First-Year Counselors

Andy Abayena is from Accra, Ghana, and is studying Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry on the pre-med track. At the Yale School of Medicine, he works as a research assistant in the Alagpulinsa Lab, where he uses statistical genetics to study the shared genetic architecture between type 1 diabetes, neurocognitive traits, and cardiovascular disease. He also serves as a research assistant under Dr. Sylvia Kurz at the Chênevert Family Brain Tumor Center, supporting translational research on brain tumors and novel therapies.

Outside the lab, Andy served as a Student Assistant at the Yale African American Cultural Center, led the Yale African Students Association as President, and held down the role of band head of the Yale Gospel Choir.

In his free time, Andy loves music in every form, listening and playing alike. He plays basketball, joins the Friday football crew at PWG, and is an unabashed Manchester United and Ronaldo loyalist (Ronaldo is the GOAT, argue with a wall). He also has a deep love for anime: Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Code Geass, and Dr. Stone are just a few of his all-time favorites. Andy can’t wait to show the ‘29ers what makes Stiles special and help them find their own reason to call it home.

Kaya Basnet (She/her) grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii where she was born and raised until moving to Columbus, Georgia for High School. She is currently majoring in Sociology with a certificate in Ethnography at Yale University. Her current academic interests lie in the intersection between public policy and socio-economic mobility, and she plans to pursue a law degree after graduation. 

On Campus, Kaya is an active player and board member of the Yale Women’s Rugby Team, a sport she started playing freshman year of college. Kaya is also deeply passionate about gardening and agriculture. Alongside being a Harvest leader and occasionally working on the Yale Farm, she also started a community garden in Ezra Stiles— where you are likely to spot her on a sunny day! Kaya is also deeply passionate about local and global refugee work. Off campus, Kaya works as a Advocacy Intern and Grant Writer for Elena’s Light, a local New Haven non-profit dedicated to helping Afghani women and children refugees. She has also worked as an Intern Caseworker for older refugees at the International Rescue Committee (IRC). 

Outside of academics Kaya enjoys hiking, traveling, and seeing her family! If there is anything you should know about Kaya, it’s that she loves being an older sister. As the oldest of 4, Kaya loves talking to her siblings on facetime and making sure to spend time with them any chance she gets! She also loves trying new hobbies and is very passionate about early 2000’s TV shows— ask her for recs! Kaya is super excited to meet the new class of Stilesians and show them how lucky they are to call Stiles home!

Santiago “Go” Gonzalez (he/him) is from El Paso, Texas (although was actually born in Phoenix, Arizona) and pursuing a double major in Computer Science and Mathematics (Intensive) at Yale. He is currently doing research in the Computer Science department and is planning on pursuing a graduate education after he graduates.

Throughout his time at Yale, Go has been involved with many different extracurriculars at Yale. He is heavily involved with Code Haven (serving as president for a year) where he helps local middle school students learn to code. He is a current Ezra Stiles House Aide and has been involved with SAC since his freshman year where he helps plan fun events like Stiles Gala and Apple Picking. Go also has worked in the Math department for the past two years as a Peer Tutor and ULA.

Outside of his studies, Go is an avid San Antonio Spurs fan and does his best to watch every game. He is an avid foodie, having tried almost all of the walking distance restaurants and has picked up grilling over the past couple of summers. He is extremely excited to get to know the Stile First Years and welcome them to the Herd!

Fariba Hossain (she/her) is a Bengali-American from Houston, Texas, yes, the city with one of the best food scenes in the country (she will die on this hill). She is majoring in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and conducts research at the Bakhoum Lab, an ophthalmology lab at Yale School of Medicine, where she researches tear-based diagnostics for fungal and bacterial infections of the eye.

At Yale, Fariba is deeply passionate about health equity and student wellbeing. She has served as Vice President of the Maternal Health Club, Chief of Staff of the Yale Healthcare Consulting Collective, and Secretary of the Yale Student Mental Health Association. She has also been involved with HAPPY, YBSA, MSA, and has volunteered at HAVEN Free Clinic.

Outside of academics and her many involvements, you can find Fariba on the hunt for the best matcha in New Haven, thrifting for hidden gems, or at a cozy cafe with friends. Fariba cannot wait to meet the new Stiles frosh and welcome them to the Herd!

Diego Jaramillo (he/him) is originally from Mukwonago, a small town 30 minutes outside of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is majoring in History and completing a certificate in Mandarin Chinese, hoping to ultimately pursue a career as a history professor. 

At Yale, he is a proud House Aide in the Ezra Stiles Head of College Office, a Communication and Consent Educator (CCE), and co-director of the sustainable fashion collective Common Closet. Research has also been a core part of his college experience, and he has worked at diverse places from the School of Management to the Yale University Art Gallery. Outside of school, he enjoys playing Club Soccer (and watching the pros — ¡Hala Madrid!), learning languages, playing the NYT Games, hitting the gym, and making terrible references to bad television shows. 

