Continuing our cherished tradition of bringing loved ones together during the festive season, the Milken Scholars Program hosted annual Holiday Dinners for Alumni and current Scholars in Los Angeles, New York City and Washington, D.C.
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When my plane landed in Bogotá, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I had come to Colombia hoping to understand the local culture and societal infrastructure. What I discovered was how young people find purpose when opportunity is scarce, and what structures help them stay in school. What I discovered over the next two weeks, traveling from Bogotá to Medellín to Cartagena, went far beyond classrooms. My discoveries ranged from observations of the walls of the city, the rhythm of its streets, and in the choices people make when life demands creativity to survive.
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The armed conflict in Colombia was a nightmarish period that has lasted 60 years, leaving a dark stain and puzzle in the minds of thousands of civilians. With the UN Resolution 1325 and the Colombian government’s admission of the disproportionate violence women endure in conflicts, an enormous bottom-up feminist movement has fought to address the violence women still face in the country. However, there are still effects that are not widely discussed. The Colombian armed conflict played a significant role in the formation of patriarchal systems that, especially with a negligent state, have worked to normalize gender-based violence and revictimization cycles. This has generated a distinct intergenerational trauma.
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According to the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI) which considers a nation’s overall economic growth, life expectancy, health, education and quality of life, both Vietnam and the Philippines are considered to be developing nations. This comes as no surprise once we consider their turbulent paths towards national sovereignty with neither country achieving true independence until the mid to late 20th century. However, despite their difficult beginnings, both nations have successfully harnessed their pasts to bolster national economic growth and provide their citizens with productive and satisfying lives by opening up their past historical landmarks for tourism.
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To celebrate graduating in May 2025, I went to Japan. Three friends and I crammed all that we could into one week, separating the trip into three cities: Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hiroshima. Since we had a limited time to internalize the people, personalities, food, scenery, and experiences of these locations, we tried to make our intentions clear. For every piece of frivolous fun, we bore a deeper analytical purpose in mind.
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This Fall 2025, the Milken Scholars Program continued its tradition of visiting current Scholars in-person at their different college campuses throughout the country.
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This past month, I had the privilege of visiting Marrakech, Morocco: my first time traveling to Africa. The journey was more than a trip: it was a deep exploration of culture, wellness, and connection. I immersed myself not only as a traveler, but also as a lifelong learner, curious about how Morocco’s culture and healthcare values intersect holistic wellbeing.
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This summer I had the wonderful opportunity to be a Global Intern at CJ Cultural Foundation in South Korea. My research was on the unique work that could be done by a corporate foundation, defined by the Council on Foundations as “philanthropic organizations that are created and financially supported by a corporation…Companies establish corporate foundations and give programs to have a positive impact on society.”
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In a recent conversation with Nick Mosca, MS ’02, we asked him to share what a day in the life of an Ivy League college admissions consultant looks like. Nick, a Harvard graduate, former Georgetown Alumni Admissions Representative, 20-year college admissions consulting veteran and mindfulness educator is able to bring together his passions, personal and professional experiences together to his current work.
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On an August morning on the patio of an Italian deli, two retired scientists met with me to talk of the past. Domingo Madulid, a historical botanist of the Philippines, and Hermes Gutierrez, expert on the Philippine Dipterocarpaceae family, have been colleagues since the 1960s. Over hot black coffee, the two detailed their experiences collecting plant specimens, their collaborations with foreign scientists, and their musings on the current state of genetic mapping and systematics.
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After more than a decade in the making, the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream (MCAAD) opened its doors to the public on September 20, 2025. MCAAD, a part of the Milken Institute, is a cultural institution dedicated to sharing stories and illuminating pathways to opportunity for all.
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This summer, I had the chance to travel to Ghana, a place that felt both familiar and new. With West African parents, I grew up hearing stories and watching movies about the markets and cultures within various communities.
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