Community Assistants

Jalnidh Kaur (she/her/hers) is a doctoral student in the Economics and Education program. She grew up in India and completed her Bachelors in Economics from St. Stephen's College, Delhi in 2013. As a Rhodes scholar, she earned an M.Phil in Economics from the University of Oxford in 2015. Before joining TC, she worked as a researcher and teacher in classrooms of rural India. She is joined in Bancroft by her husband Divjot Singh and daughter Haadra Hadur Kaur. Divjot is a finance professional and a seasoned tabla player. Both Jalnidh and Divjot are trained in Indian classical music and enjoy singing and composing music together. Their favorite pastime in NYC is exploring parks with their daughter and connecting with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds. They are humbled and honored to serve the TC residential community.

Icon  Email: jk4203@tc.columbia.edu

Victoria Echevarria (she/her/ella) is a first-year graduate student pursuing a Masters of Science in Communicative Sciences and Disorders with a Spanish-bilingual extension. Before coming to Teachers College, Victoria attended California State University, Long Beach and completed her Bachelors in Speech-Language Pathology. After her undergraduate year, she volunteered for the Peace Corps in Panama but was evacuated due to COVID-19. Since then, she worked as a playtime therapist and speech-language pathologist assistant in California. Victoria loves to travel, explore new places with friends, and create pottery in her free time. As a Community Assistant, she hopes to foster safe and engaging communities where everyone feels welcomed and appreciated. She is so excited to be a CA and establish long-lasting connections!

Icon  Email: vg2544@tc.columbia.edu

Pauline (she/her/hers) is a second-year master’s student in the Communication Science & Disorders: Bilingual Extension-Dual Certification Program at Teachers College, Columbia University. She was born in the Philippines and moved to the US when she was eight years old. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2022 with a BPhil in CSD, a minor in linguistics, and a certificate in Children’s Literature. Pauline's research interests include neurodegenerative disease and treatment, speech, swallowing, and voice disorders. She enjoys working with populations across the lifespan and is motivated by the people she works with and her desire to advocate for marginalized communities. As a Community Assistant, Pauline hopes to foster an inclusive, dynamic, and engaged community that creates a welcoming space for all. In her spare time, Pauline is on the hunt for the best matcha latte in the city, window shopping with friends in the Kinokuniya store, cooking with her family, or wandering around the streets of NY because of her poor sense of direction. Pauline is super excited to be a Community Assistant and hopes she can serve as a point of resource and support to those she encounters.

Icon  Email: pb2881@tc.columbia.edu

Rachel Ling (she/her/hers) is a second-year M.A. student in the Clinical Psychology Program. Before Teachers College, she graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and earned her B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Education. Rachel grew up in Hong Kong, a small lovely city that is densely populated with attractions, towering skyscrapers, and an abundance of cuisine diversity. While she can no longer go to the beach to embrace the sunny California weather, she finds happiness in bouldering, exploring NYC restaurants with friends, and enjoying a relaxing day at home! As a Community Assistant, Rachel hopes to create an inclusive, warm, and fun space for all community members. She is extremely excited to serve as your Community Assistant and looks forward to meeting all of you!

Icon  Email: rl3333@tc.columbia.edu

Vik Joshi (he/him) - from Mumbai, India - is a third-year doctoral student in the Philosophy and Education Program at Columbia University (Teachers College). He is a member of the International Interfaith Research Lab, under the leadership of Executive Director Dr. Amra Sabic-El-Rayess, and serves as the Director of Research and Strategic Partnerships at Reimagine Resilience and Project Belonging - two programs funded by the Center of Prevention, Programs and Partnerships (Department of Homeland Security) that support Educators, Educational Staff, and Middle- and High-School students in countering Educational Displacement, Othering, Radicalization, and Targeted Violence through Professional Development and Innovative Programming. He has served as part of the faculty of a College-in-Prison program (working in Maximum and Medium-Security Prisons in Up-State New York). He has held fellowships at the Center for Justice (Columbia University) and was an inaugural fellow at Mr. Harry Belafonte's The Gathering for Justice. He is currently completing a manuscript, upon request, of the life of Justus Rosenberg, a spy in the French Resistance during the Second World War. Vik is deeply humbled and honoured to begin another year serving as a Community Assistant with the values of social connectedness, empathy, and mutual respect as foundational to his work within the Office of Residential Services.

Icon  Email: vhj2103@tc.columbia.edu

Asher (he/him/his) is an Ed.M. student in the School Counseling program and hopes to become an elementary school counselor! He attended Tulane University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a double major in Social Policy & Practice and double minors in Psychology and Teaching, Learning, & Training. During undergrad, he worked in Housing and Residence Life in many different capacities as a Resident Advisor, an Executive Board member of the Residence Hall Association, and a Desk Services Coordinator! He is thrilled to be joining the ORS team at Teachers College as a Community Assistant this year!

Icon  Email: alb2342@tc.columbia.edu

Afro-Dominican, first-generation, non-binary, and lactose intolerant. Diana Tiburcio (they/she) is a second-year Master's student in the Sociology and Education program with research focuses in LGBTQ+ and race studies. Before coming to TC, they attended Amherst College where they double majored in Sociology and Education (extra points for consistency). Outside of TC, Diana advocates for LGBTQ+ love, joy, and expression through their community organizing work and online platform. In 2022, they co-founded LOGRO, a network of Gen-Z organizers that collaborate with organizations and individuals to foster safe and celebratory communities for QTBIPOC people. As part of this, they co-organized, hosted, and advertised their hometown’s Pride Festival for the last two years. This has culminated into an array of research initiatives and graphic designs that they hope to turn into guides for the next generation of LGBTQ+ advocates!

Icon  Email: dt2750@tc.columbia.edu

Xi (she/her/hers) is a second-year doctoral student in the clinical psychology program. Before pursuing her doctorate, Xi worked as a clinical social worker, offering psychotherapy and crisis intervention to a diverse range of clients. Xi's background also includes involvement in research projects related to trauma and associated disorders. Currently, Xi's research interests focuses on studying psychosocial adjustment and the predictors of resilience following potentially traumatic events. In her leisure time, Xi enjoys reading, building LEGOs, and hiking with her two canine companions. As a Community Assistant, Xi is committed to creating a supportive, inclusive, and lively living environment for all residents. Leveraging her expertise and experiences, she aims to contribute positively to the well-being of the community.

Icon  Email: xp2201@tc.columbia.edu