Cohort Leaders
The Intern Cohort Model increases participation in engagement opportunities for current interns and leads to a more supportive, cohesive and social active community.
Interns assigned to Cohort Leaders help interns acclimate to Red Cross culture, discuss intern projects, provide guidance, encourage engagement, provide updates from Volunteer Services
and most importantly will help ensure they stay connected to their intern manager and their projects.
It is our goal that these cohort meetings provide the interns a space not only to socialize and build community, but to learn from their peers and problem solve together.
We're thrilled to introduce our Cohort Leaders for the Summer 2021 Cycle!
Alfie Arun
He/Him/His
Intern, Community and Government Relations
Alfie Arun is a rising junior at the University of Pennsylvania majoring in Political science and Health and Societies with a minor in East Asian Languages and Civilizations. On campus, Alfie is involved with many legal clubs like Penn Mock Trial and Penn Undergraduate Law Journal. On the Penn Mock Trial, Alfie is the captain of the A-team. He also engages in political action through Penn YDSA and Penn Justice Democrats. After college, he is interested in pursuing a law degree and working in policy making. A fun fact about Alfie is that he has a black belt (in the martial arts).
Josephine Chak
She/Her/Hers
Intern, Nonprofit Fundraising - Corporate Partnerships
Hello! My name is Josephine Chak, and I am a rising junior majoring in Corporate Communications and minoring in Economics and Marketing. I was the 2020-2021 VP of Philanthropy for one of the biggest clubs on my college campus and within my position, I reached out to outside clubs and organizations to collaborate for multiple fundraisers and events throughout the year. I am super excited to be part of such an awe-inspiring and established organization, and I am looking forward to all the amazing work I will be able to do this summer!
To end with a fun fact: one thing on my bucket list is to go sky diving!
Menna Abbas
She/Her/Hers
Intern, Disaster Relief Volunteer Engagement Coordinator
Hi my name is Mentalla Abbas, but feel free to call me Menna. I am currently perusing a Masters in Public Health with a concentration in Global Health and an advanced certificate in Disaster Science Policy & Practice at New York University (NYU).
I was lucky to be chosen as a Peer Advocate with the Office of Health Promotion on campus during my time at the university. Prior to American Red Cross I worked at The New York City Prevention Resource Center- The Children's Aid as a Community Development Specialist, interned with the Community Affairs team at New York Presbyterian Hospital, and helped conduct grassroots campaigns at The Fund for The Public Interest.
It's a great sense of fulfilment to be able to help others in need.
Currently, I reside in the state of New Jersey. I enjoy traveling, trying new food/restaurants, adventures, the ocean, and playing with my precious cat Lion. I am excited for this opportunity interning with American Red Cross and building new connections.
Steven Torres
He/Him/His
Intern, Disaster Relief Volunteer Engagement Coordinator
Student at Binghamton University studying Neuroscience, with aspirations to become a clinical psychologist.
Cohort Leaders
The Intern Cohort Model increases participation in engagement opportunities for current interns and leads to a more supportive, cohesive and social active community.
Interns assigned to Cohort Leaders help interns acclimate to Red Cross culture, discuss intern projects, provide guidance, encourage engagement, provide updates from Volunteer Services
and most importantly will help ensure they stay connected to their intern manager and their projects.
It is our goal that these cohort meetings provide the interns a space not only to socialize and build community, but to learn from their peers and problem solve together.
We're thrilled to introduce our Cohort Leaders for the Winter/Spring 2021 Cycle!
Alessandro Malave
He/Him/His
Intern, Communications
Alessandro is a returning intern and a Spring 2021 Cohort Leader. I studying Global Public Health and Media, Culture and Communications with a minor in journalism at New York University. I have passions for the fields of public health and communications, and I hope to combine the two in a future career path. Some possibilities include occupations in epidemiology or as a public health reporter. One fun fact about myself is that I love trying new kinds of food, and two of my favorite kinds are Italian and Chinese!
Stephanie Martinez
She/Her/Hers
Intern, International Services
Stephanie is a returning intern and a Spring 2021 Cohort Leader. Stephanie is a graduate student at St. John's University, in Jamaica, Queens, New York. She is a sociology major with a concentration in global justice studies and has eight years of experience working within a few New York City agencies in both the legal and social services fields. Her career aspirations would be to further help and provide outreach to those in need, particularly internationally. She is am a member of the United States Army Reserve and speak Spanish fluently. A fun fact about Stephanie is that she enjoys DIY projects and has made most of her home decor.
