Meet the Diversity Admissions Council
The Diversity Admissions Council is a group of current students who work closely with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions to plan on-campus and virtual visit programs, create web content, and represent Tufts at events for prospective students. We invite you to contact these students to learn more about the many facets of diversity represented on our campus.
Praise Adekola '23
Pronouns: She, Her, Hers
Hometown: Farmington, Connecticut
Major: Clinical Psychology and Biomedical Sciences
Activities: African Students Organization (ASO), Jumpstart AmeriCorps, Africana Center Peer Leader, Minority Association of Pre-Health Students (MAPS)
When I was searching for schools to apply to, I knew that I didn’t want my college experience to be like that of high school. My high school lacked racial and ethnic diversity, and so in many ways, I felt different and alone. Little did I know that because of this, I hated myself. In many ways, Tufts taught me how to love myself and appreciate being a POC. I continually found myself in spaces where I could be my true self including Capen House and even at the local Starbucks in Davis Square. Each time I meet a new person on campus - whether it be at Tisch, in the dining hall, or on President’s Lawn - I am always amazed at how unapologetic they are about being themselves. And this is what I love so much about Tufts. We refuse to be ashamed of who we are. What I used to see as being a disadvantage, I now embrace and use it to my advantage. For me, Tufts is a place of raw authenticity and unconditional love, and each day challenges me to be a better and truer version of myself.
Surya Adeleye '23
Pronouns: She, Her, Hers
Hometown: Norwood, Massachusetts
Major: Currently undeclared, but most likely Child Study & Human Development (CSHD) or an Interdisciplinary major
Activities: Women’s community senator for Tufts Community Union (TCU), Black Student Union (BSU), Strong Women Strong Girls, Tufts Labor Coalition, and Tufts University Social Collective (TUSC). I also work at a CSHD lab, intern at the Tufts Women's Center, and I’m an RA.
I come from a small suburban town outside of Boston, and the college process for me was definitely different than a lot of folks I’ve met at Tufts who attended private schools. I began to see my high school and upbringing as a disadvantage and setback when I arrived at Tufts. I thought all my friends would float while I sunk. However, soon after arriving on campus, I realized that I couldn’t have been more wrong. Tufts has provided me with the most collaborative and supportive learning environment I have had in my educational career. I have been able to lean on faculty and staff as well as my classmates and friends nearly every day I have spent on campus. I was welcomed into a family the minute I moved in on campus as I participated in BEAST, a pre-orientation for first-gen/low-income students. It was then, during those four days, that I felt like for the first time in my life, I wasn’t the only one in the room. The identity-based centers at Tufts have allowed me to connect and finally celebrate my own background. It is in these spaces where I am embraced and enlightened by the most incredible people I have ever met.
Iman Ali '22
Pronouns: She, Her, Hers
Hometown: Malden, Massachusetts
Major: Community Health
Activities: Tufts Muslim Students’ Association (MSA), University Chaplaincy Student Staff, 180 Degrees Consulting, Tisch Scholars
I fondly remember stepping foot into Alumnae Lounge for the Diversity Overnight program during Jumbo Days and being in awe of the amalgamation of prospies from diverse backgrounds including those that I identified with. I was impressed with not only the space that facilitated connections that helped compel me to choose Tufts but also the openness to uplifting our identities as many students who were of color, first-gen, and low-income. As a freshman who’s been involved with the SQUAD pre-orientation, the FIRST Seminar, and Muslim Students’ Association, I can attest to the important role that the continued availability of support and modes of communication surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion, have played in making my first year memorable.
I remember feeling a bit of anxiety about how I would manage my first college finals season and fasting for Ramadan at the same time, in early May. But to my delight, that first day (and week) of Ramadan, the Muslim House hosted a pre-fasting meal, suhoor, bringing together and nourishing several Muslim students across campus at 3 am. It didn’t stop there, as we broke our fasts in a community iftar at the Interfaith Center later that day, and continued checking up on each other in person and via text. I felt so full being able to break bread and be supported by members of my faith community, and allies like my friends who would also check in and try fasting in solidarity. For me, that is representative of the beautiful community at Tufts.
Uyen Chu '22
Pronouns: She, Her, Hers
Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts
Major: Psychology
Minor: Japanese
Activities: United for Immigrant Justice (UIJ), Building Engagement and Access for Students (BEAST) pre-orientation, Tufts University Chaplaincy, Tufts Asian Student Coalition (TASC), research with Tufts Social Identity & Stigma lab, Tufts Children’s Television Project (CTV)
20 minutes away from my small apartment in Boston is another home away from home, Tufts. Going to college so near seemed strange in a society that championed individual freedom, moving far away from stuffy homes and having crazy escapades of youth. But for me, I’ve already moved around so much and desired a new and refreshing atmosphere that didn’t sacrifice proximity. I was born in Vietnam and immigrated to the US at the age of 8. I moved from North Carolina, to South Carolina, and finally to Boston (I am a northeast kid at heart!) and I was not ready to leave the insane traffic but loveable streets of Boston. I am also a proud first-generation and low-income college student, which puts me in a unique place in this institution.
