Meet E-Board

Katy Haden is a senior double majoring in Political Science and Creative Writing at Columbia University. She is from Charlottesville, Virginia. Katy is passionate about international relations, human rights, and politics. Because of this Katy has done MUN since 6th grade and is now a member of the Columbia travel Model UN team, and is the Chief of Operations for CESIMS. Outside of school and clubs you can find Katy on runs through Riverside and Central Park or searching for the best bagels in NYC. Feel free to contact her at ksh2157@columbia.edu!

Carly Yi is a freshman at Columbia College, studying Economics and Political Science. In addition to being deputy treasuer for CIRCA, she is also a USG of Committees for CMUNNY and a Conference Operations Fellow for CMUNCE. On the weekends, she is probably shopping in SoHo and checking out new restaurants with her friends. Carly is super excited to serve on the e-board of CIRCA!

Kaitlyn Saldanha is a third year at Barnard College studying Economics. She worked in Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s NYC Office before stepping onto to Wall St. to do Shareholder Activism work on the M&A team for Morgan Stanley. Outside of Columbia Political Review, Kaitlyn is involved with the Columbia Women’s Business Society and can usually be found in Queens.

Laila Cruz is a Sophomore at Columbia College majoring in American Studies. Although she grew up in New York City, she now considers Laguna Beach her new home, a town most famous for its reality TV series creatively titled Laguna Beach. However, she still refuses to eat any pizza made on the West Coast. Laila has been involved in Model UN since her freshman year of high school. As a crisis enthusiast, she has chaired and directed multiple committees and enjoys an intense crisis update (and seeing how the delegates respond). She formerly served as Chief of Staff for CMUNNY and is a Junior Editor on Columbia Political Review. Outside of Model UN, Laila always chooses a history course where she likes to explore the ancient civilizations’s art and religion. On the weekends, Laila loves to explore public art in the city while listening to an audiobook or podcast. She is a Crooked Media enthusiast and can talk for hours about her favorite podcast hosts. Laila is incredibly excited to be the Secretary-General for CMUNNY XVI, and cannot wait to welcome everyone in the fall!

Alisha is a junior in Columbia College majoring in Human Rights and concentrating in Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies. She is the Director-General for CMUNCE XXIII and has previously served on CMUNCE Secretariat as Chief of Operations, USG of Marketing, and Conference Operations Fellow. Outside of CIRCA, Alisha is a Coordinator for Columbia Multicultural Affairs’ Global Ambassadors Program and a Research Assistant for the Columbia Political Science Department. In her free time, you can catch her watching dramas, dessert-hopping around the city, and practicing different languages.

Astrid Liden is a Junior in Columbia College from Minnesota studying Human Rights and Latin American & Caribbean Studies with a focus on migration and politics. She is the Secretary-General of CESIMS for the 2021-22 year, and she has been involved with CMUNCE, CMUNNY, and Travel Team along with pitching for CPR. Outside of CIRCA, Astrid is involved with Matriculate, Columbia Catholic Ministry, her Acapella group— the Columbia Metrotones, the Institute of Latin American Studies (ILAS), in undergraduate research as a Mellon Mays Fellow, and the Undergraduate and Multicultural Recruitment Committee Leadership team. She is passionate about issues of representation, recognition, and justice for Venezuelan migrants. In her free time, Astrid loves her cafecito and finding all the best places around New York to get her daily sip, taking walks and running through Central Park, and discovering new hole-in-the-wall restaurants wherever she is. Astrid is excited to be representing CESIMS on CIRCA E-board this year and helping to continue CESIMS’s work for educational equity in MUN!

Vicky Melkonyan is a sophomore in Columbia College studying Political Science and languages (for those interested: Russian, French, and Armenian!). She is from Lanesboro, Massachusetts, but has also lived in Cape Cod and proudly identifies as a Masshole. Vicky is CIRCA's VP Marketing for the upcoming year, as well as Chief of Staff for Columbia Educational Simulations (CESIMS) and a staffer for many other conferences. Outside of CIRCA, Vicky is also President of the Columbia University Armenian Society and a freelance journalist. In her free time, you can find her freaking out about Survivor, watching any number of eclectic films, or listening to Mitski.

