Upcoming Events
SwatTalks Co-sponsored by the Young Alumni Ambassador Program
23, April Wednesday from 8:00 to 9 p.m. ETThis event led by the Alumni Council Co-sponsored by YAAP spotlighting Young Alum Jasmine Rashid '18, Author of “The Financial Activist Playbook.” Jasmine offers eight strategies for people to reclaim wealth and collective well-being in their everyday lives. join Jasmine for a conversation about what it means to be a financial activist in these times, how people can influence the levers of money and power around them for good, and why there’s more cause for hope than despair in the movement to a more regenerative economy
Current Members
Asha Bhuiyan '23
Asha Bhuiyan (she/her) is an Investment Rotational Associate at AllianceBernstein where she has rotated across asset classes in the firm’s Fixed Income investing team. She currently serves as co-chair of the Associate Leadership Council at the firm’s NYC office. Asha graduated with a B.A. from Swarthmore College in Computer Science and Mathematics in 2023. While at Swarthmore, she was a member of the ultimate frisbee team, a sports editor and writer for The Phoenix, a board member of DESHI and GeMS in Math & Stats, and a student worker in both the Computer Science and Mathematics departments. Asha is based in NYC where she enjoys Irish dancing, ice skating, and searching for the best pizza in the city.
Shilpa Boppana '11
Shilpa Boppana is a clinical psychologist in Birmingham, AL. She provides individual and group psychotherapy and is especially interested in trauma, grief, intimate partner violence, LGBTQIA+ issues, and cultural factors in mental health treatment. Shilpa completed her PhD at the University of Mississippi and is originally from Birmingham, AL. Prior to her graduate studies, Shilpa spent a year abroad in Medan, Indonesia as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant and worked at a non-profit in Philadelphia. She was a Religious Studies major and a Psychology minor at Swarthmore.
Spriha Dhanuka '17
Spriha Dhanuka is the Director of PR and Communications at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, leading all storytelling for the Museum. Following her graduation from Swarthmore, Spriha returned to India to pursue a career in communications, focusing on consumer startups. This was followed by a stint in Belgium in B2B communication consulting for chemical and health companies, finally returning to the US to consult with large brands like Frito-Lay and Mastercard. In addition to her honors BA in Film and Media Studies and History from Swarthmore, Spriha holds a joint MA in Digital Communication, Policy and Innovation in Europe from Vrije Universiteit Brussels and Universität Salzburg.
Steve Dean '11
Steve Dean is a Philadelphia-based dating industry consultant and relationship coach who has been helping both online daters and dating app executives navigate the dating ecosystem for over 14 years. Since 2011, Steve has worked with dating companies like OkCupid, Hinge, and Coffee Meets Bagel on product strategy, competitive analysis, and talent sourcing. He has personally used over 300 dating apps across 100+ cities, interviewed thousands of people about their experiences, and authored white papers on topics like AI content moderation and communication tools. He appeared in an ABC News Australia documentary exposing Tinder’s problematic sexual assault reporting features, which led to an overhaul of how Tinder handles abuse reporting, along with the creation of a comprehensive safety center within the app. During his years at Swarthmore, Steve wrote a campus adventure column for the Daily Gazette and an advice column for the Phoenix. He worked with Swarthmore's Information Technology Services and the Photo Club, and graduated with a BA in Political Science and Public Policy. Steve now spends his time teaching, blogging, and creating guides about how to select dating apps, construct profiles, send messages, craft memorable dates, and design relationships.
Samantha Ehlers '21
Samantha Ehlers ('21) worked as a software developer at Epic Systems. Her project assignments in that position focused on the Data Dictionary, a set of user-facing documentation of database structures, and various levels of bug fixing. At Swarthmore, she received a B.A. in Computer Science with minors in Engineering and Mathematics, and frequently participated in the Psi Phi club meetings and events. Samantha currently resides in Connecticut near New York City and is eager to start working with YAAP
Brendan John '12
Brendan has worked in research and technology roles for over the last 12 years. He last served as the Director of Engineering at the Democratic Data Exchange, a company that helps progressive political organizations run their programs more effectively. Prior to that he has worked in research and development at The National Institutes of Health and The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, earning a Masters in Applied Mathematics at the latter. Brendan currently resides in Seattle with his wife Allison.
Alex Kingsley '20
Alex Kingsley (they/them) is a writer, comedian, game designer, and playwright. They are a co-founder of the new media company Strong Branch Productions, where they write and direct sci-fi comedy podcast The Stench of Adventure and other shows. Their debut novel "Empress of Dust" was published by Space Wizard Science Fantasy in Fall 2024. Their short fiction has appeared in Translunar Travelers Lounge, Radon Journal, The Storage Papers, and more. In 2023 they published their short story collection, The "Strange Garden and Other Weird Tales". Alex’s sci-fi plays have been produced in LA, Philadelphia, and Chicago. Alex’s SFF-related non-fiction has appeared in Interstellar Flight Magazine and Ancillary Review of Books.
