In May of 2018 I graduated from Brown University with a Sc.B. in Astrophysics with honors. I started studying Astrophysics at Brown because I was interested in learning about how the world works, and by the time I graduated my main motivation evolved into questioning how I could make the world work better through the use of data. Some of the math and physics I courses I took included quantum mechanics, cosmology, and differential geometry, but with the flexibility of Brown’s open curriculum I was also able to study the history of medicine, classic literature, cognitive neuroscience, and even performing arts. Towards the second half of my education I discovered a passion for computational science, and was able to wrap that into my astrophysics studies when I coded an N-Body gravity simulation in my computational physics class junior year. The program I built uses a Particle Mesh algorithm with a Fast Fourier Transform to simulate globular cluster evaporation (code on GitHub).During my time at Brown, I was also involved in a number of student groups. Throughout my sophomore year, I ran a volunteer tutoring program called BSAT Prep. The Brown SAT Preparation Program (BSAT Prep) is a community outreach program run through Brown University’s Swearer Center for Public Service, designed to link Brown student volunteers with low income high school students to aid them in studying for the SAT exam. When I transferred leadership to the next generation of students in September 2016, the tutor base consists of 50 individual tutors, along with five student teams that lead classroom programs at locations in the greater Providence area. I first joined Brown SAT Prep as a tutor in January of 2015. As a tutor, I was matched with a high school student from Providence, and worked once a week for two hours with them in a public location on Brown’s campus. The goal of tutoring was first and foremost to teach SAT material, but also to build test taking strategies, and foster confidence in an encouraging and engaging manner.
After tutoring for 6 months, I interviewed and was selected to be one of the two students running the program in coordination with the Swearer Center, for which the official title was “Community Fellow.” As Community Fellow, I was in charge of recruiting/training volunteers, reaching out to local schools for program participants and classroom space, fundraising, and most importantly, expanding the program to help as many underrepresented students as possible. Under my leadership, the volunteer tutor base doubled from 25 students to 50, and the classroom program initiative grew from two community partnerships to five. As a community fellow, I was particularly invested in the classroom program, and helped foster new relationships with Blackstone Academy, Young Voices RI, and John Hope Settlement House through consistent communication with representatives from each. I also navigated the transition to the new SAT exam, and wrote and commissioned a promotional video. Since my time, the program has been subsumed into the College Advising Corps. More up to date information can be found here.
In addition to volunteering, I was heavily involved in the a cappella scene at Brown. The a cappella group I sang with all four years is called the Bear Necessities. Founded in 1998, The Bear Necessities are Brown’s all male, all-suspendered a cappella group, of which I am the Music Director. As a group, we sang both on and off campus, for business events, friendly fundraising competitions, and more. In 2015, we took a regional tour across the east coast, performing in Central Park, NYC, GW University in DC, UNC Chapel Hill, and Columbia University. In 2016, we performed in the 9th annual Circle Wind Memorial Concert in New York City, and with BisCaydence at the University of Miami.
In September of 2015 I took on the role of Assistant Music Director (AMD). As AMD, I worked closely with the Music Director (MD) to strengthen the sound of the group, and lead rehearsals when necessary. In September of 2016 I became Music Director (MD). As MD I lead all rehearsals, delegated responsibilities to facilitate the organization of performances, travel, auditions, and also discussions surrounding diversity and inclusion. I was unanimously re-elected, and got great feedback from my time in charge of the group! I also arranged music for the group, transcribing tunes such as “Hello” by Adele, to fit an a cappella format. In 2015, we released an album titled, “Visions,” that is available on iTunes and Spotify.