Executive Board

The MFCNS Student Executive Board works closely with the Director, creating and implementing social and professional development programming for the entire membership.  Any member can apply to serve and, if selected, would take on this leadership position for the entirety of the academic year.  Applications for new members typically occurs during the Spring semester.

Sophia Trapani 

Hello! My name is Sophia, and I am from New York City. I am so excited to be your Meinig Family Executive Mentoring Coordinator for the 2026-27 academic year! A little bit about me: I’m a junior majoring in Biology and Society in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, particularly interested in the intersections between medicine, law, and global health. On campus, I spend my time playing for the Women’s Club Rugby Team as well as being an avid member of the Cornell Speech Team. When I’m not on the field or competing in tournaments across the country, you can find me on a hike or in the kitchen (I make a killer pastitsio).

As a member of Meinig’s executive board, I’ve had the honor of connecting students with the opportunities that encourage growth as both individuals and strong leaders in their communities. I can say in earnest that my involvement with the Meinig Family Scholars has been one of the most meaningful parts of my Cornell experience and I am looking forward to continuing to work with students and faculty involved in the program!

Aryan Rajput

Hi! My name is Aryan, and I am excited to serve as the Chair of the Executive Board for the 2026-27 academic year. I am a senior from the Washington, DC area studying Human Biology, Health, and Society, while pursuing a minor in Health Policy. I am most interested in learning about the tangible ways that societal systems and structures affect our health. I am involved with several clubs on campus, including the Prison Reform and Education Project, Planned Parenthood Generation Action, and Cornell Minds Matter. In my free time, I enjoy bouldering and road tripping.

I am grateful to the Meinig program for the opportunities it has given me to learn new perspectives and gain new experiences, whether it is through my peers or experienced leaders on campus. My vision for the Executive Board is to help scholars learn the skills that will help them to be leaders through service in their communities. I am excited to spend more time with all of you and create meaningful memories!

 Rayanna Northgrave

Hello! My name is Rayanna Northgrave. I am currently a senior in CALS studying Food Science. I am from sunny Southern California. I am deeply passionate about all things food. I went to culinary school for four years and fell in love with the art behind the things we eat. I enjoy learning about sustainability and ways we can grow the food industry while keeping the world a clean place. One of the best things about being a part of the Meinig Scholars is the fact that every person is passionate about something different. I have learned numerous new things just from my fellow peers. I look forward each year to being a Meinig because there are always new opportunities to grow, network, and become a well-rounded person. I hope that I can offer a helping hand to any dedicated student who is looking for opportunities to expand their leadership skills.    

Cooper Schwartz

Hello! My name is Cooper Schwartz and I am a junior in the College of Arts & Sciences majoring in Information Science with a concentration in Data Science. I’m from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and have enjoyed finding community at Cornell. On campus, I am Vice President of Cornell Technology Consulting, play in a local hockey league, and spend a lot of time enjoying pickleball and ping pong with friends.

Being a Meinig Scholar has been one of the most impactful parts of my Cornell experience. It has connected me with driven people and given me the opportunity to be part of the Executive Mentoring Program, where I’ve learned a lot about leadership through real, honest conversations with campus leaders. I’m especially excited to create programming for Meinig Scholars that is not only meaningful, but also welcoming and genuinely fun, so that members feel more connected to one another and to the broader Cornell community.

Grace Chen

Hi! My name is Grace, and I am a member of the Class of 2028 studying Biology on the pre-med track. I am currently doing research in the Roeder Lab, where I study iron homeostasis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) balance in Arabidopsis. Outside of research, I serve as the National Director of Outreach for Voices of Equity and as the Policy and Practices Subteam Lead for Cornell iGEM. In my free time, I enjoy spending time outdoors and drawing.

I'm excited to get to know everyone joining Meinig this year, continue working with current scholars, and help make the Meinig community a meaningful and welcoming experience for everyone!

Samuel Indermaur

Hi! My name is Sam Indermaur, and I am a senior studying Industrial and Labor Relations from Raleigh, North Carolina. I am passionate about labor rights and studying the causes of and potential solutions to wealth inequality in the United States. I am involved in several on-campus clubs, including the undergraduate Moot Court, the Prison Reform Education Project, and as a Botanic Gardens Ambassador. I also serve as a research assistant at The Worker Institute. More often than not, however, you can find me cooped up in the halls of Ives late into the night. The Meinig Scholars program has afforded me numerous opportunities—my absolute favorite being Executive Mentoring. I am thrilled to be part of the Executive Board because I have the opportunity to serve a program that has given me so much. I look forward to deepening my connections with past, current, and future Meinigs!

Suri Wang

Hi! My name is Suri Wang, and I am a sophomore from New York City in CALS. I’m majoring in Biology and Society, on the pre-med track. More specifically, I am passionate about the social determinants of health, as well as youth education. On campus, I am involved in other organizations such as Rho Psi Eta, Cornell EARS, Thread Magazine, and The Wardrobe. 

Being a part of the Meinig program has allowed me to gain valuable connections and friendships with both faculty and peers. The diversity of backgrounds among Meinig scholars has taught me how leaders in various communities can show up for and support others.  I’m excited to help even more students make an impact!