Seher alvi, Executive Director
Seher is a fourth year Global Studies major with minors in Statistics and International migration studies. She is passionate about human rights, climate change, and making connections with new people. Aside from GDL, Seher is also serves on the Elections Board at UCLA, researches with the Center for Middle Eastern Development, and is the editor-in-chief of The Generation, a foreign affairs journal run by the Burkle Center. In her free time, she likes birdwatching and discovering new and exciting ways to cook potatoes. After graduating, Seher hopes to attend law school and pursue a career related to immigration or environmental law.
Frank woods, director of project incubator
Frank Woods, our Director of Project Incubator, is currently a 4th year international development studies major and Spanish minor. He was born and raised in San Francisco, California, and is interested in pursuing a career in law following his graduation in spring 2024. He initially became interested in GDL after seeking opportunities to apply his knowledge and understanding of the development industry outside of the classroom. Frank originally participated in Project Incubator his 3rd year at UCLA developing a project to bridge medical resources and information with undocumented farmworker populations in the Coachella Valley. As the new Director of Incubator, he cannot wait to mentor the incoming students and share his experience and knowledge.
ben chlarson, Director of Finance
Ben Chlarson is a fourth-year International Development Studies and Economics double major. He is interested in international development, international business law, and the global economy. He is currently interning with the Ministry of Finance of the Czech Republic and in the future, hopes to attend law school. In his down time he enjoys the beach, watching football, exploring, and eating
haniska nath, DIRECTOR OF EXTERNAL RELATIONS
Hansika is a third-year international student from India, majoring in Global Studies and Economics with a minor in Environment Systems and Society. She is passionate about furthering profit-driven sustainable business practices and their scope in developing countries. Outside of GDL, she interns with the UCLA Center for Middle East Development, where she is researching for Dr. Steven Speigel and Steve Zipperstein’s upcoming book on the Israel-Palestine conflict. Additionally, Hansika enjoys gardening, swimming, traveling, music, and a good tiramisu. After UCLA, she hopes to get some work experience in the ESG sector, post which she would like to attend graduate school and eventually work in her home country.
olivia cervantes llamas, director of membership and media
Liv is a 4th year International Development Studies major with a minor in Anthropology. She is particularly interested in the role of trade in development and hopes to pursue a career in either international trade law or development consulting. She hopes to pursue a senior thesis in the role of China in the development sphere. After undergraduate she hopes to attend graduate school to further her passion for all things international. Outside of GDL Liv is the president of her sorority, Delta Gamma, where she has found a great passion for philanthropy, service, and female empowerment. In her spare time Liv loves to play sudoku, bake, snuggle with her roommates’ kittens, & work on block printing projects.