Michelle Yin
She/Her/Hers
Intern, Emergency Preparedness
Michelle is a returning intern and a Spring 2021 Cohort Leader. She is studying chemistry at the University of Virginia and is pursuing a medical career in the future. She is passionate about servicing disadvantaged groups in STEM, specifically women and minorities, through nonprofit work and volunteerism. She has been highly involved in her school's community, working as a research intern in an immunology laboratory, a private tutor for student athletes, a chemistry teaching assistant, a program director for her school's volunteer tutoring program at a local elementary school, and a women's makerspace fellow. Originally from Cleveland, OH, a fun fact about Michelle is that she has never seen a horror movie before.
Biomedical Services
These interns are resourceful, interested in team building and want to help create the strategic direction for developing, engaging and retaining a highly effective and satisfied workforce through the utilization of volunteers, interns and employees.
Abdoul Bouda
He/Him/His
Intern, Biomedical Volunteer Workforce Engagement (CUNY Service Corps Member)
Abdoul Bouda is a graduating senior at Queens College, pursuing B.A Neuroscience & Biology and a BA in Psychology with a minor in Physics. He is planning to go to medical school with the end goal of becoming a Neurologist.
He is a research assistant in a study examining the effects of computerized cognitive training on the mood, cognition, daily functioning, and fMRI data on young adults with depression. He also works as a Public Health Advisor for the New York City Health Department where he participates in the COVID-19 test and trace program.
He is also a teaching assistant at Hostos Community college Mathematics department where he supports students in understanding their class materials. He likes reading and most importantly he loves interacting with diverse groups of people.
Harjeet Parmar
He/Him/His
Intern, Biomedical Volunteer Workforce Engagement (CUNY Service Corps Member)
Hello! I am a Senior at Queens College studying Biology and Biochemistry. As a part of my academic background, I constantly showcase skills in problem-solving, teamwork and exceptional organization. I anticipate integrating these skills into my Red Cross experience. My goal is to expand my involvement in community organizations as I continue my career path in the medical field. During my free time, I like to go hiking and play tennis.
Communications Interns
These interns are practiced and persuasive public speakers, have strong writing skills and are savvy about social media. They communicate the Red Cross mission behind-the-scenes, on-camera, in-person and online.
Elizaveta (Liza) Chernov
She/Her/Hers
Intern, Communications Specialist
Returning Intern
Hi! My name is Liza Chernov and I am a senior Public Relations major and a Russian minor at the University of Maryland, College Park. I have had the pleasure of being a Communications Intern in 2019 for the Baltimore Region American Red Cross, so I am really excited to be interning for this organization again. Some of my career aspirations would be working in the PR/Marketing field. I am very comfortable in diverse multilingual and multicultural environments. A little fun fact about me is that I am bilingual and bicultural myself, having grown up in the U.S. and Russia.
Caitlin Lima
She/Her/Hers
Intern, Social Media Specialist
My name is Caitlin Lima and I am a native New Yorker who studied Marketing and Social Media & E-Marketing Analytics in college and I'm currently in the Media Management Graduate Program at Fordham University. I am extremely passionate about human, racial, gender, and LGBTQ+ rights and I aspire to work with non-profits to support those communities. I also love true crime, plants and collecting crystals.
Tamanna (Trisha) Islam
She/Her/Hers
Intern, Social Media Specialist
Hi my name is Manna, I'm currently in school studying film in hopes of becoming a screenwriter/director one day. I grew up near Washington, DC but recently moved here from Dubai where I was an international flight attendant for Emirates for a few years. I love documentaries and coming of age films as well as taking portraits of people and architecture in my free time
Angelina Vasilevsky
She/Her/Hers
Intern, Communications Specialist
Hi! My name is Angelina and I am a business journalism student at Baruch College. I went into journalism with a desire to spread meaningful information that can impact lives. I love discovering new things and meeting new people. I believe it is a necessity to help others by empowering their voices and stories. A fun fact about me is I speak three languages, and I pet every dog I meet.
