leader.info.

abby brown is a rising sophomore who is STOKED to be on steercom for FUP 2008. She hails from the wilds of Boston, MA (Brighton to be more precise) and she is still learning all about her complex city. She learned a lot this summer as a senior counselor for the S(ummer) U(rban) P(rogram) in Southie where she taught 8-10 year olds about community organizing, local government, and sea creatures. One guess as to what the children will probably remember. She isn't sure yet what she's concentrating in, but she'll probably end up somewhere between Social Anthropology and History of Science. When Abby isn't SUPping or FUPping (and really, will she ever stop FUPping?), she can be found tutoring other children in Roxbury, waging the revolution with SDS (students for a democratic society), going to spoken word workshops, drinking hot beverages/bubble tea, partaking in conversation, listening to German music, reveling in revelry, wishing she had more time to do art, laughing, lounging on the grass or in the snow, and appreciating the myriad ways this world is unexpectedly, wonderfully, and beautifully connected. Abby loves introductions and questions (she asks tons herself), so you'd best be saying hi :)

alexandra alves is a rising sophomore from Easton, MA. She has no idea what she wants to concentrate in or do with her life, but is perfectly ok with that (for now) and is ecstatic to be a member of Quincy house! This summer, Alex got the chance to spread SUP-love all-around in her beloved Roxbury, working to make leaders out of the young ones, spreading the spirit of empowerment and making a difference. Alex loves poetry, hip-hop, combinations of the two, pillows, weekends, writing, being Cape Verdean (hollerrr!), long intellectual conversations, and FOOD--lots and lots of food. Being a FUPpie was one of the best experiences Alex ever had and she can't wait to be a leader this year!

alyssa aguilera is from san antonio, texas. she is studying government and is a resident of the dudley co-op. her favorite activities at harvard include (but are not limited to) the student labor action movement (slam), students for a democratic society (sds), and the phillips brooks house association (pbha). this summer she worked in houston where she organized with janitors and day laborers for better treatment on the job.

ana huang is a second-semester Senior living in the Dudley co-op, majoring in Studies of Women, Gender, and Sexuality (and yes, she did say MAJOR, because she likes to believe that she's still in touch with the rest of the world beyond Harvard). Ana was in China again this summer, visiting family, eating lots and lots of lamb kebabs and hot pot, hanging out with older friends who think her name is "kid", and doing a little research on the side on Chinese lesbian communities. She goes through a lot of phases, including orange-color phases, Christian phases, cynical phases and in-between phases. Right now she is dreaming about a queer family of friends.

andrew fine is a senior in Eliot House, a former Fuppie and second time FUP leader, who grew up in Weston, Massachusetts, but loved spending the summer in the Deep South doing thesis research, eating fried green tomatoes, and driving with Girl Talk blasting and the windows down. During the school year, he spends much too time working on the newspaper and idling on Gmail. He is a Social Studies concentrator, loves the New York Times, and wants to be Michael Cerra. He is also addicted to ice cream, and will gladly introduce Fuppies to Cambridge's many ice cream joints (Christina's is his favorite).

ann cheung '09 hails from the ancient island land of Long Island, New York. She is happy to say that she is a Chemistry concentrator (yeah orgo!) and is finally a hopping resident of Leverett House. This past summer, along with fulfulling her dreams by doing clinical research at MGH, she is also fulfilling her idealism through teaching ESL via Refugee Youth Summer Enrichment. Despite the scientific exterior, Ann is a huge fan of the fine arts. During free time (or lack thereof), you can probably find her staring at works by Kandinsky (her hero!) or frantically screaming at the tv while playing her PS2. Nonethess, she can't wait for the FUPping to begin!

