At Yale, our story matters.

Ajay Culhane-Husain: SAAC Vice President and member of the Yale Education Studies Program

I’ve been very fortunate to have many mentors throughout my life—mentors who have guided me through sports, academics, and faith. I realize there are many children who do not have this same privilege. I observed this first hand while working at New Haven Reads. This experience sparked an interest of mine in education. While education is not a cure-all, it has the potential to dramatically change lives. Because of this, I have focused a large part of my studies on economic development and education. SAAC has complemented my learning in the classroom by enabling me to lead initiatives to support New Haven students, especially those who are most at risk.

Angele Kelly: Member of Yale Bulldogs for Change, Peer Mentor, SAAC Representative and member of the DEI Division

As a student-athlete, it is so easy to tell yourself that that is all you are or all you can be, especially at Yale where there just do not seem to be enough hours in the day to do anything else but attend class, practice, study, and repeat. I luckily realized coming into this University that I had to engage in other things on campus that add fulfillment to my life. I am a member of Taps at Yale, a group that is passionate about the art of tap dancing and performs twice a year for our friends and family. I am a peer mentor for Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, where I am able to provide people with information on classes and research related to my major, helping them find the best opportunities during their undergraduate career. I walked onto the Yale track and field team, which definitely changes how I approached my time here at Yale. I had a very well-rounding high school experience with the clubs and activities I participated in, so I knew I wanted the same in college. I also considered attending Yale and solely being a student, so I could use my spare time to be able to explore new interests. I soon realized that I was not ready to give up my athletic career, and athletics has provided me with so many opportunities that I could not have otherwise had. The best way to see that I am more than just an athlete is to just talk to me. I can talk all day about my favorite musicals, why Marvel is greater than DC, public health and politics, dance and music, and so much more.

Marcos Ortiz: Member of Yale Bulldogs For Change

The never-ending cycle of challenges my grandparents faced while moving from Cuba and establishing a new life for themselves and for generations to come in the U.S., has always fueled my fire and motivated me to capitalize on the opportunities I’m offered. This has very much inspired me to take the classes that challenge me and that I find intellectually stimulating, settling into the Biomedical Engineering path at Yale and beyond. Beyond the classroom, I use my voice to engage in productive and difficult conversations while encouraging my fellow peers to use theirs as well. I show up wherever I can to contribute to social movements for representing oppressed groups such as Black Lives Matter.

Chelsea Kung: SAAC DEI Subcommittee Leader, Member of Yale Bulldogs For Change, and Volunteer at her local voting call bank

I know that I am more than just an athlete playing my respective sport for Yale, and I seek to show others via my active participation in non-athletic endorsed clubs and other extracurriculars. These clubs and other extracurriculars include being an active member of the Asian American Cultural Center, wherein, I attend as many meetings and events as possible. I also show up to different protests I feel passionate about, including one in my hometown of Fort Worth, TX dedicated to BLM movement and one this past fall at Yale for climate change. Moreover, I show the world via my social media of my continued solidarity with BLM, while also condemning the continued perpetuation of POC individuals. I have also actively encouraged my followers to vote in the upcoming presidential election. I find a lot of power in my individual story as I come from first generation immigrant parents who both came to the US knowing no English, yet both pursued their educations and are now proud owner’s a master’s degree from their respective universities. As a second-generation Asian American college student, moreover, a college student at Yale, I feel immense gratitude towards my parents for never allowing me to settle or feel the need to accept a situation that I am not 100% on board with. Growing up in and attending a predominantly white neighborhood and school as an Asian American was definitely a challenging time for me as I often felt marginalized and even ashamed of my culture. As I entered my teen years, I look back and really applaud my older sister for laying the groundwork to not ignore the things that made me and identify as my own person and not who society labeled me as. When I first came to Yale (after I got over the shock of being there!), I had never felt so accepted and celebrated. As a minority, I feel now more than ever, empowered and proud to be an Asian American, especially one that actively promotes inclusivity and diversity within my different communities.

Marcus Mauney: Member of Yale Bulldogs For Change

I show that I am more than an athlete using my voice to speak for those who can’t. In my city I have experienced racism and seen its effects systematically. Because of this I’ve always used my platform as a known athlete in my city to stand up for my community and be an activist for change.

Hannah Johns: SAAC President, Student-Athlete Mentor for first year students

At my center, I am a family-oriented person. No matter what form that family takes, whether it be my immediate family or my Yale family, I love them deeply. That part of me makes me who I am, and because of the lessons I’ve learned from all the families I have been apart of, makes me a better person. When you start to see strangers as pieces of a larger family, it is easy to see why we as a culture need to make steps towards a more inclusive norm. Anyone facing adversity should be advocated for like they are a brother or a sister.

Dathan Hickey: Member of Yale Bulldogs For Change, Leader in Athletes in Action

I show that I am more than just an athlete because I want more out of the world than sports can give or do. I chose to come to a University that will change my life and my family’s life, one that allows me to be a part of something that isn’t just for myself. When I first came to Yale, I didn’t feel like I was accepted, but it made me take time to think about how it is an honor to be who I am that, I should be proud of it and not try to change who I AM for others to feel comfortable. Because if I do that, I will then be the uncomfortable one.

Anisha Arcot: SAAC Director of Strategic Communications, Co-Founder of Females in Finance

I am equally passionate about my non-athletic commitments as I am to my sport. I am committed to helping others and serving as a loyal friend and helpful teammate on all teams which I am a part of.

Juma Sei: Member of Yale Bulldogs For Change, First-year liaison and publicist for the Black Men’s Union, Tutor and mentor for the Urban Improvement Corps, Jane Matilda Bolin Program, Yale Education Tutoring Initiative, Afro-American Cultural Center peer liaison, Founding member and Yale School of Medicine policy lead for STEM & Health Equity Advocates, Radio host for WYBCx Yale University Radio, Contributing writer to The Politic.

I specifically show that I’m more than just an athlete by being myself. I realize how frustratingly corny that answer is, but it’s a funny question when you think about it. As a person, I’m defined by my multiplicity. This means I won’t ever be identified by just one aspect of my being. To do so would be to deny my full personhood.

Lindsay Chia: SAAC Community Service & Bulldog Cup Subcommittee Chair, YWAC Team Representative, WiE Treasurer

I show that I am more than just an athlete by challenging myself in academics and by joining leadership roles in organizations outside of the student athlete community. As a member of the Women in Economics leadership board, I promote diversity and inclusion in the major. I organize speaker events and provide additional tutoring opportunities to encourage others and foster a sense of community.