Aparnaa Ananthakrishnan

Chair

Aparnaa is a recent graduate of Northwestern University, where she earned a B.A. in Global Health Studies and Biological Sciences (Concentration in Biochemistry & Biophysics). She has been actively involved with the American Red Cross at the regional, divisional, and national levels, demonstrating a strong commitment to youth leadership and community impact. She previously served as President of Northwestern’s Red Cross Club and as the FY24 National Collegiate Officer for the North Central Division, in which she spearheaded an annual Spring Collegiate Blood Drives Campaign, mobilizing Red Cross Clubs across nine Midwestern states to increase both the number and diversity of blood donors. In recognition of her leadership and impact, Aparnaa received the FY25 Illinois Red Cross Blood Services Hero Award and the FY25 Navin Narayan National Award for Excellence in Youth Leadership. Currently, Aparnaa serves as the FY27-28 Chair of the National Youth Council, where she continues to advance the American Red Cross mission by shaping the council’s strategic direction, strengthening youth engagement across all Lines of Service and expanding national pathways for youth and young adults to participate in the Red Cross. Outside of volunteering, Aparnaa enjoys making/drinking masala chai, reading novels, and hiking – especially in Maine! Contact Aparnaa at aparnaa.ananthakrish@redcross.org.

Dianne Estevez Escalera

Vice Chair

Dianne is a sophomore at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez studying Chemical Engineering and has been an American Red Cross volunteer for five years. She currently serves as the Puerto Rico Region’s Youth Engagement Lead, supporting youth volunteers across the island, strengthening engagement initiatives, and helping coordinate regional programs. Dianne previously served as Vice President of her university’s Red Cross Club and has contributed to initiatives including the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Youth Action Campaign. She has represented the American Red Cross internationally at Youth Camps in Mexico and Costa Rica and was selected to attend the 2024 IHL Youth Summit in Washington, D.C. She also helped launch the nation’s first hybrid IHL Summit, leading local efforts to promote the “IHL in Nuclear Weapons” campaign.  Dianne’s service has earned regional Volunteer of the Year recognition and a feature on Telemundo Puerto Rico. For more than four years, she has worked to increase awareness of humanitarian issues in underrepresented communities and expand the reach of Red Cross programming throughout the Caribbean. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, trying new foods, and listening to music. Contact Dianne at dianne.estevezescale@redcross.org. 

Isha Gandi

Outreach and Communications Committee Lead

Ishani is a sophomore at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, studying Public Health with a concentration in Health Policy and Management. Her journey with the Red Cross began five years ago, when she began creating posts for the North Texas Red Cross blog. After working as a Youth Placement Specialist where she interviewed incoming volunteers, she served as Workforce Engagement Coordinator, revamping the new quality assurance department of her region’s engagement team, and then the North Texas Philanthropy Officer, raising thousands through local fundraisers and campaigns. As the 2026 Council Campaign Lead, she coordinated National Youth Involvement Month, the Navin Narayan Scholarship, and other initiatives uplifting youth volunteers. She is passionate about introducing students to the Red Cross, as she served as Co-President of Carroll High School’s Red Cross Club. Ishani earned the Philanthropy Volunteer of the Year Award, Regional Top Volunteer Hour Award, and President’s Volunteer Service Award for her efforts, and was a 2025 recipient of the Navin Narayan Scholarship. Outside of the Red Cross, she enjoys hiking, reading, and learning all about Greek mythology. Contact Ishani at ishani.gandi@redcross.org.

Olivia Ho

Program Impact Committee Lead

Originally from Reno, NV, Olivia is a freshman at Stanford University, studying bioengineering. She has been a volunteer with the Red Cross since her freshman year of high school after creating and serving as president of the Red Cross Club at her school. Recognizing the need for youth engagement in her region, Olivia has worked to foster and support the clubs in Northern Nevada through various initiatives such as Youth Action Campaign, park cleanups, and school bleed control preparedness. At the beginning of 2025, Olivia was nominated to the Northern Nevada Chapter Board of Directors as a youth representative due to her advocacy for youth volunteerism and community activism. She played a key role in establishing an international Red Cross Red Crescent initiative focusing on youth climate action for the first time in the United States called the Y-Adapt program. Olivia is excited to create a positive impact and grow the program nationally.  Olivia is excited to offer her unique perspective to the National Youth Council to inspire and bring new opportunities to the youth in her community! Outside of the Red Cross, Olivia enjoys swimming, reading, and traveling with her family. Contact Olivia at olivia.ho@redcross.org.