As the first in my family to even dream of higher education, nonetheless attend an elite institution, Tufts did not become the daunting challenger that I feared before attending. Don’t get me wrong, Tufts was my top choice, my ED school, but the challenges of higher education was a big roadblock. I feared of looking stupid with my mediocre public school education compared to students attending amazing private schools with the money to afford tutors and networks. All I had was a supportive family that spoke no English and a small group of friends who all love me dearly. Stepping foot into Tufts joined by fellow first-gen low income students of the BEAST pre-orientation program, I remember distinctly feeling a huge rush of adoration and happiness for these amazing people in my community. Even though I do not know all of them, my introverted self still felt the desire to get to know everyone. That is what makes me love Tufts. The students—who are all crazily intelligent with a wide myriad of interests that never cease to amaze me. Who are all kind and want to help. It feels empowering to go to a school where I do not feel alienated. Where I feel empowered to be first-gen and low income. I am excited to see where the hustle of the couple of years takes me.
Harrison Clark '22
Pronouns: He, Him, His
Hometown: Seattle, Washington
Major: International Relations and Arabic
Activities: Tufts S-Factor, Black Men's Group, Africana Center Peer Leader
My college search was very much driven by my desire to be in a place where I felt like I could be my true self. In high school, I found myself deprived of spaces in which I could learn and grow without fears of being judged. My Tufts experience has given me the opportunity and confidence to be my authentic self unapologetically. I have found new avenues to express myself creatively and new friends that share my drive and intellectual curiosity. I feel so fortunate to have found a place that makes me feel wanted and loved.
Kamar Godoy '22
Pronouns: He, Him, His
Hometown: Hawthorne, California
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Activities: Tufts Pan-Afrikan Alliance (PAA), Tufts Caribbean Student Organization (CSO), Tufts STEM Ambassadors, Tufts S-Factor
Growing up in a very diverse community around Los Angeles and being a person of color, coming to a PWI, such as Tufts, was a culture shock. Luckily, I had numerous on-campus support systems that helped me adjust to my new environment. Through the Center of STEM Diversity programming, I was able to find friendship in people within the engineering community who also were of diverse backgrounds. The CSD has also provided a substantial amount of academic and social support throughout my first year by exposing me to other resources that would aid in my success as an engineer at Tufts. With the help of the Africana Center, I was also given the opportunity to unite with a strong cultural and family-based community by spending my down time at the Capen House. Capen is where I learned about other black communities such as CSO and the Tufts Pan African Alliance. In addition, I also found brotherhood within Tufts S-Factor, an all-male vocal experience that sings music of the African Diaspora a capella. S-Factor often performs with other cultural based performance groups such as our sister group “The Ladies of Essence” and the only all male step team, “BlackOut”. All in all, what I love most about Tufts is that it creates spaces on campus for students of color to, not only feel supported, but to thrive both academically and socially.
Kaman Hau '22
Pronouns: She, Her, Hers
Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts
Major: Community Health, pre-med track
Activities: Co-Director of Diversity and Inclusion for Inter-Greek Council, Minority Association for Pre-Health Students (MAPS), FIRST Resource Center peer leader, Tufts Burlesque, Biopsychology research with Professor Miczek
One thing that I appreciate about Tufts is the community of first-generation and low-income students that made me feel welcome and at home. I did a pre-orientation called BEAST, which stands for Building Engagement and Access for Students at Tufts, where I met all of my friends during freshman year. I'm so thankful because individuals within this community were able to convince me that I belonged at a PWI like Tufts, and allowed me to rant when my classes were getting too stressful. I hope to support any prospective student applying to Tufts (especially if you are also first gen and low income!).
Cyrus Kirby '22
Pronouns: He, Him, His
Hometown: Flagstaff, Arizona
Major: Philosophy and Mathematics
Activities: Indigenous Students’ Organization at Tufts (ISOT), Tufts Literacy Corps
“See you in a few months or so. Go make friends,” were the last words I heard before my brother left me on campus. It was a torturously humid late August, I didn’t know anyone within 200 miles, and had no idea what to do next. I had left my hometown in Northern Arizona, a small place with only 34 people in my graduating class. With a class that small, you know everyone across the whole school, and the feelings of belonging and familiarity were something I doubted I could find on a college campus with 50 times as many students.
Over time, I came to change my mind. First, during orientation, when my floormates and I told stories from our lives, and then a little later when we went to the candle-lighting ceremony. Then, a culmination of hundreds of experiences: doing an impromptu photo shoot with my friend, having ramen nights with my roommate, talking about justice with my philosophy professor, watching plays at Aidekman, painting the cannon with our Indigenous students group... the list goes on. I enjoyed even the simple things like realizing that the dining halls serve unlimited chocolate milk and looking at the sunset gleam over the Boston skyline from the roof of Tisch Library. About to enter my third year, I realize I had little to worry about -- I have found a place that is a second home.
