"My name is Brett Bolton, and I am at the Leeds School of Business at CU Boulder, double majoring in Finance and Accounting with a minor in Leadership. As a sled hockey athlete, I’m passionate about hands-on leadership that promotes accessibility, inclusion, and belonging. Through the Dalai Lama Fellowship, I hope to grow as a more compassionate and self-aware leader, while learning to create spaces where everyone feels seen and valued. Through the fellowship, I hope to better understand how to create inclusive “third spaces”; environments outside of work and home where people from diverse backgrounds can come together to connect, express themselves, and foster community. In my free time, I enjoy fitness, journaling, and connecting with others through adaptive sports."

"Hi, my name is Haley Virdi and at CU Boulder I study philosophy and political science with minors in business and leadership here at CU Boulder. As a student who believes that leadership has the power to create change, I feel very passionate about providing justice to underserved communities. I hope to learn from the Dalai Lama Fellows better ways to holistically create change and get direct experience helping my community through all the work we will do. Additionally, I hope to grow my own leadership and make myself a better person by learning as much as I can from the other Fellows in the program. Outside of leadership, I enjoy baking, going on walks, lying in the sunshine, and swimming!"

"My name is Nasana Ranjit and I am at the Leeds School of Business at CU Boulder, and I am pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a dual emphasis in Accounting and Finance. I am incredibly excited to be a part of the Dalai Lama Fellows Program because this program offers a unique opportunity to deepen my self-awareness, strengthen my capacity for mindful leadership, and build connections with a global community of changemakers. I believe that the contemplative practices of this fellowship will help me grow as a person and encourage me to lead on social change projects aimed for positive impact, resilience, and bringing communities together."

"My name is Charlie Misraje, and I am a student at the University of Colorado Boulder studying Strategy and Entrepreneurship and Operations Management with a Minor in Leadership Studies. I am passionate about leadership that’s rooted in empathy and impact, which has shaped my journey through roles like VP of the National Society of Leadership and Success and as a Peer2Peer mentor at Leeds. I’ve worked in everything from entertainment to research, and I love finding creative ways to solve problems. I’m excited to become a Dalai Lama Fellow because I believe real change starts with compassion. I want to grow as a mindful leader, learn from others, and help build a more connected world. Some of my interests include hiking, field hockey, fitness, and gaming."

"My name is Alex Radz and I am studying Finance and Management with a minor in Philosophy. I wanted to Join the Dalai Lama Fellowship to better build my skills in ethical leadership before beginning my career. I am interested in exploring how ethical business practices can drive positive societal change and create a meaningful impact on society. In my free time you can find me skiing, playing the guitar, travelling, running, and spending time with my friends."

"My name is Aloukika Patro, I am at the Leeds School of Business here at CU Boulder. I wanted to join the Dalai Lama Fellow program to collaborate with a global community of changemakers and to develop my skills in fostering social innovation through ethnic leadership! My project, called The KIKA Project, aims to spread awareness about the importance of kindness and mental health! My hobbies are travelling, photography and dancing. A fun fact about me is that I have given a TEDx talk called Strengthening Youth Mental Health through Kindness. I am so excited to be a part of the DLF journey this year!"

"My name is Gauri Mahajan, and my major is Business Analytics. Starting my journey in the corporate world soon, I want to learn how to be a more effective and compassionate leader through the Dalai Lama Fellowship program. I am excited to learn more about being self-aware and mindfully regulating my own emotions, while also expanding my cultural perspectives through the program's emphasis on community and social justice. As an international student, I have realized the importance of culture and how it affects people with a sense of belonging. My project will focus on workshops where fellows would come and present key elements of their culture and follow that with a hands-on cultural activity. This will promote a sense of belonging and create lasting connections within all of us. My other hobbies are painting, walking, and cooking."

"Hi! My name is Joy and I am studying Business Management and International Affairs at CU Boulder. I joined DLF because I wanted to learn more about meditation, contemplation, and social justice. My project explores how sports can help counteract loneliness and feelings of unbelonging. I love to read, listen to music, and try new foods, but playing volleyball and tennis growing up has been an avenue for making some of my lifelong friendships."

"My name is Michelle Myagmarsuren and I am studying Finance and Accounting, I wanted to join the Dalai Lama Fellows Program to make social changes while surrounded by like-minded individuals! I loved the program's holistic approach, essential for impact leadership. My project is to go to underserved high schools across Colorado and teach the students the basics of financial literacy. My goal is to help create a sustainable foundation that will be able to serve them throughout their life. I also hope to bring professionals across different industries to be able to create connections that can help them throughout their professional life."

