2024-2025 Humanities in the Real World Fellows
Cady Butcher
Majors: Biological Sciences; Creative Writing
Cady Butcher is a junior double majoring in Biological Sciences and Creative Writing. At Vanderbilt, Cady is heavily involved in VandyWrites and Vandy Ballroom. Cady is interested in the intersection of medicine and humanities. As a pre-medical student, Cady believes that the humanities would increase access and communication in expert-dominated STEM fields. Cady looks forward to applying the RPWC Humanities in the Real World Fellowship to her experience in the classroom and her path outside of Vanderbilt.
Ilana Drake
Majors: Public Policy Studies and English
Ilana Drake is a senior at Vanderbilt double majoring in Public Policy Studies and English with a minor in Human and Organizational Development. At Vanderbilt, Ilana is passionate about dialogue and social justice work. She was appointed to Dialogue Vanderbilt’s Student Advisory Board and is an Interfaith Scholar. Ilana has also published her writing internationally in outlets such as Newsweek, Insider, and Ms. Magazine. Ilana hopes to apply her RPWC Humanities in the Real World Fellowship to Vanderbilt’s campus and beyond.
Izoduwa Ighodaro
Majors: Medicine, Health, and Society; Spanish
Izoduwa Ighodaro (she/her) is a sophomore at Vanderbilt University, double majoring in Medicine, Health, and Society, and Spanish. Originally from Nigeria, she is deeply passionate about promoting equality in healthcare and fostering responsible doctor-patient relationships. Izoduwa aspires to become a culturally aware physician, dedicated to bridging gaps in medical care. On campus, she is actively involved in VSVS and MAPS. Additionally, Izoduwa conducts research at a lab in Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), focusing on antibiotic resistance and Pulmonary medicine. Izoduwa is thrilled to embark on her journey of humanitarian advocacy through the RPWC Humanities in the Real World Fellowsh
Hanna Kostiv
Majors: Economics and History; European Studies
Hanna Kostiv (she/her) is a junior from Kharkiv, Ukraine majoring in Economics and History with a minor in Physics. She is passionate about policy making, jurisprudence, and civic engagement in political movements. Hanna is a senior editor at Vanderbilt Historical Review, research assistant in the History Department, and founder of the Ukrainian Club on campus. Her ultimate goal is to uphold international justice and to remain socially responsible and community-oriented. Being a RPWC fellow, Hanna aspires to be a vocal advocate of the importance of humanities in our society.
Jaylan Sims
Majors: Communication Studies; Communication of Science and Technology
Jaylan Sims (he/him) is an up-and-coming journalist majoring in Communication Studies and Communication of Science and Technology at Vanderbilt University. With a passion for media, literacy, science and truth, Jaylan’s mission is using the power of words to accurately inform people of all ages and backgrounds on current global issues. A young person living in the digital age, Jaylan focuses on the importance of translating credible academic sources of information into media that the average person not only understands, but can consume as joyfully as they consume a Tik Tok or Instagram reel. By writing articles that are clear, accurate and digestible for some of the leading news networks and beyond, he aims to spark curiosity on real world issues revolving around the humanities, with a strong focus on climate change.
Jason Vadnos
Majors: Human and Organizational Development; Culture, Advocacy, and Leadership
Jason Vadnos is a sophomore majoring in Human & Organizational Development and Culture, Advocacy, & Leadership with a minor in Business. At Vanderbilt, Jason is the Community Engagement and Advocacy Co-Chair for VandyVotes, a Dialogue Vanderbilt Student Advisory Board member, and a research assistant for the Youth in Society Lab. Jason is passionate about mitigating political polarization and partisan dehumanization, and hopes to explore ways to protect and strengthen democracy through the Humanities in the Real World Fellowship.
Shunnar Virani
Majors: Electrical and Computer Engineering; Law, History, and Society
Shunnar Virani is a senior double majoring in Electrical & Computer Engineering and Law, History, & Society, with minors in Computer Science, European Studies, and Digital Fabrication. At Vanderbilt, Shunnar is involved in the Interfaith Council, the McGill Project, Phi Alpha Theta, and the Vanderbilt Political Review. In addition to pursuing a career in patent law, Shunnar is deeply passionate about the politicization of and equitable access to education, and hopes to explore how AI may impact these trends through the Humanities in the Real World Fellowship.