Reves Center Announces 2024 International Student Achievement Awards

Amit Seal Ami, Graduate Student (Bangladesh)
Field of study: Computer Science

Amit has impressed me with his technical skills at software engineering, deep interest and motivation in learning about security, and maturity that would put him on a par with more senior graduate students.

Amit's research improves the security of software used by billions around the globe. His work has led to the discovery of over 20 critical flaws in highly popular security tools used by thousands of developers in the industry and has had an impact on the security of most consumer software we use, be it mobile apps on our phones, or cloud services that enable them.

Amit has actively mentored junior graduate students and undergraduate students. He was instrumental in developing an outreach program for connecting W&M CSCI faculty with students at his alma mater, the Institute of Information Technology, University of Dhaka (IIT-D), in Bangladesh. The program has enabled IIT-D students to perform their capstone project with W&M faculty as research advisors. This program continues to benefit both students at IIT-D as well as our graduate outreach efforts at W&M CS.

Amit has mentored more than 20 undergraduate students in semester projects for software engineering classes. Additionally, he was invited as one of the Graduate Panelists at the W&M CS Symposium for two years in a row and was the web chair for W&M CS Symposium 2022.

Amit has volunteered as a sub-reviewer in top-tier conference and has contributed to open-source software by reporting and fixing open-source security analysis software flaws. Amit was awarded the Commonwealth of Virginia Engineering & Science (COVES) Fellowship in 2022. As the COVES fellow, he worked closely with the Joint Commission on Technology and Science (JCOTS) to improve existing security policies for information technology in the state.

Amit's record of service and leadership is unparalleled among graduate students. He is on track to graduate in spring 2025, and based on his research, teaching, and service record, is well positioned to join as a faculty at any of the top CS departments in the U.S.

—Adwait Nadkarni, Class of 1953 Associate Professor of Computer Science

Si Chen, Graduate Student (China)
Field of Study: Educational Policy, Planning, & Leadership with a concentration in Curriculum & Learning Design

Si is a conscientious, diligent contributor, who also exhibits peer leadership. He willingly supports his classmates by offering support through peer-review of their writing, and he is an excellent presenter in class, having served on occasion as a co-teacher and as a guest lecturer.

Si has published two peer-reviewed journal articles as a co-author, with another three first-author papers under review, and two papers in progress. He has presented at five refereed academic conferences as a solo or first presenter and presented two research studies at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Conference. This is an exceptional level of scholarly productivity for a doctoral student. Si served as the managing editor for the William & 玛丽 Educational Review in the 2022-2023 academic year, and he also served as a peer-reviewer for the AERA Annual Conference.

Recognizing that attending academic conferences is essential but costly Si proposed and then organized the CLD & K-12 Post-AERA 2023 Panel in which professors and doctoral students who attended the AERA conference in 2023 shared experiences with students who did not attend. This was an extraordinary learning opportunity for the panel presenters and participants alike, and it was one more step in our efforts to build a community of scholars among our doctoral students across areas of concentration.

As a voluntary graduate intern at the W&M Studio for Teaching & Learning Innovation (STLI), Si has contributed to campus-wide teaching and learning at W&M through multiple projects, such as being the single author of “A Policy Brief of Regular and Substantive Interaction,” which relates to federal regulations for online teaching; leading a program evaluation of the summer session courses offered at William & 玛丽’s Washington DC Center from 2018 to 2023; and engaging graduate students with STLI events and offerings.  He also recently led a STLI workshop titled “Getting Started with Performance-Based Assessment” for W&M faculty members.

Si has enthusiastically and expertly served as a volunteer fitness instructor at the W&M Student Recreation Center since fall 2022 and has been recognized as the Fitness Instructor of the Year in 2023. As a first-generation university student himself, Si has been a mentor for First Generation Limited Income (FGLI) Students at W&M since October 2023.

Si is one of the strongest international students with whom I have worked in my 20+ years at W&M, and he is among the top doctoral students, domestic or international, with whom I have worked. In sum, he is intelligent, diligent, committed, open to feedback, self-directed, genuinely kind, honest, humble yet strong, principled yet forgiving. I am not alone in my regard for Si. I have direct knowledge that Si’s program faculty unanimously agree that Si is among the best of our current and past students.  Si’s future in academia, research, and teaching is very bright.

—Christopher R. Gareis, Professor, School of Education

Dorothy Gao ‘24 (China)
Field of Study: Economics & Environmental Policy

As Dorothy’s professor and supervisor of her independent study on “Macroeconomic Implications of Climate Change for Developing Countries: Case of Indonesia,” I had the privilege of working closely with her during the fall semester (2023) and witnessed her exceptional intellectual capabilities, unwavering curiosity, and profound passion for environmental studies and climate economics. Dorothy is talented, determined, and highly motivated. 

In her study, Dorothy investigated the relationship between the use of fossil fuels, focusing on crude oil and natural gas, and greenhouse emissions and the energy transition required for achieving Net-zero emissions by 2050. What truly impressed me was her ability to synthesize and incorporate a vast array of scholarly papers into her research paper, showcasing her dedication to thoroughly understand the subject matter. The depth, clarity, and meticulousness of her writing surpassed that of her peers, reflecting her exceptional commitment and effort. Academically, Dorothy has consistently stood out among her peers due to her remarkable capability and dedication, and her strong research and analytical skills. 

Beyond her academic achievements, Dorothy has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to the area of environmental sustainability. During our time working together, I witnessed her unwavering enthusiasm for global environmental policies and her active engagement in various sustainability initiatives. Dorothy's passion for sustainability extends beyond the classroom, as she has actively participated in numerous events, seminars, and workshops related to sustainability, environmental studies, and economics. Of particular note, Dorothy had the honor of representing the youth as a delegate at the 27th Conference of the Parties (COP 27) in Egypt. Her ability to bridge theory and practice, and her unwavering dedication to making a tangible difference in the world, is truly inspiring.

It is important to emphasize that Dorothy's exceptional qualities and achievements are even more remarkable considering that she is an international student. Despite the challenges of studying in a foreign country, Dorothy has consistently excelled academically, displaying a deep understanding of complex economic theories and their practical applications. Her ability to navigate cultural and linguistic barriers is a testament to her adaptability as well as relentless pursuit of excellence. Moreover, I should also add that Dorothy's international perspective brought a unique and valuable dimension to our discussions.

In conclusion, I wholeheartedly endorse Dorothy for the International Student Award. Her intellectual prowess, dedication to research, and active involvement in sustainability initiatives make her an exceptional candidate. Dorothy's passion, drive, and commitment to creating a sustainable future are commendable, and I have no doubt that she will continue to make significant contributions to the field of economics and environmental studies, positively impacting the global community.

—Shahrokh Fardoust, Ph.D., Research Professor, Global Research Institute, and Visiting Scholar in Economics, Non-resident Scholar at the Middle East Institute

Richard Homenya, Graduate Student (Ghana)

Field of study: Experimental Psychology

国际扶轮

Miguel Montalvo, Graduate Student (Colombia)
Field of Study: Marine Science

电动汽车

心肌梗死

—Eric Hilton, Professor; Chair, Natural Resources, Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Nick Zhou, ’24 (China)
Field of Study: Psychological Sciences

倪