Seven Grads, One Shared Goal: Make a Difference
桃子直播鈥檚 newest alumni reflect on how they鈥檒l use their degrees鈥攁nd voices鈥攖o shape the future.
From left to right: Sophia Holt, Kiena Campbell, Ashton Duffield, Yara Balouk, Alisha Pravasi, Owen Swallow, Laura Love.
From filmmakers and journalists to social workers and entrepreneurs, the 桃子直播鈥檚 2025 graduates are set to leave their mark on the world.
We spoke with seven soon-to-be alumni about what they hope to contribute to their personal and professional communities after they move on from 桃子直播.
Sophia Holt
BA in Film Studies and Production
鈥淥ne thing that's always been important to me is representation and telling stories that matter; continuing to push the notion that representation matters, and not just which stories are being told, but who's telling the story. As a writer myself, as a filmmaker, as a director, I want to make sure that I carry that throughout all my work, whether that be narrative or commercial or documentary鈥攐r whatever field I end up in.鈥
Kiena Campbell
BS in Environmental Science
鈥淪ince I was in high school, I've been interested in environmental tort law and suing polluting companies. I'm passionate about the PFAs [per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances] issue. They鈥檙e 鈥榝orever chemicals鈥 and they're everywhere鈥攖hey're even in the water. I'm interested in enacting legislation to stop that.鈥
Ashton Duffield
MS in Applied Quantitative Finance
鈥淚 think helping entrepreneurs succeed is really rewarding, and it鈥檚 what I want to do for now. 听I鈥檓 not able to talk to clients directly yet because I'm not licensed, but hearing stories from entrepreneurs through my team just makes you realize how big a deal it is to them for their business. Maybe I鈥檒l start a business one day, but for now, it鈥檚 very rewarding."
Yara Balouk
MA in International Disaster Psychology
鈥淚 want to create safe spaces for people to be themselves. I think authenticity is key. We all have a truth. It doesn't have to be the same, and it doesn't have to be different. Even identical twins don't have the same fingerprint. I want to encourage people to be their authentic selves and understand that while the world can feel small, it's also huge, and there's space for everyone. I want to empower people to take their space and be their authentic selves and believe that they'll find other like-minded people. I think there's someone out there for everybody.鈥
Alisha Pravasi
BS and MS in Computer Science
鈥淚 want to continue as a mentor for students at 桃子直播. I'm a part of the听 program, which brings in freshmen from different marginalized backgrounds and helps them navigate the STEM world. I have three freshmen mentees right now, and I hope to stay in touch with them after graduating. I want to continue the positive vibes and champion diversity, equity, and inclusion wherever I go, because that's what I'm all about.鈥
Owen Swallow
MA in International Intercultural Communication听
鈥淚 would like the opportunity to keep communities鈥攖he community I鈥檓 a part of, or a wider community鈥攊nformed. That's why I started pursuing this career track in the first place.鈥
Laura Love
MA in Social Work
鈥淚 lost my son to suicide when he was 14. A lot of my work has been driven by trying to help find solutions in the youth mental health space and being a support to other families going through this. Whatever I do, I will continue to champion youth mental health programs and be an advocate for other kids going through a similar journey as Sam and their families. In what way? I don't know. I think the beauty is in not knowing.鈥
