BUSPH Student Senate.
Student Senate Mission Statement:
As a reflection of the mission and values of BUSPH, the mission of the Student Senate is to connect students to the SPH community, develop student engagement on campus and ignite student led community action.
We seek to foster a respectful, collaborative, diverse and inclusive community within SPH to promote connection and holistic student success; to hold the faculty, staff and university community accountable to the mission and values of SPH by developing channels for student voices; and to ignite positive change beyond our academic walls through engaging with people, communities and institutions to promote justice, human rights and equity.
We accomplish this by:
- Creating social, educational and professional spaces for students to connect with: fellow students, alumni, BU graduate students outside SPH and public health students outside of BU SPH
- Equipping student organizations to collaborate on events and initiatives
- Advocating for resources to aid academic success of students
- Gathering and representing student concerns and evaluations to the faculty, staff and university community
- Advocating for and monitoring timely responses to student feedback
- Supporting student initiated projects
- Providing and promoting opportunities to serve at SPH and in the local community
Want to get involved?
Email phsenate@bu.edu.with project ideas, questions, apply to join student senate or to talk with one of our Student Representatives!
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/BUSPHStudentSenate
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/busphsenate/
Student Senate Corner
We encourage students to read the SPH Weekly and also check out the Student Center Corner to learn about upcoming events and updates from us. You will find information in the lower right corner!
Student Senate General Board Meetings
Fall General Board Meetings: Oct. 14 and Nov. 18 | TLB 307C and Zoom | 5:00-6:00pm
Please contact Phsenate@bu.edu with any questions!
BUSPH Student Feedback Form
Below is the link to the Student Senate Feedback Form. Comments that are submitted are completely anonymous. Your email address will NOT be included in your submission. The BUSPH Student Senate will do their best to get your questions and concerns addressed.
Student Feedback Form
Student Senate 2026-2027 Executive Board:
Omnia Elamin , President
Omnia, President
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Omnia is an MPH student pursuing a functional certificate in CAPDIE and a context certificate in Global Health. She is originally from Khartoum, Sudan, and now calls Massachusetts home.
Outside of school, Omnia enjoys swimming and spending time in the water. They are excited to get to know everyone.
Anna Elzanaty , Vice President
Anna, Vice President
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Anna is an MPH student currently studying Health Policy and Law with a context certificate in Maternal and Child Health. She completed a Bachelor’s degree from Boston University in Chemistry, pre-med with a concentration in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. She works in the Office of Research Compliance as a Senior Specialist in Research Safety.
Anna’s has long aimed to become a reproductive care provider but witnessing the shift in the legal landscape encouraged her to learn about health policy. She believes that policy understanding is essential to being a competent provider and a strong patient advocate. As Vice President, she hopes to increase engagement across the student body and remove barriers for club involvement and professional development.
In her free time, you can find Anna fishing around Massachusetts lakes, or cozying up with her two cats Fork and Spoon and a good book. She really enjoys the Boston food scene and has a long list of recommendations she’s always happy to talk about. She’s been at BU for nearly six years so if you have a question, she either has the answer or knows where to get it. Reach out to her at annaelz@bu.edu with any questions or just to chat!
Aly Starbard , Administrative Director
Aly, Administrative Director
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Aly Starbard is an MPH student pursuing a certificate in Health Policy and Law. Her public health interests include health insurance access and policies that shape healthcare coverage.
Outside of school, Aly enjoys embroidering and creating playlists for every occasion. She is originally from Worcester, Massachusetts.
Poulami Soni , Events Director
Poulami, Communications Director
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Poulami is a MPH student in Community Assessment, Program Design, Implementation, and Evaluation. She also holds a bachelors in Public Health and Hindustani Classical music as well as a minor in creative writing. Currently, she is involved in HIV intervention research for marginalized populations and supports grant work for a youth mental health nonprofit. In her free time, she enjoys singing, sketching, and (un)successfully cooking up gluten free versions of food.
Gauri Agrawal , Events Co-Director
Gauri, Events Co-Director
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Gauri is a first-year MPH student concentrating in Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Health Law and Policy. Before coming to Boston University, she earned her B.S. in Public Health from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana and she’s originally from California.
She first joined the Student Senate out of a passion for creating a tight-knit community and meeting new people. As a Co-Event Director, she intends to strengthen community relations, foster meaningful connections amongst peers, and promote preventative care via events. She aims to host events that are lively, fun, and give back to the local community. In her free time, she loves to cook, try new cafes, and explore the city!
Feel free to reach out to her at agrawalg@bu.edu. She would love to connect with you!
