Class of 2026

cHRIS Byrnes

Hi frens! I’m Chris Byrnes (he/they). I’m a senior double majoring in Government & Law and Asian Studies and minoring in Data Science. I’m from Sparta, New Jersey and this is my third year in the house and as McKelvy Alumni Relations co-chair. I can’t wait to have so many fun talks with scholars and to get to know everyone! Outside McKelvy, I am an Obama-Chesky Voyager, director of LafayetteVotes and research assistant for a couple professors in the Gov/Law department. When I’m at the house, you can find me in the gardens taking pictures of cute lil flowers, drowning in thesis work in the study, yapping about my time abroad in South Korea and Japan or arguing with other scholars about how cereal should be eaten dry. Overall, I’m super excited to be a part of a community, form some memories, share some laughs, and learn a whole lot from other scholars. If you see me, don’t be afraid to say hi! Overall, I’m super excited to be a part of a community, form some memories, share some laughs, and learn a whole lot from other scholars. If you see me, don’t be afraid to say hi! I’m always down to chat :)

Olivia combs

Hallo! I am Olivia (She/Her) and I am your local Cary, North Carolina representative. I am a Senior, which makes this my third year as a McKelvy Scholar! I am excited to continue my involvement in this wonderful community. I am a Physics major with a German minor and, potentially, an Astronomy concentration. As for campus involvement, I am a Supplemental Instructor, a member of the Student Conduct Board, President of the Lafayette Astronomy Club, member of the Physics Club, and a co-chair of McKelvy Alumni Relations. It may seem like a lot, which it is, but you don’t notice the workload when you’re having fun! In my limited free time, you can most likely find me sewing, reading, exercising, or practicing guitar. Most likely though, I’ll be grumbling over physics homework. When I’m in McKelvy, you can most likely find me in the discussion room. When I’m not in McKelvy, you can most likely find me in Hugel/Skillman. If you ever see me around just give me a quick wave and ask what sewing project I’ve got cooking; I’ll even replace your lost buttons if you ask nicely (a.k.a give me food).

jack delaney

Hey lovelies! My name is Jack (he/him) and I’m a senior biochemistry major. I am from Gettysburg, PA and you will never hear me say a good thing about it! This year I am SO excited to serve a second term as McKelvy co-president with the dashing Ben Risley. McKelvy is such a special community to be a part of and I would not trade it for anything! On campus, I am a hermit of Hugel. I’m both a TA and SI this semester for gen chem, a chemistry peer mentor, co-president of Lafayette’s ACS chapter, and I work in Professor Hines’ lab researching prion diseases and chaperone proteins. If you see me around campus, please please please don’t hesitate to chat and ask about McKelvy! I was one of the recruitment chairs two years ago, so am an excellent resource for anyone considering applying for the program. Anywho, see you around!

tessa giardi

Hey hey hey! I’m Tessa Giardi (she/her), and I’m a senior English major. I’m a former McKelvy co-president, and now I’m the Community Chair! I’ll be graduating in December, so I intend to make this fall semester count. I hail from Millis, Massachusetts, a small town outside of Boston, and firmly believe that MA is the superior state (Giardi for Governor!). I transferred to Lafayette from Skidmore College in the middle of my sophomore year, so while I may be a senior, don’t expect me to know where everything is. On campus, I’ve done EXCEL research for Professor Murphy in the govt law department, and am a center-fielder on the club softball team. I studied abroad in London in the spring semester of my junior year. Please ask me about it, I’m dying to talk about the 29 West End shows I saw! In my free time, I’ve been known to craft it up, watch my favorite movies over and over again (Sandlot, anyone?), and blast some showtunes. In the house, you can often find me in the community room. Please stop and say hi. I love this community!

ari ismail

Wazzaaaaaaa. I’m Ari (they/he). I’m a junior International Affairs and FAMS double major with a minor in Chinese. I’m from Guilderland, NY. I am on exec for Refugee Action, the Muslim Students Association, and Middle Eastern Studies Association. I volunteer with Landis MOSAIC programs, take photos for The Lafayette, and am part of ISA. I work at the WCA as a technician, for the FAMS department, and am an EXCEL with Professor Nandini Sikand. In my free time, I sleep, go to community gardens, play guitar & bass, lose at Catan, watch bad movies with my friends, rock climb, take photos and then wake up :) You can most likely find me on a roof in McKelvy. I’m excited for McKelvy to expand beyond our lovely stone walls and also to get to know all of my fellow McScholars better ♡

 

moira humphrey

Hey guys! I’m Moira (she/her) and I’m a senior Economics major and Mathematics minor. I’m originally from Orlando, Florida but now live in the great state of Connecticut. On campus, I do EXCEL Research, I’m an Econometrics SI, Admissions Ambassador, and I’m a member of a few awesome clubs. I’ve also been lucky enough to study and research abroad through Lafayette multiple times: in Madagascar through LIME, Moldova, and Spain. In my free time, you’ll likely find me spending way too much time in the swanky new Econ building or enjoying the lovely McKelvy Gardens. You can also spot me all the way across campus considering my hair is basically impossible to miss. Feel free to stop and chat with me–I’m always happy to meet someone new!

anthony malshyti

Hi! My name is Anthony and I am a senior Chemical Engineering major. I’m from The Bronx, NY. I am a member of AICHE, do research with Professor Senra on biofuels, and am a part of Running Club. In my free time I love to do anything outdoors whether that is hike, run, or kayak. I also love to travel and went abroad in Germany my sophomore year and traveled to over ten countries! I love spending time in the garden or walking around College Hill. You’ll also spot me in the engineering building or working at the library. Feel free to come talk to me about anything from the House, study abroad or engineering!

