Priyanka Nanayakkara (Barnard College, 2026)
My name is Priyanka Nanayakkara, and I am a third-year student at Barnard College majoring in Neuroscience & Behavior on the pre-med track. As a first-generation Sri Lankan-American, I am passionate about exploring my cultural roots. For example, I am involved in Columbia’s premier South Asian a cappella group, Sur, where I promote South Asian culture through original songs and compositions. I hope to merge this love for cultural expression with my passion for healthcare research through the Global Thought Scholars Program, where I hope to examine healthcare inequalities in post-Civil War Sri Lanka.