FroCos

Casey Arias (she/her) is a pre-law Political Science major from New Jersey and Costa Rica. Her academic focus is largely on Latin American politics and authoritarianism. On campus, she serves on board for Yale’s First-Generation and/or Low-Income Advocacy Movement (YFAM), Yale Student Association for Small Claims Assistance (Y-SASCA), and Yale Lawtinas. Outside of Yale, Casey is big on family, travel, and seeing her favorite artists (Rauw Alejandro, Bryson Tiller, Kehlani, etc.) live in concert! Casey has interned for several legal assistance organizations and is spending her summer before senior year studying abroad in Argentina and interning with human rights organizations. She is incredibly excited to be a FroCo this year and can’t wait to meet the class of 2030! 

Landon Bishop is an Urban Studies major from New Orleans, Louisiana, studying to become an urban planner and architect to build stronger and more sustainable communities. At Yale, he served as the New Haven Engagement Chair on the Yale College Council, was co-president of the youth homelessness advocacy organization Y2Y New Haven, a student assistant for the Afro-American Cultural Center, a writing tutor for Directed Studies, and is a research assistant for Dr. Kate Cooney at the SOM’s Inclusive Economic Development Lab. He is an avid documentary filmmaker, having interned on the PBS documentary My Mom, the Scientist, and has worked on several projects for Dr. Elihu Rubin’s Yale Urban Media Project. This summer, he’s interning at the World Resources Institute through the Yale School of the Environment’s Hixon Fellowship. He is also a massive fantasy and sci-fi fan, and in his free time, you can find him working on his own imaginary worlds. He is excited to meet the class of 2030 and make their Yale experience the best possible! 

Sophia Brentlinger is originally from Oklahoma where she grew up on a little farm and raised in a Mexican-American home. She studies Political Science, concentrating in International Relations. She has a love for culture and language which blossomed from studying French and Spanish at Yale and studying abroad in France for her first-year summer. Outside of classes, she is involved in Christian ministry, running (she ran a marathon last spring), reading biographies, and best of all, spending time with friends—checking out new coffee shops, going on long walks to yap, and random adventures like hiking and surfing. When she enters a room, you’ll recognize her by her infectious laughter and her energy signaling, ‘We’re going to have fun.’ She is very excited to have fun and get to know each new franklinite. 

Taylor Burke is from Boulder, Colorado, and is a Chemical Engineering major with an Energy Studies certificate. He’s interested in how combining engineering and project finance can build out renewables and push traditional energy companies to invest in a sustainable future. On campus, he plays violin as the President of the Berkeley College Orchestra, does environmental microbiology research in Jordan Peccia’s lab, and writes essays for the World Economic Forum. Outside of his coursework, he likes to take creative writing and art history classes to escape Science Hill. True to his Boulder roots, Taylor has been skiing, running, hiking, and climbing since childhood. These days, you can usually find him somewhere between Franklin and East Rock. He’s stoked to meet the Class of 2030 and can’t wait for the year ahead!

Kenisha Mahajan is an Ethics, Politics, and Economics major originally from Queens, New York. She is passionate about using policy to drive change in economic equity, healthcare, and criminal justice, especially investing in solutions that are built in tandem with the communities they serve. At Yale, Kenisha serves as the Head Recruitment Coordinator for the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, where she has worked since her first year. She has also been a student in and an Undergraduate Teaching Assistant for the Directed Studies program, and loves anything having to do with political theory and literature. Beyond the classroom, she has been involved with Dwight Hall, the Yale Policy Institute, Yale College Council, and pre-professional and cultural groups on campus. When she’s not in class or working on a problem set, you can find Kenisha exploring coffee shops in New Haven, relaxing in the Franklin courtyard, or DIYing new room decor. She can’t wait to meet the Class of 2030!

David Meduga is from Chicago, Illinois, and is always proud to say, Go Bears! He is studying Ethics, Politics, & Economics and is especially interested in the intersection of renewable energy development and AI policy. On campus, David is involved in the Yale Student Energy Association, works with the Yale School of the Environment on its startup funding committee, and serves as treasurer for various finance organizations on campus.

Outside of class, David is very active in IMs and hopes to see everyone come out to at least one IM game this year, whether they are playing, cheering, or just hanging out!! He loves playing backyard games with friends, from cornhole to casual pickup games. In his free time, he enjoys camping, cooking, coin collecting, and playing all kinds of card games. He’s super excited to meet the Class of 2030!
 

Jaylen Moment (she/her) proudly hails from the BIG 910 — also known as Fayetteville, North Carolina — where she attended J. Cole’s rival high school and subsequently discovered her love for public health. She brought this love to Yale by majoring in the History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health and receiving a Global Health Certificate. Additionally, she will be working towards her Master of Public Health degree through the BA-BS/MPH 5-year Program for Yale College Students. Outside of class, she has dedicated her time to public health research through various avenues, including the LEITH Lab, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Anti-Eugenics Lab at Yale. For fun, she participates in activities that center her Generational African American background, such as doing line dances at events hosted by the Afro-American Cultural Center at Yale, conducting public service with the Prestigious Pi Alpha Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and winning numerous rounds of Spades. Jaylen absolutely can not wait to welcome you all to the BEST college at Yale and to embark on the rewarding journey that next year will bring.

Lucas Ogawa grew up in Tokyo and Hong Kong and is double-majoring in Economics and Statistics & Data Science with a certificate in Japanese. Having grown up in multicultural environments, Lucas loves to meet Yalies from all across the US and world. On campus, he has served as a Peer Liaison for the Asian American Cultural Center (AACC) and is actively involved in the International Students Organization. He also enjoys playing Club Soccer and playing a traditional Chinese music instrument called the Yangqin with a New Haven orchestra. His other hobbies include travelling (including studying abroad in Japan for a summer + semester), hiking, cooking, and hanging out with friends in the Franklin buttery. Most importantly, Lucas is a proud Franklinite who loves to play Intramurals (IMs) sports and hopes to help Franklin win its first Tyng Cup this year. He is very excited to be a Froco and can’t wait to meet the Class of 2030!

Kaylee Pierre is a History of Science, Medicine & Public Health major with certificates in French and Global Health. She is deeply passionate about public health and is still working on saying her major in one breath. Beyond her academics, Kaylee is a member of Yale Mock Trial, Yale Moot Court, and she is a campus tour guide. Needless to say, she spends most of her days talking about herself or pretending to be an attorney (with varying degrees of success). As a New York City native, Kaylee loves exploring all that New Haven has to offer, especially its food and ice cream scene. She’s always happy to give recommendations and firmly believes that vanilla is a nuanced ice cream flavor. She is also happy to answer questions about study abroad, Directed Studies, and all the best shortcuts around campus. Kaylee can’t wait to meet the Class of 2030 and help make Franklin feel like home!

Nayeli Rodriguez is an Environmental Studies major pursuing certificates in Education Studies and Human Rights. Originally from Southern California, Nayeli draws on her Cuban and Chicana upbringing in her work and interests surrounding environmental justice and community empowerment. Within the EVST major, she focuses on water justice and hopes to one day become an environmental justice lawyer.
 

Outside the classroom, Nayeli is involved in La Casa Cultural and previously served as a Peer Liaison, making her a great resource for students looking to navigate campus life and connect with La Casa’s community and opportunities. She is also involved with the Environmental Education Collaborative and CAUSA, Yale’s Cuban-American Undergraduate Students Association. In addition, she works at Calvin Hill Daycare, an experience that has strengthened her passion for education and learning. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors, trying new coffee shops, and finding any excuse to drink a matcha latte. She is so excited to meet the class of 2030!