About Us
Adriana Scanteianu
Adriana
July 4, 2018
Yo! My name is Adriana and I’m from Ossining, NY, not too far above the city. I’ve just finished my first year studying Mathematics and (debatably) Computer Science at Rutgers University in NJ, and I’m 18 years old, so the baby of the family. I feel that my teenage status should exclude me from the “where do you want to be in ten years” question, but I tell most people I’m interested in law and would like to become a district attorney one day. I’m here because I got lucky and Seth and Hilary mixed up the names of the applicants for this REU, but I’m hoping to make up for it by being over-excited.
Angel Boulware
Angel
July 4, 2018
Hi! My name is Angel and I am a senior sociology major at Spelman College from Charlotte, NC. I have a passion for education, the environment and health. I am interested in how those three disciplines intersect. In ten years, I’d like to be finishing my PhD in something cool and also living my best life!
Favorite animal: pig
Group role: class clown
Best line: "I'm from Wisconsin.... Sub-saharan Wisconsin."
Commonly used words: mood, me
Future profession: professional scammer
Chimene Ntakarutimana
Chimene
July 4, 2018
Hello, my name is Chimene Ntakarutimana and I’m from Lexington, Kentucky. I am a rising Junior at the University of Kentucky. I currently have a major in Psychology with a minor in Criminology on a pre-law track. I enjoy reading and traveling on my down time. My favorite place that I’ve traveled to thus far has been Paris, France. I also enjoyed going back home to visit family in Burundi, Africa (the food was amazing!!). In ten years I see myself practicing international law while continuing to travel.
Favorite color: Teal
Favorite Quote: “Y’all are doing the most!”
Julia Corey
Julia
July 4, 2018
Hey y’all! My name is Julia Corey, and I am a rising senior at Wheaton College (MA) majoring in International Relations and minoring in Public Health. i'm passionate about traveling and learning about different places and cultures, and of course trying new food wherever I go! In the future, I’d like to attend graduate school to study Global Health/International Health, and one day work at an international health organization advocating for increased access to healthcare for refugees and asylum seekers in sub-Saharan Africa. I’m very excited and thankful for the opportunity to learn how to do research this summer, as well as to meet so many amazing people and explore Rwanda!
Madeleine Zeiler
Madeleine
July 4, 2018
Hey folks, my name is Madeleine Zeiler, and I’m beyond thrilled to be a part of this program (total fluke if you ask me). I’m a rising junior at Western Washington University, studying Biocultural Anthropology and Biology. I love to learn about different cultures, especially in regard to their unique medical systems. Reproductive health in female-identifying individuals is one of my passions and I hope to practice midwifery one day. In my spare time I love to read (the New Yorker’s biggest fan), listen to music (D’Angelo, anybody?), and cook (vegetarian in only the most self-righteous way). Thanks for tagging along!
Dieudonne Musemakweli
Dido
July 4, 2018
Hello, I am Dieudonne Musemakweli but many people call me “Dido”, I am Rwandan and I am 24 years old. I have my degree in Statistics at Ines-Ruhengeri. I live in Kimironko with my sister and nephew. I like to play basketball and to swim, I am a humble person and gentle. I love exploring new place like travel around the world meet new people and experience new culture. In the future I would like to do research around Africa working with women especially in contraceptive program or other programs that help women.
Innocent Manzi
Innocent
July 4, 2018
My name is Innocent Manzi, I’m Rwandan and single. I’m 21 years old, born on 4 July 1997 in Gisenyi city in family of six children with 4 boys and 2 girls as first child and my best friend is mum. I study at Institut d’enseignement Superieur de Ruhengeri in faculty of applied fundamental sciences in options of statistics applied to economy. Before I joined university I got high school diploma at Ecole de Sciences de Musanze in combination of Mathematics-Chemistry-Biology. In normal life I always strive for the discipline and truth as the key of all success in whatever you can do, say or see and when I have free time I like swimming and playing basketball besides make chat with others via social media and enjoy music. My future plan is to become data analyst and make my own research as well play a great role in development of my country.
Ilia King
Ilia
July 4, 2018
I’m Ilia King, arguably the most incredible person ever. I attend Xavier University of Louisiana and will be graduating in May of 2019. I'm majoring in sociology with a concentration in health and medicine, and minoring in public health. In the future, I hope to obtain a PhD in Medical Sociology and use my degree in the healthcare field in some capacity (I watch surgery videos in my spare time, and if I could watch surgeons perform tummy-tucks all day I would). In my spare time, I love to look at art on Instagram and make Spotify playlists. In ten years I hope to have finished school and have an enjoyable career that allows me to travel the world and help improve the health of underserved populations.
