Accelerator Fellows are springing out of an icy winter and into impact with projects ranging from, providing disadvantaged students with tutoring services and meals, free healthcare to local communities, apps to help seniors lower their risk of dementia and much more.
These 26 incredible students will spend 8 weeks taking part in personalized 1:1 coaching, work independently on their projects, and join hands-on development opportunities to increase their project's impacts. Selected through a competitive process, each Fellow will also receive a $2,000 stipend to support their work during the program.
It is exciting to be able to invite 26 students into the Do Good Accelerator Fellows program this semester and to support them as they serve their communities with compassion, innovation, and technology. If you are a UMD student who is working diligently serving your community, I encourage you to apply for the summer cohort, applications are now being accepted.Kisha McNeill Do Good Accelerator Manager
Joyce Arthur, Araba Foundation
Senior, Masters in International Education Policy
My name is Joyce Arthur, I am a second-year master's student in the International Education Policy Program at UMD. My Project is the Araba Foundation International. Araba Foundation International is a youth- and women-led nonprofit organization working to expand access to quality education, menstrual health resources, and leadership development opportunities for rural children and girls in Ghana.
Julia Babula, Project Blue Cubs
Master's Student, Supply Chain Management
Project Blue Cubs is dedicated to empowering the next generation of young girls and boys in Eastern India through soccer and sports education. The project works to provide free soccer coaching for young children, host AIFF Blue Cubs soccer tournaments comprising multiple youth teams, sponsor soccer equipment, and partner with professional youth systems to scout and support the children.
Rustam Biswas, Golden Wings Welfare Society (W-9)
Senior, Finance
Project Wings is a mass accessibility project to help hundreds of underprivileged children access quality education and sports. Located in rural Bengal and the Himalayas, the project aims to introduce computers, cultural and environmental education and FIFA associated soccer tournaments to enthusiastic children.
Allen Blackwell, Youth Empowered Society
Graduate Certificate, Graduate Certificate for Nonprofit Management
Allen N. Blackwell, III, serves as Executive Director of Youth Empowered Society (YES), leading trauma-informed strategies to prevent and end youth homelessness in Baltimore. As a graduate student in Nonprofit Management & Leadership at the University of Maryland, he integrates governance discipline and measurable outcomes into community-based care models.
Sampurna Chakravorty, The Friend in Need (TFIN)
Freshman, Undergraduate Studies
My name is Sampurna Chakravorty. I am a freshman intending to major in Biocomputational Engineering. My project, The Friend In Need (TFIN) is a registered 501(c) that works to provide disadvantaged students with free, peer-led, and accessible tutoring. We are currently teaching 60+ students on a weekly basis and providing meals and other supportive services to 20+ children.
Joanna Chang, More than a Patient: Medical Discrimination
Senior, Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics
More than a Patient: A Conference on Medical Discrimination" is a student-led conference that brings together students, healthcare professionals, and social advocacy groups to explore issues of medical discrimination. This initiative aims to build an environment that cultivates open dialogue and storytelling from speakers to educate and inspire aspiring health professionals to become compassionate, equity-driven leaders in healthcare.
Tanasha Dalton, BMORE Girls
Graduate Certificate, Candidate Nonprofit Management and Leadership Certificate Program
BMORE Girls is a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring, educating, and equipping girls to be bold, courageous leaders. With a current focus on Middle School girls, we provide small group mentorship and leadership development programming. We facilitate cultural and experiential learning opportunities so that the girls can see more, lead more, be more.
Aditi Gubba, Circle Up
Senior, Public Health Science, Technology Innovation Leadership minor
CircleUp is a student-built app that helps reduce loneliness on college campuses by making social connection easy, personalized, and preventative. By intelligently matching students to aligned events and shared experiences, CircleUp strengthens belonging, lowers the barrier to showing up, and supports mental well-being before challenges escalate to crisis.
Kabir Grover, DermTriage
Senior, Computer Science, Innovation and Entrepreneurship minor
DermTriage is an AI-powered smartphone tool that helps primary care doctors detect skin cancer earlier, with a focus on improving accuracy for patients with darker skin tones.
Katen Gulati, Frinse
Senior, Public Health Science
Frinse is dedicated to bridging the gap in dental care by ensuring equal access to both preventative and restorative resources. Our mission is to empower every individual with the tools and knowledge needed to maintain optimal oral health and combat dental diseases.
Ayah Hamouda, AI Maghreb United
Junior, Information Science, Arabic minor, French Studies minor
Ayah Hamouda is a junior majoring in Information Science and minoring in Arabic. Al Maghreb United is a student organization dedicated to raising cultural awareness about the Maghrebi region encompassing Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia. By showcasing the richness and diversity of North African heritage while empowering students through representation, leadership, and visibility, this initiative fosters a more inclusive and diverse campus community.
Jehan Idsassi, STEM Up
Sophomore, Neuroscience and History
STEM Up is an organization dedicated to empowering girls and young women in STEM by expanding access to education, mentorship, and resources, creating measurable impact from local communities to the global stage. Founded by Jehan Idsassi, STEM Up advances equity through initiatives that support students within University of Maryland, College Park and extend opportunities far beyond campus to drive sustainable change worldwide.
Arianna Jahangir, Teen Age Riot Collective
Sophomore, Economics-B.S.