What can you say about anselm beach? He's just an all around great guy. His New York Times Bestselling autobiography, Anselm: What More Can I Say?,will tell you that he was born in Frankfurt, Germany on the bright, sunny day of March 21, 1989. Keep reading and you'll find out that Anselm has been raised all over the country due to his father's involvement in the military. He now resides in Woodbridge, VA where he coincidentally lived for about a year when he was three. Still interested? Well, Anselm is currently concentrating in neurobiology and minoring in music, but ask him again next week, it may change. This summer, Anselm was able to fulfill his dream of influencing the young and budding minds of a group of 4th graders while working for the Cambridge Youth Enrichment Program in SUP. You can often find Anselm melodically playing a Duke Ellington or John Coltrane piece on his alto saxophone. Like I said, Anselm Beach is an all around great guy and quite possible the coolest in the world. The only person who is cooler would probably be the person who wrote this.

brandon perkovich wears so many hats. From the fez to the faux-hawk shaped wig he's passed off as his hair for some time to that of a (H-)Bomber. When not FUPping, he generally finds himself H Bombing (this is Harvard for working for our university sex magazine...ask him for a copy). That or jamming somewhere on (and off) campus to his much prized ipod. He's also interested in public health, especially where communicable disease is involved. Geeky, it's true.

catherine ntube is a rising sophomore from Austin, TX, a cool blue city in a (in)famously red state. This summer, when she's not keeping Austin weird, Catherine is studying abroad in Ghana, interning at a law firm (somewhat against her will), and enjoying time with her AMAZING family and friends in the ATX. She's in to music, laughter, engaging in deep conversation, learning new things, and discovering cool new things to be in to (hit her up with any good ideas). She isn't very good at writing bios, but she loves meeting new people and talking to old friends, so please feel free to ask any questions that this bio leaves burning. Seriously, hit her up!

christian starling is from SOUTHEAST SIDE BLACK BOTTOM DETROIT "MURDER MITTEN" MICHIGAN and is a rising junior in Mather House. Since concentrating in Anthro went out of style with most of clothing, he is now semi-concentrating in VES and is planning on spending next semester doing wacky social experiments and passing it off as art, and working at Petsi Pies (he doesn't have a job yet, but he's a shoe in. Right?). Christian is a former PBHA junkie (Mission Hill MISH WHAT, ASB trips, UniLu...ask him about it!) and is going cold turkey this semester...Christian also loves FUPpies, thinks that they're the ish, and wants to hear all about what they think (oftentimes, Christian has found that FUPpies can show their leaders a thing or two about social justice). Christian also really likes FUPples, so come check in with him about that as well.

deji ogunnaike: I'm a rising Junior concentrator in African Studies in Currier house who currently lives in Hockessin DE. You have probably driven through my state on your way to New York or Washington DC. Next time you should stop and take a look around, it's a great state AND we have tax-free shopping! When I'm not talking about how great Delaware is, I'm either talking about how great Africa (Nigeria in particular NAIJA!!!!) or playing soccer. I just spent the summer studying Arabic in Morocco and on tour with my family in Nigeria, and I can't think of a better way to end it than with a fresh batch of Fuppies!

ellie nowak (AKA elliebellie) is so excited to start the school year after a really amazing summer, and even more excited to be starting it with FUP! She spent the past two months with FUP leader Maryam Janani in southern Sierra Leone, working with youth and community building. She has learned many valuable lessons, including how to ride a motorcycle in a skirt, and how to gracefully decline a meal with floating fish heads. If you would like any help with the aforementioned topics, she is here for you! Ellie is involved in a couple of NGOs in Boston, one which fights modern-day slavery and another which works on community-based healthcare in Kenya. She hails from East Aurora, NY, which is the home of the 13th President of the US, Millard Fillmore (the best president of course!), and Fisher Price Toys, Inc. In her free time Ellie braves the Buffalo/Boston winters on her snowboard, and in her room playing the guitar. She is also busy planning her sister's wedding which is coming up in December, and will soon be busy getting to know all of you! She can't wait!!!

