Quinnipiac University

Multicultural Education

Sawhney Leadership Program

Quinnipiac University Sawhney Leadership Program Logo

Multicultural Education

Sawhney Leadership Program

The Sawhney Leadership Program aims to expand leadership development and corporate immersion opportunities for historically underrepresented students in higher education. Participants work collaboratively with partners across campus and in the regional business community to expose students to multiple examples of leadership and prepare them for entry into the workforce.

What is the Sawhney Leadership Program?

The Sawhney Leadership Program prepares our fellows for their future careers by hosting leadership development workshops, engaging with successful alumni, building relationships with faculty and staff, immersing participants in corporate settings and developing a community of supportive, goal-oriented peers.

Sample session topics include:

  • Self Inventory - Locating Yourself in the World

  • Understanding Your Leadership Style

  • Building Interpersonal Skills for Workplace Success

  • The Language and Culture of the Professional/Corporate World

Meet the Sawhney Leadership Fellows

Cameron Anthony

Class Year: 2025
Hometown: Edgewood, MD

Cameron is a resident assistant on campus and deeply involved with the Quest Mentor Program and the Mixed Martial Arts Club. His passion is designing video games and keeping players safe from any cyberattacks through the games they play. Cameron’s career aspirations include working in the video game industry knowing his cybersecurity experience will help him design fun but safe games for people to enjoy. He is excited to learn more about being a good and effective leader while improving his social skills and social networking skills.

Ahmed Anwar

Class Year: 2025
Hometown: North Haven, CT

Ahmed is a behavioral neuroscience major with minors in biology and chemistry. He holds several prominent roles on campus, including president of the BNS Club, leadership board member of the University Honors Program, representative of the academic integrity board, peer fellow, CAS Advisory Council representative, and committee member. He is heavily involved in research across multiple institutions, including working as a research assistant in the Department of Psychology in the Haight Lab. Ahmed is also actively involved in the Nu Rho Psi honor society and the University Honors Program.

Daisha Beauford

Class Year: 2025
Hometown: The Bronx, NY

Daisha is a psychology major in the 3+2 Master of Social Work program. She is the treasurer of Naturally Me, a campus community that is comfortable in its beliefs and values and supports self-care, hair care, skin care, relaxation and meditation. Daisha is also the secretary of the Juvenile Urban Multicultural Program. She is currently in the process of creating a new organization for undergraduate students who are interested in social work. One of her future goals is to start a private practice that focuses on mental health counseling, especially in underrepresented communities.

Rebecca Benoit

Class Year: 2025
Hometown: Prospect, CT

Rebecca is a senior at Quinnipiac University majoring in biology and set to graduate in December 2024. She is considering pursuing a master’s degree in public health or biomedical sciences starting in the Spring 2025 semester. Rebecca’s commitment to leadership and service is evident through her volunteer work with Connecticut Foodshare, Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services (IRIS) and hospice care, where she actively supports underrepresented communities, demonstrating her passion for activism. This past summer, Rebecca collaborated with Professor Scott Davies on a research project and is currently preparing to present her findings at the Fall 2024 poster session.

Todd Bivens

Class Year: 2025
Hometown: East Haven, CT

Todd is studying human resource management at Quinnipiac. On campus, he serves as vice president of the Juvenile Urban Multicultural Program. His passions are the upkeep of education for multicultural urban youth, and ensuring they know the importance of higher education. Todd is currently working at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater New Haven as its human resources coordinator and works very closely with the teen engagement program. After graduation, he plans to enter the workforce as a human resource professional, and ultimately, as a vice president of human resources. 

Omari Brannen

Class Year: 2025
Hometown: Norwalk, CT

Omari is pursuing his Bachelor of Fine Arts in film and television. He’s proud to be a director inside and outside of the film field. He helps his mother, Myia Brannen, run Feed Our Kids. He also owns a company, Stuck In Limbo Films. He is passionate about human rights, politics, workers' rights and unionism. He aspires to dive into directing feature films in the future to attack the box that Black males are put into growing up and help males understand the positive effect of feminism on themselves.  

Margaret A. Creve-Coeur

Class Year: 2025
Hometown: Hamden, CT

Margaret is a health science studies major at Quinnipiac with minors in biology and sociology. She is a resident assistant and serves as vice president of Naturally Me, a campus community that is comfortable in its beliefs and values and supports self-care, hair care, skin care, relaxation and meditation. Margaret also works as a pharmacy technician at CVS and just received her nurse's aide license over the summer. After graduation, Margaret plans to get a secondary bachelor’s degree in nursing followed by a master's degree to become a nurse practitioner and eventually teach nursing. 