Founder of Teen Age Riot Collective, an advocacy project that leverages the local artistic scene to generate tangible material and legal change within the community. The project has raised over $10,000 for nonprofit organizations such as Remora House DC, International Rescue Committee, and Donnell Justice Fighters since 2022, using arts production as a means of raising funds and awareness for exigent issues.
Maair Khan, Clothing Drive - Cross Regional Islamic Communities
Sophomore, Finance & Economics
My project partners with local faith centers and university groups to organize ongoing clothing drives for families in need around the world. Donations are collected, sorted, and packed by volunteers, then sent through humanitarian aid organizations to reach vulnerable communities in third-world countries.
Srikar Kodali, Brain Bloom
Sophomore, Public Health Science
Brain Bloom is a user-friendly mobile iOS application designed to help seniors lower their risk of dementia through daily habit tracking across key areas like physical activity, sleep, and social connections. Using an initial questionnaire, weekly check-ins, and an AI recommendation system, the app continuously adapts each user's plan to support long-term brain health and independence.
Varun Kota, Compound AI
Junior, Computer Science
Compound AI is an investment platform that uses AI to provide personalized portfolio recommendations and market insights based on a user's financial goals and risk tolerance. It features free tools for realtime asset tracking, automated rebalancing suggestions, and educational resources to help users manage their investments.
Cynthia Lin, Remote Area Medical
Sophomore, Physiology & Neurobiology; Psychology, B.S.
Remote Area Medical, UMD Chapter is dedicated to providing free, accessible healthcare to local communities and individuals who may not have health insurance, proper identification papers, or those who do not have easy access to healthcare. Annually, we organize a 2-day pop-up clinic at a public building, providing essential services such as physical exams, dental cleanings, vision screenings, etc.
Sharon Ogunseye, The Medical Sisterhood
Senior, Biology
The Medical Sisterhood is a women-centered organization dedicated to empowering women in all fields of healthcare through mentorship, service, and professional development. Our mission is to create a supportive space rooted in collaboration, shared experiences, and confidence-building rather than competition. Through structured mentorship, volunteer initiatives, and community health events, we aim to increase access, representation, and opportunity for women pursuing careers across the healthcare spectrum.
Shayaan Paracha, Community Food Access Program — Islamic Ctr of MD
Junior, Information Systems & Finance
I lead and coordinate the Community Food Access Program at the Islamic Center of Maryland, organizing monthly food distributions that serve over 500 households facing food insecurity across the county. In addition to managing volunteers and deliveries, I’ve built tracking systems and improved logistics to ensure the program runs reliably and families can consistently depend on this suppor
Zoe Razunguzwa, Learn to Live
Sophomore, Neuroscience and Public Policy, Spanish Minor
Learn to Live is a project that addresses the lack of safe, accessible physical activity spaces for children in urban and rural areas by proposing an afterschool and summer program that promotes outdoor activity, health literacy, and sustainable healthy habits. By partnering with schools and community organizations, the program aims to improve children’s physical and mental health and build long-term lifestyle behaviors through low-cost, practical education and engagement.
Maricka Sembria, The Joshua Bembo Project at UMD
Junior, Cell Biology & Molecular Genetics, Psychology
Inspired by Joshua Bembo’s valiant fight against gliomatosis cerebri, a rare brain cancer, The Joshua Bembo Project at the University of Maryland (TJBP-UMD) gives hope to patients and families by fundraising, advocating for cancer research, and spreading awareness on campus and beyond.
Soliana Taye, Community Mental Health Support
Graduate Student, Master of Public Policy
I am currently working on a Community Mental Health Support for Ethiopian Youth in the DMV. The mission is to understand the specific challenges young Ethiopian adults face when trying to access mental health care and to collaborate with the Ethiopian community in DC to use what I learn to create a peer support program that reflects their culture, values, lived experiences, and brings awareness.
Eashana Subramanian, UMD Chapter of the Natl Assoc of Minority Landscape Architects (NAMLA)
Senior, Landscape Architecture, Environmental science and policy (environment and agriculture concentration)
UMD's student chapter of the National Association of Minority Landscape Architects aims to foster an inclusive, equitable, and diverse environment within the field of landscape architecture. By providing professional development and education, volunteer opportunities to support underserved communities, and the creation of “Ground Up: a student landscape architecture zine," Namla is dedicated to empowering students and highlighting the importance of equitable landscape design.
Amadou Wade, Build Young Minds
Senior, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics and Autonomous Systems minor
Build Young Minds empowers K–12 students across Maryland to build real engineering confidence by turning drones into hands-on STEM labs. Through drone-based challenges, students learn hardware, software, and modern problem-solving skills while connecting what they do in class to real careers in tech and aerospace.
Jamie Zheng, Foundit Project
Junior, Computer Science
FoundIt Together is a dual-platform lost-and-found system that helps communities quickly report, match, and recover lost items and pets through a simple app and an institutional dashboard. When something goes unclaimed, it’s routed to donation and recycling so nothing is wasted and every lost thing gets a second chance.
Abhiram Kidambi, BigThink AI
Junior, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics
If you want to learn more about becoming an Accelerator Fellow and apply for a summer fellow position, head to the Accelerator Fellows page or email Kisha McNeill at Kisham@umd.edu.