Irwin Cotler Fellows 2025-2026

Abraham Sarnor, Liberia, is an MA student in the International Environmental Studies program at Tel Aviv University. An agricultural professional and human rights advocate, he holds a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Technology from Bong County Technical College (BCTC) and an Advanced Diploma in Agricultural Studies. Abraham is also the Founder and Executive Director of Sarnor AgroProsperity (SAP), an initiative that empowers farmers and youth with training in sustainable agriculture, climate resilience, and entrepreneurship.

Araz Can Dikme, Turkey, is an MA student in the Security and Diplomacy Program at Tel Aviv University. He holds a BA in English Language and Literature and a minor in Political Science from Hacettepe University. Interested in conflict resolution and the impacts of conflicts on local cultures in frontier zones, he has completed courses and earned certificates in international logistics to better understand how humanitarian aid can be delivered to war zones.

Bhavana Velpula, India, is a postdoctoral fellow in the Yossi Shiloh Lab at the Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry. Her research focuses on cancer biology and protein biochemistry. She completed her PhD in the same department. Since 2016, she has been actively involved with the Embassy of India in Israel, where she organizes events, promotes cultural exchange, and supports both diplomatic and student affairs. Bhavana played a crucial role in managing humanitarian flights organized by the Indian government in response to the Israel–Hamas and Israel–Iran conflicts in 2023 and 2025.

Carmela Dilettoso, Switzerland, is an MA student in the Master’s in Disaster Management program at Tel Aviv University, and she is currently conducting thesis research on women’s leadership. She earned her BA in Political Science and International Relations, summa cum laude, from the University of Catania, Italy, and completed an MA in European Studies at Geneva University with distinction. Her published research addresses the right to health for irregular migrants.

Chantal Maza, The Netherlands, is an MA student in the Security and Diplomacy Program at Tel Aviv University. She completed her Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences and has served, since September 2022, as a Legal Enforcement Officer in Public Administration and Urban Regulation at the Municipality of Amsterdam.

Daniel Reisner, United States, is an MA student in the Security and Diplomacy Program at Tel Aviv University. He holds a BA in International Relations with a minor in European History from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. During his studies, he worked with the Jewish Federations of North America, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and other advocacy organizations. Alongside this, he has been an active participant in Model United Nations.

David Asare Masterwille, Ghana, is an MFA student in Documentary Cinema at the Steve Tisch School of Film and Television, Tel Aviv University. He earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film Directing from the University of Media, Arts and Communication in Ghana, where his thesis film Korkor’s Battle won Best Screenplay. David is the founder and Managing Director of Adomibridge Studios and has directed and produced award-winning films, including Chioma, Dead Lagoon, and Gold is Here. He looks forward to a future in academia while continuing to practice as a filmmaker.

Dmitrii Sukhanov, Russia, is a PhD student in Law at the Zvi Meitar Center for Advanced Legal Studies, Tel Aviv University. His research focuses on the manipulation of elections in authoritarian and hybrid regimes, with particular attention to the legal strategies that enable governments to retain power. In 2024, Dmitrii completed his LL.M. in International Law and Human Rights at Tel Aviv University, graduating magna cum laude. He earned his first degree from Kutafin Moscow State Law University in 2011 (with honors) and has over twelve years of experience as an in-house lawyer in leading banks and financial institutions in Moscow.

Ednah Ruth Ninsiima, Uganda, is a lawyer and an International LL.M. Program candidate at Tel Aviv University, specializing in technology and governance. She has over a decade of experience in corporate and commercial law. Her work spans legal risk management, corporate governance, and regulatory compliance in East Africa. A member of the Uganda Law Society, the East African Law Society, and the Chartered Governance Institute (UK), Ednah’s academic and professional interests explore how legal and governance frameworks can adapt to emerging technologies to promote accountability, innovation, and inclusive growth.

Esther de Paula Garcia, Brazil, is an MA student in the Social and Policy Aspects of Climate Change Program at Tel Aviv University. She received her BA in Liberal Arts and Science from Tel Aviv University’s International School, where she concentrated her studies in Philosophy and Psychology. She has been an active participant in TAUMUN (Tel Aviv University Model UN), where she engaged in simulations of diplomatic negotiations on various global issues.

Felicia Ferdinand, Germany, is pursuing an LL.M. in International Law with a specialization in Human Rights at Tel Aviv University. She completed her LL.B. with a specialization in Public International Law at the University of Potsdam. Her research interests focus on human rights, democratic values, and mechanisms of international legal accountability.

Hanmin Oh, South Korea, is an MA student in the Security and Diplomacy program at Tel Aviv University. He earned a dual BA in Middle Eastern Studies and Education from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Hanmin served as President of the Korean Student Association at Hebrew University and has a strong academic focus on national security, diplomacy, and environmental geopolitics. His professional interests lie in bridging South Korea and Israel through strategic consulting, defense analysis, and cross-cultural cooperation.