CAMSEY/ELI Noonan

Howdy! My name is Camsey (they/them) and I’m a senior English major with a Chinese minor from Washington, DC. This is my third year in the house and I’m so excited to return as one of the co-recruitment chairs looking for our next cohort of scholars! Alongside being a scholar, I’m a tour guide, Writing Associate, Kaleidoscope Peer Educator, captain of the Speech and Debate team, and a massive nerd. When I’m not falling asleep in McKelvy’s gardens, you can find me grabbing coffee at Three Birds with a friend, hiding in a corner of the library with a book, or getting competitive over Wii Sports at unholy hours with my fellow scholars. I’m excited to spend my final year with my fellow scholars, old and new. If you see me around campus, come say hi! You’ll get bonus points if you ask me about books, Taiwan, or McKelvy :)

nate rashkind

Hello, my name is Nate Rashkind, and I am a final-year from Wilmington, Delaware. I am currently double-majoring in Economics and Policy Studies. I joined McKelvy at the end of my first year. I spent the last academic term at Pembroke College at the University of Cambridge. Before coming to Lafayette, I took a gap year, where I worked at the University of Pennsylvania in the Athletic Department. Outside of McKelvy, I previously served as a member of Student Government (Sustainability, Budgets, Census, Academic Affairs Committees). I was also previously on the executive board of the Lafayette Investment Club. In my free time I work for the Men’s Lacrosse team, helping to run their social media channels. You can often spot me (very slowly) running stairs at Fisher Stadium or around College Hill.

ben risley

What’s cookin’ good lookin’, my name is Ben and I’m from Hebron CT, basically in the middle of nowhere. I’m on the Pre-Law track, double majoring in Government & Law and Econ and minoring in Data Science. This is my second year as a member of the Mckelvy Scholars program, and I’m spending it a million miles away in Washington DC. I hope they don’t forget about me when I’m gone! This year I’m excited about my fall internship, going to museums, and being in Eastern Standard Time (Haha, Camsey). In the spring at Lafayette, my goals are to attend running club 3-5 times, win the spike ball world championship, and continue my career as a tour guide. This semester you most likely won’t find me but when I’m back in the spring I will be frequently stationed in the study. I can’t wait to meet all the new scholars when I get back!!!

 

Julia Salvatore

Hi! I’m Julia Salvatore (she/her), and I’m so excited to join McKelvy this year as a first-time scholar! I’m from Pennington, NJ, and I’m a senior majoring in history with a minor in art. On campus, I’m involved with Pottery Club, Marquis Players, and Arts Society. I’ll also be working on my thesis this year! Outside of class, you can usually find me reading on the quad, adding to my junk journal, or (regretfully) napping. I’m really looking forward to meeting new people, spending time in the McKelvy gardens, and becoming part of this amazing community. If you see me around campus, come say hi. I’d love to nerd out about musical theater or art history.

edna sam

Hi! My name is Edna Sam and I am a member of the Lafayette Class of 2026, which means I am iconically graduating during our bicentennial. I am a Government and Law & Spanish and History double major (which I enjoy immensely), and you’ll find me everywhere on campus. I was a Resident Advisor and am now a Head Resident for the Office of Residence Life, Past RA and current co Social Chair of McKelvy, Gallery Attendant for the Lafayette College Galleries, EcoRep for the Office of Sustainability, Global Ambassador for the Study Abroad Office, and a wannabe literati. I am *also* a Posse Scholar, as well as a non officer member of the NIA Sisterhood and the Association of Black Collegians. In my free time, I love watching foreign films and series, hosting cute dinner (and breakfast!) parties with my friends, listening to and gatekeeping music, reading all manner of fiction, curating my future life through pinterest, traveling (and thinking about traveling), and, obviously, having good conversations.

ALEX Villalba

Hola! My name is Alex, and I am an international student from Paraguay—a place we like to call the heart of South America. I am majoring in Electrical and Computer Engineering with a minor in Biotechnology. Besides, I love science, and I have been doing research since my first semester at Lafayette in the ECE, Neuroscience, and computer science departments. As part of my roles on campus, I serve as the current president of the Society of Professional Hispanic Engineers and vice president of the IEEE chapter, as well as RA of the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. In my spare time, I like to play sports such as basketball and soccer, or spend time with friends in the outdoors or watching movies/TV shows. The best part of all. I am also part of McKelvy! I love to use those few neurons I have left from all my activities to keep pushing forward intellectually every Sunday with amazing discussions.