AI Resistance Art & Symbols of Resistance: A Visual Archive

Boston Plaza Demonstration

More…

A Graphic composed by Mentor Ehren Brav

Leveraging the power of AI image generation... Feel free to distribute - I certainly will be.

Christina Goldbaum's latest: Syria, Lebanon, and more

Recent articles, videos and podcasts from on the ground in some of the most fragile places in the world by wonderful alum and Convisero mentor Christina Goldbaum.

Cody Valdes (2008-2016)(2021-)

Cody Valdes received his MPhil in Political Thought and Intellectual History from Cambridge University and his BA in Political Science (Suma, Phi Beta Kappa) from Tufts University in 2013, where he engaged in many of the programs of the Institute for Global Leadership. These included its EPIIC colloquium, Empower Program of Social Entrepreneurship, Discourse Journal, Poverty and Power Research Initiative, Solar for Gaza/Sderot, and Synaptic Scholars. Working with Engineers without Borders counterparts from the U.S. Air Force Academy, he created the Mango Tree Project, an Engineers without Borders initiative for the Agahozo-Shalom Orphans Village in Rwanda. In Kenya, he was co-founder of an organization Sisi Ni Amani, which in Swahili means “We are Peace,” a peace-mapping initiative. After graduating, he served as a Teaching Assistant in Tufts' Department of Political Science and for the IGL during its year on the Future of Europe. He later worked with a team of therapists in Srinagar, Kashmir under the leadership of Justine Hardy to introduce a mind-body integration programme for youth in schools across the Kashmir Valley.

Cody was the critical detonator and in many ways the inspiration for The Trebuchet community effort. This wonderful relationship will continue as Cody has been named Senior Tutor for SaiU and my colleague in creating an EPIIC colloquium for the International Relations and Global Affairs program of which I am a Professor of Practice.

Jérôme Krumenacker (2016-2021)

Jérôme joined The Trebuchet at its founding in 2016, transitioning directly from his Tufts undergraduate study and the final EPIIC year under my direction, The Future of Europe. The Trebuchet being a startup, he, from the beginning, took on an evolving role encompassing all aspects of our work until his departure in 2021. From the very inception of The Trebuchet, he was a brilliant and insightful critic and a greatly valued intellectual colleague.

I joined The Trebuchet with the goal of learning how to design and structure an educational program and approach like EPIIC, so successfully mentored students in embracing complexity and thinking entrepreneurially. I had been inspired by two key lessons I absorbed. First, students can consistently rise above expectations — even their own — when they are given ownership of and responsibility for outcomes beyond their isolated learning. Second, by flattening the distance between students and experts, not only did our education benefit immensely, but many who taught and mentored us deeply appreciated the value of the experience as well. In many cases, they took EPIIC students on in mentoring relationships.

I’ve witnessed in the past years the community created by three decades of EPIIC and other Institute programs. Both of the lessons I learned were integral to the nurturing of that community, and now describe The Trebuchet's approach. The two aspects of this mission are inextricably linked — we can only confront global issues as part of a community with a shared ethos. By mentoring the next generation, that community will remain vital and resilient.

Julia Shufro (2020-2021)

I became part of the Trebuchet team during my joint degree undergraduate and graduate studies at Tufts University (BA - History and French summa cum laude) and The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy (Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy - International Security Studies). I was the Exchange Student Representative for Fletcher at Sciences Po, the Paris School of International Affairs, and was selected for Harvard Law School's Program on Negotiation. As a Bachelor’s Candidate, I participated in the EPIIC Class of 2019-2020: Preventing Genocide and Mass Atrocities. I now work as a defense consultant, but have also worked for the U.S. Department of State and the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs. I am grateful to be part of this community that inspires altruism, curiosity, and interpersonal connection!

Lomax Turner (2020-2021)

Hailing from the San Francisco Bay Area, I was raised by Russian immigrants and a resilient queer community. This upbringing sparked a desire to help communities suffering under systemic forms of oppression and conflict around the world; hence, studying International Relations and Russian at Tufts University was a natural continuation.

