Hagar ElBishlawi

Birthplace:
NYC
Undergraduate Institution:
Columbia University
Status:
Second Year, Ph.D. student
Department:
Civil and Environmental Engineering

Research interests: Biogeochemistry of Natural Systems

Hobbies: Writing, Internet, Reading, Arts & Crafts, Foreign Languages

Favorite TV Shows: Full House (korean drama), Miss Kim Makes a Million

Favorite Movies: Unforgiven, My Tutor Friend, Bourne Identity, Girl
Fight, Miss Congeniality

Favorite Books:
Quran, Malcolm X

Favorite Quote: Do not pray for an easy life, pray to be a strong person

Fun Fact: One of my proudest accomplishments was attaining a brown belt in judo.

Comments on your past BGC experience:
It was really great getting to meet some of the other students of color
on campus and just hangout. Even grad students need a break ;)

What you have enjoyed the most about being a BGC member:
Being a BGC member provides a sense of community on
this campus that often feels isolating.

Taniecea Arceneaux

Birthplace:
Lafayette, Louisiana
Undergraduate Institution:
Loyola University, New Orleans
Status:
Second Year, Ph.D. student
Department:
Program in Applied and Computational Mathematics

Research interests:
Mathematical Sociology, Social Network Analysis

Hobbies:
Tutoring, Writing, Daydreaming, Discovering new music

Favorite TV Shows:
Reality TV - Big Brother, Survivor, Hell's Kitchen, etc.

Favorite Movies:
Hotel Rwanda, The Great Debaters, Memento

Favorite Quote:
"The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings."  Eric Hoffer,  Reflections on the Human Condition

Comments on past BGC experience:
"During my first year as a graduate student, the BGC played an integral part in helping me to develop a sense of community within the University."

What have you enjoyed the most about being a BGC member?
"The BGC provides an escape from the stress of academic life, and it's nice to find a good conversation or just a familiar face in the middle of the day."