Dietrich Welcomes 2024 Class of Scholars
By Stacy Kish
Carnegie Mellon University welcomes the fourth cohort of Dietrich College Scholars this fall. This exemplary group of doctoral students are pursuing degrees in the humanities and social sciences.
The scholars represent eight of the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences departments that offer Ph.D. programs. The fellowship provides a pathway to success through financial support, opportunities to expand networks and professional development. It also offers incoming doctoral students an opportunity to develop relationships with graduate students across departments within Dietrich College to help with building community, belonging and networking.
“The continually growing [Dietrich College] scholar community offers opportunities for support and mentorship as fellows progress in their programs,” said Sharon Carver, Dietrich College’s associate dean for educational affairs. “So far, the personal and professional connections have been the highlights, but we are beginning to see synergy in research interests that could lead to collaborative projects.”
The program helps students transition to their new lives in Pittsburgh and connect with professional services and resources. As a group, the students get to know one another through shared meals, field trips and both Dietrich College and university events. Scholars from previous cohorts continue to participate in the program, offering support and guidance to their peers as they begin to navigate graduate work.
“The fellowship not only offers an award but also exceptional opportunities to become part of a vibrant community of scholars,” said Ayana Ledford, associate dean of diversity, equity and inclusion at Dietrich College. “They can share ideas and support each other, leading to a deeper understanding and a more rewarding learning experience. By doing so, we hope to ignite their passions and shape a brighter future for themselves and the world around them.”
Join Dietrich College in welcoming the following Dietrich College Scholars.
Esther Omonigho Airemionkhale
Esther Omonigho Airemionkhale will begin her Ph.D. studies in the Department of Languages, Cultures & Applied Linguistics with Uju Anya, associate professor of second language acquisition. She will study postcolonial English speakers, their identities and their use of English for resistance and placemaking in contested socioeconomic contexts. Airemionkhale received an undergraduate degree in French and Portuguese from Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria. She also received a master’s degree in languages and education from the University of Sheffield, U.K.
“As a Dietrich College Scholar, I look forward to the social and professional networks I will build,” said Airemionkhale. “Also, I believe collaboration is the backbone of impact, so I am excited at the opportunity to collaborate with present and past scholars to create lasting impact in academia and the wider society.”
Joanna Boyland
Joanna Boyland will begin a Ph.D. program in the Department of Philosophy where she will focus her research on mathematical logic. Boyland received a bachelor’s degree in linguistics and mathematics as well as a master’s degree in computer science from Harvard University in 2023.
“[I look forward to] learning from and enjoying life with my fellow scholars,” said Boyland.
Asteria Herbert Chilambo
Asteria Herbert Chilambo will begin a Ph.D. program in the Department of Statistics & Data Science. Chilambo plans to focus on high-dimensional statistics with the aim of developing algorithms that can predict high-dimensional data to understand underlying patterns and distributions. She received a bachelor's degree in pure mathematics from Harvard University in May 2023. During the 2023–2024 academic year, she participated in the Part III Program in mathematics, concentrating in statistics, at the University of Cambridge, Trinity College.
“As a Dietrich College Scholar, I'm excited to connect with peers from diverse disciplines and leverage our collective knowledge to foster a more inclusive and supportive environment at CMU,” said Chilambo. “I look forward to using this opportunity to grow both personally and professionally by contributing to a culture of collaboration and innovation, enriching the campus experience for all students.”
Abigail Cramer
Abigail Cramer will begin a Ph.D. program in the Department of History working with Jay Aronson, the founder and director of the Center for Human Rights Science at CMU. She received both her BA and MA in history at Kent State University, where she focused on the history of transnational eugenics and its connections to global policy making. Abigail plans to continue this research during her Ph.D. and is excited to broaden her scope and explore various topics, such as the history of medicine and/or the history of psychology and their connections to transnational eugenics.
"I am looking forward to the interdisciplinary collaboration that the Dietrich Scholars Fellowship will provide," said Cramer. "I am excited to learn from my colleagues who come from very different fields from my own."
