Onboarding Student Ambassadors

ONBOARDING AMBASSADORS FOR THE FALL 2025 INCOMING CLASS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE IN LATE MAY.
The ambassadors listed below were from 2024.

Note: The following information only applies to the incoming fall cohort. If you are a spring admitted student and want to be connected with a current GPH student please email gph.incomingstudents@nyu.edu.

Get in touch with our GPH Student Onboarding Ambassadors!

Onboarding Ambassadors are enthusiastic and well-informed continuing NYU GPH students who welcome new students to the GPH community and serve as resources for the incoming class. 

Onboarding Ambassadors are happy to work directly with incoming graduate students in guiding them through the on-boarding process, answering questions about the GPH Graduate Program, their specific concentration, the student experience (e.g., student life, housing, living in NYC) and much more!

General Questions:

• If you have a general question about Onboarding, Student Life, NYC, Housing or more, you are welcome to contact the general email gph.studentambassador@nyu.edu, and one or more ambassadors will answer as soon as possible.

Questions about your Degree Program:

• If you would like to connect directly with a GPH Onboarding Ambassador based on your concentration, scroll down to read their biography and review their contact information and schedule.

Most questions will receive a response within the day but some may take more than 24 hours, depending on each student or staff member's schedule as well as any difference in time zones.

Our GPH Onboarding Ambassadors are ready to answer your questions and share their GPH experience with you!

Toluwalase Akinluyi

MPH Candidate in Public Health Management

☛ Public Health Management Onboarding Ambassador

• Email: taa9272@nyu.edu
• Open Zoom Hours: Tuesday, 1pm-2pm & Wednesday, 10am-11am| Join Toluwalase's Zoom Room

Following a fulfilling first-year experience, Toluwalase is excited to start her second year in the Master of Public Health program with a concentration in Policy and Management. Popularly known as Lase or L.A, she delights in the strategy implementation aspect of public health and has a special interest in occupational health. At NYU, Lase has not only gained exceptional skills in public healthcare management, but she has also found a thriving community with GPH faculty, friends, and classmates. She is currently the Vice President of the African Graduate Students Association (AGSA).

Lase earned her bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Convinced that no one should lose their life while earning a living, she is the visionary behind “Salubrity,” an initiative that engages in health education and advocacy for workers’ health. 

With a passionate drive for innovation and business in healthcare, Lase has participated in global health innovation competitions alongside brilliant team members. She emerged as the 3rd runner-up at the Yale Health Services Innovation Case Competition in 2024. In 2019, she was selected to represent Nigeria in the Reckitt Benckiser Global Challenge in the United Kingdom, where she emerged as the Global Runner-Up (2nd place). 

Known as "the lady with fingers that speak and lips that write," L.A is celebrated for her exceptional skills in meaningful writing and poetry. Her poetic expressions explore rhymes and rhythms as a form of therapy. 

L.A displays an unwavering dedication to public health, innovation, and arts. As she continues her journey in the Master of Public Health program, her commitment to improving health outcomes and fostering creativity remains
steadfast. Lase looks forward to leveraging her skills and experiences to drive positive change and inspire others in the fields of healthcare and beyond.

Natalia De La Vina

MA Candidate in Global Health

☛ Global & Environmental Health Onboarding Ambassador

• Email: nid9650@nyu.edu
• Open Zoom Hours: Monday, 10am-11am & Thursday 10am-11am| Join Natalia's Zoom Room 

Natalia De La Vina is an MPH Candidate at NYU specializing in Global Health, with a B.S. and B.A. in Neuroscience and Spanish from the University of Arizona Honors College. Her professional journey includes extensive laboratory experience in cardiology and public health, as well as providing bilingual medical services and health education to trans-border populations in Northern Mexico. Currently, she co-leads the Applied Global Public Health Initiative Lab, overseeing seven projects in critical areas such as maternal and neonatal health, environmental health, and disease surveillance and prevention programs. She is completing her applied practicum with the Catholic Medical Mission Board, advancing healthcare for children with disabilities in Peru. Her ultimate career goal is to pursue an MD, establish a surgical rotational clinic, and devote human resources and medical supplies to local clinics in Latin America, aiming to provide medical care across multiple continents for low-resourced communities.