"Hello! My name is Nour Faleh and I am at the Leeds School of Business studying Marketing and Management. I wanted to join the Dalai Lama Fellowship because I felt that it would allow me to grow my leadership skill with its head hands and heart components by learning how to balance each. I am also looking forward to creating a community in which are welcoming in every way! I am very passionate about connecting youth from low-income areas with opportunities that will allow them to continue their education outside of public school. Outside of my academics, I thoroughly enjoy reading, watching different movies and shows, painting, drawing, and ceramics, and finally a good late evening walk."

"Tvishi is majoring in Biochemistry with minors in Biomedical Engineering and Business at University of Colorado Boulder. To Tvishi, the Dalai Lama Fellows program provides a platform to refine her leadership skills, deepen her commitment to compassionate action, and contribute meaningfully to her future endeavors by understanding how to cultivate a culture of empathy, collaboration, and purpose-driven action. During her fellowship year, Tvishi plans to launch a project focusing on mindfulness and healthy well-being practices. Leveraging digital platforms and community resources in Colorado, this project aims to educate and empower individuals to prioritize their well-being. In the future, as she is passionate about bioengineering research and patient care, Tvishi plans to pursue an MD/PhD to help advance medical and research techniques, particularly in resource-constrained contexts. Beyond academics, Tvishi finds joy in dancing and co-managing her competitive Indian fusion dance team, CU Milana, nature photography, hiking, and building miniatures."

"My name is Erica Carlos Perez, pronouns she/her/hers. I am studying Business Analytics and Information Management with a minor in Information Science. My hometown is Aurora, CO. On most days, you'll find me reading, playing games with my friends, and exploring Boulder. I'm excited to meet fellow social change makers and go on a journey of learning about my own leadership and self-care in the social justice space."

"Hi, I am Gabriel “One Feather” Thomas Cervantes. My pronouns are he/they. I’m in the Leeds School of Business, majoring in Business Administration with an emphasis in Operations Management, a minor in Philosophy and a certificate in both SRE and ESG. I’m from Thornton, but I’m more of an urbanite than a suburban dweller. I have a genuine love of taking public transportation and riding my bike as a means of transportation, even though I’m a cycling enthusiast. I’m excited about honing my leadership skills and applying that to my community. What gets me excited as corny is achieving things and watching people grow; I thoroughly enjoy mentorship. I’m extremely competitive but even more, I love creating environments in which people can be themselves to also be competitive and successful. I’m most excited about being a Fellow because it gives me an opportunity to become an emerging leader. I’ve been in leadership capacities since I was 16 years old, but I’m excited to be at the forefront of emerging leaders again. I can’t wait to see what DLF has in store for me, and naturally, I want to get the absolute best out of it that I can."

"Hi, I'm Kendall! I am at the Leeds School of Business, studying finance and entrepreneurship. I grew up in Whitefish, Montana where I enjoyed skiing, hiking, biking, and soaking up the beautiful fresh air in the mountains. I began teaching yoga this January, and it's a passion I hope to continue developing. I'm also passionate about music, specifically piano! I'm grateful for my new home here in Boulder and the amazing memories I've made so far. This program immediately sparked my interest. I look forward to making new connections globally and expanding my knowledge about different cultures and experiences. Also, I'm eager to collaborate with others and support each other with our projects and visions for making an impact on our communities. I'm beyond excited about this new opportunity to become a part of the DL Fellow community!"

"Meghan Fall is a driven and compassionate individual who is currently pursuing a major in Business and a minor in Italian. She goes by the pronouns she/her/hers and has a deep passion for trying out gluten-free food around Boulder and attending her nephew's hockey games. Meghan is excited to be a part of the Dalai Lama Fellowship program. She is interested in developing a service project that supports grieving college students. She believes that this opportunity will help her learn more about herself, create meaningful relationships with other fellows, and make a positive impact on those around her.

As a part of the program, Meghan hopes to become a more holistic version of herself, capable of regulating her own emotions and leading a more mindful life. She is eager to learn more about how she can help others become centered after the trauma of losing a loved one."

"My name is Nikki Bechtold and I use she/her pronouns. I am a Marketing Major at Leeds! I am originally from Fort Collins, CO and some of my hobbies are hammocking, painting, drawing, rollerblading, and movie watching. I am very excited to be a DLF fellow because of the program’s focus on community and mindfulness. I hope to be able to contribute to this community and learn from my fellow peers in it as well."

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“The idea of using mindfulness to understand social justice and leadership spoke to my own interests. I have recently incorporated mindfulness into my life as a way to bring balance and compassion into my world. I hope to do the same within the fellowship.”

“A big part of meditation comes from intentions. I have the intention to ground myself and become a better version that can deal with the complexity of our world.”