Lauren Ko

Resource Lead

Lauren is a Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholar at Vanderbilt University studying Human and Organizational Development, Business, and Legal Studies. She began her Red Cross journey in her freshman year of high school and since held roles as Chair of the Orange County Red Cross Youth (OCRC) Program, president of the Brea Olinda High School Red Cross Club, founding Lead Advocate for the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Youth Action Campaign, and delegate to the 2024 IHL YAC Summit in Washington D.C. She led programs serving over 1,700 volunteers across 60+ schools in Orange County, conducted blood drives and fundraising endeavors, and brought youth perspectives to the county’s adult executive board. As a founding American representative to the inaugural IHL Youth Summit, she mentored advocates both locally and globally, guiding them in discovering the relevance of IHL to today’s world. An avid journalist, Lauren looks forward to spending her time on the council honing her keen interest in uplifting narratives of youth agency and impact and guide volunteers nationwide to success. She enjoys writing journal entries, working hard (or hardly working, when chatting with friends) at cafes, going on walks, and scouring the internet for random deep dives. Contact Lauren at lauren.ko@redcross.org.

Jay Qiu

Campaign Lead

Jay is a sophomore at Johns Hopkins University studying Public Health. His Red Cross journey began in 2022 at Mater Dei High School located in the Southern California Region when he founded the Red Cross Club and served as President for four years. He then joined the Youth Leadership Team of the Orange County Chapter and served on the Special Events Committee and the Mission Impact Committee. Additionally, he served as a staffer for the GLOW Red Leadership Camp hosted by his chapter. Across all lines of service, Jay specializes in the Biomedical Service Branch. He is a Blood Program Leader for Northern Orange County and an Outreach Specialist Volunteer of the Donor Resources Development Team in the Biomedical Services Department, reaching out to potential donors, canvassing blood drive locations, and creating promotional materials. As a member of the National Youth Council, Jay hopes to tackle common misconceptions about blood donation and promote awareness among youth. In his free time, Jay loves listening to all kinds of pop music, visiting National Parks, and watching Modern Family. Contact Jay at jay.qiu@redcross.org.

Kelsey Mu

Red Cross Club Program Lead

Kelsey is a freshman at Northwestern University and began her Red Cross journey in 2022 as a member of the blood ambassador scheduling team. Her interest in advocacy and health led her to serve on her chapter’s Youth Executive Board as the IS/SAF Coordinator. In this role, Kelsey raised awareness of veteran health disparities by organizing educational workshops and community projects, such as Totes of Hope and Cards for Veterans. Her commitment to humanitarian causes is reflected in her extensive involvement in the IHL Youth Action Campaign. She has served as a team lead, Summit representative, Summit sub-team lead, and regional Coordinator, impacting thousands of volunteers. Kelsey’s work has earned her the regional International Humanitarian Services award and has led to her nomination for the SAF/IS National Youth Award. Throughout her roles, she has found the most fulfillment when empowering other youth to become community leaders. On the National Youth Council, Kelsey is eager to leverage the platform to continue inspiring youth and helping them find their place within the Red Cross. In her free time, Kelsey enjoys reading historical fiction, running, and trying new food with friends. Contact Kelsey at kelsey.mu@redcross.org.