Christina Labows '18
Christina Labows is a healthcare programs and communications consultant in the Washington DC area. After graduating from Swarthmore with a degree in Neuroscience, she spent three years working at the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia coordinating research projects at the intersection of developmental disorders and traffic safety. Christina then pursued an MPH at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in Health Behavior. While in Chapel Hill, Christina supported multiple projects, ranging from veteran health, to peer support on college campuses, to engaging youth across North Carolina that were disconnected from school and work post-COVID. Christina is a founding member of YAAP and values connecting with other young alumni trying to navigate non-linear career paths. In her spare time, Christina loves running, reading, and cheering on Philly sports!
Gwendolyn Lam '24
Gwendolyn Lam is a postbaccalaureate cancer research training award fellow at the National Cancer Institute's Center for Structural Biology. She is working to determine the structure of archeal RNA to motivate innovative drug mechanisms. While attending Swarthmore, she was the president of Bird Club and a board member of Organizing to Redefine Asian Activism and Gender Minorities in Mathematics and Statistics. She also was a Photon and Pi-rate, Mary Lyons breakfast chef, and a Cornell librarian. She graduated from Swarthmore College in 2024 with a B.A. in biochemistry and mathematics. Gwendolyn is also the Class Secretary for 2024.
Arsean Maqami '12
Arsean Maqami ‘12, serves as President of DC Partners, a luxury high-rise real estate developer, where he holds a pivotal role in managing and directing all facets of the organization. With a wealth of experience in mixed-use properties, adaptive reuse, multi-family developments, and tenant fit-outs, Arsean is a seasoned executive with a comprehensive understanding of the real estate industry. Before assuming his current role at DC Partners, Arsean co-founded DB Partners, a real estate development and construction management firm, with Blake Berg. As leaders of DB Partners they successfully orchestrated the development and construction of over two million square feet of mixed-use projects across prominent locations in New York, California, Texas, Florida, Connecticut, Indiana, and Washington DC. Arsean’s professional journey also includes significant tenures at Seritage Growth Properties, where he held the position of Vice President of Development and Construction, and at WeWork, where he served as a Senior Director of Development and Construction. In these roles, he demonstrated his proficiency in capital planning, real estate underwriting, and operational excellence throughout the entire development lifecycle. Arsean Maqami holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Swarthmore College and a Master of Business Administration from Columbia University. His academic background, combined with his extensive industry experience, positions him as a distinguished leader in the real estate sector.
Julia Ostrowski '21
Julia Ostrowski graduated Swarthmore College in 2021 with a double major in Peace & Conflict Studies and Spanish. Originally from Connecticut, Julia now lives in NYC where she works as a healthcare consultant for providers. Julia loves to be active and spend time outside. In her free time, you can find Julia exploring Central Park or traveling to hike or ski.
Jacob Park '24
Jacob Park is a Market Risk Analyst at J.P. Morgan based in New York City. He previously worked at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau within the Office of Technology and Innovation. While at Swarthmore, Jacob served as a Student Philanthropy Ambassador and Budgeting Committee Associate for student organizations. Jacob holds a B.A. in Computer Science and Economics from Swarthmore College.
Brandon Shi '20
Brandon (he/him) is a data analyst at the Better Business Bureau and a co-founder of a start-up. In 2020, he co-founded Bridging Pacific, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting immigrant families navigating life in the U.S.
In May 2020, he earned a B.A. in Sociology and Anthropology with a minor in Psychology from Swarthmore College. During his time there, he was actively involved in student leadership, serving on the I20 board, co-founding the campus chapter of Families Against Mandatory Minimums, participating in student government, and working as a senior admissions fellow.
Xena Wang '19
I’m Xena (pronounced Zenna), and I live in Philadelphia. I currently work in executive search at Heidrick & Struggles and was previously in higher education admissions at the University of Pennsylvania. I graduated from Swarthmore with degrees in Art and Classics and created the Scenes of Swarthmore book and postcards as a passion project. I stay involved in alumni engagement through the Swarthmore Alumni Council, Swarthmore Regional Connections, the Harvard Club of Philadelphia, and the Philadelphia Harvard Asian American Alumni Alliance chapter.
Ethan Yoo '19
Ethan Yoo (he/him) is a data analyst and social researcher with interests in disability and health, poverty and social policy, and social vulnerability to climate change. Ethan graduated from Swarthmore College as a special major in political science and educational studies. While serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA member at an anti-poverty organization, he earned a second bachelor's degree in computer science from Thomas Edison State University. Ethan recently completed the Master of Information (MI) program at Rutgers University, where he was an NJLEND fellow at The Boggs Center on Disability and Human Development, a graduate fellow at the Eagleton Institute of Politics, a Data Science Graduate Specialist at the New Brunswick Libraries, and a research assistant in two other departments. He currently works for the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He also represents New Jersey as the Data Ambassador for the State of the States in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities project and serves on the board of the Friends of the Somerset County Library.
Bobby Zipp '18
Thomas Daillak '22
Zack Lash '19
Theresa Ngandu '19
Keyanna Ortiz -Cedeno '20
Wendy Wu '19
Ariana Yett '21
Resources for Young Alumni
From requesting a transcript to finding regional events and accessing JSTOR (yes, you still have access!), our Young Alumni Resource page has everything you need to know as a recent graduate.