emily owens is a senior who deeply dislikes writing about herself in the third person. accordingly: hello! i am a very proud denizen of three/four things/places: 1. the dudley coop. 2. western massachusetts. 3. women, gender, and sexuality studies and african american studies. i also like green spaces (and blue spaces), queer women and queer feminism, farmer's market, sex positivity, and nina simone. i have spent the summer enjoying these prides and likes in various combinations under the heading "thesis research," and am positively delighted to be at my third and final FUP!

gabe unger is a rising sophomore and social studies concentrator. He was born in NYC and has been on the move ever since, He is a proud citizen of Currier, but also of the U.S. and Brazil, and has spent the past couple days kind of worried because he seems to have lost his US passport somewhere during travel and only has his Brazilian one, and is consequently now in fear of la migra. at Harvard he enjoys long conversations in dining halls when he should be writing papers due several hours ago. he is also starting to enjoy referring to himself in the third person, and will probably keep this up throughout the year.

henry agbo is a rising senior in Dunster House, studying Social Afropology (apparently, it’s STILL the new black). A St. Louis native, Henry has literally been flying around the world as of late. After a semester in Amsterdam studying local culture—everything from the squatter movement to government-funded transgender operations—he made his way back to Los Angeles to spend the summer breaking into the entertainment industry via a talent agency. Although he didn’t become a famous actor or musician, he did see a lot of free movies and celebs. He also managed to fall in love with two new-ish music artists, Santogold and Janelle Monae. He urges everyone to jump on board with these AMAZING females. When he’s not kickin’ back in Amsterdam or becoming part of the stalkerazzi in LA, he’s back in St. Louis spending time with his old school Nigerian parents or doing any number of things in Boston, including slangin’ drank at Café Gato Rojo (Dudley House ya’ll!) trying to save the world with the PBHA or the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, or imaginarily (is this a really a word?) shopping on Newbury St. (if anyone wants to buy him a Valentino tux so he can look fly while he is saving the world, he’d definitely appreciate it!) Oh, and one last thing: Hi Haters! Now this is officially full of soon-to-be-dated pop culture references. Yeup, this is why I’m hot.

jess frisina comes from The City (of new york), is a junior in Mather House (Best House), and is concentrating in History and Literature. This summer she lived in Argentina and worked in a civics education organization. In her free time she did things like paragliding through the Andes and contemplating the necessity of putting ham, cheese, and mayonnaise on all Argentine foods. Her favorite things in life are soccer, icecream, and the Mission Hill After School Program, but her guilty pleasures include Olsen twin movies and free food. She is interested in social movements, youth protests in Argentina, civil liberties, and constitutional law. Summer is cute and warm weather is nice, but she's excited and ready to meet the new FUPstars.

jessica ranucci is a rising junior, social studies concentrator, and Leverett house resident. Although she is originally from Indiana, she spent the summer in Boston, working for PBHA's Boston Refugee Youth Enrichment summer program. 2008 marks her third FUP, which is exciting but also a terrifying sign of her old age. She is looking forward to meeting new people and enjoying a great week with the FUPpies.

joe stujenske is a 2010 Dunsterite concentrating in neurobiology. He calls New York his home, but unfortunately he spends increasingly less time there. He spent his summer in Japan doing vision research and taking a class as part of the summer school, and he also got to travel quite a bit as well (the Golden Pavilion is a must see). He also doesn’t speak Japanese, so it was quite an experience (He still does not have a clue exactly what the people in the cafeteria are saying to him). Luckily he likes noodles, rice, and sushi and has a crush on Utada Hikaru, so he got along fine. It is 3 am in Japan as he writes this, but thanks to the time difference (13 hours for Boston), this will be on time!

jose olivarez hails from Calumet City, IL on the south side of the south side of Chicago. He's bi-racial: half Mexican, half Amazing.

lucerito ortiz is a monkey-lover from beautiful Los Angeles, California. Indeed, she loves monkeys so much, she has a turtle named Monkey. He's chill, you should meet him. Lucerito can often be found eating corn nuts with lime in between her activities, which include coordinating for the Undergraduate Minority Recruitment Program, PBHA and all its awesomeness, Latino groups, and Ballet Folklorio de Aztlan. Lucerito also loves making handmade tortillas, so if the sound of that makes you drool, be her friend, and she just might hook you up. This Social Studies concentrator from Eliot house is UBER excited about FUP 2008, as it is sure to be full of awesome fabulousness. Oh, and she likes to use the word "poopyhead" as an insult…so don't mess.

