Category: Fellows Bio

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Thandeka Bango

Thandeka Bango (’26) is a rising Junior from Harare, Zimbabwe majoring in Environmental Geosciences and Geography. Through his first-hand experience living on the African continent, Thandeka witnessed countries plagued by macroeconomic volatility, corruption, societal disparities and what can be deemed a human-induced famine, whose consequences have only been exacerbated by climate change and the enhanced greenhouse effect.

His participation in the 2021 World Economic Forum Citizens Dialogues gave him the skills to cultivate a multifaceted approach to resolving global issues in varied contexts. Thandeka’s research, therefore evaluates the feasibility of sustainable development in Zimbabwe. With his dedication to Environmental Justice, Thandeka hopes to model African economies sustainably critically exploring positive change.

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JACKLINE MASETU

Jackline Masetu is a rising sophomore majoring in Computer Science and Engineering. She is from Nairobi, Kenya. Her project is on CRISPR, a gene editing technique, and its application in treating sickle cell diseases. The research focuses on which demographics are most affected by Sickle Cell Diseases, the efficacy of CRISPR in treating Sickle Cell Diseases, and whether it is feasible for this treatment to be made available to the demographic that most needs it.

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Gianna Depina

Hello!

Gianna Depina was born October 23 2003 in Boston, Massachusetts. She ethnically is a Cape Verdean American woman and identifies as a black woman. She has always been curious, outgoing, passionate, and extremely warm hearted. Gianna is a rising junior who is intending on graduating from Bucknell with a B.S in Neuroscience, on the premed track, with an intended minor in health humanities. She strongly believes that it is equally important for pre-health students to explore and learn about the humanities side of health, as it is the science side. Gianna loves nature, cars, working out, all types of animals, and her Mommy, Francisca Depina. Gianna has always been family orientated as she someday wants to start her own big family. Gianna is currently working on spreading awareness on several topics.

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Malika Ali

Malika Ali ‘26 is an International Relations & Classics double major with an intended minor in Arabic. She grew up in Carteret, NJ, but moved around during the COVID-19 pandemic before settling in Lewisburg, PA. Malika is very interested in law and justice and hopes to eventually attend law school after graduating Bucknell. She is specifically interested in public policy and criminal justice.

Her project focuses on studying the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the criminal justice system. Specifically, she aims to analyze how the pandemic led to changes in prosecution rates, arrests, and incarcerations, highlighting inequities that arose such as increased risk of exposure, reduced access to legal representation, and overcrowding. Additionally, her research considers the impact of social movements like Black Lives Matter and the heightened media coverage of police brutality, which also influenced changes in law enforcement and procedures.