Camille Adenauer , Communications Director
Camille, Communications Director
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Camille is an MPH student pursuing a functional certificate in Healthcare Management. She is originally from Richmond, Virginia, and earned her B.S. in Biology from Longwood University before moving to Boston.
As Communications Director, Camille is excited to help build community at BUSPH and keep students connected to events, opportunities, and one another.
Outside of school, she enjoys baking, skiing, spending time outdoors, and exploring new places.
Vanya Manthena, Diversity & Advocacy Director
Vanya, Diversity & Advocacy Director
Pronouns: She/Her
Vanya is a DrPH student at Boston University and a trained dentist originally from India. Her interests include health equity, reproductive health, and improving access to healthcare.
Her work and academic interests center on addressing barriers to care and advocating for more equitable health systems and communities.
Outside of school, she enjoys exploring coffee shops, hiking, trying good food, and spending time with her 6 year old goldendoodle, Joey.
Nethra Krishnan, Community Engagement Director
Nethra, Community Engagement Director
Pronouns: She/Her
Nethra is an MPH student pursuing a functional certificate in Health Policy and Law and context certificates in Maternal and Child Health and Social Justice and Human Rights.
Her public health interests include Medicaid expansion, the prison-industrial complex, and vaccine hesitancy. Outside of school, her current TV obsession is Adults.
Isabella C. Moros Camargo, Social Media Director
Isabella, Social Media Co-Director
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Isabella is an MPH student pursuing a double certificate in both CAPDIE and Epidemiology/Biology. She completed a Bachelor’s degree from Boston University in Psychology with a minor in Public Health. Currently she is an Academic Advisor for the Psychological and Brain Sciences Department at BU.
Driven by a deep commitment to mental health and culturally sensitive care, especially within Latine communities, she is passionate about creating inclusive spaces where individuals feel seen, heard, and supported. Her lived experiences have shaped her dedication to community well-being and to ensuring public health efforts are both empathetic and equitable. She hopes to bridge gaps in care and understanding through intentional engagement and advocacy. She aims to create a more welcoming campus environment by fostering strong connections among students, faculty, and staff.
In her free time she enjoys making jewelry, reading, traveling, and cooking. Please reach out to her at icmorosc@bu.edu with any questions, recipe recommendation, or just to talk!
Jemimah Chukwuemeka , Student Organization Council Director
Jemimah, Student Organization Council Director
Pronouns: She/Her
Jemimah Chukwuemeka is a first-year MPH student pursuing a functional certificate in Epidemiology and Biostatistics and a context certificate in Maternal and Child Health. Before coming to BU, she earned her B.S. in Biology and is originally from Nigeria.
Her public health interests include maternal and neonatal health, addressing health disparities, and bridging the gap between research and real world impact. She cares deeply about ensuring that the knowledge and work they contribute translate into meaningful improvements in the lives of the individuals and communities they are intended to serve.
As Student Organization Council Director, Jemimah hopes to strengthen collaboration among student organizations and create more opportunities for students to connect beyond the classroom. They believe some of the most impactful ideas emerge when people with different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences come together, and is excited to help create spaces where students feel heard, supported, and empowered to turn their ideas into action. At the heart of everything they do is a commitment to leading with compassion, integrity, and curiosity, while honoring the people and experiences that have shaped my journey. Jemimah hopes to leave every space they enter a little better than how they found it and make the path a little easier for those who come after her.
Outside of academics, she enjoys cooking, going out, listening to music, and spending time with family and friends. She also loves dogs, babies, and anything sweet.
Student Senate 2025-2026 Student Representatives:
Chelsea Taylor, Part-Time Student Representative
Chelsea, Part-Time Student Representativ
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Chelsea graduated from Williams College with a B.A. in Chemistry and Psychology and now pursues a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Health Policy and Law while working at Boston Children’s Hospital. Under Dr. Jennifer Yeh, she is a member of a cutting-edge team that utilizes decision analytics, simulation modeling, and economic evaluation to improve population health outcomes across the cancer continuum, from gastric and breast cancer prevention to childhood cancer survivorship. As the part time student representative, Chelsea hopes to build community across BUSPH and advocate for part time students, having experienced the unique challenges that come with balancing academics alongside full time work. Feel free to reach out and connect with her at cst2@bu.edu!
Nitish Kumar Kompalli, International Student Representative
Nitish, International Student Representative
Pronouns: He/Him
I am a dentist from India, currently pursuing my Master of Public Health at Boston University. With a background in clinical dentistry, research, and public health outreach, I am passionate about fostering inclusivity and supporting international students as they navigate their academic and social journey. As the International Student Representative, my goal is to amplify the voices of international students and create a welcoming community for all. Outside of academics, I enjoy exploring new places, learning about different cultures, and working on innovative projects that combine healthcare and technology.