My education has allowed for a number of worthwhile experiences, such as competing in rigorous competitions all across America with Tufts Varsity Swim & Dive, navigating the complexities of collectivist culture by living in Moscow, and providing psychosocial and educational support to asylum seekers on the Greek Islands. 

But it was the life-changing class EPIIC I took at the Institute of Global Leadership (IGL), that changed the way I thought about education right at a time when I was struggling to find my way in academia. Feeling burnt out from years of repetitive, short-term-based learning, this experimental class single-handedly brought my love of learning back. Not only did I acquire an arsenal of nuanced knowledge in the field of forced migration, I also organized an international symposium with renowned speakers, mentored high school students, and was also able to tap into an incredible network of brilliant IGL alumni.

I joined The Trebuchet to continue my journey with the IGL and to give back to a community that has already graced me with so much.

Alessandra Torres

Intern

I am a Junior at Tufts University studying Psychology and Food Systems and Nutrition. While I am truly fascinated by a shockingly widespread range of topics within the social and behavioral sciences, I often find that these subjects are more integrated than they initially appear. With this combination of interests, I am excited to learn more about the intersection of brain health, environmental exposures, social pressures, and other distinctly human problems.

I am from Chicago, and grew up sailing on Lake Michigan. At Tufts, I am a member of the Varsity Sailing Team, and right now am enjoying racing in as many new venues and fleets as I can. This past summer, I drove a chartered boat cross-country from the East Coast to San Diego to compete on the Mexican border, where we ranked second place nationally.

In high school, I was fortunate enough to have a pretty spectacular early singing career with the Voice of Chicago, where I had the opportunity to perform with Yo-Yo Ma, Bobby McFerrin, Chance the Rapper, Common, and several other internationally acclaimed musicians.

As someone who can hardly remain static, I have always harbored a passion for global exploration and immersion. Most recently, I have acquired a newfound love of scuba diving, and am extremely excited to continue traveling after I graduate and deepen my ventures.

I was introduced to Sherman Teichman through my parents, who were in Sherman’s EPIIC classes of ‘93 and ‘94. I am incredibly grateful to have been welcomed into this community, and am constantly awed and inspired by everyone who I have met within it. As such, I am extraordinarily proud and excited to join The Trebuchet and contribute to its mission.

Ashleigh Mahabir

Marketing & Events Intern

I was fortunately born and raised on the multicultural island, Trinidad, where I was exposed to many different backgrounds, cultures, and traditions. I, myself, am a product of many different racial, and cultural fusions as I proudly identify as a half Lebanese, half mixed West Indian. My home country, personal identity and world exposure from travel has deeply instilled in me a passion for learning about and working with people stemming from different communities. With this passion, I am on a journey to do work regarding human rights, migration, and conflict resolution.  

I am currently a senior at Tufts University, where I am working toward a major in International Relations, with a concentration in Globalization, and a minor in Spanish. My life at Tufts thus far has granted me with amazing opportunities to further my passions in human rights, migrations, and conflict resolution. I have conducted research on topics such as the Syrian refugee crisis, gender violence in Latin American countries, and the development of many global cities. In my Spanish classes, I have been able to advance my understanding in, not only the language, but also developments of the social, cultural, and political formations in Spanish speaking countries, as well as I have engaged with many native speakers about many interesting topics such as discrimination against minorities. Beyond the classroom, I have elevated my interest in working with a range of different people, including children, through my engagement with the Tufts Peace Games club. There, I visit elementary schools to educate young children about mindfulness, mental health, and peace.  

My life experiences to date have sculpted me into an individual who really hopes to get to know, work with and help as many people as I possibly can. After I graduate, I hope to work with minority groups, such as refugees, residing in the United States through making sure that they are receiving the resources and opportunities that they have rights to. For this reason, I am truly exhilarated to work with The Trebuchet, an incredibly intelligent and passionate community that will aid me on my journey to become a well-informed, responsible global citizen.  

Grace Patrice

Intern

I am a recent graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where I double concentrated in Marketing and Management and was a part of its varsity swim team. While my degrees have landed me a corporate marketing job, most of my interests up to this point have been within healthcare, specifically producing and publishing research that compares the cost effectiveness of various cancer treatments with the intent of informing the proper allocation of finite treatment resources.