Hong Yubei, China, is an MA student in Sustainable Development at Tel Aviv University. She earned her BA in Marketing in China and later worked in the tech sector as a data analyst. Afterward, she spent a year in Australia on a working holiday visa, combining work with travel and gaining firsthand exposure to different cultures and social settings.

Joan Anyango Otieno, Kenya, served as the secretary-general of Uzima Community-Based Organization in Kenya to support vulnerable and marginalized communities. She is passionate about human rights, advancing social justice, and contributing to meaningful dialogue on pressing global issues. She is currently pursuing an MA in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Tel Aviv University. Her research focuses on understanding how certain endogenous sphingolipids are positively or negatively involved in the inflammatory process.

John Robert LaChapelle, United States, is an MA student in the Conflict Resolution and Mediation program at Tel Aviv University, following the completion of a master’s in Nonprofit Management & Leadership at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He brings over a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector, focusing on anti-trafficking advocacy, foster care, and cross-cultural initiatives in Israel and abroad. John is passionate about advancing human rights, strengthening civil society, and building sustainable models of community empowerment.

Kurt Mueller, United States, is an MA student in the Security and Diplomacy Program at Tel Aviv University. After obtaining a BA in both International Studies and German from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, he left the United States to travel and live abroad, visiting over 100 countries and crossing four continents by motorcycle while working as a language and literature tutor in China. Kurt is passionate about people, language, and culture the world over and hopes to bring concrete experience and academic study together into a career in international affairs and diplomacy.

Maria Ellul, Malta, is a doctoral student at Tel Aviv University’s School of Political Science. She holds a BA in Criminology from the University of Malta and an MA in Security and Diplomacy Studies from Tel Aviv University. Her research examines the international dimensions of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly its influence on antisemitism and political campaigning through social media. She recently completed a research fellowship at Goethe University, Frankfurt and the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF), where she applied machine learning methods to analyze the longitudinal evolution of narrative framing in United Nations’ resolutions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. She has been an intern at the Blavatnik Interdisciplinary Cyber Research Center (ICRC) at Tel Aviv University for over a year and a half, supporting the organization of the center’s three annual conferences on cybersecurity, AI, and defense technologies.

Miguel Leboso Moriano, Spain, is an MA student in the Security and Diplomacy Program at Tel Aviv University. He holds a BA in History from the University of Navarra in Pamplona. He is deeply interested in international relations and contemporary global challenges.

Nancye Kochen, Australia, is completing her MA thesis in the Security and Diplomacy Program at Tel Aviv University. She holds a BA in global studies, specializing in international relations, from Monash University, and is passionate about human rights advocacy and Jewish education. Nancye currently works at the English Desk of Davar newspaper and has a background in education in both Australia and Israel.

Noah Mirkin, New Zealand, is an MA student in Conflict Resolution and Mediation at Tel Aviv University. He holds a BA in Psychology and Criminology from the University of Auckland. Previously, he worked with a Community Housing Provider in Wellington, advocating for tenants’ rights and advancing housing justice. He is excited to build cross-cultural cooperation through economic, social, and creative initiatives.

Rahul Chotai, Kenya, is an MA student in the Security and Diplomacy Program at Tel Aviv University. With an MA in Strategic Security Studies and BSc in Actuarial Science from the University of Nairobi, Rahul currently serves as Minster Counselor at the Embassy of Kenya in Israel. He has previously held positions in Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Interior and Coordination.

Sara Weissel, United Kingdom, is an MA student in the Social and Policy Aspects of Climate Change Program at Tel Aviv University. Previously, she was a research intern at the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies, researching the effects that climate change and Israeli government policy have on Bedouin agriculture and medicinal plants. She earned her degree in Philosophy with a focus in Mathematics from the University of St. Andrews, after which she worked as a journalist in London.

Song Linjuan, China, is an MA student in the Security and Diplomacy Program at Tel Aviv University. She holds a BA in English from Hubei University of Technology. Deeply interested in the historical and cultural bonds between China and Israel, she aims to apply the insights she gains on democracy and human rights to further mutual understanding between China and Israel.

Valerie Nicolas Kruyer, Haiti/United States, is an MA student in the Disaster Management Program at Tel Aviv University. She holds a BA in Marketing and Data Analytics from the University of Cincinnati and currently works as a consumer research analyst. Drawing from her background as a refugee from Haiti, Valerie is shifting her career toward meaningful, impact-driven work. Through her graduate studies, she hopes to better understand the systemic challenges that shape disaster response and recovery, particularly in Haiti, and to contribute to building more resilient communities.