maryam janani is a rising senior in grand 'ol Eliot House. She is concentrating in neurobiology (though probably should have concentrated in something non-sciencey) with a secondary in health policy. Along with being a nontraditional pre-med, she is very interested in global/domestic public health and education issues. Though her first love is Latin America (delicious Bolivian saltenas, anyone?), she spent this summer working with youth in a rural district of Sierra Leone by helping to establish a youth center and a summer school. She is currently chilling in London meeting family for the first time ever prior to her cousin's wedding. Indeed, it is very exciting. When abroad, she relies on myspace to provide her with her music fixes. She loves air hockey (the only 'sport' she plays) and challenges you to a game or two, on her.

matt garcia '10, social studies and mind, brain and behavior concentrator, took 4th place at the World Championship of Tic-Tac-Toe in 2005. The walls of his room in Dunster House are adorned with a Texas flag and over 100 feet of purple Christmas lights. Most of his money is spent on vegetarian burritos from Felipe's, which serves the closest thing to authentic Mexican food in the square. Currently, Matt serves as the Programming Chair for the Phillips Brooks House Association, and spent his summer fulfilling the duties of the role. His love for PBHA is surpassed only by his love for his hometown, Corpus Christi. His life's goal is to bring the revolution to South Texas and reestablish the Republic of the Rio Grande. This will be Matt's first year with FUP and is excited to join the family.

mary cate curley hails from the cow-town of Guilford, Vermont yet has come to love to smelly trains and many coffeeshops of Boston. She is a rising junior who is currently switching to an English major because she's into telling stories, and wants to hear yours too! While at Harvard she enjoys being a regular at Petsi Pies and the Cafe Gato Rojo (ex-barista extraordinaire), writing, tutoring at Emerson School in Roxbury, and loving people (esp. FUP leaders). This summer she worked with Rachel and Alex at the Roxbury Youth Initiative, performing surrealist plays with six-year-olds. She's into earning, and teaching, community-building and families. Her dad is an rural undertaker (he prefers the term "overtaker"). As for FUP...let me tell you, it changes ives. You can get your mind changed, heart charged, and spirit refueled...and you might even fall in love. OH YES.

nadia gaber is a History and Literature/ Women, Gender, and Sexuality concentrator (and a closet pre-med). She is stuck Cambridge-side for the second summer straight while her family frolicks (yes, the Gabers are known frolickers) on the beaches of Egypt. She does not speak hieroglyphics, though many have asked. She does like ice cream(/berryline), in case you were about to ask. She is proud to have a ten-year old brother who self-identifies (sometimes before he's even asked) as a Democrat (huge Obama supporter), an environmentalist, a progressive, and a feminist-- without probably knowing what those things really mean. Also, her little sister kicks ass on the soccer field. Nadia would know; she was her coach in the spring of 08, when she took the semester off to frolick around Houston, TX. She also makes jewelry, plays soccer, eats apples, loves irony and coincidence, and makes excessive amounts of parenthetical references (like this one [and this one]).

nworah ayogu is thinking of how to accurately describe himself (in the 3rd person) within the confines of the english language, without spoiling all of the surprise. And he cant (and is feeling lazy). So I will leave it up to you all to find out for yourselves. Yea personal interaction. But as a taste here are my itunes on shuffle: forever, I wish I were a punkrocker with flowers in my hair, a whole new world, I'm in love with a stripper, thriller, lollipop, ajaa nachle, numb, Zulu House music (don't know title), bleeding love, breaking free, no one mourns the wicked, 10 dollar, dey know, calabria, requiem for a dream, puth jatt thaa, I can go the distance, dutty wine.