I know Sherman through my parents and their Cape Cod circle, which brought us together as friends initially but has led to a wonderful mentor-mentee relationship. His eclectic interests, experiences, and community has given me the space to try to find a place for my intrinsic desire to do something more socially impactful, which cannot be fulfilled through my current position. He has let me into the Trebuchet community, which is one I am honored to be a part of and hope to contribute to in a meaningful way. 

Ravi Patel

Global Affairs Intern

I am a rising junior at Tufts University majoring in International Relations, with a concentration in security. As a child of Indian immigrants with a multicultural upbringing, I was introduced to the importance of global citizenship from an early age. Paired with my interests in strategic affairs and language learning which I developed in part due to my background, I felt compelled to merge my passions into my current academic track.

My experiences at Tufts and with the IGL have allowed me to thoroughly engage with humanitarianism and international security. Through my Arabic courses, I was able to interview Middle Eastern refugees about their personal struggles and advance my comprehension of significant Middle Eastern political events, such as the Arab Spring, and their ramifications on the individual level. As the ROTC representative for ALLIES, I organized and participated in meetups between military fellows at The Fletcher School and cadets, and through these conversations I was able to better grasp the real-world applications of theoretical frameworks of international relations, along with the essentialness of incorporating diplomacy and soft power to advance national interests. I have also been involved with MERG as the IGL Liaison and Outreach Coordinator, where I have been able to greatly deepen my understanding of Middle Eastern humanitarian and security affairs, organize panels with highly esteemed speakers, and truly discover the impressive network of IGL alumni.

I was drawn to The Trebuchet due to my eagerness to collaborate with Sherman and the rest of the Trebuchet team in their inspirational work. My journey has began here with becoming a teaching assistant for Sherman’s Global Challenges course at Sai University. I hope to contribute to an outstanding community and bridge divides across all groups and cultures.

Shaheer Rahman

SaiU Global Challenges Intern

As an incoming junior at the Dual BA Program Between Columbia University and Sciences Po, I have spent the last two years in Menton, France, where I am studying Economics and Sociology with a concentration on the MENA region, and will spend the next two years in New York, where I’ll study Economics and Political Science. Originally from Dallas and a child of Muslim immigrants from Pakistan, I grew up in a diverse, multicultural, and interfaith community that instilled in me a desire to promote understanding and collaboration in my life and career.

Living in Europe has afforded me rewarding experiences that have significantly impacted my worldview. I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to learn more about European culture and life as I’ve travelled throughout the EU, and I’ve also been able to learn French. Moreover, to delve into my interests in interfaith collaboration and peacebuilding, I had the opportunity to conduct a research project at the American University of Cairo, where I studied the common national identity and bonds between the city’s Muslim and Coptic communities. I am currently further exploring this interest at the Embodying Peace fellowship, where I am working with an NGO in the West Bank to help empower Palestinian women and learn about civil society peacebuilding in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I’ve also been able to make weekly visits to Italy to assist the migrant and refugee communities on the Franco-Italian border during the pandemic. 

I was inspired to join The Trebuchet at Embodying Peace, where Sherman Teichman is a Senior Advisor to the fellows. There, I learned about the amazing work the Trebuchet does, and was also able to occasionally visit Convisero webinars. I am truly excited to contribute to and learn from the work that Sherman and The Trebuchet do and have started this by becoming a teaching assistant for his Global Challenges course at Sai University.

Grace spalding-fecher

Human Rights Intern

I am a senior at Tufts University majoring in International Relations and French with a concentration in Globalization.  I chose this combination as a way to further explore my interests in human rights, international affairs and migration that have been inspired by lived and learned experiences. I spent a wonderful childhood in Cape Town, South Africa, where I lived until my family decided to return to the US. My experience growing up there informs many of my current interests and choice in classes as a way to understand the society and system that surrounded me growing up. In my course that explored historical perspectives on crises in Africa, I wrote a paper about the rise of Afrikaner Nationalism in South Africa and how that created the foundation for the Apartheid state. Other courses such as Political Violence in State and Society, and Race and US-Africa Relations have allowed me to explore the intersectionality of these interests.