Ramesh Delsouz

Class Year: 2025
Hometown: Copenhagen, Denmark

Ramesh is an international Division I student-athlete from Copenhagen, Denmark, on the men’s soccer team at Quinnipiac University. He is in his third academic year, pursuing a degree in the accelerated dual-degree 3+1 business program with a specialization in international business and a minor in economics. Alongside his academic and athletic pursuits, Ramesh is an entrepreneur operating as the co-founder and sales director of DelsouX, a Danish trading company specializing in luxury second-hand apparel. He aspires to play soccer professionally after completing his academics while continuing to expand his entrepreneurial ventures. Ramesh is committed to making a meaningful impact while aspiring to inspire others through his journey.

Sean Emede

Class Year: 2025
Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria

Sean is enrolled in the 3+1 program for a Bachelor of Science in computer science and a Master of Science in cybersecurity. He is currently chapter president of Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Incorporated, as well as treasurer for the Black Student Union and marketing vice president for the Quinnipiac Computing Club. He has also been a part of the International Student Association. After graduation, Sean would like to work in software development or cybersecurity, particularly in networking security. He hopes to build pathways that help underrepresented communities get into this field.

David Ephirim

Class Year: 2026
Hometown: Accra, Ghana

David is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in behavioral neuroscience. Originally from Ghana, he is a member of the Quinnipiac Honors Society and Nu Rho Psi, the neuroscience national honor society. David is currently a research assistant at the Yale Health and Emotion Psychophysiology Lab, where he contributes to research on the relationship between emotional and physiological responses, handling tasks such as data collection, protocol development and lab management. Alongside his academic pursuits, David serves as a QUADS mentor and international student assistant, helping students make the transition to university life. 

Daniel Ephirim

Class Year: 2026
Hometown: Accra, Ghana

As a dedicated mechanical engineering major, Daniel thrives on hands-on problem-solving and leadership. His passion for innovative design drives his active involvement in the Baja SAE competition, where he contributes creative engineering solutions to real-world challenges. Beyond the lab, he serves as a peer catalyst for first-year seminars, mentoring and guiding new students through their transition into college life. His dual commitment to engineering excellence and student support reflects his dedication to both personal and academic growth as he strives to inspire others while continually advancing his own skills.

Niderah Jaggan

Class Year: 2025
Hometown: Roslindale, MA

Niderah is a political science major with minors in public diplomacy and public relations. She serves as the vice president of the Xi Omicron Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She also has been an active member of the African Caribbean Student Union, serving on its executive board for two years. Over the last two summers, Niderah has interned under Massachusetts state Rep. Brandy Fluker-Oakley and the U.S. State Department’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion. After graduation, Niderah plans to attend graduate school and pursue a career in public service.

Emerson Jarvis

Class Year: 2026
Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta

Emerson is a marketing major with a concentration in fashion. She is also a member of the Quinnipiac women’s ice hockey team. Along with her teammates, Emerson is committed to reciprocating the support they receive from the local area through community service. Additionally, she represents her team on the Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC). Emerson is passionate about growing sustainability practices in the fashion world. She hopes to one day build and design her own ethical clothing brand that honors her family’s Cree and Western Canadian roots.

Avery Jordan

Class Year: 2025
Hometown: Piscataway, NJ

Avery is a senior health science studies major also minoring in biology and nutrition. She is an aspiring nurse practitioner who hopes to work with children someday. She’s already taken courses in first aid, Stop the Bleed, and CPR for adults, children and infants. Avery is also a hurdler on the Quinnipiac women’s track and field team. In high school, she was a six-time All-American and a six-time state champion. Avery serves as the historian and one of the Quinnipiac liaisons for the Zealous Xi Omicron chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. 

Luishanna A. Mercedes Vera

Class Year: 2025
Hometown: Stamford, CT

Luishanna is a senior criminal justice major and sociology minor. She has been a resident assistant for three years at Quinnipiac. She is a current volunteer for the Yale Prison Education Initiative and also served as an intern in the office of U.S. Rep. Jim Himes this past summer. After graduation, she plans to attend law school in hopes of pursuing criminal or immigration law. She is deeply passionate about prison reformation and the overall mistreatment of minority groups within the criminal justice system. 

Chidinma Nwankwoala

Class Year: 2025
Hometown: New Rochelle, NY

Chidinma (Chi) is a psychology major with a sociology minor. She is involved in psychology research on campus with Professor William Jellison assessing the effects of family support and social relationships on an individual’s perceived locus of control and the discrepancy between their actual-ideal self. She is also involved in QU Montage, where she is passionate about creative writing, self-expression and self-reflection. After graduation, Chi aims to continue her education and pursue a master’s and PhD in clinical neuropsychology or cognitive psychology, with an additional interest in social work.

