2024 Future Leaders Fellows | Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering

Eda Avmedovska

MS in Biology

Hello, my name is Eda Avmedovska, and I’m a master's student in the Open Choice MS in Biology. I’m from Skopje, North Macedonia, and I received my Bachelor of Science in Biology with minors in Entrepreneurship and Spanish from Tufts University in May 2024.

My research interests focus on therapeutic development, particularly in oncology. With experience in both pharmaceuticals and healthcare consulting, I aim to understand the biological mechanisms underlying various diseases and their role in the development of targeted treatments that have the potential to transform patient care and disease management.

Weiwei Chan

MA in Child Study and Human Development

My name is Weiwei Chan and I originally hail from Flushing, New York. I am the daughter of immigrant parents and am an immigrant myself (from Malaysia!). My interests lie at the intersection of identity and moral development. I am deeply curious about how people come to understand themselves and the world around them. Outside of school, I love to bake, thrift, craft, and be outside!

Naim Gmati

MA in Music

Hello, my name is Naim Gmati and I’m a musician and educator from Lorton, Virginia. I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Virginia Commonwealth University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and a Minor in Psychology, and I’m now at Tufts pursuing an MA in Music, specifically in Ethnomusicology. My research interests focus on the musics and cultures across North Africa and the Middle East, including my family’s country of origin, Tunisia. Outside of music, I enjoy cooking, playing video games and going out dancing with friends.

Kirsten Mattern

Entry-Level Doctorate in Occupational Therapy

Hello, my name is Kirsten Mattern (she/her) and I am an Occupational Therapy Doctorate student here at Tufts! I graduated from Marist College in May 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and minors in Cognitive Science and Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies.

I am passionate about interpersonal connection, client-centered care, and diversity, equity and inclusion. In my future role as a practitioner, and my current role as an OT student, I strive to ensure my clients feel supported, heard, and accepted. My research and scholarship interests include occupational justice, narrative medicine, and community-based practice. I am so honored and grateful to be a Future Leader Fellow at Tufts!

Cecilia Orozco

MAT in Art Education

I’m Cecilia Orozco, a Nicaraguan-Costa Rican artist and educator. I graduated from Tufts University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2024, I’m excited to be coming back to pursue a Master of Art Teaching in Art Education for the year 2024-2025.

My experience teaching with the Experimental College at Tufts, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and my artistic journey has led to my passion for teaching. My research interests include utilizing art education for social justice and healing, especially for immigrant refugee communities.

Delilia Pires

MAT in Middle and High School Education

Hi everyone! My name is Delilia Pires (she/her), and I am a graduate student starting my fifth year at Tufts. Originally from Mountain View, California, I moved to Massachusetts in the fall of 2020 to pursue my BA in Child Study and Human Development. During my time at Tufts, professors encouraged me to harness my knowledge and use it for a greater good. When I eventually take on the role of a civics teacher, I hope to do the same for my future students and inspire them to become kind and courageous leaders, advocates, and activists in their communities.

João Victor Quintanilha

MS in Data Analytics

Hello! I’m João Victor Quintanilha, the first in my family to pursue higher education. I came to the U.S. from Brazil after inventing a novel plastic recycling method, which led to dual Bachelor’s degrees in Computer Science and Biology at Tufts. Now, I’m pursuing a Master’s in Data Analytics to sharpen my skills as a software and data engineer.

I graduated with the Tisch Scholar honor in civic commitment, having helped allocate $500,000 to public health initiatives through Cambridge Health Alliance. I also conducted bioinformatics research funded by the German government, developed websites for Tufts professors, and collected environmental data for AB-InBev in South America. In addition to my academic and civic achievements, I’ve been awarded by Pegasystems and Palantir Technologies for my ingenuity. These experiences fuel my curiosity and inspire my drive to make an impact through technology, using my skills to create real-world solutions.

Simantha MollyLou Sernaker

MFA in Studio Art

My name is Simantha MollyLou Sernaker aka Simi Stone. I was born and raised in Woodstock NY. I have dedicated my life to the study and creation of art and music. I am thrilled to be in my first year as a Graduate Student with a focus in painting in the MFA program at the SMFA. I look forward to getting to know the human body on a deeper level as I study form, structure and allow my professors to push me to be intuitive and continue to hold my pieces to a high standard.

I anticipate the practice of making work that represents historic themes and nature and the beauty of abstraction. I intend to give voice to my past by bringing it into the present through storytelling by way of visual representation.

Irene Yoo

MA in Child Study and Human Development

My name is Irene Yoo (she/her) and I am a Korean-American from Orange County, California. I am in my last year of the 4+1 program at Tufts and studied Cognitive and Brain Sciences in addition to CSHD in undergrad. I am particularly interested in the sense of belonging in school for immigrant children and the relationship between language, cognition, and culture. I am currently a research assistant at Tufts Interdisciplinary Evaluation Research and intern at the Center for Children with Special Needs at Tufts Medical Center.