Outside of my courses I am the leader of Amnesty International at Tufts, where we work to raise awareness of human rights abuses and host weekly discussions about current events. This past semester we worked with other student groups to put on a symposium on Preserving and Promoting Freedom of the Press, which brought together journalists and activists, many who are Institute for Global Leadership alumni. We also hosted a screening and discussion of The Dissident and participated in Amnesty’s Write for Rights Campaign.

With the Oslo Scholars program, I interned last summer for Vanessa Tsehaye and One Day Seyoum, an Eritrean human rights advocacy organization. Through my work with them I learned about the role and positive impact that NGOs can have on human rights issues. I worked with them to track human rights abuses in Eritrea and develop a strong administrative foundation as a new NGO. As part of the internship, I attended the Oslo Freedom Forum in Miami, FL, where I listened to and met many activists, politicians, and dissidents. While they all came from different countries and backgrounds, I was inspired by the way they were united in their fight against oppressive regimes and political disenfranchisement.

More recently I finished my spring semester abroad in Paris, where I was fortunate enough to further my French studies and explore my love for art history through complete cultural and linguistic immersion. In addition, it gave me the chance to explore and observe the intersection of my interest in international affairs and human rights from a different vantage point. Learning how to discuss those issues in French and continuing those conversations in my courses and homestay gave me invaluable insight into a non-American perspective.

I am honored to be a part of the Trebuchet and join a community of passionate, like-minded individuals. I am excited to become involved in the Trebuchet’s work and contribute to the meaningful dialogues within this community.

Liz Shelbred

Human Rights Intern

From a young age, my parents instilled within me the power of curiosity, and provided me with the resources to broaden my perspective. My travels to various parts of the world sparked my interests in human rights, migration, and conflict resolution, and led me to research the transformative power of critical pedagogy.

I am a senior at Tufts University pursuing a double major in International Relations and Civic Studies, with concentrations in Security and Peace and Justice Studies. Since my first year at Tufts, The Tufts Daily has provided me not only with a strong community but also a means of preserving the truth and mobilizing change on campus. I have served as Associate Editor, Executive Opinion Editor, and a member of the Editorial Board. Currently, I write for the Investigative section and am on the Journalism Education and Diversity Report Committees at the Daily. I have also been a member of Amnesty International at Tufts, where I have learned about practical ways to prevent human rights abuses and deliver justice. Additionally, as part of the Tufts Experimental College’s Explorations program, I am teaching a first-year course on the covert history of CIA involvement in Latin America.

I followed my interest in transformative education to Education for Employment (EFE), where I aided in assembling a global network of prominent influencers, entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists to fund and promote EFE’s Fall 2020 Women’s Empowerment campaign across the MENA region. In the spring of 2020, I volunteered with the World Peace Foundation to track the spread of COVID-19 in prisons, jails, and ICE detention centers. With the Oslo Scholars program at the Tufts Institute for Global Leadership, I interned for Jamila Raqib and the Albert Einstein Institution this summer. There, I tracked nonviolent action in the news, researched the role of digital technologies and social media in nonviolent resistance, and aided in developing the AEI 2.0 platform. In October, I will be attending the Oslo Freedom Forum in Miami.

After college, I hope to pursue a career in human rights law and conflict resolution. I joined The Trebuchet to follow my belief in education and community to be the keys to dismantling systems of oppression and division.

Naomi Michelson

Ingyin Khine

Human Rights Intern

I’m a junior at Tufts University studying International Relations with a concentration in Global Health. On campus, I am a board member at Tufts South Asian Regional Committee (SARC) and Maternal Advocacy and Research for Community Health (MARCH). I also participated in the EPIIC Class of 2019-2020: Preventing Genocide and Mass Atrocities and learned about the complexities of Genocide studies and state atrocities.

I was born and raised in Yangon, Myanmar. For the past few months since February 1st, I have witnessed my country fall under dictatorship again for the 3rd time and the people fighting for freedom once again. While it breaks my heart every day to see the Burmese military and other oppressive institutions continue to terrorize the people, the unbent revolutionary spirits of my people continue to inspire me to keep fighting for freedom daily.

