The David Bartsch and Joan Haffenreffer Bartsch Fellows to the UCGT
Each year, UCGT Fellows work alongside the faculty and staff of the CGT to lead and help cultivate the Undergraduate Committee, and to plan events and initiatives specifically for undergraduates, such as workshops related to the World Leaders Forums, “Talks With Professors,” “Global Thought Labs,” and so on. Fellows also contribute to the expansion of the undergraduate Global Thought curriculum.
2021-2022
Kayla Zhu | General Studies (’22) | UCGT Chair
Kayla Zhu is a junior in the Dual BA Program Between Columbia University and Sciences Po studying Middle Eastern studies and government. She is passionate about humanitarian issues and conflict resolution. Prior to her time at Columbia, Kayla attended the Middle East and Mediterranean-focused campus of Sciences Po. At Sciences Po, Kayla served as the Vice President of the Babel Initiative, a research initiative working to bring student researchers to the Middle East and North Africa. She also spent time working at a refugee camp on the French-Italian border. Beyond UCGT, Kayla serves on the executive board of the Columbia Journal of Politics & Society and is involved with the Bias Training Task Force Working Group. In her free time, Kayla enjoys making coffee, playing guitar, and learning languages.
Olivia Sieler | Columbia College (’24) | UCGT Vice-Chair
Olivia Sieler is a first-year student in Columbia College studying economics and theater. She is interested in international business and trade. Beyond the UCGT, Olivia serves on the executive board of Columbia Academic and Foreign Affairs and is a member of the Model UN travel team. She also enjoys being involved in theatrical productions.
Avalon Zborovsky-Fenster | Barnard College (’24) | UCGT Vice-Chair
Avalon Fenster is a first year student at Barnard College, a proud first generation American woman, and serves as the First Year Class President of Barnard’s Student Government Association. She has spent most of her teenage years working in politics and activism as both a voice on the ground and a vision builder nationally. She currently serves as the Policy and Community Outreach Fellow at nonprofit organization Pay Our Interns, working on policy and outreach projects pertaining to the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. State Department, the White House, and more. Most recently, she was selected as 2020 Bank of America Student Leader by the Bank of America Charitable Foundation. Formerly working on national organizing and digital strategy at March For Our Lives, and as a United States Senate Page after being nominated to serve in this position by Democratic Majority Leader Senator Chuck Schumer, she uniquely understands the collaborative relationship that advocates and policymakers maintain. She was honored with the Puffin Prize for Creative Citizenship by Type Media Center, and was named the 2019 Harry Chapin Young Humanitarian of The Year by Long Island Cares.