# The History Leadership Council One way of getting involved in the Department is to become a member of the History Leadership Council (HLC). Members represent the History Department at concentration fairs and departmental events, and share with students interested in History their experiences as concentrators. They also constitute the advisory board, which meets with the History Undergraduate Office staff to discuss how to improve the curriculum and connections between faculty, tutors, and undergraduates, as well as to provide feedback on program policies and issues. They are a vital part of the History community. ## Members of the HLC Open all sections Close all sections ### Adams House expand\_more [### Aisatu Nakoulima ](/people/aisatu-nakoulima) Hello! My name is Aisatu Nakoulima, and I'm a junior from Kansas City, MO studying History and Economics. History has been my passion for as long as I remember, and my middle and high school history teachers were very formative in growing this passion– I... ![Aisatu Nakoulima](/sites/g/files/omnuum4421/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-03/Aisatu%20Nakoulima%20photo.jpg?itok=2weqQvez) ### Cabot House expand\_more [### Rupert Chen ](/people/rupert-chen) Hi all! I’m a History and Economics double concentrator from the California Bay Area. At Harvard, I’ve enjoyed exploring economic history as well as the history of information. I’d love to chat if you’re curious about History! Recently, I have been... ![Rupert Chen](/sites/g/files/omnuum4421/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2026-02/Rupert%20Chen.jpg?itok=1I9cEHOs) [### Jubi Oladipo ](/people/jubi-oladipo) [olajuwon\_oladipo@college.harvard.edu](mailto:olajuwon_oladipo@college.harvard.edu) Hello! My name is Jubi Oladipo. I'm a sophomore in Cabot House, studying History and African American Studies, with a secondary in Ethnicity, Migration, Rights, and a language citation in Korean. I'm broadly interested in Afro-Indigenous U.S. histories... ![Jubi Oladipo](/sites/g/files/omnuum4421/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2026-04/Jubi%20Oladipo.jpg?itok=xIukwMSI) [### Josh Rosenblum ](/people/josh-rosenblum) Hi! My name is Josh Rosenblum and I'm a senior in Cabot house studying history and statistics. My historical interest lay primarily in the transatlantic slave trade, the development and solidification of the construct of race, and early contact between... ![Josh Rosenblum](/sites/g/files/omnuum4421/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/history/files/josh_rosenblum.jpg?itok=tuUsmMLY) ### Currier House expand\_more [### Henry Santamaria ](/people/henry-santamaria) Hi! My name is Henry Santamaria, and I am a junior studying History and Economics. I am originally from Indianapolis, Indiana. I am broadly interested in the social, political and environmental history of the United States, with a particular passion for... ![Henry Santamaria](/sites/g/files/omnuum4421/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-09/Henry%20Santamaria.JPG?itok=ZZj9qVor) ### Dunster House expand\_more [### Efrem Bonetti ](/people/efrem-bonetti) My name is Efrem and I am a senior in Dunster, originally from Fermo, Italy. I am studying History and Computer Science and my historical interests lie mainly in imperial and contemporary China and early relations between Europe and East Asia — but I also... ![Efrem Bonetti](/sites/g/files/omnuum4421/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/history/files/efrem_bonetti.jpg?itok=ySNkUjxr) [### Laasya Chiduruppa ](/people/laasya-chiduruppa) Hi everyone! My name is Laasya Chiduruppa, and I am a senior living in Dunster House, hailing from the historic battleground of Lexington, Massachusetts. At the college, I am pursuing a joint degree in History and Government with a secondary in Education... ![Laasya Chiduruppa](/sites/g/files/omnuum4421/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/history/files/laasya_chiduruppa.jpg?itok=CcZSFvHP) [### Benny Gilligan ](/people/benny-gilligan) I'm Benny, a junior in Dunster House concentrating in History. I am originally from Weston, Massachusetts and my time in the History Department has been the single most intellectually formative experience in my life. I've loved taking classes from... ![Benny Gilligan](/sites/g/files/omnuum4421/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-09/Benny%20Gilligan.jpg?itok=g3zYHhmK) [### Phu Ta ](/people/phu-ta) I'm Phu Ta, a sophomore in Dunster House concentrating in History. I am originally from Charlotte, North Carolina. Taking classes under the History Department has been one of the best experiences I've had during my time here so far! My favorite history... ![Phu Ta](/sites/g/files/omnuum4421/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-09/Phu%20Ta.png?itok=85Y7HBwF) [### Helen Yan ](/people/helen-yan) Hi everyone! My name is Helen and I'm a junior in Dunster pursuing a concentration in History and secondary in Ethnicity, Migration, and Rights. I'm originally from Central Massachusetts. My historical interests lie in Immigration and Asian American... ![Helan Yan](/sites/g/files/omnuum4421/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-12/Helen%20Yan.jpg?itok=Otdht9Tj) ### Eliot House expand\_more [### Kashish Bastola ](/people/kashish-bastola) Kashish Bastola is a history concentrator in Eliot House and a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow. He has performed research and curatorial work with the Harvard Forest, Harvard Radcliffe Institute, and the South Asian American Digital Archive. He was the... ![Kashish Bastola](/sites/g/files/omnuum4421/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/history/files/kashish_bastola.jpg?itok=4Y2qnVtM) [### Henry Moss ](/people/henry-moss) Hi everyone! I'm Henry, a senior living in Eliot House studying history with a secondary in European History, Politics, and Societies. I have had nothing but wonderful experiences in the History Department and would love to share with others how... ![Henry Moss](/sites/g/files/omnuum4421/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/history/files/henry_moss.jpeg?itok=iBbrqjSW) [### Samantha