He is thrilled to welcome the Class of 2030 and hopes to give them the same Stiles pride his FroCos gave him!

Dhruv Javangula (he/him) is from the Central Valley of California. He is studying History on the Global Track, though he’s taken a fair number of classes in the Economics and Political Science departments as well. Like many Yale students, Dhruv intends to work in finance after college and is heavily considering law school in the long-term.

On campus, Dhruv is involved in various finance organizations, including the Yale Student Investment Group and Yale Alternative Investments. Though relatively inactive at this point, he’s also a member of the Yale Debate Association—but primarily shows up for the free food. In addition, he’s worked as an Office Aide in the Head of College Office for the last 2 years and, notably, ran Fiesta Friday.

Outside of classes and extracurriculars, Dhruv enjoys distance running around East Rock; reading science fiction and fantasy novels; playing semi-competitive games of FIFA with friends; and eating at all of New Haven’s finest establishments (ideally, for free). Dhruv is genuinely excited to meet all of the Stiles frosh and, hopefully, stay knowledgeable about Instagram slang.

Ben Jimenez was born and raised in La Jolla, California. He is a double major in Political Science, with interests in comparative government and international relations, and Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies, with a focus on acting and musical theater. This year marks his return to Yale after taking a gap year to sing and travel with the Yale Whiffenpoofs, the world’s oldest collegiate a cappella group.

Throughout his time at Yale, Ben has worked as a tour guide and as a research assistant at the Yale School of Management. Before joining the Whiffenpoofs, he served as President of the Yale Alley Cats, another of Yale’s undergraduate a cappella groups. He also worked as Artistic Director of the Yale Artists Cabaret, an organization dedicated to producing accessible cabaret performances each academic year.

Outside of music and the performing arts, Ben absolutely loves the outdoors. Staying true to his San Diego upbringing, he loves swimming, the beach, camping, and hiking. He looks back on his first-year FOOT trip as one of his favorite memories at Yale. Ben is incredibly excited to get to know the incoming class of first-years in Stiles.

Madelyn McElroy (she/her) is an Ecology & Evolutionary Biology major from Atlanta, Georgia. Academically, she is interested in marine biology, environmental science, microbiology, and infectious diseases. At Yale, Madelyn is the director of an improv comedy group (The Exit Players), a member of the women’s club soccer team, and works as an aide in the Stiles Head of College Office. She is passionate about sustainable fashion, and has been involved with Common Closet, an on-campus thrift and recycled clothing initiative, since her first year. Madelyn is a huge fan of the outdoors (especially swimming in the ocean) and spent two years as a FOOT leader, now serving as Equipment core-head. She loves music (if you see her around, ask what song she currently has on repeat) and plays trumpet in the Davenport Pops Orchestra.

Madelyn is obsessed with coffee and considers herself an expert on all the best New Haven coffee spots, and enjoys going to the theater to watch movies or plays. She loves spending time in the Stiles community, whether it’s competing in intramurals or chatting with friends in the dining hall, and can’t wait to welcome the class of 2030 to the herd! 

Debbie Mojekwu (she/her) is from Chicago, Illinois, specifically the south side, where she was born and raised. She is majoring in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology (MCDB) with a Global Health Certificate. She is also on the pre-med track and is super excited to take a few gap years before applying to med school. As a professional audience member, she enjoys watching her friends’ a capella performances, comedy shows, and theater productions.

At Yale, she is involved in a variety of extracurricular activities that will hopefully help her prepare for a future career as a pediatrician. To this end, she is a volunteer in the Yale New Haven Hospital’s Pediatric ICU, a tutor for the IRIS after-school program, and co-President of Community Health Educators. She is also a STEM tour guide and co-Head of the Public Health Center with Yale Policy Institute. Overall, she loves working with young people and kids and hopes to continue fostering an equitable healthcare system for her community. 

Outside of academics, Debbie enjoys watching corny TV shows/movies, listening to music (Tems and Asake mean a lot to her right now), and reading. She can’t wait to be a FroCo this year, helping first-year Stilesians have an incredible year!

Aimee Perales (she/her) is from East Los Angeles, California, a neighborhood within the city of Los Angeles, most known for the movie Stand and Deliver. She is majoring in Biomedical Engineering on the premed track. Her academic interest lies in biomechanics and the iterative process of medical device design. 

At Yale, Aimee is a volunteer at the student-run clinic, HAVEN, in the longitudinal care department, focusing on transferring patients into clinics near the New Haven area. Aimee is an active member of Stiles, serving as an Office Aide, greeting visitors, and assisting with fun programming around the college. She is also a dancer for Ballet Folklórico Mexicano de Yale and shares her love for traditional dance across Yale and the greater New Haven area. 

In her free time, she enjoys movie nights with friends, swimming with the Yale Club Swim, going on runs around New Haven, and joining the lively events at Stiles! She is so excited to be FroCo and to help the Stiles first-years navigate Yale and have a memorable first year.