Valeria Lopez '21
Pronouns: She, Her, Hers
Hometown: Melbourne, Florida
Major: Biology
Minor: Child Study and Human Development (CSHD)
Activities: Latinx Center peer leader and intern, Laidlaw Scholar, BLAST Scholar, student researcher at Boston Children’s Hospital
As an only child raised by a single mom, my goal has always been to make her and my family proud. Tufts has given me and many other first-generation and low-income students the opportunity to receive the education we all deserve. Although transitioning to a PWI like Tufts is anything but easy, I am super thankful that there are resources such as the BLAST program, the FIRST Resource Center, and the Latinx Center, to name a few, that aim to foster community and provide support. In addition, the people at this institution are some of the most brilliant and hard-working people I’ve ever met. Everyone is passionate about advocating for what they believe in, which makes me feel super proud to be a Jumbo.
Oliver Martínez López '22
Pronouns: He, Him, His
Hometown: San Salvador, El Salvador
Major: International Relations
Activities: Latinx Center Peer Leader, FIRST Resource Center Peer Leader, Digital Planet Research Assistant at the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy, Tufts Teach-In-CORES (Committee for Refugees from El Salvador), Latin American Committee and the Institute for Global Leadership
I have been at Tufts for over two years and I am still amazed by this incredible community of artists, activists, entrepreneurs, analysts, leaders, and scholars. Beyond the professional and academic support I have received from peers and faculty, I am also very thankful for the social and emotional support I have received from friends, the various identity centers on campus, our Latinx student body, the first-gen community, and Counseling and Mental Health Services—to mention a few.
Having learned English at the age of fifteen as a Central American immigrant living in Los Angeles, it was challenging to adapt to a college environment in the US that was not only unbeknownst to me but also to my family. However, through the help of the numerous support systems at Tufts, I have been able to gain a strong foothold in my future career endeavors.
Mathew Peña '21
Pronouns: He, Him, His
Hometown: Bronx, New York
Major: Computer Science
Activities: Tufts University Social Collective (TUSC), Tisch Scholar, Andrew Goodman Vote Everywhere Ambassador, Tufts College Access Initiative, BLAST Scholar
Tufts has become a home to me. Being from NYC, the Medford/Somerville area felt small as if it was lacking the vibrancy of the big city, however at Tufts I found a way to circumnavigate this feeling. Music at Tufts became my crutch. The spaces I inhabited and people I was around had very different music tastes but I was able to use these differences to craft my own understanding of Tufts culture and music. In spaces like the Latino Center and the Africana Center I was able to express myself with the music I blasted through my speakers. Tufts is a place that both allows this and embraces this. I brought New York and the Dominican Republic to this campus and expect to continue doing so for the rest of my time here.
Daniela Pozos Nicolau '21
Daniela.Pozos_Nicolau@tufts.edu
Pronouns: She, Her, Hers
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Major: Child Study and Human Development (CSHD)
Minor: Education
Activities: FIRST Center Peer Leader, United for Immigrant Justice (UIJ), Encendido (Tufts Latin dance team), member of Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/Lambda Pi Chi Sorority Inc.
During my time at Tufts I have learned to appreciate the challenges and situations that have made me grow academically, professionally and personally. These challenges have allowed me to rely on my community and also witness my own strength to advocate for myself and others. What I love most about Tufts is that I have found home in people, in my first-gen, low-income and immigrant communities. The spaces that I have shared with these folks have been nurturing, passionate, full of laughs and support. We're there for each other, to uplift each other and to share our experiences and knowledge to make sure that we don't feel alone. I feel so grateful to have been welcomed in and excited to welcome new ‘Bos into our home.
Maycon Cesar Santos '22
Pronouns: He, Him, His
Hometown: Janaúba, Brazil
Major: Engineering Psychology
Minor: Computer Science
Activities: Brazilian Student Association (BRASA), Tisch Scholar, Tisch Summer Fellow, Laidlaw Scholar, Breakthrough Undergraduate Research Journal, Human Factors Engineering Society
I am a first-generation student from a small town in Brazil called Janaúba. My whole high school was at a Brazilian public state school where the primary language of instruction was Portuguese. Until my senior year, I had no clue about studying in the U.S. Fortunately, everything changed after I got selected by Education USA to have my college application process fully funded through their Opportunity Funds Program. Having college websites as the only tool to get to know U.S universities, I chose Tufts because its willingness to support research, internships, study-abroad, and civic leadership initiatives was clearly stated on its website. While at Tufts, I am working to modernize the Brazilian educational system through democratizing the access to educational simulators, which are electronic games with academic purposes. My biggest dream is to increase the attractiveness and quality of pedagogical methodologies in Brazilian public schools and, consequently, decrease the inequality between private and public educational institutions. Indeed, education has given hope for my future and I plan to use it to improve others’ lives and circumstances as well.