Vanessa Anaya
Vanessa (she/her) is from the small town of Esparto in Northern California. She is majoring in Psychology with a certificate in Spanish and is interested in increasing mental health care access in underserved rural communities. During her summers she has studied abroad in Barcelona, worked as a Behavioral Health Technician, and was a Wu Tsai Undergraduate Fellow in the ARC Lab. At Yale, she is a study coordinator and honors student in the EHPL Lab, an Office of Educational Opportunity mentor, worked as a La Casa Peer Liaison, and was a part of the Berkeley College Council (with fellow froco Hannah). Vanessa loves spending time outside, finding a new coffee spot, making pizza, and facetiming her sisters back home! Ask her about navigating being FGLI and Latina at Yale, research on campus, Taylor Swift, and her hate for cheese. She can’t wait to meet the newest members of the best college on campus!
Aaron Cope
Aaron (he/him) grew up in Palm Coast, Florida (a suburb north of Daytona). He is double majoring in Mechanical Engineering and Economics, focusing on applications in space exploration. Aaron is also a first-generation college student and is heavily involved with the Yale Undergraduate Aerospace Association (YUAA). When not building rockets and testing engines, you can find him brushing up on his Portuguese, competing in intramurals, hitting the gym, skateboarding, and rewatching Avatar for the 9th time with his suite. Aaron is excited to meet the class of 2029 at Yale’s best college!
Eula Doele
Eula (she/her) grew up in metro Atlanta, GA and is majoring in Urban Studies and completing an advanced language certificate in German. When she is not camped out in Laz, you can find her welcoming visitors to Yale as a campus tour guide. She also works as a Lead Student Mentor for the Poorvu Center Pedagogical Partners program. A former AfAm-House student assistant and Chaplain’s Office peer liaison, Eula has found rich and diverse community in campus cultural and religious spaces. She enjoys travel, theater, live music and walks on Hillhouse Ave. Eula has come to appreciate the joys of New Haven in all its seasons (especially summer) and is happy to offer recs for coffee shops, ice cream and more. She looks forward to meeting incoming Berkeleyites and supporting them as they navigate life at Yale!
Abigail Lopez Freire
Abi (she/her) is thrilled to join the Berkeley FroCo team! Raised in Maryland, Abi has found a second home in Berkeley, where she’s made some of her closest friends. Since her first year, she’s worked as a BK College Aide and now serves as Senior Chief Aide, working in the Head of College Office to help run events and day-to-day activities. At Yale, Abi is studying Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology through the BS/MS program, with research focused on telomeres. During her summers, she has studied cancer and aging at the Yale School of Medicine and the Spanish National Cancer Center in Madrid through Yale fellowships. On campus, she has loved co-leading and volunteering with the Yale Undergraduates for UNICEF, the Yale Living History Project, and the Yale Photography Society. She’s also enjoyed mentoring for the STARS I program and serving on board for Ecuatorianos y Amigos Unidos. Around campus, you’ll often find Abi hanging out with friends in the BK buttery and courtyards, photographing people and places on her analog camera, and exploring Yale’s many libraries. Abi enjoys music, jewelry-making, visual arts, fútbol, dancing and more. She can’t wait to meet the Class of 2029 and welcome them to the BKest Residential College at Yale!
Hannah Nashed
Hannah (she/her) is from Huntington Beach, California and is a Neuroscience major with plans of pursing law school after undergrad. Hannah has been actively involved in Berkeley since her freshman year when she joined the Berkeley College Council — becoming co-president her sophomore and junior year. Hannah is currently doing fMRI research pertaining to Alzheimer’s but likes to maintain a steady stream of extracurriculars such a hospital volunteering, the Yale Undergraduate Legal Journal, YHHAP, the Yale Herald, and the Yale Journal of Medicine and Law. Hannah also enjoys the occasional side quest and during her time at Yale has engaged in a variety of clubs including taekwondo, rock-climbing, aerial silks, and dabke. A self-proclaimed library expert, you can often find Hannah somewhere in Sterling, probably distracted by the beautiful architecture or procrastinating by chatting with friends. Before college, she deeply hated coffee but ever since sophomore year Chemistry, she’s had an vanilla iced coffee with almond milk (the California in her) almost every day. Hannah is always willing to talk about music, hot takes (ie: watching Netflix on 1.5 speed is superior), and opportunities at Yale —and while you can attempt to discuss sports with her, it is unlikely that she will understand. Finally, Hannah is super excited to be a FroCo and can’t wait to meet Berkeley’s class of 2028!
Pranet Sharma
Pranet (he/him) is from Cary, North Carolina, but has previously called Denver, London, and India home. He is double-majoring in Physics (Int.) and Economics, and is completing a certificate in Computer Science. He is interested in experimental physics, quantum engineering, and innovation economics. He works in the Yale Ultracold Quantum Matter Lab, building a quantum computer using optically trapped strontium atoms. He also runs collaborations with Yale Ventures to introduce students to emerging technologies and research commercialization through YQuantum, Yale’s quantum computing hackathon, and the Yale Quantum Business Initiative. Outside of academics, Pranet loves basketball, film studies, literature, well-produced music, and New Haven’s fantastic restaurants. He is a FOOT Leader, a STEM Tour Guide, and writes for various campus publications. He is excited to draw on his diverse Yale experience to ensure that first-years are well-supported both academically and socially. He is deeply excited to meet the new class of Berkeleyites!
AJ Walker
AJ Walker (he/they) is a Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies major from New York City. He currently serves as the Vice President of the Yale Dramatic Association and as an Undergraduate Production Peer Mentor, assisting students in mounting their own theatrical productions on campus. They also work in the Writing Center as a writing partner. When AJ is not in the theater, he can be found drinking a dirty chai in the Elm, lounging with friends on Cross Campus, or taking long walks around New Haven. They one day hope to be a brand ambassador for AWAKE Chocolate. AJ is so excited to be a FroCo and can’t wait to get to know the class of ’29!