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SMART | Rwanda

Alethia Chan
B.S., Applied Economics and Management | SC Johnson College of
Business
Born in Malaysia and raised in Westchester, New York, Alethia is currently
a sophomore majoring in applied economics and management. She has had
a number of experiences abroad, including concocting Chinese herbal
medicines in Malaysia and volunteering with the Harpswell Foundation in
Cambodia. Driven by a fascination towards agricultural economics, Alethia
is working on a research project that aims to help fiber farmers increase
value out of their wool products to offset the high costs of farming. Alethia
hopes to use her business skills and knowledge to promote economic
stability, food security, and access to education around the world.

Matthew Sorge
B.S., International Agriculture and Rural Development | College of CARL Group
Agriculture and Life Sciences
Matt is currently a senior studying international agriculture and rural
development with a concentration in environment and sustainability.
Originally from North Carolina, Matt is passionate about examining the
development of local and just food systems. Additional areas of interest
include ecosystem ecology, sustainable water management, hydroponics,
agroecology, and GIS and remote sensing. Before joining Cornell, he
worked in STEM education outreach, studied the adoption of agro-
ecological practices in East Africa, examined the effects of mycorrhizae
inoculation among tomatoes, and reported on added-value adoption in
resource-limited settings.

Mika Ulmet
M.P.S., Global Development | College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Mika is an M.P.S candidate specializing in international agriculture and
rural development. Her research interests lie in building resilient
communities using agroecology, social entrepreneurship, and creating
economic security through the development of value-added products. She
served in the Peace Corps as a Food Security volunteer in Nepal. This
collaborative work with women and children, focused on diversified
vegetable farming, oyster mushroom cultivation, and nutrition education.
She holds dual degrees in Biology and Environmental Science from the
University of Denver, and a master’s degree in Sustainability Planning and
Management from the University of Colorado-Boulder.