Steven Matthew Gomez Bautista is a rising junior at Cornell University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Urban and Regional Studies and potential minors in South East Asian studies and Landscape Architecture with prospects to pursue international development and civic advocacy. With his interests in development, cultural preservation, and civic engagement, Steven hopes that through his studies he will be equipped with the theory and planning practices necessary to work toward improving the material conditions — access to public services, the democratization of the planning process, improvement of development markers, etc. — of marginalized and underserved communities. Steven loves conversations about international development projects with a particular interest in the ongoing New Clark City project in Tarlac, Philippines. Outside of class, he works in the Echol's South East Asia Library and is active in his local Filipino community as Vice President of Cornell's Filipino rondalla 14 Strings! and Performance Chair of Cornell Filipino Association. In his free time, Steven enjoys performing and writing music, sketching, and watching video essays. Eager to bridge Philippine-American relations and bring attention to Philippine politics and current events, he values being part of an organization with a mission to create channels of dialogue within the US-Asia stage. Steven is ecstatic to be part of the IMPACT! program through the US-Asia Institute this summer!

Alaine Johnson, hailing from Seattle, is a graduate student and Public Service Fellow at the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University, where she is pursuing a Master of Arts in International Relations. Prior to this, she received her B.A. in Environmental Studies from Yale-NUS College in Singapore, and studied abroad in Indonesia, India, and Argentina. Alaine has worked for a variety of professional, environmental, and research organizations such as The Bettr Group, abillion, SHEEP Yayasan Indonesia, and Planet Forward at George Washington University. As a woman of mixed Fil-Am background, she aspires to apply her multicultural experiences towards a career in international development and public service to address complex globalization-driven and development issues.

Joseph Matawaran recently graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Texas at Arlington with a BA in Political Science and a Minor in Law and Legal Studies. Joseph discovered his passion for serving under-resourced communities when he interned with the International Rescue Committee as a Resettlement & Placement Intern- working with the Dallas-based refugee community. In 2021, he served as a Public Policy Research Assistant with the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce during Texas’ 87th Legislative Session. Last Summer, Joseph served as a community organizer with the Malaya Movement where he had the opportunity to plan, organize, and execute one of Dallas’ first Filipino-centered human rights protests. Through these experiences, Joseph developed a keen interest in foreign policy and the effect it has on under-resourced communities. Joseph sees a future for himself as a policy researcher dedicated to exploring research- and compassion-driven policy solutions.

Lana Mae Vanta is a senior at George Mason University (GMU), majoring in Global Affairs with a concentration in Global Governance and minoring in Nonprofit Studies. At GMU, she is a part of the Nonprofit Fellowship cohort under the School of Integrative Studies and in partnership with the Schar School of Policy and Government. Her recent research on exploring the role of women in terror groups and exploring Scarborough Shoal title claims in the South China Sea has featured her on GMU's Global Affairs Research Week in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. On campus, she is an involved member of the Filipino Cultural Association, Alexander Hamilton Society, ADVANCE Pathway Program, and Intelligence Community Network. In her community, she is proud to have achieved success within the esports industry, a traditionally male-dominated sector, with her roles as a Community Outreach Specialist and Brand Ambassador in prominent esports organizations. As a first-generation student, Lana Mae is deeply passionate about promoting civic engagement projects and connecting underprivileged Asian Americans to a global network that builds knowledge and leadership for current and future generations. She hopes to continue to empower these communities and their voices on the international platform. In the future, Lana Mae aspires to become a Public Diplomacy Officer under the U.S State Department or promote support for disadvantaged communities through international nonprofit organizations.

Noelle Villaneuva is a rising sophomore at Stanford University, with an intended major in Earth Systems. She currently is on the Transportation Commission as a member of Students for Sustainable Stanford. In addition, she worked as a server at Pacific Catch in Palo Alto. At Lehigh High School, she was a stage manager for all theatrical productions produced by the school and served as Secretary for the Environmental Club. With important environmental issues facing our world today, Noelle would like to make a meaningful contribution to the development of environmental law and policy in the Philippines.

Zachary Wandalowski is a rising junior at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) double majoring in Economics and Government and Politics with an International Relations Concentration. On campus, he has written for the school’s newspaper, The Diamondback and is a member of the UMD Filipino Culture Association, Economic Association of Maryland and volunteers as an English language tutor for immigrants and refugees in the Washington D.C. area. In 2018, he studied abroad in Germany through the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange program. He recently interned at the World Resources Institute, working on communications for their UrbanShift sustainable cities initiative. Zach is extremely interested in working on international policy, specifically related to sustainable development in order to combat climate change and economic inequality.