Meet the Diversity Admissions Team

Hey Jumbos and future Jumbos. I am Gabe Baez, a junior majoring in electrical engineering and minoring in engineering management. I am from Westchester, New York, but my family is from Puerto Rico. You can find me playing ping pong in the student center, building stuff in the SEC, or in the gym. At Tufts I am involved with the Latinx Center and the ambassador program helping answer questions from prospective students. For fun I enjoy watching sports or Love Island in my suite with my roommates, playing pick-up basketball, and jamming on guitar with my friends. I am so excited to meet you all.

Hello everyone, my name is Dylan Bell. I am a sophomore from Pasadena, California majoring in International Relations. I chose Tufts because I wanted a challenging new experience that would allow me to grow. Coming from the West Coast to Boston was a very big change, but it was a wonderful journey. Tufts is such a unique place in which you have the opportunity and resources to become the person you want to be. I've learned a lot about myself, and I've met some amazing people since coming to Tufts. On campus, you can find me singing with my acapella group, Tufts S-Factor, in the Africana Center, or strolling through campus listening to music. I am on the Diversity Admissions Team because I want to share my experience as a Black student in predominantly white space, to help emphasize that Tufts is a place for everyone.

Hi everyone! My name is Baljaa and I have a passion for education equity. When I'm not in the Asian American Center, you can find me in my hammock on Pres Lawn or cooking with my suitemates

Hey, my name is Alvalyn (pronounced al-vuh-lin), and I’m from Chicago, Illinois. I’m a senior majoring in Clinical Psychology with a minor in Child Study and Human Development. I hold various roles across campus, like being a residential assistant, DREAM mentor (with a program focused on creating enriching activities for youth in the Somerville Housing Authority), and a student researcher. In addition to these roles, I love the arts and just about anything creative. My favorite aspect of the Tufts campus is the cannon as students are able to artistically display announcements, opinions, and concerns. If I’m not checking out the cannon then you can always find me on Tisch Roof, reading a good book, or listening to music. Feel free to send book/song recs!

Hi everyone, I'm Ishika, and I’m a Junior at Tufts University. I transferred to Tufts last Fall (Fall 2022). I'm pursuing a major in Economics with minors in Finance and Entrepreneurship. I chose Tufts because I wanted to be in a place full of collaborative and passionate people who want to create an impact. As an international student, Tufts has so many amazing resources and organizations to stay connected to your roots. When I’m not running around campus you’ll probably find me at Tasty on Boston Ave or in Boston :)

Hi everyone! My name is Brooke and I’m a junior majoring in Sociology and Psychology. When I began the Great College Search™, I was worried about finding a school that met all of my general criteria and would also feel inclusive, welcoming, and accepting. After lots of research, Tufts seemed like a good fit—I mean, between the Association of Mixed People at Tufts (AMPT), the Africana Center, the LGBT Center, and Rainbow House, how could I go wrong? But I had to decide during quarantine, so it was hard to be 100% certain. Spoiler alert: it was the best possible decision for me! As a Diversity Admissions Team Ambassador and a proud Jumbo, I want to be the person I needed 3 years ago—the person who would tell it like it is but could still reassure me that this community is exactly what I was looking for, and that I would feel so happy and at home here.

My name is Sam and I’m from Vernon, Connecticut. I’m a sophomore and I plan on majoring in Civic Studies with a minor in Native American and Indigenous Studies. I hope to later receive my PhD and use my degree to help create change regarding the narrative of how marginalized communities are taught in our classrooms. More specifically, I want to educate students about Indigenous communities and teach Native culture (such as my own) in a way that is unbiased and, above all, true. On campus, I’m involved with the Indigenous Students Organization at Tufts (ISOT) and spend much of my time in the Indigenous Center. My favorite part of the Tufts community would have to be how passionate the students are! It seems like everyone is dedicated to at least one social issue, if not several. I love taking walks to Davis with my friends and exploring the city in my free time, especially after a stressful week. I’m excited to be a DAT ambassador and hope to answer any questions you might have!

Coming to Tufts as a transfer student, I was excited but at the same – probably even more – nervous to start a new chapter in my life. I was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea before my freshman year in California, which heightened my nervousness about transitioning into Tufts even more. Tufts’ liberal arts education with its interdisciplinary focus and its prime location with access to the T were what initially drew me to Tufts. What I didn’t expect though was how it would guide me to discover my intersectionality. During my first week at Tufts participating in the Global Orientation pre-orientation program, I was meeting new first-year and transfer students from quite literally all over the world. The experience made me appreciate my international, multicultural, Asian, and Korean identity more than ever. Being a Diversity Admissions Team Agent, I hope to contribute to amplifying the discussions of various identities!

Hi Jumbos, I am Beverlyn Medina, a junior majoring in Human Factors Engineering and possibly minoring in engineering management. I am from Montgomery Village, Maryland, so I love representing the DMV. My ethnicity is Guatemalan so I also have to represent the Latinx community. I chose Tufts because they have very good resources for first gen students as well as undocumented students. Coming from a low-income public school, my first semester didn’t go as planned, especially adjusting to the fast-paced learning style. But once I reached out for help I found that Tufts has many resources, from the StAAR Center to many tutors and study groups. Tufts has made it an easier adjustment to their learning style. I am on the Diversity Admission Team because I’d like to represent my community and bring awareness to certain issues that affect students like me that the rest of our peers won’t understand. 

Yá'át'ééh, my name is tylee, I am from Wide Ruins and Dilkon in Diné Bikeyáh. When I was a senior in high school, I participated in VOICES and now as a DAT agent I am excited to share/show my experience here as an indigenous student. On my free time, I enjoy going on long walks, beading, and reading outside—currently reading Fresh Banana Leaves: Healing Indigenous Landscapes through Indigenous Science. Fun fact: During pomegranate season, I ate a whole pomegranate every day.

Hey Jumbos! My name is Mariana and I grew up in Caracas, Venezuela before moving to New Jersey about four years ago. I have had a lot of great experiences here and I have learned to adapt while enjoying new cultures and keeping mine close. I have learned to find home in new places and Tufts has become one of them! As an ambassador of the Diversity Admissions Team, I want to share this feeling of home Tufts gives me, where I can be my truest self and find people to connect with. I deeply enjoy art, theater, and literature, but you can also find me reading philosophy and neuroscience books from time to time.

Hello, Jumbos! I'm Jed, a junior from San Diego county, California currently studying Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology. I picked Tufts because I wanted to catch a glimpse of the world outside the West Coast and Boston is an awesome starting point (with Tufts boasting awesome engineering programs and curricula)! As I enjoy being my authentic self here at Tufts, I'm on the Diversity Admissions Team to emphasize that Tufts welcomes you for who you are and is excited to see you grow as a person and leave a lasting impact during and after your Tufts experience. In my free time, I collect enamel pins from places I travel to and stream music via Spotify nonstop.