Youth Scientific Council on Adolescence

Alexander is a pre-med undergraduate student at UCLA majoring in history with plans to pursue a career in medicine. He is passionate about adolescent mental health and education. During his free time, Alex teaches after-school classes for students from kindergarten to 4th grade, works as a summer head camp counselor at a Jewish day camp, mentors teens and tweens in a Jewish social youth group, and volunteers at Cedars Sinai Hospital. He has also been involved in research investigating neurodevelopmental disorders and the biological factors that contribute to the expression of ADHD. As part of the YSCA, he hopes to expand his knowledge on adolescent health and leverage his prior experiences and passions to communicate the science of youth development.

Ananshaa is a high school senior passionate about medicine, education, and community impact. She has volunteered at Cedars-Sinai Hospital and worked as a tutor for both children and seniors, experiences that sparked her interest in bridging gaps in health and learning. She currently serves on the teen board of Wise Readers to Leaders and is involved in organizations that expand access to education and technology. Through the YSCA, she aims to explore the science behind youth development and use what she learns to support underserved communities and advocate for more equitable systems in healthcare and education.

Brooklyn is a high school senior at University High School, passionate about leadership and community impact. As a trained Ellis & Associates lifeguard, she is dedicated to ensuring safety and responding effectively in emergencies, a role that has deepened her sense of responsibility and commitment to helping others. Through the YSCA, Brooke hopes to strengthen her problem-solving skills while gaining a deeper understanding of youth development.

Danari is a senior at Westchester High School with a deep passion for community engagement and personal growth. With strong interests in communication and psychology, Danari is especially excited to explore the complexities of adolescence, a topic that resonates both intellectually and emotionally. His commitment to service shines through active participation in Thanksgiving food drives, where he helps support families in need and fosters a spirit of compassion. Driven by curiosity and empathy, Danari is eager to contribute meaningful insight to conversations that shape youth development as a YSCA council member.

Jeevana is a high school junior at University High School Charter with a strong interest in medicine and biology. She aims to pursue a career in internal medicine or pediatrics, while also exploring her growing interest in neurology. Jeevana is committed to building bridges between various fields of medicine to better understand and support youth development. Believing in the importance of providing adolescents with spaces for self-expression and growth, she co-created an art therapy program that serves children of all abilities. Her involvement extends to neuroscience research programs, STEM enrichment initiatives for underserved youth, and fellowship programs that fund projects serving the community in meaningful ways. As a member of the YSCA, Jeevana is excited to collaborate with fellow council members to share developmental science with the public and raise awareness about adolescent well-being.

Kevin is a second-year undergraduate student at West Los Angeles College, majoring in Public Health, with the goal of transferring to a four-year university. During his time at West LA College, he has taken on a role as an officer of the Puente Club and as a member of the STEM Club, where he has mentored and guided students, exposing STEM concepts to young adolescents. Outside of school, Kevin is an ambassador for both the African Coalition for Public Health and Mental Health, and Los Angeles County for Public Health, working hard to empower and serve marginalized communities. As a part of the YSCA, Kevin hopes to deepen his understanding of youth development, with the goal of making a positive impact in his community.

Layah is a high school senior at University High School Charter passionate about youth well-being and health. She plans to major in human biology to pursue a career in health care, and is particularly interested in biomedicine, dermatology, and pediatrics. Her passion for health and medicine is driven by her desire to bridge health disparity gaps to help people in her community. Layah enjoys working on collaborative projects, as demonstrated by her involvement in her school districts’ youth council and her school’s STEMsters club as secretary. and hopes to further develop her communication skills. As a member of the YSCA, Layah hopes to develop a deeper understanding of effective science communication and expand her knowledge of adolescent health with her peers.

Maya is a second-year psychology major at Santa Monica College, planning on transferring to a 4-year university. She plans to attend graduate school to become a clinical psychologist. At Santa Monica College, she is a member of the psychology club and president of Club Grow, which runs and manages the campus’s Organic Learning Garden. Passionate about helping those who struggle with mental health, Maya volunteers as a Crisis Counselor at the Crisis Text Line, providing support to people in distress. Additionally, she holds a certificate in Adult Mental Health First Aid from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. Aside from psychology, Maya is also very passionate about language and linguistics, and is learning several languages, including Japanese and Spanish. Through the YSCA, Maya hopes to gain new collaborative skills that will allow her to work with others to help those struggling with mental health, now and in the future.

Odalis Hernandez is a senior at Alexander Hamilton High School planning to major in public health, with the hopes of serving underrepresented communities like her own as a physician’s assistant. In her school she founded the Wellness Club, which aims to diminish the communication gap between students and adults in order to address the seriousness of mental health priority. As a former medical scholar of the OHNF (Osborne Head and Neck Foundation) she has experience with various medical specialties, labs, clinical practice and most importantly teamwork. She is excited to be working with like-minded peers in the YSCA, and she hopes to establish long-lasting connections. Additionally, she hopes to contribute to scientific understanding of adolescent development and to represent the Wellness Club members back at school who deserve to be heard.

Yonathan Kiflezghie is a senior at University High School Charter who plans to pursue a career in neuroscience. His interest in adolescent development and neuroscience began when he met military veterans and became interested in how the brain processes trauma and the way it changes people for generations. One day he hopes to find the answers to those questions and give back to not only the communities around him, but countries that have limited representation in research. Yonathan has already started exploring neuroscience through the Neurocamp summer program at UCLA and the UCLA CELL Scholars research internship, culminating in a year-long project on the ‘Neural Effects of Sports: A Systemitized Review of fMRI Research’. Through the YSCA, Yonathan hopes to learn more about adolescent development and give back to underrepresented communities.