HFAI Student Coordinators

HFAI serves as a touchstone for individuals looking to learn more about the application and financial aid process, both at Harvard and at large. We have a cadre of student coordinators available to assist potential applicants during the academic year and who are more than happy to explain both the basics of financial aid policy and the more specific aspects of the Harvard application and student life.

Jo Booth '15
Hometown: Memphis, TN
Freshman Dorm: Hurlbut
Concentration: Undecided
I’m a freshman living in Hurlbut and currently taking math, expos, and Portuguese. I was born in London, lived in Cambridge, UK for a bit, and then moved to the States when I was five years old. I took a gap year before joining the class of 2015. I’m very glad for the opportunity to work for the Harvard Financial Aid Initiative this year and I’m looking forward to helping students from all different backgrounds figure out how to make a Harvard education a reality. In addition to my work as an HFAI student coordinator, I walked onto the Men’s Heavyweight Crew team and now get to row on the beautiful Charles River every day. Whenever I’ve got a spare minute you can probably find me tinkering with my bike or singing country music with my buddies from Hurlbut. And of course, I’m more than happy to answer any questions about gap years, random Harvard things, or the financial aid program – by all means, ring me up or shoot me an email and let’s have a conversation!

Holly Cao '12
Hometown: Sydney, Australia
Harvard House: Pforzheimer House
Concentration: Economics
Secondary Field: Government
I am a senior at the College, studying economics and getting a secondary in government. I was born in China, but grew up in Sydney, Australia. I am very grateful for the HFAI program, as the program has done a lot for me and has alleviated a lot of my financial concerns while here at college. Sydney is pretty far away from Boston, but I love my house and there are so many opportunities for me to grow and learn as a person here at Harvard. Apart from working for HFAI, I have been on the Harvard Women’s Tennis team for the past 3 years. I also got involved with Let’s Go (Harvard’s student-run travel guide) last year, and I’m hoping to get further involved with that in my final year. I am more than happy to answer any questions you may have!

Joe Feghali '14
Hometown: Bakersfield, California
Harvard House: Kirkland
Concentration: Economics
I am currently a sophomore at the College planning to concentrate in economics and considering a citation in French. I am originally from Beirut, Lebanon (ask me about my war stories!), but I have been enjoying the comfort of Californian life for the past 8 years. This will be my first year working with HFAI, and I am ecstatic about the prospect of assisting you in this process, which can seem daunting but is nonetheless extremely rewarding. In addition to my position at HFAI, I am an ally member of the Half-Asian People’s Association, an editor for The Harvard Crimson business board, and a senior staffer for Harvard Model Congress. I enjoy tennis, biographical works, and exotic cuisine. Best of luck on your college application preparation, and I hope to be a knowledgeable resource to you in this process.

Michelle Ferreol '15
Hometown: Manila, Philippines
Harvard Dorm: Stoughton
Concentration: History and Science
Secondary Field: Government
Hi! I’m Michelle, but most people call me “Michi”. I’m a full-blooded Fillipino and I lived in the Philippines for my entire life until recently traveling to the U.S. for college. I’m a current freshman with big dreams of going to medical school one day. Outside of class, I hope to be heavily involved with the Harvard Speech and Parliamentary Debate Society, as well as in writing for The Crimson. I’m also a proud member of the Harvard Philippine Forum and the Woodbridge International Society. When I have free time, I love to read, play softball and tutor little kids through the Phillips Brooks House Association.

I am so honored and happy to be working with HFAI because I would not be here without it! One of the many things I truly admire about Harvard is that it gives students like me the chance to live the Harvard dream. My hope is that students will not let financial matters be the reason that they choose not to apply. Harvard is an incredible place with even more incredible people. It’s a second home to me already! So, if you have questions, want to ease some fears, or maybe just have a fun chat about Harvard life, I’d be more than glad to speak with you!

