Meet the secretariat
Alexandra Ceballos
Secretary-General
Alexandra Ceballos is a sophomore at Yale majoring in Political Science, with certificates in Advanced Chinese Language and Data Science. Born and raised in Florida, Alexandra’s passion for global diplomacy and language learning stemmed from growing up in a city as vivid and diverse as Miami! She is excited to once again return to YMUN China as Secretary-General after having served as an Under-Secretary-General of Branding for last year’s iteration. She has had experiences across many YMUN conferences around the world, including YMUN Korea, YMUN Europe, and YMUN. In her free time, you can find her at the Branford College pottery studio, or enjoying some of her favorite spots on campus with a camera or book in hand. She’s excited to bring YMUN China back to Shenzhen this year, and provide yet another transformative experience for delegates. Please feel free to reach out to Alexandra via email at secgen@ymunchina.org.
Christine Ling
Director-General of Committees
Christine Ling is a sophomore at Yale studying Global Affairs with a certificate in Advanced German. Originally from Hong Kong, she is passionate about cross-cultural dialogues and international relations. On campus, she is a board member and case team lead at Global Strategy Consulting Group, an avid club squash player, and a Branford Aide. Previously, she was the Director of Communications for the Yale International Relations Leadership Institute and a chair for YMUN LI. In her free time, she enjoys trying different restaurants and cafes in New Haven, sipping matcha, and following the Oscars race. She is thrilled to serve as the Director-General of Committees and can be reached at director.committees@ymunchina.org.
Mary Kim
Under-Secretary-General of Branding
Mary Kim is a sophomore in Pauli Murray College studying Political Science. Pursuing the interdisciplinary track, she is very interested in incorporating aspects of Women and Gender studies and Ethnicity and Race studies into her major. Outside of YMUN China, Mary is also the USG of Branding for YMUN Singapore. Apart from YMUN, Mary also serves as a board member for the Yale First Generation Advocacy Movement, and an assistant editor for the Human Rights Journal. When she’s not finishing her latest Political Science essays, you can find her listening to news podcasts and exploring the cafes of New Haven. She looks forward to meeting everyone in Shenzhen!
Samad Hakani
Under-Secretary-General of Conference and Events
Samad Hakani is a junior at Yale studying Political Science. He is deeply interested in the intersection between business and government, especially in the field of American Political Economy. On campus, he is a photography editor for the Yale Daily News. He has served as a USG for YMUN Dubai and LATAM in the past and is thrilled to bring his chairing experience to YMUNC II! In his free time, he can be seen at one of Yale’s student-run cafes (the “Beanjamin”), reading a book on contemporary American politics. He is so excited to meet you all this summer as the USG of Conference and Events and chair of the ECOFIN committee! Feel free to contact him at samad.hakani@yale.edu with any questions.
Rifat Tarafder
Committee Director
Rifat Tarafder is a sophomore at Yale studying Computer Science and Global Affairs. He is passionate about exploring the intersection of technology and policy and the regulation of emerging technologies. At Yale, he is involved with the Yale Computer Society as a lead developer for YaleJournals, a platform centralizing various student publications. He is also involved with the Yale Daily News and Muslim Students Association. He is excited to serve as a Committee Director for YMUN China and to meet all the delegates! Please feel free to reach out to Rifat via email at rifat.tarafder@yale.edu.
Yolanda Wang
Committee Director
Yolanda Wang is a junior at Yale from Buffalo, New York. She is pursuing an intensive major in political science with a certificate in Mandarin Chinese. Outside of YMUNC, she is a staff reporter for the Yale Daily News and previously served as co-president of the Asian American Students Alliance. When she’s not taking a nap or writing last-minute papers, you can find her practicing calligraphy with Yale’s Chinese professors, reading an article in The New Yorker, or trying new recipes with friends. Feel free to reach out to Yolanda at yolanda.wang@yale.edu with questions, hot takes, or terrible jokes.
Bryant Pranboonpluk
Committee Director
Bryant Pranboonpluk is a current first-year in Saybrook College from Los Angeles, California! He is currently studying Political Science and Psychology at Yale University. Outside of YMUNC, Bryant is a writer for the Yale Politic, serves on the South East Asian Movement (SEAM) Board, and works at the Payne Whitney Gym. In his free time you can find him watching reality television, playing table tennis, and listening to his favorite Taylor Swift albums. He is super excited to be chairing DISEC at YMUNC and meeting all of the delegates! Please feel free to reach out to Bryant via email at bryant.pranboonpluk@yale.edu.
Lishore Kumar
Committee Director
Lishore Kumar is a first-year at Yale studying Biomedical Engineering and Economics. He was born and raised in Tomball, Texas, but strongly maintains his Malaysian culture, as that’s where his family is from. Lishore is pursuing a career in finance and hopes to focus on life sciences investing. At Yale, he is a fellow for the Yale HELIX program, where he works with a startup to automate the process of matching patients with clinical trials. Additionally, he serves as a finance manager for the College, is a consultant for the Global Strategies Consulting Group, and works in the Admissions Office as a STEM tour guide. Outside of academics, Lishore is also a member of Low Strung, a rock-cello group. He has also been learning Chinese for a year so don’t be afraid to put him to the test! Please reach out to Lishore if you have any questions: lishore.kumar@yale.edu
Dean Centa
Committee Director
Dean Centa is a senior at Yale University from Greenville, South Carolina, majoring in Global Affairs and East Asian Studies. With a deep passion for immigration policy and economic development, he has conducted extensive research on migration flows in Japan. At Yale, he has been involved in numerous Yale International Relations Association conferences, and he is excited to bring his expertise to YMUN China this year. In his free time, you can find him looking for flights for his next trip, playing basketball with his friends, or learning more about history. He looks forward to meeting this year’s delegates and can be reached at dean.centa@yale.edu.
Johan Zongo
Committee Director
Johan Zongo is a sophomore from Burkina Faso and Ghana studying Global Affairs and Art. He is passionate about global initiatives that empower different communities through sustainable development and inclusive growth. At Yale, he is the co-founder of Bright Spaces, a mural painting organization that aims to foster development through creativity and innovation. He is interested in international law, diplomacy, human rights and the use of art as a medium for public service. He is excited to serve as a Committee Director for YMUN China chairing the ESCAP committee. Please feel free to reach out to Johan via email at johan.zongo@yale.edu.
Eric Cao
Committee Director
Eric Cao is a freshman at Yale studying Computer Science and Psychology and Global Affairs. He is originally from Flushing, New York, where he grew up surrounded by a vibrant Chinese community and the best bubble tea stores. Eric spends a lot of his time volunteering at Yale, and back in high school, he hosted several fundraisers to support UNICEF and other global organizations. In his free time, he often watches dramas, Chinese reality shows, or videos on YouTube about the latest news. He is incredibly excited to be chairing the Commission on Population and Development at YMUNC this summer, and can’t wait to meet you all in Shenzhen, China! Please feel free to reach out to Eric at eric.cao@yale.edu if you have any questions at all.
Amanda Wu
Committee Director
Amanda Wu is a first-year at Yale from Seattle, Washington. She is hoping to study neuroscience on the pre-med track, and is currently doing research on the neuroscience of immune responses at the Wu Tsai Institute. Outside of class, Amanda enjoys playing viola in the Yale Symphony Orchestra, playing chamber music, and taking lessons at the Yale School of Music. She also loves going on long-distance runs with Yale Club Running (and is currently training for a half-marathon…), working out at Payne-Whitney, and hiking! Amanda can be reached at amanda.wu@yale.edu.