2024-25 Leadership Team
Selina Bolella
President
Selina is a Ph.D. student in Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, advised by Harindra Joseph Fernando. Her research focuses on air-sea interactions and tropical meteorology. Her dissertation centers on the dynamics of the Indian Summer Monsoon related air-sea coupling over the Indian Ocean. She utilizes advanced atmospheric and oceanic instrumentation while conducting fieldwork in the Indian Ocean, including the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, aboard a research cruise vessel. Selina received her B.S. in Meteorology and Atmospheric Science from Pennsylvania State University. In her free time, Selina enjoys reading books, traveling, art, and drinking matcha.
Atefeh Ghafari
Vice President
Atefeh is a Ph.D. student in Electrical Engineering, advised by Jonathan Chisum. Her research focuses on advanced material characterization, as well as RF and millimeter-wave microwave circuits and antenna design, with applications in 5G technology and microelectronics. She received her master’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Tehran. In her free time, Atefeh enjoys hiking, reading books, and painting.
Venkata Meghana Remella
Co-Chair, Professional Development
Meghana is a masters student in electrical engineering. Her interests include nanofabrication, material synthesis and testing. She received her bachelor’s degree from India. In her free time, she enjoys painting, watching movies and listening to music.
Simret Gebreegziabher
Chair, Social Development
Simret is a third year Ph.D. student in Computer Science and Engineering, advised by Prof. Toby Li. Her research is in the intersection of Human-Computer Interaction, and Artificial Intelligence. Specifically she builds, deploys, and evaluates AI tools that assist humans in annotating data, training models, and other related tasks. In her free time she enjoys going on runs, trying different cuisines, and spending time with friends.
Vanesa Muñiz Lloréns
Co-Chair, Professional Development
Vanesa M. Muñiz Lloréns earned her B.Sc. in geology from the University of Puerto Rico and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Earth Sciences at the University of Notre Dame, advised by Clive R. Neal. She specializes in lunar petrology. More specifically, their research focuses on the cooling and crystallization of basaltic lavas. Her academic journey has been enriched by experiences such as the Arctic-REU program, NASA L’Space Academy, and mentoring Latinx students. Outside of her research, Vanesa enjoys hiking, stargazing, practicing martial arts, and reading.
Devmi Gamage
Secretary
Devmi Gamage is a PhD student in Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, advised by Harindra Joseph Fernando. Her research focuses on Environmental Fluid Mechanics, particularly atmospheric-oceanic boundary layer dynamics and air-sea interactions. Devmi has participated in extensive field campaigns onboard research vessels in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, utilizing these observations to investigate the multi-scale mechanisms governing the life cycles of warm pools in the Indian Ocean and the related atmospheric processes. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. In her free time, Devmi loves exploring nature, capturing moments with her camera, listening to music, and enjoying movies.
Grace Curtis
Communications and Marketing
Grace is a Ph.D. student in Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, studying environmental engineering with advisor Dr. Kyle Doudrick. Her research focuses on the thermal treatment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on various environmental matrices. Grace received her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Trine University in Angola, IN. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, hanging out with family, and going to concerts.
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