Community Relations Interns
These interns want to be uniquely positioned as facilitative leaders in the community, increasing capacity to deliver services and facilitating local resilience-building actions. They will be working to develop strong relationships with federal, state, and local elected officials to increase awareness of our programs
Haile Bradley
She/Her/Hers
Intern, Community Relations Coordinator
CUNY Service Corps Intern
Hello Red Cross team members! I am currently a Senior at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. I am majoring in Criminal Justice with a minor in Sociology. I will be graduating in the spring and will be attending Law school in the Fall. I hope to become an attorney for NY CPS in work in the juvenile court system. I’m so excited to be interning with Red Cross NY region. I look forwards to being of service to my community.
Joy Joseph
She/Her/Hers
Intern, Community Relations Coordinator
CUNY Service Corps Intern
I am a senior at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and my Major is Global History. At this moment, I am preparing to enter Law School where I am looking to study Environmental Law. As a New Yorker, my favorite thing to do is to discover new places in New York. Being that New York is a diverse city, it has further peaked my interest to visit as many places as I can in the world. When I was in High School, this interest took me to Seoul, South Korea where I spent my summer immersed in the Language and Culture. I am beyond excited to be working with the American Red Cross and I look forward to meeting everyone.
Olivia Frasca
She/Her/Hers
Intern, Community Relations Coordinator
I’m a senior at the College of Staten Island studying political science and economics. I am passionate about civic engagement and spend my free time spreading awareness about issues of public concern within my campus and local community. After graduation, my goals are to continue to be involved with the nonprofit world and to become a catalyst for public policy change. Fun fact: My favorite TV show is the West Wing!
Rumaisah Wajid
She/Her/Hers
Intern, Community Relations Coordinator
I'm a Junior majoring in Applied Psychology at NYU Steinhardt with a double major in Public Policy. On campus, I serve as Programming Chair of Steinhardt’s Undergraduate Student Government, Deputy Director of NYU’s Policy Case Competition, and Secretary of UNICEF at NYU. In addition to my involvement on campus, I'm also an English tutor for Syrian refugees on the weekends and a UNICEF Global Development Commons (GDC) Youth Champion. In the future, I hope to earn a Masters in Public Policy to develop actionable solutions to complex real world problems. A fun fact is that I was born on a leap year and celebrate my birthday once every four years.
Development Interns
These interns are natural networkers and enjoy creating effective strategies for engaging donors and planning events. They are critical thinkers and strong communicators who thrive in a busy, fast-paced and deadline-driven environment. They are working with an equally driven team to help mobilize the power of donors in support of the Red Cross mission.
Yaneth Arevalo
She/Her/Hers
Intern, Development
I am a student enrolled at the New York City College of Technology where I am expected to graduate in May of 2021 with an undergraduate Associates degree in Applied Sciences. My major is, Marketing Management and Sales. I am a hardworking and goal orientated person. I have experience working at restaurants, clothing stores and at an import consulting company where I learned a lot about importing and operating a business. I live in Brooklyn with my husband and son, and on our free time we like to go for walks or runs at Prospect Park, we also like to travel when we can. I am excited to be working with such a great organization like the American Red Cross, I hope to learn a lot and to be able to help many people along the way.
Kathy Yu
She/Her/Hers
Intern, Nonprofit Fundraising Coordinator
I am based in San Francisco, CA and spent the past 10 years in the media and advertising industry while volunteering for nonprofits in my spare time. I currently work full-time on the advertising sales team at Hulu, while also pursuing my Master's in Leadership with a concentration in Nonprofit Management at Northeastern University. My goal is to transition into a career in nonprofits or corporate social responsibility. Fun fact: A creative agency found an Instagram pic of me with a hot chicken sandwich in Nashville and asked to use it in a Google commercial.
Fareesha Ali
She/Her/Hers
Intern, Special Event Coordinator
I'm currently a master’s student studying international relations at St. John's University. After graduation I would like to work with an international NGO, advocating for human rights for those most marginalized. Some of her hobbies include cooking and baking.
Disaster Cycle Services Interns
These interns are action-driven and client-focused. They will be on the front lines delivering services to clients and/or work behind-the-scenes developing plans for effective service delivery.
Natalie Gindi
She/Her/Hers
Intern, Disaster Relief Specialist, Staten Island, NY
I study forensic psychology at John Jay College with the hopes of becoming a clinical psychologist one day. A fun fact about myself is that I love to cook, bake and read.