Natalia is a CorePower Yoga Sculpt certified instructor and loves spending her free time pursuing cardiovascular fitness through hot yoga, cycling, running, and boxing. She is a movie fanatic who enjoys embroidering flower designs, baking gluten-free desserts, and reading on weekends.

Dave Keffala-Gerhard

MA Candidate in Bioethics

☛ Bioethics Onboarding Ambassador

• Email: ddk9184@nyu.edu
• Open Zoom Hours: Monday, 12pm-1pm & Wednesday, 12pm-1pm| Join Dave's Zoom Room 

Dave is starting his second year in the Bioethics MA program at the Center for Bioethics. He earned bachelor's degrees in Biology, Philosophy, and Ethics &  Public Policy before attending NYU. Before arriving, Dave spent a year abroad studying in Spain and Chile, where he focused on a comparative analysis of the Chilean and U.S. Healthcare systems. He is interested in medical ethics, environmental ethics, AI ethics, neuroethics, applied epistemology, and their respective intersections. During his first year he took courses like Research Ethics, Moral Indeterminacy, Fieldwork in Environmental Humanities, and the Mind and Language Seminar on Techno-philosophy.

Dave has also spent his last semester as a teaching assistant for Medical Ethics and Public Health Ethics. He enjoys teaching and is grateful for the opportunity to learn and engage with students over meaningful philosophical issues. When he is not studying or teaching you can find him attending one of the many colloquia provided by the NYU Center for Bioethics, at one of several language clubs on campus, or birding.

Mallika Khanna

MPH Candidate in Epidemiology

☛ Epidemiology (MPH & MS) Onboarding Ambassador 

• Email: mk9131@nyu.edu
• Open Zoom Hours: Thursday, 11am-12pm & Friday 1pm-2pm| Join Mallika's Zoom Room

Mallika Khanna is a second-year Master of Public Health student specializing in Epidemiology at New York University’s School of Global Public Health. Her professional journey began as a foreign trained dentist, where she developed a passion for public health, particularly in the realms of tobacco cessation and preventive care.

Mallika’s academic interests are diverse yet focused, encompassing cancer research, substance-abuse prevention, mental health, and chronic illness awareness. Her research work includes significant contributions to understanding oral cancer diagnostics and the histogenesis of these neoplasms.

As Mallika progresses through her MPH program, she aims to bridge the gap between clinical practice and public health policy, aspiring to impact global health frameworks significantly.

Outside the classroom and lab, Mallika finds solace in the arts, frequently painting and sketching. She also enjoys immersing herself in the narratives of K-dramas and unwinding with music. Her multilingual proficiency includes English, Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati, and Korean, reflecting her rich cultural background and openness to global perspectives.

Hang Lei

MS Candidate in Biostatistics

☛ Biostatistics (MPH & MS) Onboarding Ambassador

• Email: hl5640@nyu.edu
• Open Zoom Hours: Tuesday, 7am-8am & Friday 10am-11am| Join Hang's Zoom Room

Hang, an international student from China, is currently in his second year of pursuing a Master of Science (MS) program with a concentration in biostatistics at NYU School of Public Health. His strong data analytic skills have been instrumental in addressing health disparities and applying interdisciplinary approaches, particularly in the fields of environmental science and biology.

In his first year of study at NYU, Hang has taken courses like biostatistics for public health, introductory/intermediate epidemiology, global issue in social & behavioral health, machine learning, regression, statistical programming in R. With the learned background from machine learning, he had worked on a project using supervised algorithms to predict cardiovascular disease based on pre-existing conditions and social demographic factors like smoking status and work type.

Hang completed his undergraduate degree in environmental science and statistics at the University of Washington. During this time, he was actively involved in statistical analysis and map visualization for a bird-window collision project. Recognizing the significance of quantitative analysis in scientific fields, he expanded his focus beyond the ecosystem to include the population affected by public health crises. Currently, he is a student researcher in the Population impact, Recovery and Resilience(PiR2) program at NYU, where he is studying the impact of California wildfires on residents’ respiratory health using statistical modeling. In the summer, he will work with a private biopharmaceutical consulting firm to support bio-pharmaceutical companies through data analytical services and ensure safe, ethical clinical trials.

