Bennis Scholars: Cohort 8

Maria Barun Maria Barun is a presidential scholar from Denver, Colorado. She studies Business Administration with an emphasis in finance and a double minor in Applied Analytics and Artificial Intelligence. Her passion for change and leadership has lead her to serve as a senator in the Undergraduate student government, Vice President in the Marshall Business Student Community, Delegate in Society …

Bennis Scholars: Cohort 7

Russell Agustin Russell Agustin is a junior from Union City, California, studying public policy and minoring in social entrepreneurship. Russell’s involvements include operating a 501(c)3 nonprofit called Sole2Soul for over five years, spearheading a global Ashoka-based civic innovation project called Tilt, engaging with student governance as a student senator, and furthering environmental advocacy as a podcast researcher for a student podcast …

Bennis Scholars: Cohort 6

Grace Amoafo Grace Amoafo is a public policy and law major at the Sol Price School of Public Policy. She is an aspiring civil rights attorney and is very passionate about achieving justice for others. With the help of the Warren Bennis Scholars Program, she hopes to improve her leadership skills and achieve her goal of fighting for civil rights. Christian Chung Christian Chung is …

Bennis Scholars Class of 2022: Cohort 5

Gurasees Bajaj Gurasees Bajaj is a junior from Chicago majoring in health and human sciences with minors in health- related fields. With the goal of becoming a medical professional in the future, Gurasees’ academic interests lie in analyzing the sociological components and intersections of health in a community, such as food, housing, and education. In his free time, Gurasees enjoys …

Bennis Scholars Class of 2021: Cohort 4

Michelle Au Born in Los Angeles and raised in Hong Kong, Michelle is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in cinema and media studies with a minor in marketing. In addition to being a student assistant in the Cinematic Arts department, she currently serves as the general manager of USC’s television station, Trojan Vision, and oversees a variety of live shows …

Bennis Scholars Class of 2020: Cohort 3

Blake Ackerman Blake is a junior majoring in Business Administration. He currently serves as the Vice President of the Undergraduate Student Government. His personal passions include encouraging student involvement and improving our overall campus climate. Blake is a member of USC’s Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity and served as a Campus Engagement Intern for Hillel @ USC. Last summer, Blake interned …

Bennis Scholars Class of 2019: Cohort 2

Pooja Agarwal Pooja Agarwal is a senior from Massachusetts majoring in Business Administration with minors in Environmental Studies and Spanish. She is a Leonard D. Schaeffer Government Service Fellow and is spending the summer interning at the California State Assembly in Sacramento. Around campus, she is involved as Vice President of Finance for Peaks and Professors; member of Environmental Core, …

Bennis Scholars Class of 2018: Cohort 1

Joseph Bae Joseph Bae is from Chino Hills, California and majored in Biophysics at the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences while also receiving a master’s in Medical Biophysics. At USC, Joseph pursued a variety of activities including conducting research at the Bridge Institute, serving on the executive board of a medical missions club, and practicing Tae Kwon Do. …