Fall 2021 Athena Fellows

We could not be more excited to announce the inaugural cohort of Athena Fellows! Eleven Barnard students from diverse majors and class years have been selected to participate in the program, which takes place from September 17 to December 17.
The Fellows Program is a semester-long community of practice for changemakers seeking to tackle challenges alongside their peers and with the support of the Athena team, our unparalleled community, and faculty advisors. Fellows will meet every Friday for trainings, peer-to-peer feedback, and mentorship, as well as independent work time. They examine their challenge from multiple perspectives, analyze and build on existing efforts, and identify and seize opportunities for meaningful action. The work they do is self-directed; the approach they take is creative, collaborative, and conscious of impact, both on others and ourselves.
Our Fall 2021 Fellows are exploring a wide array of interests, ranging from reducing pollution in space and adopting telemedicine in underserved communities to increasing access to justice through transparency in pricing and improving the patient experience through UX design.
Interested in pursuing a challenge with Athena’s help? We launch a new cohort every semester, so keep an eye out for the Spring 2022 application later this fall — and in the meantime, feel free to schedule some time to chat with us about it.

Jana Abu Ayash '22 | Physiological and Organismal Biology
Exploring ways telemedicine can be used to address the disparity in access to quality healthcare in Lebanon due to the lack of specialized medical care.

Eugenia Baek ‘23 | Econ-Math
Exploring how women can reclaim their time and energy through technological innovations in household chores.

Emma Beaumont-Smith '23 | Political Science and Human Rights
Exploring how to reduce pollution in space.

Karen Jang '23 | Biochemistry
Exploring ways to provide well-fitting bras to women who would not otherwise be able to afford them.

Miranda Karger '24 | Computer Science
Exploring how guided meditation and user experience design can reduce anxiety for patients undergoing MRIs and other stressful medical procedures.

Naina Durga Lavakare '22 | Sociology; Psychology minor
Exploring the societal impact and ethical repercussions of big data with a particular focus on reducing racial and gender bias in artificial intelligence.

Jacqueline McGreevey '24 | Economics
Exploring ways to spur interest in economics and financial wellness among high school girls.

Audrey McNeal '24 | Political Science
Exploring issues of bias against female mayors of color in the U.S. and opportunities for intervention.

Wynee Pintado '24 | Undecided
Exploring how marketing and translation services can increase transparency and build trust between clients and lawyers in immigration, employment, and personal injury law.

Avalon Zborovsky-Fenster '24 | Political Science; Philosophy minor
Exploring ways to take a student-run mutual-aid initiative to the next level.

Alexandra (Allie) Zehner '23 | Neuroscience and Behavior
Exploring ways to spark conversation about complex, interconnected, and important issues affecting Gen Z women.