Skula ](/people/samantha-skula-0) Hello! I'm Samantha, a junior in Eliot House double concentrating in History and Government. I'm originally from Chicago, IL. My primary interest in history lies in military history, leading me to take classes on World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam... ![Samantha Skula](/sites/g/files/omnuum4421/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-08/Samantha%20Skula_0.jpg?itok=haO6beFS) [### Kawsar Yasin ](/people/kawsar-yasin) Hello! My name is Kawsar Yasin and I am a senior in Eliot House from Tyler, Texas. I am a joint History and Anthropology concentrator and am pursuing a citation in Uyghur (fun fact: I petitioned for it to be a citation language). My interests lie in... ![Kawsar Yasin](/sites/g/files/omnuum4421/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/history/files/kawsar_yasin_.jpg?itok=IJ5_XUft) ### Kirkland House expand\_more [### Will Smith ](/people/will-smith) I am senior in Kirkland in the class of 2026 concentrating in East Asian History (joint between the Department and East Asian Studies) with a secondary concentration in Statistics. My senior thesis will investigate newspapers in Korea during Japanese rule... ![Will Smith](/sites/g/files/omnuum4421/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-08/Will%20Smith%202.jpg?h=1524828e&itok=OwPEU8Zr) ### Leverett House expand\_more [### Vander Ritchie ](/people/vander-ritchie) [vander\_ritchie@college.harvard.edu](mailto:vander_ritchie@college.harvard.edu) My name is Vander and I'm a senior in Leverett House, pursuing a joint concentration in History and Philosophy. My senior thesis is on Nationalism in the American South during the 19th century, and my historical areas of interest include American history... ![Vander Ritchie](/sites/g/files/omnuum4421/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-09/IMG_7558%202.jpg?itok=Xi0cOOWA) [### Richard Rodgers ](/people/richard-rodgers) Richard Rodgers is a sophomore at Harvard College pursuing a concentration in History and a secondary in Medieval Studies. His scholarly interests include medieval political philosophy, political theology, and the reception and transmission of classical... ![Richard Rodgers](/sites/g/files/omnuum4421/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2026-02/Richard%20Rodgers.jpg?itok=e1yjvXmD) ### Lowell House expand\_more [### Arjun Purohit ](/people/arjun-purohit) Hey everyone! I'm Arjun, and I'm a senior in Lowell House hailing from Ann Arbor, Michigan. I am concentrating in History with a secondary in Economics and a citation in Italian. My senior thesis investigates British foreign policy toward the Ottoman... ![Arjun Pruohit](/sites/g/files/omnuum4421/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-09/Arjun%20Purohit.jpg?itok=tYGmz_So) ### Mather House expand\_more [### Isabel Smail ](/people/isabel-smail) My name is Isabel Smail. I am a junior living in Mather House (which is undoubtedly the best house), and I am pursuing a double concentration in both History and Government. A fun fact about me is that I chose to take a gap year to pursue my love of both... ![Isabel Smail](/sites/g/files/omnuum4421/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-09/Isabel%20Smail%20-%20Photo.JPG?itok=alPxY8VS) ### Pforzheimer House expand\_more [### Dari Almonte ](/people/dari-almonte) Dari Almonte is a senior in Pfoho from Rockland County, New York. Along with concentrating in History, Dari holds a secondary in Economics. Dari is particularly interested in indigenous and Afro-descendant relationships during the early colonial period in... ![Dari Almonte](/sites/g/files/omnuum4421/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-09/Dari%20Almonte.jpg?itok=2gUD09lt) [### Jordy Chaves ](/people/jordy-chaves) Hello! My name is Jordy Chaves, and I am a senior in Pforzheimer House. I originally hail from Bound Brook, New Jersey where my passion for history blossomed at the bright bold age of eight. I am pursuing the history concentration with a focus on studying... ![Jordy Chaves](/sites/g/files/omnuum4421/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/history/files/jordy_chaves.jpg?itok=HsdbcpxK) ### Quincy House expand\_more [### Jacqueline Metzger ](/people/jacqueline-metzger) Hi, nice to meet you! I’m Jacqueline Metzger, a junior in Quincy House (the People’s House), concentrating in History with a secondary in Theater, Dance, and Media. Fun fact: I was born in DC, raised in Rockville, MD, and spent a year in Virginia, so I’ve... ![Jacqueline Metzger](/sites/g/files/omnuum4421/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-09/Jacqueline%20Metzger.png?itok=Km_WGl74) [### Luka Pavikjevikj ](/people/luka-pavikjevikj) My name is Luka Pavikjevikj, a junior at Quincy House, pursuing a double concentration in History and Government, with a citation in German. Hailing from Skopje, the capital of Macedonia, I embarked upon my Harvard journey firmly committed to the study of... ![Luka Pavikjevikj](/sites/g/files/omnuum4421/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/history/files/luka_pavikjevikj_.jpg?itok=EMvbj0ji) ### Winthrop House expand\_more [### Allison Jones ](/people/allison-jones) Hi! I'm Allison, a senior in Winthrop House pursuing a concentration in History and a secondary in Government. My interest in history began in middle school while learning about ancient world history. After completing two History courses during my first... ![Allison Jones](/sites/g/files/omnuum4421/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/history/files/allison_jones.jpg?itok=EhD653X1) [### Giselle Paulson ](/people/giselle-paulson) Hello! My name is Giselle, and I am a junior in Winthrop studying History and Math. After taking two history seminars about extremely different topics (one Japanese imperialism and the other mental illness in Africa), I was shocked by how closely they... ![Giselle Paulson](/sites/g/files/omnuum4421/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-09/Giselle%20Paulson.jpg?itok=jyeHLVrY)