Perkins Global Community Interns contribute to the mission of delivering information about visual impairment, multiple disabilities and deafblindness. They support our vision of a world where every child learns and the 2030 vision of universal quality education for children. Interns enjoy direct interaction with a broad range of both national and international professionals and experts, and the opportunity to make a visible contribution to a vibrant organization like Perkins School for the Blind. Interns emerge from this program with a level of knowledge about multiple disabilities/vision impairment education and international development that is unparalleled among new entrants to the field.

Our Interns

Photo of Rukaiya Sabuwala.

Rukaiya Sabuwala

Intern

Rukaiya Sabuwala is a dedicated special educator based in Mumbai, India, specializing in Visual Impairment and an Art-based therapy facilitator committed to individuals with multiple disabilities and at-risk adults. Currently pursuing her Master’s degree, she boasts extensive experience spanning various age groups and abilities, bringing a holistic approach to her practice. Beyond her professional endeavors, she is passionate about writing, trekking, traveling, and immersing herself in new languages and cultures.

Headshot of Atreyi Basu.

Atreyi Basu

Intern

Atreyi joined Perkins International as an intern in June 2023. She is a rising senior at Lexington High School and will be applying to university as a political science major. Atreyi is passionate about advocacy and has previously served as a volunteer for numerous organizations aiming to advance climate legislation. She also holds the role of editor and writer at her high school’s publication magazine, as well as an editor role for an online literary magazine. Atreyi is excited for the opportunity to work with Perkins and write about multiple disabilities and education. She has been learning conversational Spanish for six years. In her free time, Atreyi enjoys reading, listening to music, movies, television, and traveling.

Profile photo of Oroma

Listia Khairunnisa

Intern

Listi joined Perkins International as an intern in March 2023. She is pursuing a Master of Public Administration at Northeastern University. She is a Fulbright scholarship awardee. Listi is excited to be a part of the Perkins Global Community and to write about educational issues regarding multiple disabilities. She calls Indonesia home and has a deep interest in international relations, international development, education improvement, urban studies, and NGO management. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, camping, hand lettering, and spending time with family.

Profile photo of Malahat

Ram Bindiganavile

Intern

Ram is a Masters Student at the Brandeis International Business School. He graduated from Brandeis University with a double major in Economics and Biology, while minoring in HSSP (Health, Science, Society, and Policy). As an accelerated MA in the International Economics and Finance candidate, he is passionate about learning about the economic and financial aspects of health policy. He wants to make sure health information is made available to those among the disability community as education on new health policies/laws is something everyone deserves to be aware of and have access to. In his spare time, he enjoys playing basketball/volleyball, surfing, and listening to music.

Photo of Mallika Iyer, intern for Perkins Global Community.

Mallika Iyer

Intern

Mallika is in her 5th year of teaching students with autism, brain injuries and other special needs in independent schools. She also has vast international experience, having taught English and volunteered with the differently abled community in countries including South Africa, Mongolia and Peru. An alumna of the Fulbright scholarship, Mallika holds a master’s degree in education and is pursuing further certificates in Autism Education and Assistive Technology. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, learning different languages, traveling, and spending time outside by biking, horseback riding, hiking and kayaking.

Photo of Olivia Cordeiro, Perkins Global Community Intern

Olivia Cordeiro

Intern

Olivia joined Perkins International as an intern in August 2023. She is a rising junior at Northeastern University, pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Law and Public Policy. Olivia recently completed an internship at the Boston Municipal Court Probation Department, where she discovered her passion for working with court-involved youth using restorative justice techniques. She is enthusiastic about disability education and is excited to write about various disabilities and educational opportunities. Olivia possesses a working knowledge of Spanish and UEB Braille. She previously undertook a personal project translating children’s books into Braille to enhance accessibility in her hometown. Olivia contributes to Northeastern’s chapter of Her Campus magazine, the top-rated collegiate magazine written by and for female-identifying students. During her free time, Olivia enjoys reading, traveling, being outdoors, and spending time with family and friends. 

Photo of a young woman with a black and white shirt, and black hair smiling.

