STAND’s leadership team consists of a Managing Committee, State Advocacy Leads, and chapter leaders across the country. The Managing Committee is STAND’s central decision-making body, and works to ensure that students have the resources to effectively organize their campuses and communities.
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Meet our State Advocacy Leads | Meet our Advisory Board members
Student Director
DePauw University
Allison is a junior at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, where she is majoring in global health and minoring in peace and conflict studies. Before graduating, she worked with the STAND chapter at her local high school in Terre Haute, Indiana for her sophomore, junior, and senior years and eventually became one of five chapter leaders her senior year. She also worked closely with Together We Remember (TWR), a global, nonprofit organization aimed at making “never again” a reality. She helped found the Youth Action Network, a part of TWR aimed at giving young people a voice to end mass atrocities. In addition, she was a member of the TWR Fellowship where she was working with young people from all over the world to end genocide and hatred. Allison will be working as the Co-Student Director with the goal of educating people and spreading awareness in order to inspire people all over the world to take action and end identity-based violence.
aweiner@standnow.org
Student Director
Brown University
Mira is a junior at Brown University studying economics and international and public affairs. Outside of STAND, she works on research about civic engagement to help find ways to include everybody in shaping their communities. She has also worked as a research assistant to reveal more about local histories of both segregation and cultural diversity around the United States. As Co-Student Director this year, Mira looks forward to continuing STAND's work on education and empowering the grassroots network to take action against discrimination and atrocities both locally and around the world.
mmehta@standnow.org
East Turkistan and co-US Action Committee Lead
Terre Haute South Vigo High School (IN)
Anika Gera is a junior at Terre Haute South High School. She has been involved with STAND since her freshman year, working in her local chapter to conduct educational and interactive events for her community. Outside of STAND, Anika is the co-captain of her school’s state-championship-winning Spell Bowl Team, her local Key Club chapter’s Vice President, a Science Olympiad Member, and a varsity tennis player. She is so extremely excited to work on STAND’s Managing Committee this upcoming year and utilize this platform to make an impact!
agera@standnow.org
State-Level Genocide Education Lead & co-US Action Committee Lead
Buffalo State University
Anne-Sophie Hellman is a senior at Buffalo State University majoring in History. This is Anne-Sophie’s second year as a member of STAND and her first year as a member of the Managing Committee. She is honored to be STAND’s State-Level Genocide Education Lead and United States Action Committee co-Lead for the 2023-2024 academic year. Outside of STAND, Anne-Sophie is an intern for the Anne Frank Project, a non-profit organization on her campus, where she is researching and writing about genocide and mass atrocity education. Anne-Sophie is enthusiastic to help lead a youth movement dedicated to preventing mass atrocities.
ahellman@standnow.org
Yemen Action Committee Lead
Westfield High School (NJ)
Alishba Waqar is a current senior at Westfield High School. Alishba has always been dedicated to the cause of genocide prevention, civic engagement, and diversifying her community. Outside of STAND, Alishba is a part of the Student Representative Committee at her school, a leader in the Spanish, Community Service, and NPFH Club, attends a fellowship for a Food Reform Committee, and is a Sunday School teacher. This year, Alishba will be the Lead of the Yemen Action Committee and take part in the Managing Committee. Overall, she is so excited for this year at STAND and can't wait to make an impact through the platform!
awaqar@standnow.org
co-Fundraising and State-Level Education Lead
Boston University
Claire is a sophomore at Boston University studying Health Science on the pre-medical track and is originally from a suburb of Portland, Oregon. As a high school freshman, her efforts led to the passage of a statewide policy to require public schools to teach about the Holocaust and other genocides in her home state. This is Claire’s fifth year on the Managing Committee, and she is excited to boost STAND's grassroots fundraising efforts and policy advocacy. Outside of working with STAND, she is a Top Fundraiser for the National MS Society, Dean’s Host for Boston University Sargent College, Peer Mentor for Kilachand Honors College, member of Project Sunshine and Alzheimer’s Buddies, and the proud author of her memoir, "Remember My Story: A Girl, a Holocaust Survivor, and a Friendship That Made History,” releasing in January 2024.
csarnowski@standnow.org
Education co-Lead
George Mason University (graduated)
Jerry is a recent graduate of George Mason University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. As a student, he was a part of many different cultural organizations that make up the amazing diversity of George Mason as well as being a member of STAND. He is very glad to continue STAND's mission in ending mass atrocities as Education co-lead for this year on the MC.
jharris@standnow.org
Burma Action Committee co-Lead
Albemarle High School (VA)
Seng Hkawn is a sophomore at Albemarle High School in Charlottesville, VA. As a Burmese-American, she is very excited to work her first year at STAND in the Burma Action Committee. In addition to working with STAND, Seng Hkawn is a part of her school's student council, Albemarle County Student Equity Advisory Team, and the Tri-M Music Honor Society.
smyitung@standnow.org
co-Outreach and co-Education
University of California, Los Angeles
Grace is a third-year International Development Studies major at UCLA in Los Angeles, originally from Tampa, Florida. She served as her high school STAND chapter’s president for three years, and was involved as an Action Committee member and State Advocacy Lead before joining the Managing Committee. This will be her fourth year with the MC. In addition to her work with STAND, Grace has also worked with a variety of other organizations such as March for our Lives, Sunrise Movement, Dream Defenders, and UCLA Divest. She is passionate about issues of injustice and is ready to continue her work as a member of the Managing Committee this year!
gharris@standnow.org
East Turkistan Action Committee Lead & Outreach co-Lead
Academy Upper School (NC)
rliu@standnow.org