Hang is an outdoor enthusiast who loves hiking and camping. He believes that people can always find peace and happiness while immersing themselves in nature. You will find him holding onto his binoculars, mesmerized by the beauty of birds for hours. He also loves sports like running, cycling, and weight-lifting. He used to race for his collegiate cycling club for two years.
 

Jannat Zahid Malik

MPH Candidate in Public Policy Management

☛ Public Health Policy and Management Onboarding Ambassador

• Email: jm10268@nyu.edu
• Open Zoom Hours: Monday, 2pm-3pm & Wednesday 1pm-2pm| Join Jannat's Zoom Room

Jannat is an international student from Pakistan. She worked as a general dentist in Pakistan for two years before pursuing a Master of Public Health Policy. Working in a teaching hospital, she had the privilege of working and interacting with people from diverse backgrounds. Her experiences exposed her to the disparities in healthcare access especially by vulnerable populations, igniting a passion for health policy. She completed her first year of MPH gaining a sound knowledge in healthcare policy, designing and managing organizations, epidemiology, Global Women’s Health and looks forward to learning more in her second year, especially about migrant health and human rights. By the end of two years, Jannat hopes to amalgamate her clinical insights with the public health knowledge she gains at NYU to work as an advocate for healthcare equity for marginalized populations.

In her personal time, Jannat loves to read, spend time with her friends and family and explore little coffee shops in New York.  

Olivia Morris

MPH Candidate in Social & Behavioral Sciences

☛ Social & Behavioral Sciences Onboarding Ambassador

• Email: osm224@nyu.edu
• Open Zoom Hours: Tuesday, 3pm-4pm & Wednesday, 3pm-4pm| Join Olivia's Zoom Room

Olivia is a second year MPH student with a concentration in Social and Behavioral Sciences. During her first year in the program, she took classes such as Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Global Issues in Social and Behavioral Health, Linear Regression, and Research Methods. She has also taken coursework in preparation to complete the Advanced Certificate in Public Health Disaster Science, Policy, and Practice. Outside of the classroom, Olivia is part of two research teams at GPH — one that is investigating retail food safety and structural inequity in New York State, and another that is exploring AI as a tool to understand belief systems and vaccine hesitancy. She will also be serving as Communications Officer on the Student Governing Council for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Prior to NYU, Olivia completed her Bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience at Harvard University, and spent a year as a global health communications consultant. She has also worked extensively in nonprofit communications, policy, and strategy supporting the expansion of nonpartisan voter registration in healthcare settings across the United States. Through her various experiences, Olivia has developed a passion for working at the intersection of civic engagement, community resilience, and health equity, and aspires to earn a PhD in public health in the future.

Olivia grew up playing basketball and tennis, and as a Queens native she loves the Knicks, Liberty, and US Open. In her free time, she enjoys practicing her barista skills, watching political thrillers or Marvel movies, reading sci-fi novels, and doing DIY projects.

Emily Pangalila

MPH Candidate in Community Health Science & Practice

☛ Community Health Science & Practice Onboarding Ambassador

• Email: ep3222@nyu.edu 
• Open Zoom Hours: Monday, 4pm-5pm & Friday, 9am-10am| Join Emily's Zoom Room 

Emily Pangalila is a second-year Master of Public Health student concentrating in Community Health Science and Practice. Hailing from Southern California, she earned her bachelor's degree in Music with a minor in Neuroscience from La Sierra University in Riverside, CA. After undergrad, Emily pursued further education at Columbia University, where she participated in a year-long psychology post-baccalaureate program. This experience deepened her passion for understanding the social determinants of health and bolstered her interest in public health initiatives related to mental health.

For the summer, Emily is serving as a Health Research (HRTP) Intern at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and as a Research Assistant at the Population Council's Girl Innovation, Research, and Learning (GIRL) Center. Her research projects focus on adolescent health, gender equity, public health policy, and anti-stigma interventions.

