Fifteen students were named 2026 Social Impact Fellows by Columbia World Projects (CWP) and five of them are GS students: Alexis Baltazar ‘27GS, Isadora Evers ‘27GS, Elisa Goislard Nguyen ‘27GS, Nicolle Kathleen Riley ‘28GS, and Jeffrey Vazquez ‘28GS.
The Social Impact Fellowship is an opportunity for rising juniors and seniors who desire to explore careers in social impact and use their talents to engage in and lead on solving complex global challenges. The five-week summer fellowship lets students build new skills, meet social impact leaders, and deepen their knowledge of key social impact topics.
For Baltazar, a linguistics and philosophy major, balancing English and encouraging preservation of native tongues is her prime focus. Using cognitive linguistics and her own background growing up in the bilingual border city of El Paso, she aims to combat discrimination through educational campaigns, examining the role of language in discriminatory attitudes.
Also a philosophy major, Evers, a rising senior in the Dual Degree Program with Trinity College Dublin, uses the arts to unveil human nature. Prior to the Fellowship, she has written practical frameworks for grassroots activism to combat gentrification in Washington D.C. Through the Fellowship, Evers hopes to gain leadership skills and creative training in order to develop a movement that combats educational inequality and preserves cultural history through local radio, the dance floor, and arts curricula.
Nguyen, a SciencesPo-Columbia Dual BA student who studies history and political philosophy, has worked on issues ranging from refugee resettlement to the criminalization of migrant solidarity efforts across Poland, the U.S. and at the Franco-Italian border. During the Social Impact Fellowship, Nguyen hopes to see how collaboration across different disciplines can complement direct political action and drive positive change.
Riley’s interests lie in cultural heritage. After studying classics, ancient history, and archaeology as a Trinity College Dublin Dual Degree student, Riley brings a global perspective to her work and values engaging with diverse viewpoints. She views the Social Impact Fellowship as an opportunity to examine how cultural heritage, public storytelling, and diplomacy can bridge divides, foster dialogue, and promote more ethical and inclusive approaches to preserving and interpreting the past.
Vazquez, a sociology student whose interests lie in criminal justice reform, disability rights, educational equity, and how institutions shape access for marginalized communities. is ready to use the Fellowship to focus on social impact leadership. He hopes to strengthen his ability to translate research, storytelling, and community knowledge into initiatives that influence policy, institutions, and public understanding.
Visit the Columbia World Projects website to learn more about the Social Impact Fellowship.
