Rolando Kattan, President
Rolando Kattan Rubi (he/him) is a junior majoring in Global Affairs and Comparative Literature born and raised in Tegucigalpa Honduras. Before starting his term as YIRA President he served in the secretariat of various other YIRA programs such as YMUN Europe, YMUN, YIRLI and MUNTY. Through the generosity of the Davis Project for Peace, Rolando led the efforts to introduce a bill in the Honduran Congress that seeks to exempt menstrual products from taxation in the country. He Interned for the Resident Coordinator Office for the UN in Honduras and is a junior consultant for the UNDP “Youth Climate Action” project in Uruguay. He enjoys theater both as a spectator and actor, dancing with his friends and a warm decaf beverage in the afternoon. Feel free to contact him at president@yira.org!
Kaashif Ahmed, Vice President
Kaashif (he/him) is a junior in Benjamin Franklin College and is excited to be this year’s Vice President for YIRA. Kaashif is double-majoring in Global Affairs and Economics and hails from Richmond, VA! He served in the Executive Director team, was the former YIRA secretary, and finished his term as the Secretary-General for Yale’s Model United Nations Conference in China. Outside of YIRA, Kaashif serves as Vice President for the Muslim Students Association and is a Youth Ambassador for the United Nations headquarters in New York. Kaashif also conducts research with the Yale School of Management. In his free time, Kaashif loves to play ping pong and volleyball IMS, hang out at light house point, and explore the local food scene. If you haven’t tasted his famous chai, do contact him. Kaashif is thrilled for this year's YIRA programming and he can’t wait for all the exciting events and opportunities. Feel free to reach out to him for all things YIRA at vice.president@yira.org.
Josh Leffler, Treasurer
Josh (he/him/his) is a junior in Grace Hopper College from Chapel Hill, NC, majoring in Global Affairs and Economics. As YIRA Treasurer, he is passionate about making YIRA and all of its programs accessible to students both at Yale and around the world. Elsewhere in YIRA, he has served as the Director-General of Operations and then Director of Security for YMUN, YIRA’s flagship conference in New Haven, and has provided technology for many of YIRA’s other programs. Elsewhere on campus, Josh is a Yale Tour Guide, a peer tutor in the Economics Department, and research assistant. Please feel free to reach out to Josh at treasurer@yira.org!
Layla Hedroug, Executive Director
Layla Hedroug (she/her) is a rising junior in Morse College studying Global Affairs with an Arabic certificate. She will be serving as YIRA’s Executive Director for the 23-24 year. During her time in Yale, Layla has extensively participated in YIRA extracurriculars, including Yale Model United Nations, acting as the professional development director for the previous Executive Director, and written several articles pertaining to the Middle East and North Africa for YRIS. Her passion for international relations drives her make the realm of international relations widely available to all Yale students and to ultimately pursue a career in international law with a focus in policy and development in the Middle East. In her free time, she advocates for bringing awareness to human rights violations worldwide through Amnesty International and prison reform. Feel free to reach out to her at executive@yira.org.
Mike Zhang, Secretary
Mike Zhang (he/him) is a sophomore in Grace Hopper College majoring in Global Affairs and Economics + Math. Ecstatic about serving as the Secretary of YIRA, his interests in international relations lie at the intersection of US-China relations, national security, and the implications of emerging tech for great power competition. On campus, he is involved with the Yale Foreign Policy Initiative (YFPI), the Model UN Team at Yale (MUNTY), and Camp Kesem at Yale. When he's not busy, you can find him playing ping pong or foosball with friends in the Hopper buttery, enjoying the outdoors, or avidly playing soccer. Mike is thrilled for this year's YIRA programming and he can’t wait for all the exciting events and opportunities. Feel free to reach out to him for all things communications, newsletter, and media (or even just to vibe) at secretary@yira.org!
Isabella Romero, YMUNE President
Isabella (she/her) is a junior in Saybrook College from Puebla, Mexico. She is double-majoring in Political Science and English. She was Director-General of Operations for YMGE XII in Athens, Greece. Outside of YMUNE, she is part of the International Student Organization (ISO) and the Yale Daily News (YDN). In her free time, Isabella enjoys reading, watching movies, hanging out with friends, yoga and cooking. She is looking forward to YMUNE XIII and creating a memorable conference for all participants. Feel free to reach out to her at president@ymuneurope.org!