Some of Emily's favorite courses so far include Adolescent Health and Development, Social Epidemiology, and Global Issues in Social and Behavioral Health. She looks forward to taking Psychiatric Epidemiology, Program Planning and Evaluation, and Assessing Community Health Needs in the upcoming Fall semester.

Outside of school and work, Emily finds joy in exploring the city, reading, biking through Central Park in her free time, and spending time with loved ones. In addition, she continues to follow her musical pursuits, performing violin and piano regularly at venues such as Carnegie Hall and Sony Hall.

Varun Putta

MPH Candidate in Biostatistics 

☛ Biostatistics (MPH & MS) Onboarding Ambassador

• Email: vsp7221@nyu.edu
• Open Zoom Hours: Thursday, 4pm-5pm & Friday 3pm-4pm|Join Varun's Zoom Room 

Varun, a Mumbai native with a Bachelor's in Dental Surgery from MUHS, India, embarked on his journey into public health after two years of dedicated service as a public health dentist. His passion for advancing global public health led him to pursue a Master’s degree in Biostatistics at the NYU School of Global Public Health.

During his first year, Varun delved into diverse subjects like Intermediate Programming in R, Machine Learning, and Biostatistics, honing his skills for data analysis and interpretation. Currently, his research endeavors are multifaceted:

In the Tobacco Research Lab, Varun explores the intricate dynamics between parental household rules and current tobacco use, leveraging the NIH and FDA funded PATH dataset to unearth crucial insights into tobacco consumption patterns.

Simultaneously, at the Global Action Urban Health Lab, Varun collaborates with esteemed stakeholders such as Foundation Botnar and UN Habitat. His role involves meticulous analysis to assess the impact of participatory budgeting on urban health and public spaces. By meticulously compiling and analyzing data on existing initiatives, scrutinizing fund allocation, and evaluating their effects on related programs and services, Varun contributes significantly to shaping healthier urban environments.

Beyond his academic and professional pursuits, Varun is known for his compassionate nature and penchant for guiding others through his own experiences. As a pet lover, he finds solace in the companionship of animals and cherishes moments spent nurturing and caring for them.

Ashley Sefcik

MPH Candidate in Public Health Nutrition

☛ Public Health Nutrition Onboarding Ambassador

• Email: abs9463@nyu.edu 
• Appointment by Email

Ashley just completed her second year at NYU pursuing a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Public Health Nutrition and is concurrently completing the Didactic Program in Dietetics through NYU Steinhardt’s Department of Nutrition and Food Studies with the goal of becoming a Registered Dietitian. She has taken courses like Epidemiology, Research Methods, Biochemistry, Clinical Nutrition, Food Science, Public Health Nutrition and is looking forward to expanding her Clinical & Public Health Nutrition coursework in the upcoming year.

Ashley holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from San Jose State University and a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition & Food Studies from Arizona State University. As an undergraduate she worked on several research review projects looking into the effects of eating disorders on brain anatomy and physiology as well as the psychological impact of friendships on eating disorders. This research inspired Ashley to volunteer and then work for a national eating disorder helpline. Over the past few years, she has had a growing passion for nutrition and cancer research both on a clinical level and on a global epidemiologic level. Ashley hopes that getting her degree at NYU, while utilizing the school’s unique resources, will be the first step to a rewarding career in the Nutrition and Cancer Research field.

Currently, Ashley is collaborating on a literature review on Household Food Insecurity and Tobacco Use in HIV+ populations. She is contributing to both the research and writing of the review. The goal of this project is to spur future research into understanding how interrelated Food Insecurity and Tobacco Use are in HIV+ populations and the associated health outcomes. The project is led by Dr. Gloria Guevara Alvarez and is funded by the National Cancer Institute. Ashley is the current President of the Nutrition Graduate Society at NYU Steinhardt, an on-campus group/club dedicated to supporting current and future dietitians. They host semester events including guest speakers, field trips, and chances to get to know faculty and other students.

Originally born and raised on the California Central Coast (vineyards and beaches!), Ashley has resided in New York since 2019. She works as a personal trainer and enjoys teaching her clients how to live healthy, balanced lives. In her free time Ashley works on her own cookbook and food & nutrition media page. Oh, and she has two adorable rescue cats, Finnegan and Gallagher!
 