Mercy Faleyimu
Mercy Faleyimu will begin the Ph.D. program in rhetoric in the Department of English with James Wynn, associate professor of English. Faleyimu’s research will focus on rhetoric of the global South, specifically in science communication and pedagogy, exploring new models for communication and writing instruction that are responsive to contemporary challenges in the constantly evolving digital landscape. Faleyimu earned a master’s degree in communication and advocacy at James Madison University.
“[I am] excited about being a Dietrich College Scholar and looking forward to building an interdisciplinary community of passionate scholars,” said Faleyimu. “Meeting and working alongside people who are asking and answering important questions is going to be one of the highlights of this fellowship for me.”
Ani Gribbin
Ani Gribbin will begin the Ph.D. program in Systems Neuroscience, working with Matthew Smith, professor of in CMU’s Department of Biomedical Engineering and Neuroscience Institute, and J. Patrick Mayo, assistant professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh and a member of the Neuroscience Institute. Gribbin is interested in studying how subcortical brain structures and systems give rise to complex behavior, such as visuospatial decision making. She completed a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience and linguistics at Macalester College in May 2024.
“I am most looking forward to connecting with researchers from other fields through the Dietrich Scholars program,” said Gribbin. “We can benefit so much from interdisciplinary research within both STEM and humanities/social sciences, so I am eager to ground my doctoral training in these values and learn from other Dietrich Scholars.”
Emiliano Irena Hernández
Emiliano Irena Hernández will begin a Ph.D. program in the Department of Psychology, working with Michael Trujillo, assistant professor in psychology. Hernández will explore how the mechanisms of stigma, prejudice and discrimination can influence social behavior, decision-making, problem-solving and intergroup relations in various social contexts, such as poverty, gender, forced disappearances, LGBTQIA+ inclusion, political affiliation or voting processes. He graduated from Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales, Mexico, in 2024 with a master’s degree in public policy. Hernández also received a master’s degree in international relations from the University of Bath, U.K., in 2015. He completed a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Universidad de las Américas, Mexico, in 2013.
“I look forward to having an interdisciplinary and multicultural experience that can enrich our perspective within the research interests of all members in the 2024–2025 cohort and contribute to our understanding of diversity and inclusion in our everyday lives,” said Hernández.
Christa Michel
Christa Michel will begin her Ph.D. program in systems neuroscience at the Neuroscience Institute. She will receive support from the CMU Rales Fellowship, an initiative that facilitates the inclusion and advancement of STEM researchers across the university. Michel is interested in the neural basis of variability in decision making, particularly how different types of cortical projections shape behavior. She completed a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from Boston College and spent two years studying brain aging at Massachusetts General Hospital.
“I'm excited to connect with students across disciplines,” said Michel. “This program is an incredible opportunity to grow as researchers and open doors for collaboration.”
Ma Qianyu
Ma Qianyu will begin a Ph.D. program and work with Benno Weiner, associate professor in the Department of History. She is interested in the historical memory of Chinese Muslim communities. Qianyu graduated from National University of Singapore with a master’s degree in Asian and global history.
“I am excited to have the opportunity to interact and exchange ideas with my fellow scholars from other fields,” said Qianyu. “Accompanied by interdisciplinary exchange, I believe this will broaden my academic horizons.”
Ramon Silvera Zumaran
Ramon Silvera Zumaran will pursue a Ph.D. program in behavioral decision research in the Department of Social and Decision Sciences. His research will explore the influence of contextual factors, such as social and cultural norms, on the heterogeneity of effects of behavioral interventions and test the generalizability of behavioral interventions through experiments outside White, Educated, Industrialized, Rich and Democratic (WEIRD) samples. He will also leverage psychological mechanisms to influence sustained behavior change in health outcomes. Zumaran received an undergraduate degree in business economics and a master’s degree in economic analytics at the University of Arkansas.
“[I am looking forward to] joining a culturally and intellectually rich community of scholars to engage in discussions and support each other throughout our respective programs,” said Zumaran.