Meet the 2026-2027 Global Community Fellowship cohort!
Maywadee Viriyapah
BEAM Education Foundation
My name is May, and I am the fellow posted at BEAM in Chang Mai. I am a Thai-American and this will be my second time living in Thailand for a year! I got my degree in Political Science and Fine Arts, and I am still pursuing work in both these industries. Beyond my professional interests, I really enjoy K-pop and go to concerts very often (I think I went to 10 last year) and love doing nature activities. I hope to improve my language skills while in Thailand and possibly get more involved in the art community while in the program!
Joel Pijls
Education for Friendship Foundation (EFF) / Minmahaw School
Joel studied international relations and development at the University of Maryland in College Park, and worked in food assistance and social services for a year before coming to the Ecuadorian Amazon as a program director for the organization Manna Project International. Dedicated to community development and human rights, he is excited to join Minmahaw to learn more about refugee education and how to support Burmese youth, working to foster strong relationships between global partners to help create opportunities and promote justice for refugees.
Pone Nyet Aung
Parami University
I’m Pone Nyet Aung, a recent graduate of Parami University, where I earned my degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. My previous experiences include interning with NAFSA: Association of International Educators in Washington, D.C., and participating in civic engagement programs in Berlin, Germany, and at Central European University in Budapest, Hungary. Along the way, I’ve been fortunate to work on initiatives focused on accessible education, mental health, youth engagement, and community building.
I’m passionate about the intersection of mental health and education, and I’m excited to continue exploring how these areas can create more supportive and inclusive learning environments. Professionally, I hope to keep growing as an educator and community builder while learning from people with diverse experiences and perspectives.
During the VIA Global Community Fellowship, I’m especially looking forward to connecting with fellow participants, the broader VIA and host community, and building meaningful relationships that extend beyond the program. I’m excited to learn from everyone’s unique journeys, collaborate on ideas, and be part of a supportive network that continues long after the fellowship.
Outside of work, you’ll probably find me running, going on long walks, petting every cat I come across, or searching for a new café with delicious sweet pastries. I’m looking forward to getting to know all of you!
Kedhar Bartlett
Parami University
Hi everyone, I’m Kedhar! I graduated this from the University of California Berkeley with a BS in Molecular Environmental Biology and a minor in Human Rights. Born and raised in New Jersey, I moved to the Bay Area for college, and I can’t wait to begin this next chapter in Chiang Mai! Long-term I am working towards a career in medicine, but in these years after undergrad I’m looking to explore and put as much good as I can out into the world! As a Global Community Fellow, I’m most looking forward to connecting with and supporting students, building relationships with coworkers, and exploring the cultures of Thailand and other SEA communities. Can’t wait to meet everyone!
Eaint Thet Hmu
Parami University
I earned my dual degree through Parami University and Bard College as a member of the inaugural Class of 2026, graduating with a background in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. My interests span gender studies, democratic governance, education policy, and civic engagement, with a particular focus on how education shapes gender justice, collective action, and democratic resilience.
Beyond the classroom, I have been deeply engaged in student leadership, debating, and civic initiatives. I served on the Constitution Drafting Committee for Parami’s first Student Council, led the Public Speaking and Debate Club as President, and co-led Project PyitTineHtaung, a grant-winning initiative advancing comprehensive sexuality education and gender equality in Burma.
From this program, I am excited to support a place that nurtured me to become who I am today. I want to be part of the support system that helps newcomers to navigate that journey with fewer of the struggles I went through, not just academically, but as young people building a future amid real uncertainty.
Mu Hsi
Parami University
Hi! My name is Mu Hsi, and I’m currently studying International Relations and Human Rights at Stanford University. I’m passionate about community-centered storytelling, peacebuilding, and refugee and migration issues, particularly in Southeast Asia. I’m especially interested in learning how local communities preserve memory, culture, and resilience in the face of disaster or conflict. During the Rikuzentakata program, I’m excited to connect with local residents, learn from their stories, and explore how communities rebuild and honor the past while looking toward the future.
Lia Sokol
Parami University
Growing up in Indiana as the daughter of a Soviet refugee, my upbringing was defined by cross-cultural identity. My desire to understand my own background and increasing domestic and global tensions spurred a curiosity toward cross-cultural connection, human rights, and diplomacy. At Cornell University, I studied international relations with a focus on opposition movements in Eastern Europe.
Through my work in Zambia, Ukraine, Spain, and the U.S., I have worked at NGOs, think tanks, and schools: I love working with people and believe that human-to-human connection is the most direct way to affect change. At a time of profound global uncertainty, I am motivated to be involved in grassroots movements. In the future, I hope to work in journalism and/or humanitarian aid. I’m really excited to be joining VIA as an advisor at Parami University and to engage with the Burmese community in Chiang Mai!
Mazzi Nowicki
Suwandi Foundation
Hi everyone! I am so excited to begin the VIA GCF fellowship with the Suwandi Foundation and to meet everyone in person!
I graduated in June, 2025 with my BS in Psychology from the University of Washington, Seattle. I was involved as a research assistant conducting ‘environmental psychology’ research for the last four years. Throughout undergrad my baby was my honors thesis project where I interviewed college students with different cultural, spiritual, and religious backgrounds on how they defined ‘nature’. This project, along with my involvement in a student-led justice-centered sustainability grant fund and sustainable policy campaigns, showed me the importance of representing different cultures across environmental spaces.
Outside of academia, coffee and art are very important to me! I love to be creative. I find a lot of community through being a Barista at Seven Coffee Roasters, located in a 100+ year old grocery store!
Being a first generation college student from a rural town is very important to my identity. Despite being across the world from each other, I see a lot of similarities between Tulamben, Bali, and my hometown of Centralia, WA. I personally benefitted from programs like TRiO, which supports first-gen, low income, and minority student in accessing higher education and graduating high school. I am grateful and excited to have the opportunity to help students through the Suwandi Foundation like I was helped. Full circle moment!