Neha Shyamkul

MPH Candidate in Epidemiology

☛ Epidemiology (MPH & MS) Onboarding Ambassador 

• Email: ns6138@nyu.edu
• Open Zoom Hours: Monday, 3pm-4pm & Friday, 11am-12pm| Join Neha's Zoom Room 

Neha is starting her second year in the Master of Public Health, Epidemiology concentration. With a strong clinical background with over 10+ years of experience, Neha brings a passion for supporting public health practices and a deep understanding of healthcare processes, disease prevention, and community outreach for populations at risk.  Before transitioning to public health, Neha excelled in the field of dentistry, earning her Bachelor of Dental Surgery and her Master of Dental Surgery in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. She gained extensive practical experience through internships and residencies, honing her skills in patient management, treatment planning, and collaborative care.

Her passion for public health was ignited by the COVID-19 pandemic which hit all of us in the year 2020. Working as a medical officer and healthcare data analyst at a makeshift Covid facility to cater to the humongous population of the city of Mumbai reaffirmed the immediate need for a shift in an individual patient-centric approach to systems level of prevention and public health measures to combat the ongoing crisis. Neha volunteered at this exhibition center turned into a Covid facility purely run by dentists of her alma mater which eventually led her to work there as a medical officer. During her tenure she co-led the admission of patients into the facility, tracking critical patients on their oxygen demand and medication need, and transferring patients to ICU and other DCHC & DCH hospitals.

During her work, she also had the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse group of healthcare professionals, including nurses, specialist doctors, nutritionists, social workers, and administrators. She learned how to effectively work with individuals from different backgrounds and with varying expertise, ultimately enhancing her ability to provide high-quality patient care.
With epidemiology at New York University, Neha aims understand disease patterns, risk factors, and transmission dynamics within populations. With this training she desires to equip herself with research capabilities to collect and analyze data, monitor trends, and inform evidence-based interventions, thus addressing health disparities and promoting equitable health outcomes across communities.  


Neha is in love with New York City! In her free time, she walks around exploring the historic neighborhoods of the city. You will always find her by some waterfront or painting or playing with dogs. Feel free to reach out to her if you want to stroll around the city and you will never feel alone!
 

Isabelle Torney

MPH Candidate in Global Health 

☛ Global & Environmental Health Onboarding Ambassador

• Email: igt2009@nyu.edu
• Appointment by Email

Isabelle is an international student from Australia, beginning her second year of a Master of
Public Health (MPH) in the Global Health concentration. Isabelle is passionate about student wellbeing, particularly international students, through her role as the Vice President of the NYU GPH International Student Society. During her first year in the MPH program, Isabelle’s most liked subjects were Epidemiology, Applying Systems Thinking to Global Health Practice, Global Women’s Health Programs and Data-Driven Decision Making in Global Public Health. In the Fall, Isabelle is looking forward to taking Substance Use, Research Methods, Health Care policy and Public Health Management.

Isabelle graduated with a Bachelor of Public Health Science from Monash University in 2020. Since then, she has worked in staff and patient wellbeing in hospital settings. Most recently, Isabelle worked in patient wellbeing & consumer engagement at Peter MacCallum Cancer Center in Melbourne.

Isabelle’s time at GPH has sparked her interest in substance use and alcohol harm reduction.
Over the summer, Isabelle will complete her APE hours with the NYU AIM-PCM lab, led by Dr. Kate Guastaferro. Isabelle will be collaborating with other members of the lab on a study to enhance the evidence-base of a child sexual abuse prevention program for parents. Isabelle also works at the NYU Health Promotion Office which is part of the Student Health Center. During her time there, she has enjoyed working on the Texts to Inspire Program and has further developed her passion for health promotion.

Hiking, yoga, dancing and going to the beach are some of Isabelle’s most treasured activities.
Isabelle enjoys exploring Brooklyn, where she lives, and all corners of the city. Since moving,
she has loved making use of the NYU discounted Broadway and movie tickets.