While I was still in Yangon over the past year, I worked with numerous organizations doing whatever we can to help maintain the resistance. Whether it is through fundraising or teaching kids who have been resisting the regime by refusing to go to school or through helping out with a campaign to memorialize everyone who has fallen during the revolution, I've been trying to keep my hopes up during what seems to be a very bleak time for my country.

During and after college, I hope to continue to fight for human rights and justice for all the oppressed groups of the world. I joined the Trebuchet to be involved with and learn from a community of like-minded individuals who are all so passionate about their work.

Tulliver Lines

Intern/Amanuensis

I am a rising senior at Bard College at Simon’s Rock, where I study English literature. 

I’ve lived in Brookline my whole life, where Sherman has always been a neighborly presence. While my interests often take me to the deep parts of library stacks that are totally sunlight-free, Sherman has persuaded me to work with him and to look out at the world through his eyes for a little while. My passions draw me most to Middle Eastern affairs, and, at times, Central and Eastern Europe. 

My mother — a close friend of Sherman and his wife —  was a Moscow Correspondent in the Soviet Union and later the Russian Federation from 1986 to 1993, and from her I’ve received both an education and a continuing interest in the world. My own writing tends toward the creative side, but I am eager to find ways of narrativizing the research that I and others do, and to describe both the physical and emotional aspects of being a part of an outward-looking community. 

My area of personal inquiry right now centers on the poet Louis Zukofsky, and on the placement of Jewish perspectives in the first wave of literary Modernism. That interest more or less inevitably intersects with one in modern Israel and its place in the Middle East, as well as the tensions and differences between diasporic and Israeli Jews. 

I spent last year reading English at Lincoln College, Oxford. There, I was able to broaden my mind to include the principles of American and British literature simultaneously. I hope to work further to allow such simultaneities to flourish, as they seem to me to constitute the most useful kind of understanding in the sense of ‘an understanding’, something which exists between and not just within people. Such understandings are what allow me to do my work, as they delimit that which can be a subject, whether an image in my poetry or in the day-to-day observations that I use in my prose.

Through that desire to have and work (live) within limits, I take an interest in the world and world affairs. The general ‘tide’ of history seems to be an exertion of gravity (towards or away from capitalism, democracy, liberalism, authoritarianism, etc.) in the all-important space of ideas, while in the world, curiosity and joy are felicitous surroundings for the soul.

If to have a community is to have people who fascinate, who drive one into the world, who change ‘before one’s eyes,’ I hope to have this one bring me into a different level of interest in the good unfolding around the world (outside the Anglosphere particularly) even in the present time. 

[Teichman:] I thoroughly anticipate a fun-filled, mirthful time with Tulliver. I surely cannot know what will evolve, but I know it will yield fascinating outcomes. He is a fencer in spirit and sport.  With this foilist, there will be a lot of parries and ripostes ahead. He has chosen among other tasks, as yet to-be-defined responsibilities, to take on the complexity of my calendar and scheduling across the globe, meeting our community and decisively engaging, attracting, and perplexing one and all. Our first days began with his ambivalence towards Remi, informing me he cares not a whit about sport, that his diversions into Foreign Affairs and Foreign Policy distract him from his beloved Kenyon Review and translations of Slavic poetry.  What a compelling brew. I wonder whether we will ever get anything done given our propensity to talk together.

Felix Bhattacharya

I am a current Junior at Tufts University pursuing a degree in International Relations and Civic Studies. While I was originally born in Newton, Ma — I moved to Berlin, Germany when I was 6 and grew up there most of my life. I moved back to the US for high school, and lived in Pittsburgh, PA for those four years. Being half-German and half-Indian, I have always loved to travel and explore the world. Academically, I have found a profound interest in international law and its purpose, as well as AI and how we will have to assess both its potential and risks.

Outside of class, I play tennis, act on the stage, and compete on the Tufts Mock Trial team. This past summer, I worked in Berlin on a new global forum called Berlin Global Dialogue — which brought together leaders from the public and private sector. I love finding opportunities for dialogue across different opinions, and believe dialogue and collaboration can lead to a better understanding of the world and its primary issues.

