United Nations Partnerships

Kareem Hargrove, Lehigh University, College of Health

Kareem Hargrove is a senior at Lehigh University, pursuing a degree in Population Health and minors in Biostatistics and Economics from Stamford, CT. As the Lehigh University - College of Health United Nations Youth Representative, Kareem advocates for global health initiatives. His previous research experience spans public health decision-making, biostatistics, and autism screening tools in West Africa. Kareem is passionate about leveraging community engagement and policy to drive impactful health outcomes, aiming to foster inclusive, sustainable solutions on a global scale.

Maria Gregoire, Lehigh University - Gender Equity/Youth Empowerment

My name is Maria Wang Gregoire and I am currently a senior double majoring in Psychology and HMS and double minoring in Cognitive Science and Chinese. I represent Lehigh University as the UN Representative for Gender Equity and Youth Empowerment. Being from the Mariana Islands, advocacy was instilled in me at an early age. To represent those who may not always have a platform is an honor that I take very personally. I want to enact real change and reflect the wishes of those I speak on behalf of. Following my graduation here at Lehigh, I hope to pursue a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology to further my mission of helping those who have not always received what is necessary.

Zahra Hassan, American Association of University Women

Zahra Hassan is a rising sophomore majoring in political science. She is from East Lyme, Connecticut and always has had a passion for equity for women. She hopes her work with the AAUW will help with furthering this goal.

Kyra Szabo, American Association of University Women

My name is Kyra Szabo and I am from Tucson, Arizona. I am majoring in Global Studies with a double minor in business and anthropology. I serve as a UN Youth Representative for American Association of University Women, an NGO fighting for fairness and equality for all women and girls through federal, state, and local policies. Additionally, I am a global social impact fellow, working on food production to fight malnutrition and stunted growth in Sierra Leone. I am dedicated to ensuring that every person, no matter their gender or socioeconomic status, is given equal access and opportunities for success.

Nicole (Nikki) Pasterczyk, Caring and Living as Neighbours

My name is Nicole (Nikki) Pasterczyk and I am part of the class of 2025 studying Molecular Biology on the pre-med track. I am part of the SEA-PHAGES research program, am currently training to be an EMT to serve for LUEMS, and was a reporter for the Brown and White paper at Lehigh. I was inspired to serve as a United Nations Youth Representative for CLAN due to my passions for medicine, leadership, and service. In addition, my brother has a rare genetic disorder, so my personal experience with his hardships has encouraged me to spread awareness and advocate for those with NCDs, especially those from disadvantaged areas and backgrounds.

Katie Blomkvist, Caring and Living as Neighbours

My name is Katie Blomkvist, and I am from Clinton, New Jersey. I am a second-year Master of Public Health student in the College of Health. I serve as one of the UN Youth Representatives for Caring & Living As Neighbours (CLAN), an Australian non-governmental organization that aims to maximize the quality of life for children in resource-poor settings living with chronic diseases so they can achieve a quality of life comparable to children in wealthier countries. In addition to being a Youth Representative, I am a Graduate Research Assistant focusing on qualitative research on various aspects of mental health and its stressors. I am also the founding President of the Graduate Student Advisory Council at the College of Health.

Reeza Chaulagain, Centre for Public Health

My name is Reeza Chaulagain, and I am from Nepal. I am a freshman in the College of Health, and I plan to double major in Community and Global Health and Economics. I serve as a UN Youth Representative for the Center of Public Health, an organization based in Nigeria to promote women’s health and support people living with HIV/AIDS. My role is to advocate for these topics at the UN on behalf of the university. Additionally, as a Global Union Ambassador, I am responsible for planning events and activities to promote global awareness and cultural understanding within the Lehigh community.

Lauryn Jones, Centre for Public Health

My name is Lauryn Jones and I am a sophomore from St. Paul, Minnesota. I am majoring in population health and minoring in biology on the pre-medical track. I am a youth representative for the Centre for Public Health. I am also a Global Social Impact Fellow at Lehigh where I am working with a team to create a low-cost diagnostic device for sickle cell disease. I have a passion for health and health equity and am excited at the opportunity to continue this work!