Paige Pray

Class Year: 2025
Hometown: Greenwich, CT

Paige is a criminal justice and law in society double major in the accelerated dual-degree (3+3) law program and the honors program. She also has a double minor in sociology and legal studies, and will graduate with a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Certificate. During her time at Quinnipiac, Paige has served as president of the Multicultural Student Leadership Council and as chief justice for the Judicial and Ethics Board of the Student Government Association. She works as a resident assistant and for the M&T Bank Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship as an undergraduate planning assistant. 

Angelique Quesada-Lopez

Class Year: 2025
Hometown: Ansonia, CT

Angelique is enrolled in the dual-degree BA in criminal justice/MS in cybersecurity (4+1) program with minors in psychology and sociology. She is employed at the Technology Center as a technology support assistant and a camera operator with the School of Communications. She participated in a professional internship with the public defender’s office in Derby, Connecticut, and became a Certified Nursing Assistant through Hartford HealthCare’s partnership with Quinnipiac. After completing her MS in cybersecurity, she hopes to assist hospitals and healthcare companies in the protection of their systems and patient information against the risks of cyberattacks.

Natalique Quesada-Lopez

Class Year: 2026
Hometown: Ansonia, CT

Natalique is an interdisciplinary studies major in the 4+1 Master of Arts in Teaching program. She is a mentor with the QUADS program, assisting local high school students with developing the science skills and knowledge to apply in their communities and studies. In addition to her studies, she is employed on campus at the Tech Center as a technology support assistant. After graduation, Natalique plans on working as an elementary school teacher, but is also considering furthering her education by getting cross-endorsed with a graduate degree in special education. 

Jazmin Recinos

Class Year: 2025
Hometown: Bristol, Connecticut

Jazmin is a computer information systems and business analytics double major in the 3+1 accelerated dual-degree program. She is also a student ambassador for both majors and the president of the Business Analytics Information Systems (BAIS) Society. She also works as a resident assistant and serves as the multicultural senator for the Student Government Association and chair of the Special Representation Cabinet. Jazmin received the Unsung Hero Award at the Undergraduate Awards and was the first recipient of the Claude Mayo Outstanding Advocacy & Justice Award from the Multicultural Student Leadership Council (MSLC). 

Ashley Vacco

Class Year: 2025
Hometown: Nanuet, NY

Ashley is a criminal justice major who is double minoring in forensic science and sociology. She transferred to Quinnipiac University in 2023.  Previously, she earned her certification in the Emerging Leaders Program at Marist College. While attending countless workshops, she expanded her knowledge and acquired leadership qualities within diverse communities. She also participated as a mentor in the Best Buddies Program at QU, gaining extensive experience working with special needs students within the juvenile community. She is currently an intern coordinator in the State of Connecticut Experiential Learning Program working in the Juvenile Probation Office.

 

Michele Vardi

Class Year: 2025
Hometown: Italy

Michele is a finance major and economics minor in the 3+1 accelerated dual-degree program at Quinnipiac. He serves as president of the Finance & Sales Club and has gained experience in finance as an M&A consultant. Michele also founded MVS, a marketing agency, and co-founded GM Global Import Export. He thrives at the intersection of finance and entrepreneurship, leveraging his marketing expertise as an agency founder with a deep interest in financial strategies to enhance projects and elevate private companies. Fluent in multiple languages, Michele aims to build a finance career and develop his leadership skills after completing his MBA.

Autumn White

Class Year: 2025
Hometown: Bristol, Connecticut

Autumn is a senior double-majoring in criminal justice and sociology and minoring in law and society with a DEI certificate in the accelerated dual-degree (3+3) law program at Quinnipiac. On campus, she serves in several capacities, including the vice president for the Multicultural Student Leadership Council and the event coordinator for Women Empowered. In addition, she is a resident assistant in the equity and inclusion Living-Learning Community with the Office of Residential Life. She plans to continue her passion for human rights by pursuing a legal career in the United Nations as a defense attorney.

Jasmin Williams

Class Year: 2025
Hometown: Long Island, NY

Jasmin is a pre-med 3+1 accelerated dual-degree biology major with a minor in women's and gender studies. She is currently the secretary of the Xi Omicron chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Jasmin also serves as the treasurer of the African-Caribbean Student Union and served as a First-Year Immersion mentor this summer for the university. In addition, she is a jumper on the university’s track and field team. After getting her master’s degree in molecular and cell biology, she plans to go to medical school to become an obstetrician-gynecologist and eventually open her own practice.

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