Past Dalai Lama Fellows

Past Fellows 

(2024-2025)

Celeste Chung (’26) - My name is Celeste and I'm from Borneo, a giant, rugged island in Southeast Asia's Malaysia Archipelago (search it up, I promise that you'll be astounded by how beautiful Borneo is!)  I'm currently working on making rights to education a necessity in Southeast Asia amongst the stateless community.  This consists of mostly Indigenous tribal groups such as Dusun, Bajau Laut, Murut, and also Filipino refugees. Someone that I admire with my whole heart is my grandmother who has taught me the importance of resilience, kindness and all whilst shaping my understanding of life, love, and what it means to be truly fulfilled.

Alison Fajardo (’26) (she/her) - My name's Alison Fajardo, and I'm a first-generation college student studying chemical engineering & biology. As an Ecuadorian-American from NJ, I'm extremely proud of my family, who've fought to help me pave the way to higher education. I'm currently interested in pursuing graduate school for bioengineering in sustainable agriculture. I believe environmental justice is crucial and rally behind community organizing!

Dev Gopal (’27) (he/him) - Dev is a passionate healthcare and housing justice leader dedicated to bridging divides. He believes that innovation can democratize access to healthcare, ensuring that quality services are available to all. With a strong commitment to service, wellness, and spirituality, Dev seeks to inspire others to embrace holistic approaches to health. In his free time, he enjoys immersing himself in fiction novels, solving puzzles, and engaging in thought-provoking debates with the Stanford Debate Society. Dev is excited to connect with fellow changemakers and explore the intersection of technology and compassionate care.

Jaiden McDaniel (’27) (she/her) - My name is Jaiden, and I am from (pick one: California, Colorado, Virginia, Alaska).  Right now, I am super interested in (pick one: philosophy explored through science fiction, fashion choices in American TV shows,  post-Soviet doomer music playlists from YouTube). I deeply admire anyone who can parallel park, since I have accepted that this is a skill I will probably never have. I’m looking forward to getting to know all of you throughout the year!

Zimin Qian (’26) (she/her) - I am a Junior studying Biomedical Computation from Dayton, Ohio. As a Dalai Lama Fellow, I am looking forward the opportunity to incorporate service and compassionate social action into my practice of Buddhism to give back to others and communities in the area. 

Claudia Sung (’26) - Hi! My name is Claudia. I’m from Virginia Beach, Virginia, which is in Southern VA near the border with North Carolina. I am interested in the overlap between criminal justice and education; right now, I am especially interested in learning about early education since I’m in a class on development psychology! Someone I admire is my mom because of her persistence and her ability to problem solve in even the worst situations.

Dylan Vergara (’26) (he/him) - Dylan Vergara is a junior from the Los Angeles area studying Political Science, American Studies, and Sociology. On campus, Dylan is the Co-Chair of Stanford Votes and serves as a Peer Advisor at the Haas Center. Furthermore, Dylan has conducted research in the Deliberative Democracy Lab, the d.school, Stanford Medicine, and the Clayman Institute for Gender Research. Outside of Stanford, Dylan has worked for the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense Centre of Excellence, the Department of Justice, and the U.S. House of Representatives. Ultimately, Dylan is interested in democracy reform, constitutional law, and environmental and cybersecurity policy. Dylan hopes to make a meaningful impact for underrepresented minorities to strengthen democratic guardrails.

(2023-2024)

Ronny Abdullah (’26) is a sophomore majoring in Electrical Engineering and is deeply passionate about the intricate relationship between Electrical Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, and Neuroscience. His strong passion for these innovative fields inspires him to engage in impactful projects that tackle significant global issues. Beyond academics, Ronny is an avid fitness enthusiast, finding balance and inspiration through running and physical wellness.

Lizbeth Zambrano-Sanchez (’26) (she/her/ella) is an undergraduate scientist-activist at Stanford studying Earth Systems, focusing on justice, energy, and land. She is also a Mexican community organizer from the hood out of East Los Angeles and is ready to develop community-centered energy equity solutions. In her spare time, you can catch her spending time with loved ones, swimming, and reading poetry. 

Susanna Newsom (’26). I’m a sophomore at Stanford, and I’m passionate about the intersection of Christianity and social justice! I believe that “every act of selfless love is a declaration of faith” (shoutout Bob Goff) and Christianity is a calling to go towards suffering, be with people who are hurting, prioritize other people above ourselves (countercultural, right?), and let go of our agendas! I feel closest to God when I spend time with/in His creation, and I feel a special inclination toward mental health advocacy and prison reform. At Stanford, I’m a Psychology Major, Creative Writing Minor, Tour Guide, Bridge Peer Counselor, Outdoor Trip Leader, and member of RUF! I also recently performed in Gaieties, and, outside of school, I work with Elephant Havens (an elephant orphanage in Botswana) and spend most of my summers at Camp Greystone!

Jeannette Wang (’26) (she/her) is a sophomore studying political science and public policy. She is passionate about developing solutions that address national issues with local nuance. With the fellowship, she hopes to combat polarization on campus and create a culture of openness to a diversity of viewpoints along the political spectrum. 
 

Ezekiel Contreras-Forrest (’24) is a graduating senior at Stanford University. He is passionate about affecting change in marginalized communities at home and abroad. His project is centered around developing community centers for orphaned and foster youth. By developing this support, he hopes to give the youth opportunities to attain an education, develop their passions and live good lives in the future. 

Omkar Katre (’27)

Tenzin Choesang Scholer (’26)

Troy Schouten (’24)

Emma Thain (’25)