Precious Ikwu

Campaign Lead

Precious is a rising sophomore at The University of Maryland, College Park, studying Public Health Science. Precious has been actively involved with the American Red Cross since her sophomore year of high school, serving extensively with the Biomedical Services National Support Team (NST). Within the NST, she supported biomedical volunteers and has been involved in expanding engagement within the organization. As a Placement Queue Lead, Precious assisted in outreach to prospective volunteers, boosting participation in biomedical positions. Precious also served as Engager Lead, training and guiding new onboarding team members across the country, while developing systems to foster volunteer retention and engagement. Additionally, she served as a Blood Drive Coordinator, where she collaborated with administrators to host a student-run blood drive. She led the development of marketing and volunteer teams and ensured smooth event operations from planning to execution. Since her time with NST, Precious was the Data and Analytics Lead on the council from 2025-2026. In her role, she analyzed and gathered metrics that could better understand the impact of council roles on youth and young adult national engagement. Outside of the Red Cross, Precious loves sewing, ceramics, and reading psychological thrillers. Contact Precious at precious.ikwu@redcross.org.

Tulsi Patel

Marketing Lead

Tulsi is a senior and National Scholar at Clemson University studying Philosophy on the pre-medical track with minors in Life Sciences and Public Policy. She has been involved with the American Red Cross of South Carolina for the past five years, serving in a variety of leadership roles, including high school and collegiate-level club president, Youth Engagement Lead, and member of the Regional Volunteer Engagement Committee. Throughout her time, she has led multiple blood drives, organized campuswide Red Cross Day programming, hosted disaster preparedness and health skills education events, coordinated MapAThons, and supported large-scale supply and food drives benefiting patients, veterans, and community members. One of the most rewarding aspects of her work is mentoring volunteers and helping establish and grow Red Cross clubs across South Carolina. In recognition of her contributions, she received her region's Exceptional Volunteer Service for Young Adults Award. Her experiences with the Red Cross have inspired a passion for exploring the intersection of service, ethics, and medicine to advance community health and promote humanism in healthcare. In her free time, she enjoys cooking fusion recipes, reading literary nonfiction, running, and crafting. Contact Tulsi at tulsi.patel3@redcross.org.

Maximus Beatty

Resource Lead

Maximus is a rising freshman at New York University on the pre-medicine track. Since joining his high school’s Red Cross Club in 2022, he has served in a variety of leadership and service roles, including Club President, Blood Donor Ambassador, Youth Screener, Hands-Only CPR Instructor, Mass Care Sheltering Associate, Regional Youth and Young Adult Ambassador for the Central California Region, and was honored with the Pacific Coast Chapter's Youth and Young Adult Award for excellence in leadership and service. As a Youth and Young Adult Ambassador, Maximus founded the Central California Region Youth Executive Board to connect youth volunteers across the region, strengthen collaboration among clubs, and create new leadership opportunities. Teaching Hands-Only CPR is his favorite part of volunteering because it gives people the skills and confidence to save a life while inspiring them to become leaders in their own communities. Through the National Youth Council, he hopes to amplify youth voices, expand access to lifesaving education, and inspire more young people to discover the impact they can make through the American Red Cross. In his free time, Max enjoys exploring astronomy, surfing, spending time outdoors, and discovering new restaurants. Contact Maximus at maximus.beatty@redcross.org.

Aditi Kiran

Youth and Young Adult Ambassador Lead

 Aditi is a sophomore at Stanford University, majoring in Biomedical Computation. She began volunteering with the American Red Cross in 2021 through her high school’s newly established Red Cross club, As Vice President and later President, she helped pioneer key initiatives such as National Preparedness Week, Sickle Cell Awareness presentations, and her school’s inaugural blood drive. She then went on to serve on the Northern California Coastal Region East Bay Youth Executive Board as the dual Disaster Cycle Services and Service to the Armed Forces Coordinator. She advocated for increased youth involvement in these lines of service through community programs such as Cards for Veterans and Prepare Your Home Presentations. She currently serves as the Youth Engagement Lead for Silicon Valley as well as a Volunteer Partner for SAF/IS, working to support local youth projects and identify ways to increase youth engagement with SAF/IS. As a member of the National Youth Council, Aditi is excited to continue mobilizing and empowering our youth volunteers to carry out meaningful service that will support communities across the globe. In her free time, Aditi loves reading, listening to music, and solving daily NYT puzzles with her friends. Contact Aditi at aditi.kiran@redcross.org.

