Student Ambassadors

Become an ambassador

Graduate Ambassadors provide support to prospective and incoming students by sharing useful resources and their valuable experiences both in and outside of the classroom. They are enthusiastic Luddy Graduate students with the passion to help other students find their niche within Luddy, and transition to their life at IU and Bloomington.

By becoming an Ambassador, you can demonstrate leadership and service at a Big 10 University, build your communication skills, add to your resume, network with students and employers, and give back to your school.

For more information about becoming a Luddy Graduate Ambassador contact us at GoLuddy@iu.edu.

Shohana Akter
Shohana Akter
  • Major(s): Ph.D. in Information Science
  • About Shohana
    • Shohana is a Ph.D. student in Information Science and currently works as an Associate Instructor for the Library and Information Science Department at the Luddy School. She grew up in Bangladesh and completed her undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the University of Dhaka. As she embarks on her journey at IU, she aims to gain valuable experiences as a student, build meaningful global friendships, and foster strong connections with the community.
Sarah Rosaria Dias Barreto
Sarah Rosaria Dias Barreto
  • Major(s): M.S. in Data Science
  • About Sarah
    • Sarah Barreto is from Goa, India. Her undergraduate degree is in Computer Science and Engineering and she is currently pursuing her M.S. in Data Science at Luddy Bloomington.
Spencer Chambers
Spencer Chambers
  • Major(s):  Accelerated M.S. in Secure Computing
  • About Spencer
    • Spencer Chambers is an Accelerated M.S. in Secure Computing student with an undergraduate degree in Computer Science from the Luddy School. He is from Kokomo, IN, and is pursuing a career in application security. His advice for new students is: “Try everything Luddy has to offer! There are so many amazing student-run organizations here, and you're bound to find your niche if you remain open-minded and engaged.”
Kaidi Fan
Kaidi Fan
  • Major(s): M.S. in Human-Computer Interaction/Design
  • About Kaidi
    • Kaidi is a Master’s in Informatics student at Indiana University with experience in design and user experience foundations. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design in China and worked as a UX designer for three years before pursuing graduate studies. She has a passion for exploring diverse cultures and experiencing new journeys.
Larry Gates
Larry Gates
  • Major(s): Ph.D. in Computer Science
  • About Larry
    • Larry is a PhD student in Computer Science. He works with Professor David Leake on research related to Case-Based Reasoning. He is one of the Associate Instructors for an introductory undergraduate computer science class at Luddy, and his Ph.D. Minor is in Instructional Systems Technology through the IU School of Education. Larry grew up in Indianapolis and completed his undergraduate at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
Ambarish Gurjar
Ambarish Gurjar
  • Major(s):  Ph.D. in Intelligent Systems Engineering
  • About Ambarish
    • Ambarish is a Ph.D. student in the Intelligent Systems Engineering department. He is from Mumbai, India, and has a background in computer engineering. Before coming to Indiana University, he deployed projects using deep learning methodologies to help grape farmers in India and assist persons with visual impairment. His current research involves valuation of cybersecurity vulnerabilities using real options pricing theory and considering cybersecurity as a risk factor in market returns.
Natalie Hartman
Natalie Hartman
  • Major(s):  Accelerated M.S. in Intelligent Systems Engineering
  • About Natalie
    • Natalie Hartman is an Accelerated M.S. in Intelligent Systems Engineering student and is specializing in bioengineering. She is from Osceola, Indiana near Notre Dame. She completed her undergraduate degree at the Luddy School in Intelligent Systems Engineering. Her career goals center on working with smart prosthetics or wearable medical devices after graduation.
Sathvica Kothapalli
Sathvica Kothapalli
  • Major(s):  Ph.D. in Informatics
  • About Sathvica
    • Sathvica is a PhD student in Informatics at Indiana University Bloomington. She is originally from Hyderabad, India, and has an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering and Law. Her research interests lie at the intersection of technology and society, focusing on health, AI ethics and its social impact on marginalized communities, especially women, children, and aging populations. Her advice for new students is to ask questions, build connections and don’t be afraid to reach out to your peers and professors—it makes the journey so much easier!
Hanudeep Marru
Hanudeep Marru
  • Major(s):  M.S. in Intelligent Systems Engineering
  • About Hanudeep
    • Hanudeep has his undergraduate degree in Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering (EIE). He is currently working on his Master’s thesis which is focused on analog/digital circuit design under the supervision of Associate Professor Daniel Loveless.
Alejandro Murillo-Gonzalez
Alejandro Murillo-González
  • Major(s): Ph.D. in Intelligent Systems Engineering
  • About Alejandro
    • Alejandro is a Ph.D. student in Intelligent Systems Engineering at the Vehicle Autonomy and Intelligence Lab (VAIL), supervised by Associate Professor Lantao Liu. His research lies at the intersection of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, with a particular focus on model-based planning and control. He previously obtained a B.Sc. in Mathematical Engineering from Universidad EAFIT (Colombia).
Niveditha Bommanahally Parameshwarappa
Niveditha Bommanahally Parameshwarappa
  • Major(s): M.S. in Computer Science
  • About Niveditha
    • Niveditha is from Mysuru, India and earned her Bachelor’s in Information Science and Engineering at The National Institute of Engineering in Mysuru. Her career goal is to work at the intersection of large language models, artificial intelligence, and real-world application development, with a focus on innovative solutions. She bring 5 years of experience in fintech and stock market applications, having worked in Egypt, Oman, and India. Her advice for new students: "Learning cooking skills will be your lifesaver as an international student—embrace the rollercoaster ride and enjoy every moment." Niveditha is also passionate about dancing, drawing, hiking, and event management, especially decoration.
Sabid Bin Habib Pias
Sabid Bin Habib Pias
  • Major(s): PhD in Computer Science
  • About Sabid
    • Sabid is a Ph.D. candidate in Computer Science. He works on making conversational agents safe and usable. Sabid is enthusiastic about making friends from diverse cultures, traveling, taking photos, and playing sports such as cricket, racquetball and table tennis. Sabid grew up in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and completed his undergraduate studies at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology.
Collin Rassel
Collin Rassel
  • Major(s):  M.S. in Data Science
  • About Collin
    • Collin is from Kokomo, Indiana and is pursuing the 4+1 program in Data Science here at the Luddy School. His career goals are to explore the impacts of data and how it can drive decisions. “I hope to work in an environment where I am valued for my hard skills as well as my people management abilities. I’m excited to see where data science will take me throughout my professional career.” His advice to new students is to invest as much time into meeting new people and trying new things as you do your studies. In today’s world, your network truly is your net worth. A fun fact about Collin is he has played ultimate frisbee professionally.