Sabrina Ghouse '15
Hometown: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Harvard Dorm: Wigglesworth
Concentration: Environmental Science and Public Policy
Secondary Field: Economics
I am a freshman at College, planning to study Environmental Science and Public Policy. I was born in Sri Lanka and, although I lived abroad when I was younger, applied to college from Sri Lanka. I cannot express how much I appreciate the HFAI program as it guided me through my application process despite the fact that Harvard is approximately 9500 miles, or a 24 hour flight, away from where I live. I’m a freshman representative for the Woodridge Society for International Students, the Events Co-Chair for Harvard Art and a Student Counselor for the Mission Hill After-School Tutoring Program. I thoroughly enjoy being part of the myriad events and programs Harvard has to offer and I would be delighted to help you out with any of your queries.

Khue Nguyen '11
Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts
Harvard House: Adams
Concentration: History
Secondary Field: Psychology
I graduated from Harvard College in 2011, with a degree in History and a secondary field in Psychology. As an undergraduate, I was a photographer for the Harvard Yearbook and was involved in pre-professional groups including Women in Business and the Harvard Law Society. I am currently working on a master's degree at the Harvard Graduate School Education in Educational Policy and Management, with a special interest in improving the K-12 educational system and broadening college access. I've worked with HFAI since the summer of my freshman year and really believe in its mission. I am excited to be back as a Graduate Assistant and to work with the student coordinators in promoting HFAI's mission!

Jasmine Park '14
Hometown: Torrance, CA
Harvard House: Winthrop
Concentration: History and Literature
Secondary Field: East Asian Studies
I am currently a sophomore concentrating in History and Literature with a possible secondary in East Asian Studies. I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California (or rather, the suburbs of LA). I am Korean-American and my favorite food is Korean-Mexican fusion (Korean BBQ burritos, anyone?!). My guilty pleasure is that I love to watch TV. My favorite shows are Chuck, Castle, Glee, Modern Family, Community, and, of course, Korean dramas. Keeping up with all of the story lines can be quite a challenge. This year, I am leading the freshmen and sophomore bible study for Harvard-Radcliffe Christian Fellowship, which is super exciting. I am also a part of the House Committee for Winthrop House, helping plan social events. Every week, I spend some time with my mentee for City Passage Mentoring Program, working on academic, social, and health goals together. My first year at college has been spectacular, taking fascinating courses and meeting ridiculously fun people. In just one year, I have learned how to write a murder mystery script in French, create fluid gels with iota carrageenan in my Science and Cooking class, and conduct my own study regarding the relationship between smiling and attractiveness in Darwinian Dating. As you can probably tell, I love Harvard so much and would love to talk to you about my experiences so far. If you have any questions, really any questions at all, please contact me and I will do my absolute best to provide you with answers.

Trisha Paul '13
Hometown: Pittsburg, Kansas
Harvard House: Winthrop
Concentration: Computer Science
Hi! I'm a junior at Harvard originally from Pittsburg, Kansas, majoring in Computer Science. On campus, I'm very involved with community service programs--I'm co-director of the Harvard Emerging Literacy Project, through which we aim to bring the joys of reading to low-income minority preschoolers, and I also co-direct Seeding Labs, which collects used lab equipment from research labs at Harvard and sends it to labs in third-world countries under the mantra that "talent is everywhere, but resources are not." I also love food and baking, and serve as Winthrop House's Food Literacy Project representative to plan fun study breaks and food-related field trips. Last summer, I interned at Taser (stun guns, anyone?) and the summer before that I was in China teaching English to children. I'm so grateful for the opportunities that Harvard has provided me with, and love spreading the knowledge that anyone can afford it. If you have any questions about Harvard or HFAI, feel free to contact me!

Charlotte Smith '14
Hometown: Riverside, CA
Harvard House: Dunster
Concentration: Social Studies
Secondary Field: Government
I am a currently a sophomore concentrating in Social Studies here at the College. I’m excited to be part of the HFAI team this year, and I hope that I can show people why Harvard and HFAI are simply amazing. Apart from working for HFAI, I write for The Harvard Crimson. I am also involved with Harvard Undergraduate Women in Business and the Institute of Politics. In my spare time, I enjoy throwing around Frisbees, hanging out with friends, and watching cheesy reality shows. If you have any questions about college life, HFAI, or Harvard in general, please feel free to contact me!