Shubha Dinesh, International Student Representative
Shubha, International Student Representative
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Shubha Dinesh (she/her) is an MPH student at Boston University School of Public Health with a background in dentistry and a passion for global health, research, and student advocacy. As the International Student Representative on the Student Senate, she is committed to building community, amplifying diverse voices, and fostering an inclusive campus experience.
Devdhar Joshi, Fall 2024 Cohort Representative
Devdhar, International Student Representative
Pronouns: He/Him
Devdhar is an MPH student at BUSPH pursuing a functional certificate in Epidemiology & Biostatistics and a context certificate in Pharmaceutical Development, Delivery and Access. Before graduate school, he practiced as a physician in India for over three years, an experience that shaped his passion for bridging medicine and public health. His academic interests focus on clinical research, improving access to medicines, and advancing health equity.
Over the past year at BUSPH, Devdhar has been actively involved across academics, research, and leadership. He served as a JEDI Fellow and as a committee member for the Emerging Scholars Program (ESP), where he contributed to curriculum review and equity-driven initiatives in environmental health. He has also worked as a Teaching Assistant and Graduate Research Assistant, which allowed him to mentor peers, collaborate with faculty, and contribute to the school’s research mission. Most recently, he completed his practicum at Boston Children’s Hospital, where he contributed to adolescent behavioral health research.
During his first year, Devdhar attended nearly every Senate and student organization event, which made his transition to a new country and community much smoother. That sense of belonging inspired him to join the Senate himself, where he hopes to continue fostering a welcoming and engaging student experience.
Outside the classroom, Devdhar is fueled by coffee, enjoys long walks around Boston, and often relaxes with music or by humming along as a proud bathroom singer. He is also a foodie who loves to cook, especially Indian dishes, and is always on the lookout for the next great dosa spot in Boston.
Nithya Malisetti, Spring 2025 Cohort Representative
Nithya, Student Representative
Hi everyone! I’m Nithya, I am pursuing my Master of Public Health (MPH), with a dual focus in Health Policy & Law and CAPDI.I received my bachelors degree in genetics and anthropology and have lots of experience in the clinical field, and plan to apply to medical school. I aim to be a physician who can inform and advance policy in reproductive health rights and health disparities. In my free time, I love to run outside and explore new places in Boston. I love talking to people and making new friends so feel free to dm me!
Avinash Rathod, Spring 2025 Cohort Representative
Avinash, Fall 2023 Representative
Pronouns: He/Him
I will be a Spring 2025 Representative for the upcoming fall semester in the Student Senate. I am a doctor from India and right now I am in my second semester of MPH with Epidemiology and Biostatistics as my functional certificate.
Ashmeen Dhot, Fall 2025 Cohort Representative
Ashmeen, Fall 2025 Cohort Representative
Pronouns: She/Her
I’m Ashmeen, a first-year MPH student at BUSPH. I completed my B.A. in Kinesiology at the University of Ottawa and my Honours B.A. in Psychology at Wilfrid Laurier University. I’ve worked at the intersection of healthcare and research, experiences that showed me how important it is to bring different perspectives to the table when making decisions.
As your Fall 2025 Cohort Student Representative, I’m committed to making sure the voices of our cohort are reflected in the conversations that shape student life at BUSPH. I care deeply about equity, collaboration, and creating spaces where students feel supported both academically and personally. My goal this year is to strengthen connections between students and leadership, ensuring that our feedback translates into action on things like resources, curriculum, and community-building.
Outside of academics, you can usually find me exploring new coffee spots around Boston or planning my next travel adventure — always looking for fresh ways to connect with people and communities.
.
Omnia Elamin, Fall 2025 Cohort Representative
Omnia, Fall 2025 Cohort Representative
Pronouns: She/Her
Hi, I’m Omnia (um-ni-ya) Elamin! I grew up in Khartoum, Sudan, and moved to the U.S. when I was 14. I studied Neurobiology and Political Science here at BU and am now back for my MPH, where I’ll be completing a functional certificate in Global Health, Program Design, Monitoring & Evaluation and a context certificate in Global Health.
I’ve worked in clinics, hospitals, labs, and advocacy spaces across Massachusetts, which has deepened my passion for health equity and immigrant justice. Outside of school and work, I’m also a swimmer – something I’ve been doing for as long as I can remember, and a big part of how I stay grounded.
This year, I’m excited to serve as the Fall 2025 Cohort Student Representative on the Representative Council. My goal is to make sure everyone feels included, heard, and supported as we move through public health school together.
Feel free to reach out at omnia03@bu.edu – whether you want to talk about global health, mentorship, swimming, or just finding your footing at SPH!