Daniel Fudge

Red Cross Club Program Lead

Daniel is a student at the University of Florida pursuing degrees in Biological Sciences and Behavioral & Cognitive Neuroscience. He began volunteering with the American Red Cross in 2022 as a member of the North Central Florida Eastside High School Red Cross Club but became more deeply involved in his Red Cross work through the Disaster Action Team in his first year of college. In this role, he responds to home fires and other local disasters, helping provide immediate relief and recovery assistance to affected families. Daniel currently serves as President of the University of Florida Red Cross Club, where he has expanded volunteer engagement, coordinated blood drives, and led community preparedness initiatives, including smoke alarm installations and disaster preparedness education. He also serves as an International Humanitarian Law PAC Ambassador, educating students and community members on the principles of humanitarian law. Outside of the Red Cross, Daniel volunteers as a counselor at Florida Diabetes Camp and conducts research focused on neurodegenerative disease at the University of Florida. In his free time, Daniel enjoys birdwatching, wildlife photography, cooking Greek food, playing guitar, and spending time on the water. Contact Daniel at daniel.fudge2@redcross.org.

Ashley Guo

Campaign Lead

 Ashley is a pre-medical student at Brown University studying Neuroscience. She is deeply passionate about humanitarian service and brings enthusiasm, optimism, and energy to everything she does. Ashley first became involved through the GLOW Red summer youth leadership camp in 2023 and later returned as Youth Staff and Liaison, where she helped develop curriculum and mentor future leaders. She served as president of Orange County School of the Arts’ Red Cross Club and Vice Chair and PR Lead of the OC Youth Advisory Council, supporting programming that engaged 1,500+ volunteers and contributed to 44,000+ volunteer hours. Ashley also helped organize OC's first Raid Cross event and has helped install 1,000+ smoke alarms through the nationwide “Sound the Alarm” initiative while educating families on home fire safety. Ashley now serves as Vice President of Brown University’s American Red Cross Club. She hopes to help other youth find the same sense of purpose she found through the Red Cross while building a future career in medicine grounded in compassion and humanity. Outside of service, Ashley is a former pre-professional dancer and pianist who loves exploring new creative hobbies (like guitar and Pilates!) and lifelong learning. Contact Ashley at ashley.guo@redcross.org.

Shreya Jupelly

Red Cross Club Program Lead

Shreya is a senior at The University of Texas at Dallas studying Neuroscience. She serves as Vice President of the Youth Services Executive Board for the American Red Cross North Texas Region, supporting 3,400+ youth and young adult volunteers through advocacy and community preparedness initiatives. As Red Cross Club Coordinator, she oversaw 55+ high school and collegiate clubs across North Texas and launched the region's first Red Cross Club Back2School Summit to help clubs plan service projects. Within the Strive to Save Lives program, she serves as Red Cross Club Liaison, coordinating training events with community organizations and Red Cross Clubs, including 45 classes that certified 620+ participants. Since 2021, she has instructed First Aid/CPR/AED, First Aid for Severe Trauma, Basic Life Support, and Hands-Only CPR across the DFW metroplex. She has also helped organize community outreach events to boost participation in Sickle Cell Disease-focused blood drives, expanding awareness and donor turnout in underrepresented communities. Shreya began her Red Cross journey in 2020 as a Youth Placement Specialist and founding officer of her high school's Red Cross Club, serving as Vice President and then Co-President. In her free time, she enjoys reading novels and drawing her surroundings. Contact Shreya at shreya.jupelly2@redcross.org.