Vacant, Centre for Public Health

Chioma Chigozie-Okwum, Centre for Women Studies and Intervention

I am a resourceful individual and a promoter of inclusion, diversity and lifelong learning; I support and champion these causes. Passionate about globalization, I  traveled over 5000 miles from Nigeria to Lehigh University in Bethlehem Pennsylvania to pursue a Doctorate Degree in the Department Computer Science and Engineering. My area of research is exploring the intersection between Cybersecurity, Human Computer Interaction and Psychology; to solve the endemic human factor Security Issues plaguing cyberspace today. I work as a Research Assistant in the Digital, Algorithm and Society Lab, a Research Lab committed to Human Computer Interactions and Participatory Design Research and Development, within the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science.
I Joined the UN rep program because gender related issues have been a cause I have championed for so long and this opportunity to represent an NGO that promotes the cause of women at the United Nations is one I treasure and hope to leverage to its full potential. 

Lorraine Rwasoka, Centre for Women Studies and Intervention

My name is Lorraine Rwasoka ,College of Health and premed class of 2026. I am an international student from Zimbabwe. I am passionate about healthcare research and delivery.I am currently working on Maternal health and cervical cancer research in Sierra Leone. I am also passionate about women's issues and gender equity and equality.

Julia Wilczynski, 25 - Centre for Women Studies and Intervention

My name is Julia and I am a current sophomore from Warren, New Jersey. I am pursuing a degree in International Relations and Political Science minoring in Business. Being a first-generation university student and coming from a Polish household, I value the promotion of equality and the creation of inclusive environments. I am a Youth Representative for the Centre for Women Studies and Intervention, a non-governmental organization based in Abuja, Nigeria. The CWSI aims to uphold the rights of women and girls in Nigeria through grassroots activism. Aside from being a Youth Representative, I have served as President of the Global Union, am the Vice President of Programming for the World Affairs Club, and am an Iacocca International Intern.

Mary Highland, Confederation of NGOs of Rural India

My name is Mary Highland, and I am from Connecticut. I am currently pursuing a double major in Economics and Business Information Systems, with a minor in Community Health. I serve as a Youth Representative to the United Nations for the Confederation of NGOs of Rural India (CNRI). In this role, I advocate for sustainable economic development and improved living conditions for rural communities. I am passionate about sustainability, economic empowerment, and global health equity. I look forward to continuing my work in global advocacy and contributing to meaningful, long-lasting change in rural communities worldwide.

Sameen Basha, Confederation of NGOs of Rural India

My name is Sameen Basha and I am from Overland Park, Kansas. I am a second-year student in the College of Health majoring in Community and Global Health. I am on the Pre-Med track and am focused on healthcare equity across all dimensions of health. I am a current Youth Representative for the Confederation fo NGO’s of Rural India.

Tasfia Ahmad, Nadam Foundation

My name is Tasfia Ahmad (she/her) and I am a freshman from South Jersey. I plan to major in Political Science at Lehigh University. I am a youth representative for the Nadam Foundation based in India which focuses on women and children's rights and gender equality. My goal is to dedicate myself to women and children around the world and give them the opportunities to succeed.

Amelia Chandless, Nadam Foundation

Amelia Chandless is a junior from the Bay Area, California studying Environmental Studies and Economics. The ongoing efforts of her home state to protect vulnerable plant and animal species inspired her to focus her education on conservation and restoration policy. She is a United Nations Youth Representative for the Nadam Foundation of India, which promotes environmental protection and social equality. In addition to her Youth Rep position, Amelia is the President and Founder of Epsilon Delta Pi, the Environmental Honor Society of Lehigh University; Vice President of Programming for the United Nations Association - USA; and Match Secretary and Fly Half for the Women’s Club Rugby Team.

Montserrat Escobedo, Nor Luyce

My name is Montserrat Escobedo and I am a junior from Chicago, Illinois. I’m majoring in International Relations and Economics here at Lehigh. This summer, with the help of the Lehigh Iacocca Internship Program I got the opportunity to intern in Armenia at Nor Luyce. I loved seeing the impact this organization had on the confidence of young women in Armenia as well as the motivation towards higher education. I am thrilled to continue working with them as a Youth Representative for Nor Luyce at the United Nations. Nor Luyce is a three-phase mentorship program for girls in the Shirak region,  committed to providing the necessary resources to help the mentees on becoming financially stable and world-minded young women. I hope to continue spreading their mission and the i,pact of their work through the Lehigh-UN partnership.

