Get to know the student team members of the Urban Matters Lab below. List is in the order of students joining the lab; most recent and current members are listed first.
Efua Asamani-Baah
Fall 2025-present
Efua Asamani-Baah is a junior double-majoring in Data Science and Applied Statistics with a minor in sociology. She loves combining her interest in social issues with her passion for technology, motivating her to use her skills to help others and bring awareness to different historical sites in the greater Lafayette area.
Suhani Maini
Summer 2025-present
As a junior in Mechanical Engineering and Mathematics, Suhani Maini has found a profound connection to Indianapolis through her work with the Urban Matters Lab. The city’s history and culture, a passion she didn’t expect to explore, have become a key part of her time at Purdue. She believes that by remembering and learning from the past, we can more thoughtfully guide our future endeavors.
Prerona Kaushik
Summer 2025-present
My name is Prerona, and I am an international student from India majoring in mechanical engineering. I am currently a junior. I have traveled around the world to explore new cultures and meet diverse groups of people, and these experiences have given me a unique perspective. I enjoy playing the keyboard and have a strong passion for aerospace and aviation. I believe that a strong community is built on the contributions of individuals from various backgrounds, and opportunities like this enhance the college experience.
Norah Miller
Summer 2025-present
Norah Miller is a student at Purdue University, Class of 2027, majoring in UX Design with a minor in Computer Science. Passionate about creating intuitive and impactful user experiences, she blends creativity with technical skills to design solutions that are both visually engaging and highly functional. Her academic journey reflects a dedication to bridging the gap between design and technology, preparing her to make meaningful contributions in the digital product and interface design field.
Rylie Knobel
Summer 2025
Rylie Knobel is a junior at Purdue University in the Class of 2027, studying Aerospace Engineering with a minor in Classical Studies. Her interest in STEM, as well as her passion for history, has provided her with a zest for researching buried topics or subjects. In the future, she hopes to combine her knowledge of engineering with history.
Kirah Knobel
Summer 2025
Kirah Knobel is a Junior majoring in Chemical Engineering and minoring in Environmental Engineering. She has been interested in history since an early age, which has driven her participation in the Urban Matters Lab to uncover the significance of West Lafayette structures.
Marisa Crescent
Fall 2024 – Spring 2025
Coming soon
Alyssa Berger
Fall 2024 – Spring 2025
Coming soon
Past Lab Members
Nah’Shon Williams
Spring 2023 – Spring 2025
Hailing from South Bend, IN, Nah’Shon Williams is a young man destined to discover the lost stories of years gone by. Nah’Shon is a freshman currently attending Purdue University on a full tuition scholarship as a Posse Scholar. He is currently majoring in History, with the hope to become a museum curator. In his free time NahShon enjoys studying history, watching documentaries, and making music.
Tejasi Raghuprasad
Summer 2024 – Spring 2025
Tejasi is in her final year at Purdue University as an Industrial Engineering major! She enjoys learning about different topics related to ethics, culture, race, sex, gender, collective liberation, and decolonization, which is what got me interested in joining The Urban Matters Lab in the first place! It’s extremely rewarding to conduct research on people who were activists in their time, especially as the society we live in and the culture we live with is constantly evolving.
Johnny Dong
Summer 2023 – Fall 2024
Johnny Dong is currently in his second year at Purdue University, where he serves as a PA in Health and Human Science. As a first-generation college student, Johnny derives great motivation from his Chinese parents to accomplish remarkable feats and make them proud. Apart from his academic pursuits, Johnny finds joy in motorcycles, video games, and engaging in physical exercise.
Amelia Simpson
Spring 2024 – Fall 2024
Amelia Simpson is in her third year at Purdue University as a History major. She plans to go to graduate school in library science and currently works in the Purdue Archives and Special Collections. As a West Lafayette high school graduate, she enjoys learning about the history and culture of her local community. In her free time, Amelia likes to sew and visit her dogs and cats at her house.
Elijah Ahrens
Summer 2024 – Fall 2024
Elijah Ahrens is from Fort Wayne, Indiana and is entering his senior year at Purdue University. He is double majoring in History and Anthropology and is planning on attending graduate school to specialize in post-colonialism and decolonization. In his free time he enjoys hiking, reading, traveling, and watching documentaries.
Manuel David Tovar de la Luz
Fall 2024
Born in Tabasco, Mexico, Manuel Tovar is a senior majoring in Hispanic Literature at the Tecnológico de Monterrey. Creative writing and academic research are his primary interests, with a particular focus on literary theory. At the present, he is working in the Urban Matters Lab as an undergraduate international research student. Outside of his academic pursuits, Manuel enjoys playing the guitar, listening to music, and reading about the history of his hometown.
Juan Jose Bermudez Florez
Fall 2024
Hailing from Colombia, Juan José is a Spanish Literature student at the Tecnológico de Monterrey. He is currently participating in the Urban Matters Lab as part of an international research experience. Among his academic interests are literary criticism and cultural studies. He enjoys reading, going to the cinema, hanging out with his friends and learning about other cultures and languages.
Stuti Varma
Spring 2023 – Summer 2024
I grew up in West Lafayette, surrounded by a rich and diverse community with Purdue University in my backyard. Pairing that with my love of structures, I strive to learn everything I can about various cultures and their built history. I am currently an incoming sophomore at Purdue University, majoring in Civil Engineering. Outside of academics, I enjoy playing sports, writing, and building.
Samuel Isaiah Piper
Summer 2024
Samuel Piper is from Lebanon, Indiana and is in his second year at Purdue University, majoring in Animal Sciences with a Pre-Veterinary Medicine concentration. Samuel is also a student in the John Martinson Honors College which is how he heard about the opportunity to join the Urban Matters Lab and was excited to have the opportunity to engage in historical research. In his free time Samuel enjoys playing piano, running, listening to music, and reading.
Mia Colon-Alicea
Spring 2024
My name is Mía Colón-Alicea. I grew up in a big family in Carolina, Puerto Rico. I am majoring in Anthropology and minoring in Human Rights. My area of interest in anthropology is cultural anthropology, particularly issues of class, race, and inequality. One of my professional goals is to do anthropological research and advocate for people’s rights. Other topics that I find captivating are art and classical and medieval literature. In my free time a like to read and hang out with friends. My family and friends would describe me as honest, confident, and kind. A fun fact about me is that I like thrifting and vinyls.
Kreesha Saha
Summer 2023
Kreesha Saha is an incoming sophomore at Purdue University, majoring in biology. She is native to West Lafayette and enjoys learning more about the history of her community. In her free time she enjoys reading, listening to music, and dance.
Urban Matters Lab 