obi nwachukwu is a rising sophomore from the suburbs of the never shy Chi. Double entendres & aphorisms are his thing, from Shakespeare to Weezy.... so he's thinking Hist & Lit or English, But then again it's a little early to call. If hindsight is 20/20 then foresight must be blindness right? Anyway, he spent a profound summer studying abroad in Israel, spent no money on sunscreen and spent an awful lot on things he just doesn't wanna talk about. Overall, he loved the experience, maybe for the wrong reasons. Interests include history, literature (hmm..), trying to describe yellow to the blind, avoiding bull like i'm a matador... you know. Look for him at Lowell house or in Roxbury with the kids.

(an open letter from) paul nauert: Hey FUP 2008--for first-years, welcome to Harvard/and the rest of your lives---You've chosen well. And a hearty welcome to new leaders and a hearty welcome back to old leaders! It's my final year of FUP-as-a-leader and while folks can say stuff like "FUP will always be in your heart" and "FUP love is eternal," (and that is true), it's still a bit sad this time around. You can't run for another four years of FUP love like Obama will run (and win again--that's right! And my right I mean left :) for another four years of being leader of America in 2012. But, unlike the fourth year of a Presidency this is going to be no lame duck year for FUP or Paul Nauert. This summer, he's been traveling around visiting Catholic Worker communities in the US (radical/progressive/left only sometimes actually Catholic intentional communities usually focusing on homelessness and war resistance), he's got a thesis to write on that, some classes to finish up, and a pending blind date with the Real World. Besides all this, he's gotta soak up some of his favorite Harvard classic spots and scenes for the last time: veggie feasts and parties at the Co-op (his home), tea at the Gato, wandering the stacks of Widener, Students for a Democratic Society/Harvard Anti-War Coalition meetings in the Philips Brooks House basement, the ever-rotating local, organic beer taps at Cambridge Common, biking along the Charles, etc. He'll post times for these things (especially SDS and HAWC) on the lists (what's a list? Ha. Beware the Freshman Activities Fair), and invite you to check it all out so a new generation can learn all these joys. Take care and see you all soon or if you're reading this caused you had to re-read Leader bios to procrastinate over a Human Mind paper in the middle of November, see you around town.

rachel singh is a rising junior concentrating very hard on theories of crime, punishment, and education (i.e. Social Studies). She spend the summer at a summer camp in Roxbury with some of the coolest kids and people she's ever met. She is a native and lover of Boston and looks forward to rambling about the city with FUPpies this year. Rachel is really into veggie burgers, impromptu dance parties, loving herself and others, autumn in New England, her cousin's babies, and transformative conversations at 2 AM.

rashmi jasrasaria is a rising junior (eek, already!) in Kirkland House. She is concentrating in social studies and is also premed (ie. figured out a way to make most classes in the course catalogue count for something) and wants to help get medica,l care and health education to people in developing countries. She is still zonked by a long flight and a full inbox as she settles back into life at home in Boxborough, MA after two months in Tanzania. She loves singing (anything and everything- mostly Indian pop music and classical choral stuff), Bharatha Natyam (Indian classical dance), conversing in Swahili (or attempting to), reading fiction with a purpose, watching Hindi movies/chick flicks/Disney movies, and catching up with friends and family. She is forever intrigued by the fine line between science, religion, philosophy, culture, society, and history, and can't wait to explore the interconnectedness between other random subjects this year. Looking forward to meeting all the Fuppies! Yay Fup 08!

richard kelley is a rising junior in Mather House and one of a rare breed of Folklore & Mythology concentrators. Richard was raised in Carpinteria (an extremely small beach town in Southern California that he is extremely proud of even though it doesn't even show up on most maps). Richard spent his summer in Cambridge, directing CYEP (the Cambridge Youth Enrichment Program), where he had the time of his life! This past FUPpie and second year leader is extremely excited to meet the next generation of FUPpies and is always available for late night chats, random walks around Cambridge, game nights, movies, festivals, or whatever else!