My love for theatre and tennis, have taught me about teamwork and collaboration — the importance of trusting your partner, whether it be on the stage or courts with partners or in everyday life. My life experiences have taught me to never make assumptions about individuals and always trying to enter a conversation with an open mind.

Learning more about the IGL and its mission, through taking EPIIC (‘23) and being the Vice-President of Tufts Amnesty International, has shown me the power of a wide international network. I joined Trebuchet as an intern to learn more about the power of collaboration and dialogue, and how it can help make the world a better place.

[Teichman:] I will have the wonderful opportunity to be with Felix for the next several years, as he has been accepted to Fletcher in the highly competitive BA/MALD program. This will also be an intergenerational relationship for me as he has introduced me to his father Professor C.B. Bhattacharya, a mentor who will also be a lecturer at Sai University and help me continue to honor the memory of Bory Damyanova.

David Rubin

Network Coordinator

I am a rising Senior at Dartmouth College studying International Relations and Geography. My time in school has focused on subjects of nuclear non-proliferation and geopolitical conflict with my regions of interest being the Middle East and Russia. At Dartmouth, I have been named a War and Peace Fellow at the Dickey Institute of International Understanding.

These academic interests and a family connection led me to Sherman, who introduced me to Trebuchet and Student Pugwash USA. With Sherman’s guidance, I have created a Pugwash Student organization at Dartmouth with the goal of creating a community to reflect and discuss subjects of Nuclear and advanced weaponry technologies and their implications on geopolitics. Our meetings involve dissecting publications put forward by the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists or the International Security Journal, in addition to exploring recent headlines surrounding International Security and WMDs.  Our group is currently 25 strong and highly motivated!

I am also involved with the Dartmouth varsity Squash team. As a returning senior and 4 year varsity letter winner, I will be at the helm of the team next year as one of its captains.

As a dual citizen of America and France, the ability to navigate two languages and cultures is my strong suit. In the spring of 2021, I took a gap year to live in Paris, where I worked as a paralegal at Gobert et Associes, a French real estate law firm. My duties at the firm involved judicial research and the management of dozens of British homeowners in France participating in a class action suit. This opportunity provided me the opportunity to navigate a fully professional francophone environment.

With my head now geared towards the foreign service, being a member of the Trebuchet team is an honor. The Trebuchet’s goals of creating meaningful dialogues amongst people of various opinions and backgrounds is essential to tackling multinational issues. I look forward to furthering these dialogues and to growing the Trebuchets vast network of avid and like-minded individuals.

[Teichman:] David is a really interesting part of a lineage. I first became aware of his parents, Anne-Marie Codoeur and Ron Rubin, when they were co-founders of the University of the Middle East alongside Keith Fitzgerald, then one of my students who I helped advise. I had the advantage of a sustained period of time because of the unique Dartmouth framework, and in the months that we worked together, he wonderfully touched every aspect of this web and its projects in a deliberate, organized, and effective manner. He was tremendous fun to work with. He introduced me to the world of squash and all the hidden parks and places of Brookline.

Tarun Kumar Reddy

Intern

I am Tarun Kumar Reddy, a fourth-year student from the School of Computing and Data Science at Sai University, Chennai, India. I was born and raised in a small city called Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh, India. I later joined Sai University for my undergraduate studies, where I was part of its founding batch. At Sai University, I am majoring in Data Science, learning Mathematics, Programming, Machine Learning, Computer Vision, and Natural Language Processing. Along with my major, I am doing a minor in Economics. My interests include Technology, Strategy, Development studies, Social Impact, and Public Policy. I believe in multi-disciplinary education and that the solutions to pressing problems come from combining multiple disciplines. Apart from academics, I am an active volunteer at Sai University, conducting several events and activities.

My journey with Sherman and Trebuchet started in my second semester(2022) when I started working with him to manage the Trebuchet website and design posters for his courses at Sai University. Our relationship has strengthened over time, and I have worked as a designer for many courses he offered at SaiU. I also served as a teaching assistant for the Global Challenges course in 2023-24, and now I work with him on various aspects of the Trebuchet. I was fortunate enough to meet a lot of people from the Trebuchet community, and Sookrit Malik, founder and CEO of Energeia, is one of them. I was glad that he offered me an internship at Energeia as a Business Analyst. Apart from our professional relationship, Sherman serves as a mentor, and I discuss different aspects of my life and get guidance from him in all major decisions I make.

