Jasmine Elisha​

Program Director

Jasmine is a fourth year devoting her studies into human development. As she is achieving to attain her degree within that field, her goal is to oversee child development and facilitate the process which kids gain the necessary skills to maximize their full potential. She is also striving to create bridges of connections and a sense of community for young adults, especially for those within StRIVE. 

Jasmine is a character who is always committed and dedicated into her work and commitments, however whenever she needs a time to relax and unwind, she finds solace and tranquility either at the top of a mountain of Mt. Soledad overlooking the city of San Diego or watching others soar high above in the big blue sky at the Gliderport. You might just be able to catch a sunset with her some time!

Shreya Shriram

Secretary

Shreya is a fourth year studying biochemistry and cellular biology. Her favorite part about StRIVE is the people that she has gotten to know through the organiation. The students from every outing that she's met, her fellow coaches that she works with every week, and the cohort leaders, have been a big family that she has loved and cared for! She aspires to become an oncologist in the future, so you better watch out cancer...SHREYA IS COMING FOR YA!!!

Shreya is a books-person and loves to delve into the world of words and pages filled with historical fiction and mysteries. Looks like she is going to cure cancer by day, and solve crimes by night! She loves the beach and fortunately she lives close to one so she can unwind and enjoy the ocean and great photos! She doesn't just love the waters, but also the greenery as her favorite place that she has been to is Banff National Park in Canada, how cool is that?

Benjamin Zaghi

Treasurer

Ben is a third year studying political science. His goal is to build the organization as great as possible so that other people can become more aware about our organization and its goals. Hey...that's Kane's job that he is trying to steal...just kidding. He is shooting high and is very much determined to become a lawyer and graduate from a top tier law school. We all need a good lawyer am I right?

Ben is an outdoors person and loves to play sports whether to destress or to just kickback with friends. Better watch out, he will ball you up upon request! He is also a naturesque type of character and loves to watch the sunset at the top of the village building terraces. Honestly, who doesn't just need a time to catch some sunlight and get some R&R! Something that we all need...

Yakta Syed

Public Relations/Event Coordinator

Yakta is a second year studying neurobiology who has always been immensely fascinated by learning about the nervous system and brain, the organ that makes us who we are. She ultimately hopes to go to medical school and one day work in a career in medicine, perhaps specializing in the field of neurology. She is so grateful to have found StRIVE and has loved her experience in it, as she has found it to be an extremely rewarding experience. Her favorite part is the lasting connections and friendships made with and impact on the students, seeing them thrive. She hopes to help grow StRIVE’s presence and help spread awareness about and combat the stigmas and challenges faced by students with disabilities. 
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In her free time Yakta loves to play music, as she plays clarinet and has been learning to play the ukulele as well! She also loves to relax and stay organized by bullet journaling, and enjoys going on long strolls listening to music, or going on sunset and sunrise hikes.

Anjali Iyangar

Internal Communications 

Anjali Iyangar is a second-year student and researcher studying human biology. Big biology geek alert… for Halloween, she literally dressed up as a strand of DNA. She hopes to be a physician in the future! What she loves about StRIVE is the humanity of every individual involved – from the students who teach her to be more empathetic, to the team of coaches that are the embodiment of compassion. After every outing, her cheeks would be sore from the constant smile that the students put on her face. Is this a testament to her weak facial muscles or proof of how happy StRIVE makes her? Both, she says.
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She enjoys being in nature whether it be a long jog in the woods or a peaceful stroll amidst gigantic trees that filter rays of sunshine. Aside from nature, she also likes writing… as an art form, as means of science communication, and just as a way to wind down! But she sucks at transitions in her writing. Avocados are her favorite fruit of all time!

Gillian McMahon

Head Coach

Gillian is a third year studying Math with an emphasis on Biophysics. After eventually receiving her Ph.D., she hopes to do research in biotechnologies and help develop methods for 3D bioprinting of organs. She loves taking a break from studying to spend time with her StRIVE cohorts. She is grateful to have found a community of people, both other coaches and students, she can laugh and share stories with every week.

​In San Diego she enjoys hanging out with her friends solving physics problems, navigating Downtown, or watching Netflix. Back home in New Mexico she enjoys hiking/camping around the mountains with her family, doing craft projects with her niece, or playing Roblox with her nephew. No matter where she is, she enjoys dancing to destress and “reset” herself. For the past few years she’s worked at Los Alamos National Labs doing bioscience research and is very willing to go on and on about it!

Cassie Kyaw

Head Coach

Cassie is a third year studying human biology and she believes that what comes around, goes around. She is truly blessed to work with the students of StRIVE and want the students to feel confident within their own skin; they do not need to change anything about themselves. Her goal is to show the students that they can achieve anything that they put their mind and heart into.

One way that she just lets the world fade out and concentrate on herself is through dancing and working out to keep her body and mind in shape; another being something that we can all relate to...just being in bed. Hits too close to home. One fun fact about her is that she had been to Tahiti and was able to wear a flower crown which made her a real life Moana! What a once in a life time opportunity and at such a beautiful spot too!!!

Carmelina Azar

Head Coach

Carmelina Azar is a fourth year physiology and neuroscience major with a minor in political science. She hopes to go to medical school someday and specialize in oncology. Joining strive has been such a rewarding experience for her as she loves working with and creating long-lasting connections with the students from the outings. She wants to help grow Strive’s on-campus presence and continue spreading awareness about the challenges and inequalities students with disabilities face in the educational system.

​In her free time, Carmelina likes to read, go on hikes, discover new music and attempt to surf.