Gayoung Lee is a junior in Columbia College studying Political Science. In addition to being CIRCA’s VP/Treasurer, she is also Chief of Staff for CMUNCE . Outside of CIRCA, Gayoung is co-President of the Korean Students Association, co-Coordinator and mentor for the Asian Youth Program, and the Associate Membership Coordinator for Pi Sigma Alpha (Mu Chapter). She has an enormous sweet tooth, so exploring different cafés and dessert spots in NYC has quickly become one of her favorite activities. Gayoung is super excited to serve on E-Board, and she can’t wait to meet everyone!

Shria Ramanathan is a Junior at Barnard College majoring in Political Science. She is from Las Vegas, Nevada. Shria is currently the co-head delegate of Columbia’s Model UN team and is apart of CMUNNY XVIII as a USG of Committees. Outside of CIRCA, Shria is an avid dancer on Columbia Taal, Vice President of Membership for the Columbia Women in Law and Politics, and a writer for the Columbia Undergraduate Law Review. Outside of school, she loves to experiment in the kitchen and explore good eats in NYC! Shria is super excited to meet everyone and compete together!

Anna is a Sophomore at Barnard College majoring in Economics and minoring in Psychology. She was born in Baltimore, Maryland at Johns Hopkins hospital. Her family is originally from the Republic of Georgia where she has dual citizenship, and she visits every year. Anna was involved in Model UN throughout high school and served as the Chief of Operations for CMUNNY XVII prior to being Director- General. Beyond Model UN, Anna loves to cook, paint and  travel. Her favorite author is Toni Morrison and has a goal set out to read every book she ever published; she is currently on book 8 of 12. On campus, she is also involved in Scholars of Finance, Columbia Economic Review, and PGN Pre- Professional Development Organization.

Josh is a junior in Columbia College studying biochemistry. After working as a Conference Operations Fellow, USG of Public Relations and Chief of Communications, he is ecstatic to serve as CMUNCE XXIII’s Secretary-General. Outside of CIRCA, Josh was the president of the Columbia Science Review, an undergraduate publication that also holds interdisciplinary events bridging scientific advancement and daily life. He also works part-time as an analyst at a consulting firm for nonprofits and researches the effects of dietary metabolites on anticancer therapeutics in a biochemistry laboratory. In his free time, enjoys going on runs in Central Park, finding the best rooftops to watch the sunrise in NYC and satisfying his unhealthy reliance on coffee by exploring local cafes.

Natasha Salmi is a sophomore at Columbia College majoring in Sustainable Development and concentrating in East Asian Languages and Cultures (Mandarin Chinese). She grew up mostly in San Francisco, but has also attended school in six countries on four continents. Her family now lives in Zurich. Natasha loves international relations and politics and has been involved with Model UN since middle school. At Columbia, Natasha is involved with various branches of CIRCA. In addition to leading CAFA, Natasha is a USG of committees for CMUNCE and CMUNNY. Outside of following international relations, her hobbies include learning new languages, skiing, surfing, exploring cities, reading books, and trying new foods.

Paul Padilla is a sophomore at Columbia University, majoring in Economics and Political Science with a concentration in Education. This year, he is thrilled to serve as the USG of Outreach. Hailing from bubbly Perth Amboy, NJ, Paul loves organizing educational initiatives in the New York City area and Perú. At CESIMS, he values community and celebrates in creating a thrilling, collaborative experience that sparks smiles and forges long-lasting friendships. You will find him either dining on Peruvian food, chasing his blue soccer ball, or praying that he was not such a mediocre dancer. He is excited for CESIMS 2022 and cannot wait to meet you! Please feel free to email Paul at paul.padilla@columbia.edu!

Ariana Eftimiu is a Sophomore at Barnard College studying Political Science, also interested in Psychology. She is from Bergen County, New Jersey. Ariana is passionate about international relations, sustainable development, and environmental law. Ariana is very excited to be the VP Social for the 2022-23 school year, and is also involved in the Columbia Political Review. Outside of CIRCA, Ariana is a member of the Columbia Daily Spectator, the Athena Mock Trial Team, and the Athena Pre-Law Society. In her spare time, Ariana can be found maximizing her caffeine intake, working on her zine, Potted Purple, or putting an absurd amount of effort into her Spotify playlists (something she does NOT also do in Butler).