Favorite Rapper: Lil Wayne
Favorite Food: Chocolate almond ice cream, potatoes, and chicken nuggets (Chick-fil-a preferred and McDonald’s if on a budget)
Jessica Linus
Jessica
July 4, 2018
20. Nigerian. Igbo Enthusiast. African Historian. Public Health. Human Rights.
I am a Health Administration and Policy Program Major attending the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Passionate about diplomacy and international relations as it concerns the development and infrastructure of African countries, I aspire to a lifetime of public health research and ambassadorship. Applying international law and regulation for the purpose of advocating for vulnerable populations (women and children) in African countries. I have found myself in Africa, Africa is the rhythm of my heart beat, and it is in Africa that I will fight for sustainability and development.
Nirali Patel
Nirali
July 4, 2018
Howdy! I'm a senior at Arcadia University, majoring in International Studies and Math. I joined this REU because I thought it was the perfect intersection of my two majors and would help me explore my interests in public health and narrow down my future plans. I'm hoping to start grad school next year in this field and hopefully ten years from now, I'll be doing more field research like this and developing policy to address public health issues. Asides from this, I like gardening, struggling to swim, and watching the Blue Planet series.
Maddie Merritt
Maddie
July 4, 2018
Hello! My name is Maddie Merritt, and here’s a brief explanation of who I am and why we should be friends: I am finishing up my senior year at Western Washington University, with majors in Spanish and Sociology. I grew up in Colorado, and was raised with a passion for sunshine, old school music, and my dad’s green chili. I never really outgrew my toddler “why” phase, and this program excites me because it gives me the opportunity to gain more insight into the world of cross-cultural research and ask lots of questions. As far as my future path goes, there are many possibilities. In ten years I will be somewhere between grad school and road-tripping through South America. Only time can tell!
Claudette Imbabazi
Claudette
July 4, 2018
Claudette IMBABAZI is a Rwandan female with educated background in Statistics applied to Economy. I hold a bachelor’s degree from INES Ruhengeri obtained in 2018. My final research was focusing on taxation systems in Rwanda where I assessed the Effect of tax revenues on national economic performance. At high school, I did MPC as a combination at Groupe Scolaire Mater Dei. In addition to this I am a member of different professional bodies, including EPRN,… As a professional exposure, I got involved in different studies commissioned by different organizations. Those include FAO and Western Washington University, I served as a research assistant in these regards.
Chantal Umutoni
Chantal
July 4, 2018
I am Chantal UMUTONI a Rwandan university student at INES-Ruhengeri in statistics applied to economy. When I was in my secondary school I did PCM (Physics, chemistry and Mathematics) at G.S Remera- Rukoma in south province, and I was so interested in Mathematics.
Now in my academic life at school I’ve got experiences about how to conduct research using Qualitative methods, and also enumerator skills, after finishing my studies in coming years I want to get high level of skills about research by applying statistics and economy so that can I can be a good researcher.
Angel Boulware
Lys
July 4, 2018
Hi! My name is Angel and I am a senior sociology major at Spelman College from Charlotte, NC. I have a passion for education, the environment and health. I am interested in how those three disciplines intersect. In ten years, I’d like to be finishing my PhD in something cool and also living my best life!
Favorite animal: pig
Group role: class clown
Best line: "I'm from Wisconsin.... Sub-saharan Wisconsin."
Commonly used words: mood, me
Future profession: professional scammer
Leilani Campbell
Leilani
July 4, 2018
I am Leilani Ivy Mae Campbell. I am 4 years old now but will be turning 5 next month on August 17th. I will be starting Kindergarten this fall at Loving Space. I love to swim with Sharkey in the pool. I like Pokemon and I love Pikachu.
Hilary Schwandt
Hilary
July 4, 2018
I am Hilary Schwandt, one of the faculty leaders on the trip. I am an Associate Professor at Fairhaven College within Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington. I earned my MHS and PhD from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the Population, Family, and Reproductive Health Department. My research focus is on reproductive health in sub-Saharan Africa – I have done research in Botswana, Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Zambia. I am particularly inspired by the successful family planning program in Rwanda, hence the research focus for this trip. I am the proud mama of 2 amazing girls: Alexcia and Leilani Campbell.
Alexcia Campbell
Alexcia
July 4, 2018
I am Alexcia Kathleen Campbell. I am 6 now but will be turning 7 in a few weeks – celebrating this important milestone among family and friends in Rwanda. This fall I will be entering the first grade at Carl Cozier Elementary School in Bellingham, Washington. I like Pokemon – my favorite character is Pikachu.
Seth Feinberg
Seth
July 4, 2018
Muraho! My name is Seth and I teach Sociology at Western Washington University. My colleague Hilary and I wrote a successful grant application to the National Science Foundation to fund this program designed to train undergraduates in cross-cultural interdisciplinary research on Rwanda's successful family planning program. I'm originally from southern Mississippi for the first 18 years of my life, but I've bounced around the country and globe over the years before settling in Bellingham, Washington (for now!). This is my seventh time leading students abroad in sub-Saharan Africa, and I'm really excited to work with this group of engaged and motivated students and our Rwandan colleagues.