Sarah Giresi
She/Her/Hers
Intern, Disaster Relief Specialist, Bronx
I am currently a Junior attending Fordham University. I am pursuing a major in Sociology and a minor in Psychology and Religious Studies. After college, my goals are to obtain a Master's Degree in Clinical Social Work and go on to be a licensed therapist. I am a dedicated, ambitious, and fun-loving individual who is committed to being a contributor to my community. A fun fact about me is I volunteered at a local zoo throughout high school and was once approached by a kangaroo who wanted to box me! I am excited to be working alongside so many admirable individuals and am grateful for this opportunity.
Anna Maison
She/Her/Hers
Intern, Disaster Workforce Engagement Specialist
I am currently a graduate student in the Human Rights program at Binghamton University. My thesis focuses on the socioeconomic impacts that arose after Tropical Storm Lee in the Southern Tier. After completing this program, I hope to pursue a career in emergency management. I believe the skills that I have obtained during this program will allow me to bring a human rights perspective into the field of emergency management and I am excited to pursue this after graduation! During my college career, I interned for two different nonprofit organizations — organizations that were focused on community organizing. During these internships, I expanded on my skills as a team member, communicator, and advocate. I am very excited to use these skills and further expand my knowledge with the American Red Cross! Fun Fact: I have two very loving cats named Ferne and Goose :)
Giuseppina (Josephine) Mammoliti
She/Her/Hers
Intern, Emergency Preparedness Educator
I am a Junior at St John’s University pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Homeland Security! I am very passionate about emergency management and intelligence collecting and aspire to work in either of those fields when I leave school. I am also passionate about linguistics and am fluent in Italian and Spanish. I am trying to learn Russian as well and am able to read and speak a bit! In my free time I enjoy singing, painting and drawing as well. I have a passion for teaching and hope to utilize that in my internship to the best of my ability.
Christian Minarik
He/Him/His
Intern, Disaster Response Management
Returning Intern
I am a recent graduate from the University at Albany’s Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity school. Now that I have completed my undergraduate education, I am pursuing a Certificate of Graduate Study in Homeland Security from UAlbany and hope to complete my education by May 2021. I am extremely excited to be interning at the American Red Cross this fall and hope that this internship will give me valuable experience that I can use to pursue a career in Emergency Management!
Kristen Nicholls
She/Her/Hers
Intern, Disaster Relief Specialist, Staten Island, NY
I am currently a senior at the College of Staten Island studying Biology. After graduating, I want to attend medical school and eventually become a Dermatologist. I enjoy singing and cooking.
Katie Nolan
She/Her/Hers
Intern, Emergency Preparedness Educator
I am a senior at American University. I am graduating in May 2021 with a Bachelors of Science in public health. I am still deciding on what I want to pursue in the future, however, I really enjoy public health policy and emergency management. A fun fact about me is, I interned at the national capital office of the American Red Cross in Washington, DC for eight months. I am very excited to work with the Greater New York team and continue my work with the Red Cross.
Matthew Ostroy
He/Him/His
Intern, Disaster Relief Specialist, Bronx
I am currently a graduate student at Georgetown University where I'm studying Emergency and Disaster Management. I have experience in disaster response and recovery embedded in a non-profit organization, where I have deployed around the country to areas adversely affected by natural disasters. I hope to one day be working for a local government, non-profit organization or a business entity conducting risk assessments and preparedness initiatives to ensure continuity of operations in the wake of a disaster/crisis. I also work a job doing tasks in the logistics field. A fun fact about myself is I am an avid weightlifter and love to cycle long distances in the summer!
Steven Rodriguez
He/Him/His
Intern, Disaster Relief Field Support, NYC
I like to be pushed out of my comfort and meet new exciting people. I am a Current Student at John Jay College studying Criminology and Conflict Resolution. I aspire to make a positive change in the world, and I can best do this by helping others. I have worked with law enforcement agencies and inside communities, which has given me many skills, from critical thinking to working in a team. To get to know a little more about me, I was born and raised in New York City, Queens, by a loving family that came here from the Dominican Republic. Some of my hobbies are being a Mets fan, taking care of my various pets from fish to snake, and eating anything with peanut butter.
Rajbir Singh
He/Him/His
Intern, Disaster Relief Field Support, NYC
CUNY Service Corps Intern
I am studying life sciences at CUNY Queens College and pursuing a career in medicine. I am excellent at managing my time and highly organized. I love to eat cake!