Maheen Iqbal, YIRLI Co-Director
Maheen (she/her) is a rising sophomore in Grace Hopper College from Toronto, Ontario, Canada planning to major in Global Affairs. Aside from working with YIRLI as Director of Communications, Maheen is involved with the Yale Undergraduate Admissions Office, Yale Undergraduate Human Rights Journal, and member of the Yale South Asian Society. Maheen is passionate about the study of mass atrocities and refugee resettlement; she works with Professor Thomas Pogge at the Yale Global Justice Center on various initiatives and is a President’s Public Service Fellow working with New Haven’s Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services this summer. She loves frequenting New Haven’s many cozy coffee shops, reading anything by Mohsin Hamid or Kahlil Gibran, and spending time with friends! You can email her with any questions at yirli.communications@yira.org!
Arshnoor Kaur, YIRLI Co-Director
Arshnoor (she/her/hers) is a rising sophomore in Ezra Stiles College, originally from New Jersey. She is excited to be serving as the Director of Operations for YIRLI 2022! She is a prospective Neuroscience major on the pre-med track and planning to pursue a Global Health certificate. Around campus, Arshnoor is involved with the Hypertension Awareness and Prevention Program, Yale Undergraduate Research Association, Urban Debate League, and Yale Model United Nations. In addition to working with YIRLI, she will be working as a research assistant at the Yale School of Medicine this summer. In her free time, you can find her baking in the Stiles Student kitchen, browsing the Yale Bookstore, or working on her paint by number project which will probably never be completed. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out at yirli.operations@yira.org!
Jackie Testmark, MUNTY Head Delegate
Jackie (she/her/hers) is a junior in Benjamin Franklin College majoring in Global Affairs with a Advanced Language Certificate in French, and she is excited to serve as Head Delegate for the Model United Nations Team at Yale. She has been involved with YIRA through both competing, and chairing committees for conferences such as YMUN and YUMUNC. She is passionate about international relations, particularly national security issues and international development. Outside of YIRA, Olivia is a student liaison with the Jackson Institute World Fellows Program, a Team Lead with the Global Research and Consulting Group, and a debate coach. An adamant coffee enthusiast and outdoor adventure lover, Olivia enjoys rock climbing, thrift shopping, and befriending campus dogs. Feel free to reach out to ask any questions about joining MUNTY at munty@yira.org
Emily Xin, YMUNK Secretary General
Emily Xin (she/her) is a junior in Pauli Murray college majoring in Comparative Literature and Economics. In the future, she intends to pursue a career in law. Outside of YIRA, she is a member of the Yale Debate Association and the Co-President of a nonprofit consulting club called Elmseed. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and writing poetry, sketching, baking, and listening to music. Emily was on the secretariat for YMUNK X last year, and is ecstatic to return to YMUNK XI as the Secretary-General—she cannot wait to meet all the delegates in person again! Please feel free to reach out to her at ymunkorea.secgen@yira.org.
Way Lee, YMUNS Secretary General
Way (he/him) is a sophomore in Ezra Stiles College majoring in Computer Science and Economics. He’s originally from Singapore, but lived in China for nine years and Thailand for three years. Outside of YMUNS, he also competes for Yale’s Model United Nations Team, is a member of Global Strategic Consulting and the Yale Undergraduate Consulting Group, and was on the secretariat of YMUN Taiwan and YMUN Korea. In his free time, he enjoys learning to cook new dishes, running outdoors, and singing karaoke. He is incredibly excited to organize YMUN Singapore for the first time at home, and looks forward to getting to meet all the delegates in March. Feel free to contact him with any questions at secgen@ymuns.org
Sophia Chin McManus, YMUNLatam Secretary General
Sophia Chin McManus (she/her) is a sophomore in Timothy Dwight college majoring in Comparative Literature on the film track and potentially doubling in Psychology. As a São Paulo native, she is so honored and excited to serve as secretary general of YMUN Latin America 2024 in her hometown. Sophia has also been involved in other YMUN conferences such as YMUN Korea and YMUN Taiwan. Outside of YIRA, she is also a member of the Undergraduate Catholic Council, Brazil Club Yale, sings with acapella group Pitches & Tones, and works for the Center of International and Professional Experience as a student ambassador. In her free time she enjoys writing, translating and practicing kung-fu. Feel free to reach out to her with any questions or to chat at secgen@ymunlatam.org.
