2026 Campbell Award Winners
In 2016, the Columbia University Trustees and the Columbia Alumni Association (CAA) established the Campbell Award, which is presented to a graduating student at each School who shows exceptional leadership and Columbia spirit as exemplified by the late Bill Campbell ’62CC, ’64TC, University Trustee Chair Emeritus and CAA co-founder.
Every year, nominations are put forth by each of the schools, and honorees are selected by the Honors and Prizes committee of the CAA Board.
Congratulations to the 2026 recipients! Read on below to learn more about each of these inspiring, soon-to-be alumni.
Abeer Saed ’26BC (she/her) is from Harlem, New York, and is majoring in Human Rights & Urban Studies-Architecture. She has worked as a Barnard Student Admissions Representative (BSAR) and served on the executive board of Skip Stop, the official commuter student organization, throughout all her years at Barnard. She has worked with the space planning team to design a new commuter lounge and led the planning of events for the Barnard/Columbia community, such as the MetroCard Farewell; always bringing her native New Yorker identity into all she does.
Abeer is also a Peer Mentor through Access Barnard, where she mentors first-generation, low-income first-year students. She remains engaged with the broader New York community through her internships with nonprofits and city government, which have inspired her to pursue a career in public service centered on supporting vulnerable communities. Outside of academics, Abeer enjoys film production and riding the NYC Ferry.
Maral Mohagheghi Samarin ’26BUS is an MBAxMS student at Columbia Business School with a strong interest in the intersection of engineering and business. During her time at Columbia, she has taken on several leadership roles, including Co-President of Columbia Women in Business, Vice President of Logistics for the Peer Advisor Board, and Vice President of Operations for Alleycon. In these roles, she has focused on building community and supporting meaningful student experiences. Maral is particularly interested in applying both technical and business perspectives to solve complex problems and create practical, impactful solutions.
Marina Saguar Urquiola ’26CS is a Spanish climate and sustainability professional. Her commitment to advancing international cooperation and sustainable development has led her to support climate initiatives across more than 20 countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Oceania, and Europe.
Her work spans the development of national policies and strategies, climate finance frameworks, funding proposals, and governance structures. She collaborates closely with international organizations, governments, development banks, climate funds, local communities, and other partners through multi-stakeholder processes.
She holds two degrees in International Relations and Global Communications from Comillas University and the University of Sydney. Building on this foundation, she is currently pursuing a master’s degree at the Columbia Climate School, specializing in unlocking climate finance to enable more inclusive and effective climate action, particularly for vulnerable communities. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, surfing, skiing, and skating.
Michael Zheng ’26CC is a psychology major at Columbia College and a standout member of the Columbia Men’s Tennis Team (2022–2026). A two-time NCAA Individual Tennis Champion (2024, 2025) and 2023 runner-up, he is a four-time ITA All-American (2022–26) and a two-time Ivy League Player of the Year (2023, 2025). In 2025, Michael was recognized for both his excellence and character, earning the ITA National and Northeast Region Rafael Osuna Sportsmanship Awards, as well as College Sports Communicators Academic All-American honors.
Aryas Koorosh Safaie ’26DM is a lifelong New Yorker who always hoped to one day attend Columbia University. After earning his Bachelor’s degree from Binghamton University, he was grateful for the opportunity to join Columbia University’s College of Dental Medicine and make that goal a reality. With a genuine interest in supporting his peers, Aryas became involved in student government, serving as Class Vice President before later taking on roles as Vice President and President of the Student Government Organization. Through these experiences, he found meaningful ways to contribute to the student community and aimed to leave a positive, lasting impact during his time in dental school. Deeply grateful for the Columbia community, he is honored to receive this award and looks forward to staying involved as a proud alumnus. As a graduate of the Class of 2026, he will continue his training in orthodontics at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.
Cheng “Gavin” Gong ’26SEAS is a PhD candidate in Biomedical Engineering at Columbia University, focused on translating engineering innovations into impactful healthcare solutions. He served as a Teaching Fellow in Biomedical Innovation and was named a Presidential Teaching Award finalist.
Gavin has spent over four years in the University Senate, where he co-chairs the Student Affairs and External Relations and Research Policy committees, and serves on the Executive Committee. In these roles, he advocates for students and contributes to university-wide strategic planning alongside faculty, administrators, and trustees. He also served as the graduate student representative on the Columbia Alumni Association E-Board, strengthening alumni–student engagement and school spirit.
Beyond academia, he is a certified wine taster, Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitor and boxer, and former fine dining restaurant owner, with a strong interest in modern art.
Robert Mulvey ’26GS has completed his undergraduate studies at Columbia University, where he earned a BA in Philosophy with a concentration in Dance. Prior to his studies, he performed professionally with ballet companies across the US, including Nevada Ballet Theatre, Los Angeles Ballet, The Washington Ballet, and San Francisco Ballet. He will begin his PhD in Performance Studies at Columbia this fall.