Jessica Valencia
She/Her/Hers
Intern, Disaster Relief Field Support, NYC
CUNY Service Corps Intern
I'm currently studying translation and interpretation in Spanish. In the near future I'm planning to go to law school, I enjoy teamwork and meeting new people. A funny fact about myself is that I add hot sauce and lime to hot cheetos.
Allison Yander
She/Her/Hers
Intern, Disaster Relief Engagement
I am a 20 year old studying Sociology and Business Administration at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. I am currently very interested in potentially pursuing a future career in either law or politics, and will most likely go to graduate school in the next few years. I am a very responsible, organized, and driven person and hope to put all of these qualities to use at the Red Cross! A fun fact about myself is that my shoulders are double jointed and I can basically use my arms as a jump rope!
Service to the Armed Forces and International Services Interns
These interns are building the resilience of our International Services department by supporting the Restoring Family Links (RFL) program and spearheading outreach efforts to promote our programs.
Jiratchaya (Tanggwa) Kingmanee
She/Her/Hers
Intern, International Services Program Coordinator
Returning Intern
Tanggwa is from Bangkok, Thailand, and is a second-year MA student in the International Educational Development program at Teachers College Columbia University. She intends to work for displaced children from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Prior to graduate school, she has worked with nonprofit organizations such as Teach For Thailand and Tourism Authority of Thailand. Fun fact about Tanggwa: She is a huge cat person.
Henry Morgan
He/Him/His
Intern, International Services Program Coordinator
Returning Intern, Internship Program Senior Advisor
Hello! My name is Henry Morgan and I am excited to serve as an International Services Program Coordinator Intern this fall. I am entering my senior year at Vassar College, where I study Sociology and French. After college, I hope to go to graduate school and pursue a career in nonprofit and humanitarian work. I live in Brooklyn but I studied abroad in Brussels for the first couple of months of the spring semester. Upon returning home, I was lucky to welcome a new puppy, Hugo, into my life.
Volunteer Services Interns
These interns are resourceful, interested in team-building and want to help create the strategic direction for developing, engaging and retaining a highly effective and satisfied workforce through the utilization of volunteers, interns, and employees.
Fariha Ahmed
She/Her/Hers
Intern, Volunteer Services Engagement
I am the new Volunteer Intake Coordinator. I am so excited to be part of this journey with everyone. I am currently majoring in Urban Studies with a minor in Cities & Social Medicine and Health Professions. I plan on becoming an Epidemiologist and working with the RedCross will help me reach that goal. In my free time, I love to experiment with new recipes or go out with my friends and tour the best city in the world. I look forward to getting to know and meeting everyone!
Angela Liew
She/Her/Hers
Intern, Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator
I am currently studying for my B.A. in Applied Psychology and Human Development as I am pursuing a career in the Human Resources field. I hope to bring my recruitment and community-building skills to American Red Cross to help grow and strengthen our family here. My favorite hobby is dance, which I've had a passion for ever since I was little. A fun fact about me is that when I forget how a song goes, I have a tendency to remember the lyrics but not the melody.
Team member
He/Him/His
Intern, Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator
Joshua Park will be joining American Red Cross, as a Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator Intern. He was born in Westchester and resides in the Fort Lee area. He attends Rutgers University as a senior, majoring in Human Resource Management and minoring in Labor Studies. While he is not 100% sure what his future holds, he is an extrovert and is very passionate about pursuing a lifelong career in HR, specifically recruiting. While HR and recruiting may not be the most glamorous position, he believes as a recruiter, he is a position where he can help grow and/or start other people's careers and make a positive impact in their lives. To him, this is rewarding, gratifying, and gets him up every morning. Joshua was not always as outgoing but being appointed a leadership position in his school club, helped with his confidence and communication skills. Joshua hopes to continue working in non-profit organizations around the world once he graduates. In his free time, Joshua likes to cook, spend time with his friends and family, and unfortunately is a huge New York Knicks Fan.
Meredith Schwalb
She/Her/Hers
Intern, Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator
I'm looking forward to this amazing opportunity working for the American Red Cross! I'm an undergraduate student majoring in psychology, minoring in business, and pursuing my masters in public health. I hope to start my own non-profit organization one day to help those suffering from chronic illness. I'm a creative thinker, and I enjoy collaborating with others. I'm also organized, responsible, and dependable. Fun Fact: I have a life-coaching blog on Instagram (@Coach_Meira)