Winter Cohort 2026 - Admission Deadline Closing on

1st November, 2026 11:59 PM PST.

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Winter Cohort 2026 - Admission Deadline Closing on

1st November, 2026 11:59 PM PST.

Apply Now

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Mentors

Kristen Leer

Kristen Leer - University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Education

PhD (specializing in Media Psychology), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Subjects

Media Psychology, Trauma and Media, Culture and Representation, Mental Health Discourse, Digital Studies

Achievements

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship for work on traumatic media effects among marginalized communities; BA in Psychology, Classical Civilization, and Religious Studies (triple major), summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, with Honors with Distinction, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; over USD 30,000 in research grants; Outstanding Research Mentor Award from the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program at the University of Michigan; all three of her undergraduate students won Blue Ribbon awards for best poster

About

Kristen is a PhD candidate and NSF-GRFP fellow at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, specializing in media psychology. Her work investigates the intersectional relationship between trauma, media, and culture, exploring identity, representation, and mental health discourse in film and television series. She has worked as a writing specialist for TRiO scholars nationally and has extended her mentorship into supporting students across disciplines.

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Kristen Leer

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James Frederick William Rowe

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

James F.W. Rowe is an award-winning doctoral candidate at the University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign. His core research focus is the metaphysics of time where he has developed a novel defense of the Growing Block, but his work extends to the fields of ethical and political philosophy, philosophy of mind, philosophy of religion, and the history of philosophy (with an emphasis on ancient and early modern philosophy). His exemplary track record in the classroom and development of a course in philosophy in literature led to his recognition as the first graduate student to ever win the Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching award.

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Asha Hariharan

Design and Technology, Purdue University (ongoing)

Asha is an accomplished engineering educator with a background in electrical engineering and specialization in power electronics. She is a current graduate student, pursuing an MS in Learning, Design & Technology at Purdue University. She specializes in designing innovative digital learning experiences integrated with AI-driven solutions. Her expertise and creative approach highlight her passion for advancing technology-enhanced education and transforming the way learners engage with complex concepts.

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Hadiza Umar Yusuf

University of Michigan-Dearborn

Hadiza is a PhD student in Computer and Information Science at the University of Michigan–Dearborn, where her research focuses on software verification for AI-enabled cyber-physical systems. She earned a Master’s degree in Engineering Artificial Intelligence from Carnegie Mellon University Africa which was fully funded by the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. There she worked on interdisciplinary research, including improving access to customized 3D-printed prosthetics in resource-limited settings. Hadiza has over three years of experience as a teaching assistant and has also introduced many high school students to programming. She’s passionate about mentorship and actively supports students with college applications, scholarship opportunities, and career development.

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James Frederick William Rowe

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

James F.W. Rowe is an award-winning doctoral candidate at the University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign. His core research focus is the metaphysics of time where he has developed a novel defense of the Growing Block, but his work extends to the fields of ethical and political philosophy, philosophy of mind, philosophy of religion, and the history of philosophy (with an emphasis on ancient and early modern philosophy). His exemplary track record in the classroom and development of a course in philosophy in literature led to his recognition as the first graduate student to ever win the Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching award.

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Asha Hariharan

Design and Technology, Purdue University (ongoing)

Asha is an accomplished engineering educator with a background in electrical engineering and specialization in power electronics. She is a current graduate student, pursuing an MS in Learning, Design & Technology at Purdue University. She specializes in designing innovative digital learning experiences integrated with AI-driven solutions. Her expertise and creative approach highlight her passion for advancing technology-enhanced education and transforming the way learners engage with complex concepts.

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Book a free call

Book a free call

James Frederick William Rowe

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Asha Hariharan

Design and Technology, Purdue University (ongoing)

Hadiza Umar Yusuf

University of Michigan-Dearborn

James Frederick William Rowe

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Asha Hariharan

Design and Technology, Purdue University (ongoing)

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