Jazalyn Cyrene Cruz is a Fung Fellow in the Health + Tech track currently studying media studies and pursuing a certificate in Design Innovation (IP) at UC Berkeley. Here, she shares about her academic interests, her experience as a Fung Fellow, and her aspirations of becoming a designer.

Tell us about yourself!

“Hi, I’m Jazalyn Cruz and I am a third year student at UC Berkeley, studying media studies and design. I come from a tight-knit family of five who has taught me the importance of hardwork, to take advantage of all opportunities, and to prioritize self-care.

When I transferred to Cal last fall…

Dao Xayalath is a Conservation + Tech fellow studying philosophy at UC Berkeley. Here, Dao discusses his major, long-term career aspirations, and goal to represent the Lao community in academia.

How did you end up where you are today?

I was originally born at a refugee camp in Laos that no longer exists today. My parents were refugees from Laos who wanted to come to the states to give my sisters and I a better opportunity than they had growing up. …

Lorraine Pereira is a 2020 alumna of the Fung Fellowship and UC Berkeley, where she majored in Public Health and minored in Global Poverty & Practice. Here, she reflects on how the fellowship’s pedagogical approach equips undergraduates with many of tools and frameworks historically used in the pursuit of social justice, and how the fellowship fits into the trajectory of positive social change.

Between the ongoing pandemic, the continual obstruction of justice for Black lives, and the mis- and disinformation spreading even faster than the flames that engulfed our nation’s west coast, 2020 has exposed the brokenness of the systems…

Lauren Leung is a Health + Tech fellow studying computer science with a minor in geography at UC Berkeley. Here, she shares about her academic interests, her personal mission to help others lead healthier lives, and the growth she hopes to accomplish through the fellowship.

What are you studying, and why did you choose it?

“I originally thought I was going to study English and sociology when I came to Berkeley. After my first semester, I realized that these two majors weren’t right for me, and started surveying a wider variety of courses.

I decided to take a computer science (CS) course, as I didn’t have the chance in high…

Ananya Raghavan is a Conservation + Tech fellow studying society and environment and data science with a minor in public policy at UC Berkeley. Here, Ananya shares about her areas of study, why she believes interdisciplinary access to tech is necessary, and how fellows can reframe the conversation around biodiversity.

What are you studying, and why?

“I knew that I wanted to focus on environmental work because everything that I’d been passionate about and had done in high school had revolved around that, whether it was volunteering at animal shelters or doing field work and habitat restoration. When I was applying to Berkeley, I learned about…

In August 2020, a new cohort of 116 undergraduates from across Berkeley’s campus began their journey as Fung Fellows. Handpicked from the largest applicant pool yet, these students were chosen for their passion for health and conservation, unique creativity, ability to think outside the box, expertise in their field, and drive to make a difference.

With the launch of the new Conservation + Tech track, this year’s cohort welcomes twice as many first-year fellows as last year. Across tracks, these fellows joined the program with a natural curiosity and propensity for innovation. …

Alumna TJ Dunnivant ’18 is reviving a project that she worked on during her time in the Fung Fellowship. The digital product, called Baloo, mitigates anxiety in child cancer patients through an Augmented Reality (AR) dog. We caught up with TJ to hear about what she’s doing with Baloo, and her goals for the future.

In her second year as a Fung Fellow, TJ Dunnivant’s 10-year old son Asad was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). At the time, many people recommended that she drop out of school, since it would be a hard process to go through with her…

This year, the Fung Fellowship Boot Camp was hosted entirely remotely for the very first time. Traditionally, this event is the first opportunity for fellows to meet and work with each other. Though it was virtual this year, the boot camp served as an exciting look at how the fellowship will continue to develop as a program in an online format.

Welcoming two first-year cohorts

A program specifically focused on the intersection of social good and technology has never been more fitting — and this year, it has expanded to meet the rising need and student interest. The current cohort includes the first class…