His academic interests include aesthetics, critical theory, affect theory, performance theory, phenomenology, screendance, and theories of embodiment. His research examines improvisation as an ethics of embodiment, exploring how bodies learn to align with institutional and disciplinary power and how they resist it.
At Columbia, he contributed to the university community as a University Senator, Senior Resident Advisor, and Artistic Director, and through service on committees across the university. Alongside his scholarship, he maintains an artistic practice grounded in improvisation, approaching performance as a mode of practice-as-research through which thinking, making, and inquiry unfold in real time.
'Eiwa Colburn ’26GSAPP is Originally from Honolulu, Hawai‘i and holds a Bachelor's in Environmental Design with a concentration in Architecture from the University of Hawai‘i. 'Eiwa is graduating as a dual degree student with a Master's of Architecture and a MS in Real Estate of Development. During his three years at GSAPP, 'Eiwa served as a teaching assistant for several courses and worked with the admissions office, giving guided tours to admitted and prospective students. Prior to enrolling at Columbia University GSAPP, he served for three and a half years as a Designer and Research Associate at the University of Hawai‘i School of Architecture. In this role, he cultivated an expertise in architectural design, community-engaged projects, and culturally responsive design practices. Following graduation, 'Eiwa aspires to combine his background in architectural design with real estate development to create enduring, human-centered architecture that enrich the communities they are designed for.
Riya M. Rampalli ’26GSAS received an MA from the Department of Ecology, Evolution, & Environmental Biology under the guidance of Dr. Deren Eaton. Riya’s MA research investigated gametic hybrid incompatibility in Amaranthus plants, focusing on pollen-mediated mechanisms to infer recombination landscapes. This work seeks to understand how evolutionary processes shape genomic variation and reproductive diversity in plant lineages. Riya’s scientific perspective and approach to community engagement are deeply shaped by her upbringing in Sacramento, California. Across her four years at Columbia, first as a post-baccalaureate scholar and then as a graduate student, Riya demonstrated sustained leadership across department-, campus-, and city-based initiatives, namely: E3Buddies, Women in Science at Columbia (WISC), BraiNY, SoapboxScience, and the New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS). This commitment to community engagement is central to Riya’s career goals of fostering spaces of belonging in science by making research relevant, accessible, and inclusive.
Victoria Newsome ’26JRN is from Columbia, MD, graduating with an MS in Journalism. As the 2026 CJS Student Government President, Newsome advocated for the first-ever sports video newsroom class, created a detailed proposal for the first hybrid career week since the pandemic, and organized student-led journalism workshops for communities affected by gun violence in the Bronx.
She's an enthusiastic multimedia reporter/social media producer for Columbia Athletics, with her work appearing on @gocolumbialions and ESPN+. She has a versatile background spanning news (CBS3 & NBC10 Philadelphia), sports (Villanova Athletics), politics (AKSM White House Student Media), digital media (NCAA Digital), broadcast support (CBS Sports), and athletic operations. Before Columbia, Newsome excelled at Villanova University, finishing early with a B.A. in Communications and a minor in Business.
Upon graduation, she's driven to pursue a career in on-air sports journalism to tell impactful stories that show the humanity of athletes beyond the game.
Celeste Woloshyn ’26LAW (she/her) is a recent graduate of Columbia Law School, where she served as Student Body President, President of OutLaws, Executive Financial Officer and Notes Editor on the Human Rights Law Review, and a Max Berger '71 Public Interest/Public Service Fellow. Her law school work has focused on civil rights, health law, administrative law, and government accountability, informed by her experience as a congressional aide to Anna G. Eshoo before law school. During law school, she interned with the New York Legal Assistance Group and Bantle & Levy LLP, conducted mediations through the Mediation Clinic, and externed with the Knight First Amendment Institute and the New York Attorney General’s Office. Following graduation, she will clerk for Judge Daniel Calabretta and Judge Beth Robinson.
Laila Gad ’26PH is from Staten Island, graduating with an MPH in Environmental Health Science (EHS). Laila became part of the Mailman community while she was still in undergrad as a EHS PrIMER Mentee and, eventually, Mentor. Laila finds mentoring and community service incredibly important, especially as a Muslim Egyptian American woman.
She served as the President of Muslim Students for Health Equity (MS4HE), the Secretary of Perspectives on Aging (PoA), and a Mentor for Mailman's Summer Public Health Scholars Program (SPHSP). Further, she was named a Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center Longevity Fellow, a Mailman FORWARD Fellow, and a Rachel Carson Council National Environmental Leadership Fellow. Additionally, she worked as a research assistant in the Dean's Office with Dean Linda Fried and her Office Staff.