AMEDEO BETTAUER

Intern

I'm a sophomore at Brookline High School, but I grew up in the greatest city in the world, New York City. I like to slot in time each day to catch up on world news - a habit I picked up growing up with NPR over breakfast, which sparked my early appreciation for storytelling and current events.

I write for The Cypress, Brookline High's newspaper, exploring issues that affect our school community. I am the co-captain of the Brookline Speech and Debate team, where I compete in Extemporaneous Speaking, analyzing political questions with minimal preparation time. In this activity, I have been a finalist at many tournaments and qualified for the 2025 national competition in Chicago, IL. I'm also the co-founder of the Brookline Invests club, where I help fellow students understand the factors behind financial markets and economic trends.

Last summer, I worked on AI and Digital Strategy as an intern with the City of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. While navigating AI strategy in a government context was fascinating, it also reinforced my belief that understanding how different fields intersect - from journalism to policy to technology - is crucial for addressing complex challenges.

When not writing or competing, you might find me practicing the harp, crafting fancy coffee drinks, or keeping up my 700+ day Duolingo streak (which has helped me learn conversational Dutch and Japanese, as well as a bit of German). I'm excited to work with Sherman and be part of the Trebuchet community.

Srikanth Reddy

Intern

I’m currently pursuing a Master’s in Computer Science at Boston University, driven by a strong passion for both technology and business. Originally from Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, my journey has been fueled by a curiosity to solve real-world problems through user-centered design and innovative thinking. I’m especially drawn to the product side of technology, where technical insight meets strategic decision-making to create impactful, scalable solutions.

At Boston University, I’ve had the opportunity to explore this intersection of tech and business more deeply through a machine learning project called WLF, developed within BU Spark!—the university’s innovation and experiential learning lab. This project focuses on building an image classification model, and I’ve contributed in both technical and product roles. I worked on implementing and refining the machine learning pipeline on the development side. At the same time, I served as a product manager, defining the product vision, prioritizing features, and shaping the roadmap. This dual experience allowed me to bridge the gap between engineering and strategy, reinforcing my ability to lead cross-functional efforts and think holistically about product development. BU Spark! has been instrumental in honing my skills and deepening my passion for building meaningful, user-centered solutions.

Before beginning my graduate studies, I spent two years growing from a curious intern into a product-minded software engineer. During this time, I worked on a range of projects that pushed me to think beyond code—projects involving backend services, microservices, web applications, and even machine learning tools. These experiences helped me build a strong foundation in developing scalable, reliable systems while also teaching me the importance of collaboration and communication across diverse teams.

As I gained experience, I became increasingly drawn to the decision-making side of product development—understanding how features are defined, why certain priorities are chosen, and how user needs and business goals come together to shape what gets built. I naturally began taking on responsibilities beyond development: contributing to feature roadmaps, aligning technical execution with product vision, and thinking critically about the broader impact of the work. This is where I truly found my passion—at the intersection of technology and business, where creativity, strategy, and engineering come together to solve real problems.

I completed my undergraduate studies in Computer Science at Parul University, where I built a strong foundation in technical and problem-solving skills through coursework in algorithms, software design, and data science. Beyond academics, I developed leadership and communication skills as a volunteer with the National Service Scheme (NSS), where I led a team of ten to deliver STEM education programs to underserved communities. This experience deepened my sense of purpose and sparked my interest in using technology to make a real-world impact.

I met Sherman through my brother, and since then, I’ve had the privilege of getting to know not only him but also the inspiring community he has cultivated through The Trebuchet. His thoughtful guidance and unwavering belief in meaningful engagement have made a lasting impact on me. Becoming part of this network fills me with both pride and a sense of responsibility. Supporting Sherman and The Trebuchet by helping maintain the website has given me a rewarding way to contribute to a mission I deeply respect. I’m truly grateful to be part of a community that values curiosity, connection, and purpose.