Lauren Suh

Head Coach

Lauren is a fourth year studying cognitive behavioral neuroscience and is one who aspires to study illnesses of the brain and nervous system, hoping to pursue research or a career in neurology. I guess you can say that she's got the BRAINS!!! One thing that Lauren loves about StRIVE is that it engages her with many different people in so many different ways. It allows her to be creative in helping her students achieve certain goals that are accommodating to their unique traits and needs. It has brought her a lot of great friendships, both within the org and with the students that she interacts with. 

She loves to draw during her free time, whether it be about the landscapes (such as the gliderport during the sunset or at Puerto Vallarta in the summer) and portraits, so if you ever catch her doodling in class or on the bus, go and say "Hello!" so her and she may just draw you and sign it for you! Who knows, she may become a popular artist and a scientist! How MIND-BLOWING!!!

Saloni Shah

Head Coach

Saloni is a fourth year studying biochemistry and cell biology, who is looking to work as an ER physician. The one thing that she has come to appreciate and love about StRIVE is the opportunity to communicate with students with disabilities and wants to raise more awareness and combat the negative stigmas that people within our community might have against this community of students.

On the side, Saloni loves to be active and is currently part of Pushpanjali, which is an on-campus Indian classical dance team. This keeps her moving and she is passionate about the ancient art form and its cultural significance. On a more peaceful note, she also loves to be at a place that is serene and that location is ideally anywhere outdoors, which is why Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park is where it is a place where she had loved to travel to.

Anaï Gressier

Head Coach

​Anaï is a fourth year studying international studies- political science and global health, minoring in communications. In order to build a community in StRIVE that’s inviting of students, her goal is to work collaboratively as a team while learning from the individuals we’re working with. It’s all about being mindful and respecting one another’s autonomous choices and behaviors!
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Whether it’s playing rugby with her team or painting a house for her guinea pig, Anaï is always ready to divert her energy and efforts into her passions. As she aspires to go into the bioethical dimensions of global health, Anaï is always willing to expose herself to new situations: working in a different country to lobstering in Miami!

Ariel Cohen

Head Coach

Ariel is a third year studying global health. For his career goal, he hopes to become a compassionate, conscientious, and devoted physician. StRIVE has been one of the most impactful experiences throughout his time at UCSD and he wishes the same effect for every student who joins. This organization has taught him how to better connect with others and has emphasized the value of empathy. He believes that StRIVE is an essential component in helping minimize the stigma against individuals with disabilities.

​In his free time, Ariel loves to hoop up Benny in basketball at RIMAC arena. He also has a passion for DJing, so if you’re ever looking for someone to hype up your parties, hit him up! Ariel also loves to travel the world. You can catch him in Tel Aviv tanning by the sunny beach while eating authentic Israeli shawarma.

Robert She

Founder and Former Director

Robert recently graduated from UCSD with a degree in Biochemistry/Cell Biology, and a minor in Global Health and in Philosophy. He is interested in researching the biochemical basis of neuropathies but sees the need to help those affected with such conditions immediately and more importantly, personally. With the help from San Diego Unified School District’s TRACE program and from the generous funding by the Strauss Foundation for Public Service, he created StRIVE as an opportunity for other passionate undergraduates to help alleviate social issues faced by people with disabilities. Outside of StRIVE, Robert is a pre-med student, a community service hobbyist, and a guy with a surfboard who thinks he’s a surfer.

Timothy Liu

                      Former Director

Tim is a bioengineering: biotechnology major from Muir college. He is interested in pursuing a career as a physician, with a yet undetermined focus. His favorite element of StRIVE is the hands-on volunteering, and the opportunity to watch his TRACE students and fellow coaches grow.

​Kate Nations

Former Director

Kate had served STRIVE tirelessly and always with enthusiasm and passion. She had given her all when coming up with our curriculum for the year and pours her heart into each one to make sure that all the skills and lessons would be applicable to the range of students that we want to see excel and strive towards a live of independence. One of her favorite moment during her time as director was when she was talking about healthy eating with her class and then ensued to make their own smoothies. She found happiness that she was making an impact by teaching something that they can make at home, easy and healthy to make, and it was an activity which the students really enjoyed. It showed her that STRIVE can be an organization that can help change the lives of our students by teaching them useful tips and life habits. 

Kate is currently working steadfastly in her post-bachelors program at SFSU and loves delving deeper into her career field. One word of advice that really rings with her that she would love to share with everyone one is, "Don't do anything for a resume. This might seem like a radical idea, especially if you're pre-med like I am. Life is too short to be living for your ten year plan. I'm not saying [to not] volunteer, take internships, or get entry level jobs in your field. But if you don't enjoy doing those "resume builder" activities, don't sink your time into them. You probably won't enjoy the career they're leading you to either. Invest your time into things you enjoy and everything else will work itself out." That by far possibly has to be the best quote that can apply to just about everyone and is the path to inspire true passion and energy for the career that we will be working towards.

Meena Kian

Former Director

Meena is a third year diving deep into the brains, studying physiology and neuroscience. Her goal is to help bridge the gap between abled and disabled communities through an environment that fosters inclusion, collaboration, and compassion. She is continuously inspired by the growth of our students and the extent to which they enjoy spending time with the coaches. She is tirelessly working now to study neurodegenerative diseases as well as autoimmune disorders. 

On her free time, she likes to write poetry and surround her world with symbolism and imagery. She manipulates words and charges them with emotions that every word would strike everyone down to the heart. Her pen is as smooth as her mind and everything comes naturally to her just as ink flows out from her pen. She would also love to write out great works in front of a fireplace and allow her mind take over.