2023-24 President's Scholars

Harini Pootheri

Roberts Family President’s Scholar

Major: Computer Information Systems, emphasis in Business Intelligence, minor in Data Science

College of Business Administration

Activities: Renaissance Scholars; Kellogg Honors College; iFoster team; INSAN Foundation for Humanity volunteer

One Word to Describe CPP: “Family. The dynamics of student body, professors and staff create a supportive community”

Spending six years in the foster care system with placement in 15 different homes motivated Harini to join the close-knit community of Renaissance Scholars. During high school, Harini sought solace in the stability of the library that allowed her to research and understand the biology of human behavior, leading to her goal of advocating for mental health. Her interests led to her involvement in the Bay Area Society for Neuroscience in which she served as student executive to manage student representatives and public outreach. She intends to combine her interests in mental health and data analysis with advocacy. Harini currently works for iFoster, a nonprofit that connect federally qualified health centers to MediCal recipients or the uninsured. “If preventative measures can be taken to help foster youth find healthy ways to heal from trauma, the issues of incareration, addiction and homelessness can be mitigated. I hope to ensure that every foster youth receives effective and adequate mental health services.”