Lynn Lee, YMUNT Secretary General
Lynn (she/her) is a History major from Hong Kong and Seoul, South Korea. Lynn has been deeply involved with YIRA for the past five years and has worked with YMUN, YMUN Korea, YMUN Taiwan, and Hemispheres. Outside of YMUNT, Lynn is also involved in Yale’s Communication and Consent Educators program and works with the Yale-China Association as a New Haven Free and Public Library Fellow. In her free time, Lynn enjoys exploring new running trails, journalling, and catching up with old friends over coffee. Feel free to reach out to her at secgen@ymunt.org.
Maya Albold, YRIS Co-Editor in Chief
Maya (she/her/hers) is a junior in Pauli Murray College from Saint Augustine, Florida. She is double majoring in History and East Asian Studies with a focus on Chinese philosophy. She also served as an ASG and USG of Conference for Yale Model United Nations. Outside of YIRA, Maya is an ESL tutor through the Migration Alliance at Yale, student researcher and archivist at Yale Law School, director of programming for STAND with Comfort Women, and editor for the Human Rights Journal. She is beyond excited to serve as a Co-EIC for YRIS and continue providing a platform for diverse perspectives and informative storytelling. In her free time, she does things at places. Feel free to reach out to yris@yira.org@! with any questions!
Megan Niu, YMUN Secretary General
Megan (she/her) has loved her time on the Secretariats of YMUN 48 and 49, and is honored to be the Secretary-General of YMUN 50! Originally from Scarsdale, NY, she is a junior in Benjamin Franklin College pursuing a double major in Cognitive Science and Global Affairs. Outside of YMUN, she is an Admissions Tour Guide and a linguistics Research Assistant at the Yale Phonetics Lab. In her free time, she enjoys learning languages, listening to podcasts, following tennis, and traveling. Megan is happy to help in any way that she can at secgen@ymun.org!
Faisal Al-Saud, YRIS Co-Editor in Chief
Faisal (he/him/his) is a junior in Berkeley College majoring in political science and modern Middle East studies and is receiving a certificate in human rights. His interests lie in public international law, transitional justice, comparative legal systems, and human rights in religious systems and societies. Outside of YIRA, Faisal is Co-EIC of the Yale Human Rights Journal, a researcher with the Lowenstein International Human Rights Clinic, and a research assistant at Yale Law School. He is incredibly excited to serve as Co-EIC for YRIS this year and expand the publication in reach, breadth, and depth. Faisal can usually be found reading at various libraries or coffee shops. Feel free to reach out with any questions to yris.yira.org.
Demi Lee, Hemispheres Director
Demi L. (she/hers) is a junior in TD studying Cognitive Science with the theme of Human-Centered Design. Originally from Seoul and Bangkok, Demi is currently based in Las Vegas. She has participated in Hemispheres since her first year, starting as a Hemi teacher and serving as the Director of Community last year. Demi is super excited to work with Hemi to make educational opportunities to learn about international relations more accessible for New Haven high school students. Outside of YIRA, Demi is an Academic Strategies Peer Mentor, works on the Tsai City Venture Associates team, serves as the photography aide for TD's Head of College Office, and participates in YSIG. In her free time, you can find Demi taking portraits of friends, riding horses for polo, and attempting to create pottery in a basement ceramics studio. Demi is thrilled to be serving as the 2022-2023 Hemispheres Director! Feel free to reach out to Demi to chat and ask questions at hemispheres@yira.org.
Julia Oladipo, YMAU Co-President
Julia (she/her) is a junior completing a double-major in Global Affairs and African Studies with certificates in co-president of YMAU, Julia competes on MUNTY; works as a Yale Tour Guide; has chaired and USG’d for YMUN, and is an instructor for the Yale Young African Scholars (YYAS) summer program! Outside of the world of Model UN, Julia enjoys traveling, learning languages, and spending time in art galleries and museums! She could not be more excited to see YMAU realized this year, and she welcomes any questions you may have for her at president@yalemodelau.org.