Isabella Ampié

Intern

Isabella joined Perkins International as an Intern in June 2023. She is a rising senior at Bentley University pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing. Isabella is passionate about education and has previously served as a volunteer teacher in under-resourced elementary schools in her home country of Nicaragua. At Perkins, she hopes to use her skills in creative writing to start more conversations about children with disabilities and their education, as well as continue communicating her belief that every child deserves a good education, no matter the constraints they may face. In her spare time, she enjoys drawing and painting, listening to music, cooking, and playing video games.

Perkins Intern - Emma von Sneidern

Emma von Sneidern

Intern

Emma joined Perkins International as a fall intern in August 2021. She is a junior at American University where she is pursuing a degree in International Studies, concentrating in development, and minoring in Leadership Management. Emma is passionate about equal educational opportunities as well as the important role nonprofits have in facilitating change. She is ecstatic to work for Perkins to become a part of a global community that is committed to improving the lives of people everywhere. Outside of school, Emma enjoys reading, movies and spending quality time with family and friends!

Profile photo of Ann Teng

Ann Teng

Intern

Ann joined Perkins International as a summer intern in June 2021. She is a rising senior at the University of Massachusetts Amherst double-majoring in Psychology and Music. She is also pursuing a letter of specialization in Developmental Disabilities & Human Service, as well as a certificate in Civic Engagement & Public Service. As a 4+1 Masters in Public Policy candidate, she is passionate about disability education legislation and nonprofit management. Ann works with the disability community in both Amherst and her home country, Taiwan. In her spare time, she can be found painting, growing sunflowers, or following stray cats.

Profile photo of Sasha Leys

Sasha Leys

Intern

Sasha joined Perkins International as a summer intern in June 2021. She is currently a rising junior at Wellesley College, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Sasha currently works with her college’s Accessibility and Disability Resources office and is excited to continue her efforts to support students with disabilities. She looks forward to contributing to a global understanding of how to support children with disabilities. When she graduates, she hopes to enter a healthcare career directed towards disability care. In her free time, Sasha enjoys reading, spending time with family, and keeping up with psychology news.

Profile photo of Elena Curran

Elena Curran

Intern

Elena joined Perkins International as an intern in May 2021. She is currently a rising senior at the University of Massachusetts Amherst where she is pursuing a degree in French and Francophone Studies and a degree in Sociology. She is excited to work for Perkins and to write about educational opportunities and human rights and learn more about the communities that Perkins reaches. She loves learning about new cultures and new languages. Currently, she is learning conversational Spanish and is fluent in French. When she graduates, she hopes to work for nonprofits in francophone countries, where she can help people and be part of an effort to make the world a more equal, accepting and inclusive place. 

Profile photo of Melissa

Melissa Ligus

Intern

Melissa is currently a sophomore at the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s Honors College, where she is pursuing a double major in Sociology and Spanish. She is joining Perkins International as an Education Research Assistant for the Spring 2021 semester. With a close family member being neurodivergent, Melissa is passionate about making information more accessible for everyone. She is excited to be a part of an effort to make the world more equal for all. As a Mexican American woman, she is very interested in the topic of immigration reform and refugee aid and hopes to apply her knowledge of those topics into her internship with Perkins International. Outside of her studies, Melissa has interests in language learning, and is currently learning conversational Korean. Along with these interests she also enjoys practicing calligraphy, reading thriller novels, and watching foreign TV shows.

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Kaylee Nielson

Intern

Kaylee joined Perkins International as a summer intern in May 2021. She is currently a rising junior at Wellesley College, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and English. Kaylee is committed to achieving equal education for students with disabilities and is excited to be contributing to the global effort. Prior to her work at Perkins, Kaylee wrote for a local newspaper in her hometown of Phoenix, Arizona, reporting community news during the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic. She has also raised two service dogs, Bruno and Craig, and is a rock climber, reader, and avid coffee-drinker!

