Anjali Mukherji Doria

Executive Director, Dava Foundation

Anjali is the Executive Director of the Dava Foundation, an organization that aims to create sustainable healthcare systems in rural America. She recently graduated with her second master’s degree in environmental studies and sustainability. Additionally, she serves as an intern to the Board of Directors of Tennessee Environmental Council, and is the Vice Chair of “The Store,” a nonprofit organization founded by Brad and Kimberly Paisley that fights food insecurity in Nashville, Tennessee.

Emeline Myung

Society & the Environment Student, UC Berkeley

Ilay Ghavidel

Sophomore, Ankara University, Türkiye

Ilay is a dental student studying at Ankara University in Türkiye. She first joined Turning Green in 2021 as a Project Green Challenge finalist and has continued her journey with the organization as an ambassador ever since.

Ilay is a passionate environmental advocate focused on sustainable water use. Her CAP project repurposed air-conditioner water for drip irrigation in her school garden, blending creativity with real impact. She continues to engage in environmental initiatives in Iran and beyond, inspiring her community to take action for a greener future.

Godfred Owusu

Teaching and Research Assistant, Department of Planning, KNUST

Godfred is a leading climate change and environmental sustainability advocate from Ghana, currently serving as a Teaching and Research Assistant at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). He was crowned the PGC 2024 Champion for his “Kumasi Waste Free Project,” which employed a circular economy model to eradicate plastic waste and successfully transformed over 900kg of plastics into items like student desks and community waste bins. Godfred joined the Turning Green Organization as a campus representative in 2023 and further deepened his commitment by interning with Turning Green during the summer of 2025. He now leverages his experience as a mentor and motivator, inspiring young leaders across Ghana and ensuring students continue to engage massively in PGC.

Jack Yu

Freshman, Carnegie Mellon University

Jack is a freshman studying Statistics & Machine Learning at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. Inspired by a high school speech on the Paris Agreement, he is passionate about applying coding and algorithm design to build digital tools that promote sustainable living and responsible consumption. As a 2024 Project Green Challenge Finalist, he co-created CarbonTrack, a student-led, non-profit carbon accounting platform that helps teens cultivate long-term green habits. Today, CarbonTrack supports environmental education at schools worldwide.

Kat Nguyen

Data Science Graduate, UC Berkeley

Mahmudur Rahman

Senior, Jahangirnagar University

Mahmud is a final year BSc. Student, majoring in Environmental Sciences at Jahangirnagar University, while working as a junior researcher in the Hydro-biogeochemistry Lab, JU. He plans to deepen his knowledge and get involved in research activities in future. He was one of the 14 global finalists for Project Green Challenge Finals 2024 and later emerged as the 1st runner up for his amazing Climate Action Project. In his free time, Mahmud loves exploring different parts of his country, playing video games, and spending quality time with his family and friends. Mahmud looks forward to applying his knowledge in working with others toward collective action to combat climate change in his community. 

Manfred Lim

Freshman, Columbia University

Manfred is an undergraduate freshman studying at Columbia University and became involved with Turning Green in 2023 as a PGC finalist before later serving as an ambassador. Prior to Columbia, he spent two years at Cornell University conducting research that applied machine learning and satellite data to urgent environmental science and public-health issues. As an activist, he has had the opportunity to represent youth voices at global convenings at the United Nations, the U.S. State Department, and the U.S. Capitol. At Columbia, he continues to engage in scientific research and is exploring work across the health and economic sectors through an environmental lens.

Mila Shih

Senior, San Luis Obispo High School

Mila is a potter, aspiring botanist, amateur birdwatcher, coleoptera enthusiast, overzealous planter, and compulsive seed collector. With a deep-rooted (pun intended) passion for the natural world, she is excited to return to Project Green Challenge this year as an ambassador and intern. In her free time, Mila can be found sauntering about in meadows, gardens and old-growth forests, wild-clay hunting or scribbling in her sketchbook.

Rachel Lee

Freshman, Cornell University

Shahed Anan Sajeeb

Master’s Student, Environmental Science, Jahangirnagar University

Shahed is a Master’s student in Environmental Science at Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh. He was a Finalist and 2nd Place Winner in Project Green Challenge 2023. He also leads a youth-led platform called the Youth Climate and Sustainability Network (YCSN) in Bangladesh, which works to promote climate education, sustainability awareness, and community engagement among young people. He is passionate about driving youth-led environmental action and creating a more sustainable future for his community and beyond.

Valentín Cárdenas Alcocer

Senior, Anáhuac Mayab University

Valentín is passionate about nature, sustainable food, and environmental projects. He is a senior at Anáhuac Mayab University, majoring in environmental engineering. Alongside his studies, he owns a brand of artisanal salsas and has served on the board of Impulsa, a leadership program focused on social commitment and innovation. He is dedicated to developing projects that combine nature-based solutions, entrepreneurship, and social innovation. Valentín believes in the power of collaboration and research to create a better future and designs projects that positively impact communities. Valentín was a finalist for the PGC in 2022.

Yael Ochoa

Sophomore, Rice University

Yael is a sophomore studying Cognitive Sciences and Art History at Rice University in Houston, Texas. With a longstanding interest in environmental activism, she deepened her passion as a Project Green Challenge finalist in 2022. A dedicated baker, Yael follows FLOSN (Fresh, Local, Organic, Seasonal, Non-GMO) guidelines to create high-quality, environmentally friendly desserts. She finds joy in walking to connect with her surroundings and often sits in parks to appreciate nature. Her interests include supporting fair trade companies, minimizing food waste, and buying locally.