Meet the Team
Meet our Executive Director and Academic Dean, Mr. Thomas Kennelly!
“What I love most about Alpha Scholars is having the opportunity to work with talented and enthusiastic students from around the world and support their research and writing on topics that they are passionate about.”
- Mr. Thomas Kennelly
Mr. Kennelly lives in Boston where he is Program Director for History and Global Understanding at Boston Latin School. He co-founded Alpha Scholars in 2020 after his student travel and homestay exchange programs were paused due to the pandemic. In his spare time, he enjoys outdoor activities including hiking and skiing, watching sports, music, reading, eating, and spending time with family and friends.
“What I love most about Alpha Scholars is the opportunity to see students explore their passions and interests through their research project and become an expert on their topic by the end of the program.”
- Dr. Onisha Etkins
Dr. Onisha Etkins is a social epidemiologist and health equity expert with over 8 years of experience. She is dedicated to advancing health equity and community care models. Dr. Etkins has led projects across digital startups, federal government, and public health sectors, building research functions from the ground up. She also has experience as a community facilitator, teaching how practices within systemically marginalized groups can promote joy and mental well-being. She holds an M.S. in Community Health and Prevention Research from Stanford and a Ph.D. in Social Epidemiology from Harvard.
Our Mentors
Laurinne Eugenio
Hometown:
San Diego, CA
Major, graduation year:
Social Studies, Secondary in Ethnicity, Migration, and Rights, May 2026
Worked with Alpha Scholars during:
Fall/Winter '23-'24, Summer '24
Mentees worked with:
Fall/Winter '23-'24: Desanka, Martina | Summer '24: Rodrigo, Sharon, Sophie, Maria Alejandra
Favorite thing about being an Alpha Scholars Mentor:
“I love learning about students' passions and watching them turn those interests into well-researched, compelling papers that effectively advocate for the causes they care about.”
Kimtee Kundu
Hometown:
North Hollywood, CA
Major, graduation year:
History of Science and Government, May 2026
Worked with Alpha Scholars during:
Summer '24
Mentees worked with:
Xiangyi (Julie) Zhu, Aanika Mohta, Emilia Becerra, Sabrina Gonçalves
Favorite thing about being an Alpha Scholars Mentor:
“I found great fulfillment in developing strong connections with my mentees and empowering them to gain confidence and growth in their research skills.”
Kevin Lin
Hometown:
Charlotte, NC
Major, graduation year:
Applied Mathematics and Biological Science, May 2026
Worked with Alpha Scholars during:
Summer '23, Fall/Winter '23-'24, Summer '24
Mentees worked with:
Luis, Esther, Maria, Ashly, Advaith, Vedant
Favorite thing about being an Alpha Scholars Mentor:
“Meeting mentees from all over the world.”
Angela Dela Cruz
Hometown:
Bay Shore, Long Island, NY
Major, graduation year:
Psychology, May 2024
Worked with Alpha Scholars during:
Summer '23, Fall/Winter '23-'24, Summer '22, Summer '24
Mentees worked with:
Alessandra, Liqi, Melissa, Chloe, Michelle, Carmen
Favorite thing about being an Alpha Scholars Mentor:
“Being a mentor and helping my mentees grow! The best privilege I have at the end of every program is being able to look back and see how far my kids have come since their first day.”
Andrea Gonzalez Trujillo
Hometown:
Queretaro, Mexico
Major, graduation year:
Biomedical Engineering joint with Philosophy, Secondary in Government, May 2027
Worked with Alpha Scholars during:
Summer '24
Mentees worked with:
Fabricio, Ashwin, Safira, Yelsy
Favorite thing about being an Alpha Scholars Mentor:
“My favorite thing about Alpha Scholars is getting to help the students explore their passions and expand their knowledge.”