Tulari Tine profile photo

Tulari Tine

Intern

Tulari joined Perkins International as a Research Associate. He is from North East-Nigeria. Tulari has previously worked with Gammun Centre for Care and Development Nigeria where he coordinated disability inclusion activities in the Nigeria Inclusion and Recovery Response Project in the North East Nigeria in partnership with Christoffel Blinden Mission. With a passion in disability rights,  Tulari advocates for the rights of persons with disabilities in the humanitarian response in the North East-Nigeria. Tulari is an enthusiast and stands up for justice believing that all human beings are equal and shouldn’t be marginalized. In his leisure, he enjoys adventures and watching movies.

Profile photo of Genevieve

Genevieve Meadows

Intern

Genevieve joined Perkins International as an intern in Spring 2021. Originally from the United States, her academic studies have focused on Spanish and Business Administration. She speaks conversational Spanish. She is currently completing her undergraduate studies at the University of Mary Washington in Virginia. She is interested in working with nonprofit organizations to tackle issues relating to education and community rebuilding. Genevieve is excited to be a part of the Perkins Global Community and to write about educational issues regarding health and visual impairment, multiple disabilities and deafblindness. In her free time, she enjoys reading, spending time with friends and family, and being outdoors.

Nasrin Islam Profile Photo

Nasrin Islam

Intern

Nasrin joined Perkins International as a Research Associate Intern in her second year of graduate studies at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University, where she is pursuing her Masters of Arts in Sustainable International Development. Nasrin has currently worked as a research fellow at the Migrants, Immigrants and Refugee Rights Alliance (MIRR Alliance), and has an uncommon blend of experiences since her early career span- an engineer, an environmentalist, and a development researcher. She is from Bangladesh and her passion includes educating and empowering especially the minority groups of people to the environmental sustainability matrix. Nasrin enjoys the most while working with different stakeholders that she quotes as “opportunities to learn and share”. She is currently working on her master’s paper on multiple disabilities and visually impaired individuals and is thrilled to be part of the Perkins Global Community. 

Profile photo of Malahat

Malahat Mazaher

Intern

Malahat joined Perkins International as Medical Research Associate intern in Summer 2020. She is from Afghanistan. She recently graduated from Heller School for Social Policy and Management where she pursued her master’s studies in global health policy and management and sustainable development. She is interested in pursuing a career in health research, analytics and policy. She is concerned with issues of social justice and equities. Currently, she is writing for this community on issues related to health and visual impairment, multiple disabilities and deafblindness. In her leisure, she likes catching up on the News, hiking, and watching TV programs.

Profile photo of Allen Chen

Allen Chen

Intern

Allen joined Perkins International as an education research assistant in November 2020. He is from China. He is currently a student at Diablo Valley College, where he is studying sociology. He is interested in issues of rights of people with visual impairment and education equality for minority groups including students with low social capitals and disabilities. In his leisure, he enjoys reading about social issues, listening to all kinds of music and spending quality time on networking with others.

Profile Photo of Judi

Judi Le

Intern

Originally from the United States, Judi is passionate about promoting the health and education of individuals of all races, ages, genders, and social backgrounds. She is interested in health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing, and hopes to pursue a career as a physician assistant. She is excited to be part of the Perkins Global Community as a Medical Research Assistant intern and aims to make available all the latest information that relates to health, visual impairment, and multiple disabilities. Judi is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences at Boston College. In her free time, she enjoys reading, cooking, exploring nature, and spending time with family and friends.

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Jeffri Navarro

Intern

Jeffri joined Perkins International as an intern during his graduate studies at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management in Massachusetts. Originally from Peru, his academic studies have focused on international development lately. He has worked as a librarian and tutor for the duration of these studies following graduate studies in infectious diseases and global health. Jeffri looks forward to expanding his knowledge of the intersection of education and international development as it pertains to students with disabilities. In his free time, he enjoys reading, boxing, and being with family.

Profile photo of Oroma

Oroma Adele Ambrose

Intern

Oroma is currently pursuing a Masters of Arts degree in Coexistence and Conflict Resolution at Heller School of Social Policy and Management. She joined Perkins International for a summer internship after her first year as a graduate student. Originally from Nigeria, she has worked with the Nigerian Education board in northern Nigeria to help promote the value of education among youths. She is passionate about the promotion of children’s rights and making sure every child has the right to an education. In her free time, she enjoys reading, taking long walks and spending quality time with her friends.