Throughout her MPH, Laila has led the development of heat-related illness prevention workshops for older adults at senior centers across NYC that culminated in a Health Fair for Bronx residents. Laila has recently been accepted into medical school, and is excited to become a physician who uses her public health training to serve the tristate area. She is very thankful for the support of her family, mentors, and friends.
Jocelyn Violett ’26NRS is a DNP-PNP candidate at Columbia University School of Nursing (CUSON). She also earned her Master of Science in nursing at Columbia and has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and education from UC Berkeley. Her long path towards the nursing profession has been filled with challenges, but she is grateful for every opportunity along the way. During her time at Columbia, she sought to give back to the CUSON community through collaboration and service. She co-founded and served on the executive board of Columbia Latinx Nurses (CLN), a student group at CUSON for Latinx students to build community as well as to engage with all students who wanted to learn more about Latinx culture and its impact in healthcare. She was also a peer mentor and provided support to three students as they navigated their learning at CUSON. Jocelyn is now practicing as a pediatric NP in Washington.
Shamika Dhar ’26SOA grew up in Bangalore, India, where two of the most popular pastimes are cricket and movies. Like many others, she enjoyed both, but for most of her childhood, they remained simply forms of entertainment. Her primary focus was tennis, and her dedication to the sport eventually brought her to the United States as a Division I athlete.
During that journey, her path gradually shifted. What had once been a pastime—watching films—evolved into a passion for storytelling. Today, Shamika aspires to create films that explore human struggles, emotional connections, and the complexities of everyday life. Her work is driven by a desire to tell honest, character-driven stories that resonate across cultures.
Yedidya Anna Zohore ’26SIPA is a Master of International Affairs candidate at Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs, specializing in Economic and Political Development with a focus on Africa. With experience spanning multilateral institutions, development finance, and investment research, she is building a career dedicated to advancing equitable development and amplifying Africa's role in global conversations. At SIPA, she has contributed beyond the classroom, serving in various leadership capacities and championing Africa-focused initiatives within the Columbia community. A lifelong language learner and global citizen, Yedidya brings a deeply global perspective and an unwavering commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for communities worldwide.
Leilani Ayleen Salas ’26SPS is pursuing a Master of Science in Sustainability Management at Columbia University. Her work focuses on the intersection of environmental health, climate risk, and sustainable development, with a particular interest in how environmental exposures affect vulnerable communities.
She has served as a Research Coordinator at the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health, where she supported studies examining the impacts of environmental toxins on child health outcomes. She has most recently contributed to sustainability consulting and impact initiatives with organizations such as CMA CGM and the H-Accelerator, developing climate investment strategies and supporting waste-to-energy ventures. At Columbia, she was passionate about advancing student engagement in environmental leadership and climate action.
Laura Galeano Cardozo ’26SW is a graduating Paraguayan-American student at Columbia School of Social Work, pursuing the Advanced Clinical Practice (ACP) track. She is passionate about providing young women and mothers in New York and Paraguay with access to mental health support.
Prior to her MSW, Laura worked as a Senior Budget Analyst at the NYC Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget, where she gained insight into how funding decisions impact access to services. This experience inspired her to focus on reducing barriers to mental health care and expanding culturally competent resources.
She is currently completing her practicum at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst in the NICU/ Postpartum department and previously worked with the Nurse-Family Partnership at the NYC Department of Health. Laura also co-leads the Latinx Caucus and works as a research assistant at the CSSW Sleep, Mind, & Health Research Program.
Ronald (RJ) Eric Wicks II ’26TC is a Master’s student in Education Policy at Teachers College, Columbia University, focused on K-12 systems and educational equity. As a Zankel Fellow with the Center for Educational Equity, he designs and teaches a middle and high school civics and participatory budgeting curriculum in Harlem, where students decide how to allocate $6,000 for school improvements.
RJ also serves as an Administrative Fellow with Graduate Student Life & Development, advising 10+ student organizations and leading campus programming, including the Harlem Celebration Series connecting TC students with the local community. He also works as a Community Assistant in residential life, fostering inclusive living environments.
In his first year, he was a Research Assistant with NCREST, conducting literature reviews on college and career readiness and international education initiatives. RJ also completed immersive coursework in federal policy in Washington, DC, and international/ refugee education policy in Morocco.
Sidney Saint-Hilaire ’26VPS is a fourth-year medical student in the Columbia-Bassett Program at the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. While pursuing a bachelor's in Cognitive Science at Yale, his research experiences led to studies on trauma-informed care, organizational behavior, and developmental psychology, as well as fellowships working in early childhood education and local violence intervention programs. At VP&S, Sidney’s research threads have continued, culminating in a research year focusing on the interplay between Psychiatry and Culture. He has also held leadership roles in the Columbia Homeless Medical Partnership, Columbia Student Senate, and the VP&S Psychiatry Interest Group. Outside of the classroom, Sidney is an avid baker and artist, practicing poetry and ceramics in his spare time. Following graduation, Sidney will begin his residency in psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.