Ana Sofia Mendoza, Nor Luyce

My name is Ana Sofia Mendoza, and I am from Lima, Peru. I am part of the class of 2027, double majoring in Sociology and Political Science in the Pre-Law track. I am passionate about social justice and creating awareness about social issues - locally and globally. To do this, I am part of the Diversity Peer Educators on campus and most recently became a new representative of Nor Luyce at the United Nations. One of my main goals is to shed light on issues Nor Luyce addresses - the social and financial vulnerability young girls experience and how that impacts their personal and career goals. I would also like to further the ideas of female success and promote helpful resources to achieve it!

Diya Narayan, International Public Relations Association

My name is Diya Narayan and I am a first year student from Roxbury, New Jersey. I am currently in the business school with the plan of majoring in Marketing with a minor in Applied Statistics. I am extremely interested in human rights and addressing issues that emerge from the current media. I am currently doing research within the Business school regarding Generative AI in the marketing and management world, as well as being involved in Leela Indian Fusion Dance, Lehigh Tour Guide, Diversity Peer Educators, and South Asian Student Association. 

Sophia Barro, 25 - Widow Development Organization

My name is Sophia Barro and I am from Chevy Chase, Maryland. I am a current Junior double majoring in Political Science and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies with a minor in Africana Studies. I serve as a UN Youth Representative for the Widows Development Organization (WiDO), an NGO advocating of the violation of human rights that widows suffer globally. This role allows me to address critical issues affecting women globally from an intersectional lens. I’m passionate about gaining real-world, hands on experience in international diplomacy and policymaking!

Adeyemi Odudimu, Widow Development Organization

My name is Adeyemi Odudimu, I am a Ph.D. student in the Department of Chemistry. My research involves investigating molecular factors that underlie Myelin-associated glycoprotein binding. In addition to my passion for science and research, I am also passionate about being the voice to the voiceless, hence I will be working with WiDO as a UN Youth representative.

Olivia Lundquist, World Corrosion Organization

My name is Olivia Lundquist and I am from Pennington, New Jersey. I am a sophomore studying Materials Science and Engineering and Environmental Studies with a certificate in Global Citizenship. I am particularly interested in studying how sustainable materials can be improved to lessen our impact on the environment in an equitable manner. I am a youth representative for the World Corrosion Organization (WCO) and I look forward to advocating for more measures of corrosion control and awareness. Corrosion is a widely overlooked, but important issue that impacts people all over the world and I am excited to advocate for this cause both on Lehigh’s campus and at the United Nations. In addition to representing the WCO, I am a tour guide, TRAC writing fellow, student senator, and orientation leader.

Chidi Nwaogbo, World Corrosion Organization

My name is Chidiebere Nwaogbo. I am currently a Ph.D. student in the department of Physics at Lehigh University. My research focuses on 2D materials and material heterostructures, and I double as a teaching assistant here at Lehigh. I have accepted to work as a UN youth representative under the umbrella of the World Corrosion organization to fast-forward the control of corrosion within my immediate community and the world at large. My passion for nature and environmental safety, coupled with my curiosity about creating reliable and more efficient industrial materials, will spur me to preach the message of corrosion across different locations, especially in countries that are greatly affected by its effects.

Rhema Hooper, Medical Women's International Association

Native to the Inland Empire in Southern California, Rhema Hooper is an incoming  at Lehigh University studying Community and Global Health with a Minor in Molecular Biology. She is a Certified Medical Assistant and a passionate advocate against modern-day child slavery, specifically within global artisanal and small scale mining practices. She has been featured at the United Nations' 75th Commemoration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in regards to this cause, and has represented Lehigh University during the Youth Manifesto publishing of "Youth Against AMR." Aspiring to utilize her undergraduate education as a key lense in which she further pursues medicine, her ultimate pursuit is to become a practicing physician among conflict zones in South West Asia and North Africa. Rhema is honoured to be a Medical Women's International Association's Youth Representative as an aspiring future physician and advocate of global health