practicing various languages I've learned with others and taking long walks in nature with friends and family. 

I'm a senior (Class of 2021) from Woodstock, GA who loves reading and learning new things. I am active in Harambee House and Cafe Hoop, as well as LGBTQ+ activities on campus. Especially now, I enjoy spending time with friends and watching movies together. I love creating, especially art and stories featuring Black and LGBTQ+ characters. I read comics and library books often, and I love introspective and personal stories. I am working on a comic book that I hope to publish digitally one day.

Hello! My name is Nujuma Taha and I am a rising sophomore Computer Science major from Saint Paul, Minnesota. I am loving the STEM opportunities I have gotten to experience at Wellesley so far, so I am excited to be a part of the Paulson Place Challenge Research Program! I am most looking forward to learning new skills, gaining new knowledge, and connecting with peers and mentors throughout the summer.