Emilia Sylla

Marketing Lead

Emilia Sylla is a high school senior at the Academy of Health Sciences at Prince George's Community College with a passion for humanitarian service and youth leadership. She has been volunteering with the American Red Cross since 2022 and currently serves as an SME Captain on the Biomedical National Support Team, where she helps connect volunteers with meaningful opportunities across the country. She previously served as an Onboarding Team Member and has supported volunteer recruitment and engagement on a national level. Within her local region, Emilia founded and serves as President of her school's Red Cross Club, leading initiatives including blood drives, sickle cell awareness campaigns, disaster preparedness, and service projects supporting veterans and local communities. She also was a member of the YAYA (Youth and Young Adult) programs 2025 Cohort. Beyond the Red Cross, she serves as Vice Chair of Chairman Barnes Youth Advisory Council, President of Model UN, and is actively involved in civic engagement and the humanities. Outside of volunteering, she enjoys crocheting, sewing, learning languages, traveling, reading, taking photos and trying new foods. She is excited to continue empowering young volunteers and expanding the impact of the Red Cross mission. Contact Emilia at emilia.sylla@redcross.org.

Sophia Yang

Youth and Young Adult Ambassador Lead

Sophia is a senior from Douglas County High School in Douglasville, Georgia. Her Red Cross journey began in 2023 as a Human Resources assistant in Disaster Preparedness. Afterwards, she joined the Georgia Statewide Red Cross Club, where she served as Director of Outreach in 2024 and as President since 2025. As President, Sophia has launched various initiatives, including the club’s Missing Maps humanitarian mapping event, where the club mapped over 500 buildings to improve access to geographic data for communities vulnerable to disasters. She also led the Georgia Youth Breast Cancer Screening Initiative, which unified Red Cross chapters in Georgia to help over 100 women locate breast cancer screening sites near them. Additionally, Sophia served as Georgia’s FY25 Youth Ambassador for Georgia, working to increase youth engagement through a volunteer recognition program. While serving Georgia, Sophia’s goal has always been to create more unity among chapters within the region. She hopes to bring this same sentiment to the National Youth Council but instead help to unify regions across the nation. Outside of the Red Cross, Sophia enjoys trying new fro-yo orders, learning ukelele, and playing tennis. Contact Sophia at sophia.yang@redcross.org.

Micaela Duarte

Advisor

Micaela’s journey with the Red Cross began in 2018 as a tabling volunteer with DCS while she was completing an AmeriCorps term. In 2019, she became an Account Manager with Biomedical Services, coordinating over 30 Red Cross blood drives per month in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. In April 2022, she transitioned to Volunteer Services as a Volunteer Recruiter for the Pacific Coast Chapter of the Central California Region. In her current role, she is responsible for recruiting volunteers in Ventura, Santa Barbara, and SanLuis Obispo Counties. In FY25, she helped her region recruit over 600 volunteers into targeted roles. In addition to recruitment, Micaela also oversees the chapter’s Red Cross Clubs, which she has grown from 17 clubs in 2022 to 33 active clubs in 2025.

Bryan Aleman

Advisor

For Bryan Aleman, the strength of the Red Cross has never been found at the center, but at every arista and in every “rincón” where a volunteer wears the emblem. He began in Parral as a young member of the Mexican Red Cross Youth in 2010 at the age of 11, later continued his service while studying in Chihuahua, and now serves in Juárez, and just across the border in El Paso, TX, where he serves under SAF-IS as a RFL volunteer, an IHL instructor, and as an IHL YAC coordinator. This binational perspective allows him to strengthen ties between local communities and the International Movement of the Red Cross. Bryan hopes to bring his borderland experience to a national stage. He advocates for youth leadership and education while
continuing to connect communities through humanitarian values.

Through more than a decade of experience, Bryan has led initiatives in humanitarian education, first aid, and community intervention.He has mentored new volunteers, guided programs during times of crisis, and
championed the idea that youth are not only the future of the Red Cross, but its living present.

Bryan is also pursuing a double major at the University of Texas at El Paso: his first in Engineering Innovation and Leadership and his second in Cellular and Molecular Biochemistry. His goal is to become an MD-PhD whose work bridges science, innovation, and humanitarian values. His story — from Parral in 2010 to El Paso, and now to NHQ — embodies a lifelong commitment to service, leadership, and the belief that the Red Cross is strongest wherever its volunteers stand.