Scholar Class of 2020-2021
Nahin Khan
Biological Sciences, Scholar Class of 2020-2021
Bio
“From exposing me to a large variety of fields, showing me the power of passion in a Tartan and humbling me to the multidimensional talent here, Carnegie Mellon has changed me in ways I could have never imagined. CMU has convinced me of not just the power of education, but also the capability of humanity through interdisciplinary work. On top of that, the optimism of everyone here has made me hopeful about a bright technologically advanced future.”
Born and raised in various places around the world including Japan, Singapore, and Saudi Arabia by parents originally from Pakistan, Nahin has had a unique upbringing that has allowed him to understand people from different cultures around the world. Having only been interested in the basic sciences and math during high school, Nahin applied to the Biological Sciences program at CMU in Qatar, where he would go on to develop further interest in a broader variety of fields, including computer science, psychology, and philosophy. Over time as his interests in communication with people from different cultures merged with his new-found interests for interdisciplinary learning, Nahin became inspired to bring change to his community in Qatar in various ways, including by founding the Thought Club which brings people of various backgrounds together to facilitate conversations. For his Fifth Year Project, Nahin hopes to raise awareness on the interdisciplinary field of computational biology in Qatar by developing an outreach program targeted at high school students. Nahin aims to continue communicating with society in a similar manner by becoming a professor one day and teaching generations of learners to come.
Rie Ohta
Computer Sciences, Scholar Class of 2020-2021
Bio
“In my time at Carnegie Mellon, I’ve found a community of people who are so deeply passionate about everything they do and love and support each other through thick and thin – they’ve taught me to become a better version of myself and to constantly take a step back to reflect and appreciate what I have around me. So much of my self-awareness and self-understanding has come from my experience as a student here, and I will be forever grateful for that."
As a computer science major who grew up in Silicon Valley, Rie came to Carnegie Mellon excited about the wide variety of academic and non-academic opportunities offered by the campus. What she has found at CMU exceeded her expectations – she has picked up a minor in psychology, taken a multitude of fascinating classes in areas she barely knew existed, and found multiple homes away from home through her Residential Education staff, as well as her a cappella group C#. While at Carnegie Mellon, Rie has gotten the opportunity to interact with people of a wide variety of perspectives and backgrounds and hopes that her Fifth Year Scholar project will encourage the CMU community to connect and recognize our shared humanity.
Julia Scherb
Global Studies, Scholar Class of 2020-2021
Bio
"The best part about CMU is the people; I’ve found a home in the history department at Carnegie Mellon and cannot express the happiness and experience I’ve gained from my classmates and mentors. It is exciting to consider the possibilities of futures that CMU students and faculty could create with their kindness, intelligence, work ethic, and love for others. I hope to spend my fifth year at CMU learning more from my classmates and appreciating the opportunities available here."
A Pittsburgh native, Julia is majoring in global studies and pursuing dual minors in anthropology and ethics. In her fifth year, she plans to investigate the intersections of social design, ethics, biology, and history. Julia’s work examines student well-being and how to optimize human networks to bolster social resilience. Her fifth year project aims to foster intergenerational dialogue between those involved in CMU’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and college students, inspired by Zimbabwe’s ‘Friendship Benches.’ Julia loves being involved in social impact work both on and off campus and is currently the Policy Director for the Roosevelt Institute CMU chapter, a position which enables her to connect with a myriad of CMU clubs and organizations. Julia is also engaged with the broader Pittsburgh community, particularly through her work on the issue of homelessness. Julia hopes that her studies in health, design, and social impact work as a Fifth Year Scholar will inform her intervention in the campus social ecosystem.