sam enumah is 50% Nigerian, 100% Hot! (and yeah, we have a facebook group too!). Sam is a rising junior concentrating in Neurobiology, and he currently resides in the D-Entryway of D-House. Originally a native of Columbus, GA (read: medium-sized, old money city full of staunch conservatives), Sam has thoroughly enjoyed the past two years in his true home, a small liberal campus located in Cambridge, MA. Sam loves/hates food. Simply put, you can quickly befriend a Sam Enumah by subtly passing him a jelly-filled doughnut sometime after breakfast but before lunch. Due to the number of calories, he'll scold you for tempting his taste buds (he's a closet health and fitness freak), but just know that any visual display of disapproval is actually his own subtle way of showing appreciation. In his free time, Sam enjoys football (soccer), playing video games (Halo), philosophizing (meaning of life?), and being a "team player" (ask for details). Sam is in South Africa for the summer, but anxiously awaits his return to the States to meet the old and the new FUPstars of '08!

tara venkatraman is a rising sophomore who'll be in Pfoho (which her family still can't pronounce or spell). She is largely concentrating on how to graduate while taking as many small, non-required classes as possible, but imagines she'll eventually end up in Social Studies. She also reps India (the Motherland) through Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi and Odissi dance and ceaseless patriotic watchings of Lagaan (best 3.5 hr movie ever--there will be a screening during FUP week). She's grown up in Boston & has hated the cold & the MBTA for longer than you (19.75 years longer, to be precise), but she loves the city & neighboring Cambridge and works to make them more equal communities. She's also really into sustaining the magic of FUP when FUP week is over, so hit her up at any time if you want some FUP love (even in the hell that is January reading period).

terry ding is a rising sophomore in Winthrop House and is the proud self-appointed FUP Hong Kong representative. He is particularly passionate about education for children in rural China and has spent the past three summers teaching in different provinces. In fact, he has just returned from a wonderful time in Sichuan where he worked with kids displaced by the recent earthquake. He is obsessed with British humor, Indian food, Swedish melodic death metal, football of the non-American variety, and most of all good conversations with good friends. He is incredibly excited because he believes there is no better way to start the year than with FUP!

ugochi nwosu is practicing patience, a virtue oft forgotten in our lonely world. For example, if you look at HIV, which Ugo has been looking at all summer, you will notice that it starts out dead, not alive. However, over time, it comes it contact with one receptor on the surface of one cell and everything falls into place. Before you know it, HIV has completely integrated itself into its new host and really becomes part it of, using all of its macro-molecular machinery to complete its goals. Ugo looks to this as a parable for her own life, seeking to finally find a receptor which will signal her return home, return to life. Until that moment she will be practicing the religion of "tea-ism" at Les Ambassades cafe in Harlem pondering the beauty and the ugliness of life, love and parasites.

yuxuan zhuang, also called conrad because his legal name has vowels and consonants just where they should not belong, is a rising senior and economics concentrator in Leverett House. Hailing from Brockton, Massachusetts, home of Rocky Marciano and Marvin Hagler, he enjoys spending time with his younger sister, eating cheesecake, and figuring out how to work a remote. In addition to living in Lamont Library during the academic year, Conrad works with children part of the Mission Hill After School Program. He also pretends to be the Treasurer for the Phillips Brooks House Association (PBHA) for the tax-benefits. For the summer, when he is not assisting in credit risk management and praying to get a tan from the light of the computer monitor, he is providing support for PBHA's Summer Urban Programs.

zach arnold, junior, is from the beautiful town of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. At Harvard he concentrates in Social Studies and spends his spare time exploring Boston and Cambridge, searching for good food. Zach enjoys gardening, classical music, walking around, cooking and other old-people pursuits. This summer, he spent long days researching clean tech and government climate/energy policy in Oakland, CA and is way excited to talk to anyone who might be interested in these subjects. Zach thinks FUP is pretty spectacular and is looking forward to introducing all the fuppies to Christina's.