Graduate Student Ambassadors

Gowtham Chakrala is a graduate student pursuing a master's in computer science with a focus on advancing both academic excellence and student engagement. With experience as a mentor and student advocate, he has supported peers through academic transitions, orientation programs, and wellness initiatives while promoting an inclusive and collaborative learning environment. His leadership roles have involved organizing student engagement activities, facilitating workshops and contributing to programs that enhance the graduate student experience. He brings strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills, combined with technical expertise in data science, software development, and project management. Gowtham is certified in Data Science with Python, Mental Health First Aid, and Conflict Resolution and is committed to fostering a positive and supportive campus community. He is passionate about leveraging both his technical and interpersonal strengths to contribute meaningfully to graduate student success while promoting the values of inclusivity, collaboration and excellence within the academic community.

Dhamini Vootkuri is a dedicated graduate student pursuing a master's degree in computer engineering. Her Graduate Student Ambassador goals are to apply leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills to represent the graduate community and support prospective students on their academic journeys. Before joining Wright State, she served as an Undergraduate Student Ambassador at Malla Reddy Engineering College in Hyderabad, India that instilled a deep commitment to creating a welcoming environment for students entering higher education. While at WSU, she has been a Graduate Teaching Assistant for the CS 4200/6200 Quantum Computing course as well as an Academic Office Assistant in the College of Science and Math, guiding new students through their transitions into graduate life and promoting a sense of belonging within the Wright State community.  Her personal interests include engaging in creative activities such as sketching, exploring mythological stories, and solving puzzles.

Harley Paul is a graduate student in the College of Health Education and Human Services. She received her BA in Psychology from Wittenberg University and is in the Master of School Counseling Program, set to graduate in Spring 2026. Her goal is to work in an elementary or middle school setting and provide necessary services and advocate for her students. She also works as a graduate student for the University Honors Program for Honors Student Success. In her free time, she enjoys reading for fun, spending time with close friends, and cooking. 

Cristian Dominguez is a second-year graduate student of public history in the Master of Arts in History program. In addition to being a Graduate Student Ambassador, he also sits on the student advisory board for Paul Lawrence Dunbar Library and is co-chair of the History Symposium committee for the 2025-26 academic year. A spirited advocate for the humanities and interdisciplinary collaboration and a scientist at heart, Cristian received his bachelor's degree in liberal studies with a concentration in history, philosophy, and mathematics at the University of Houston and has worked for the last three years as a library assistant at Germantown Public Library in Germantown, Ohio. He believes a strong graduate studies program serves a vital role in ensuring a vibrant intellectual life on campus and hopes to connect students to the people and resources that can help nurture their fullest academic potential.

Amir Hasan Khan is a master's student in Marketing Analytics and Insights at Wright State University's Raj Soin College of Business and serves as a Graduate Student Ambassador. He brings more than eight years of experience in the financial sector, specializing in credit underwriting, market risk analysis, and process improvement. At WSU, Amir is the Treasurer of the Analytics Club and an active member of the American Marketing Association. He is passionate about using data-driven insights to solve business challenges and create effective marketing strategies. Outside of academics, Amir enjoys exploring new cuisines, traveling, and following global economic trends.

Sukai Ceesay is a second-year MPA student from The Gambia, West Africa, where she completed her undergraduate degree in political science. Before pursuing a master’s degree at Wright State, she worked for three years as a customer service representative and two years as a Health Information Specialist. Sukai is a strong and vocal student advocate who often takes leadership roles. She takes pride in her personal achievements, including continually developing effective communication skills, willingness to engage as a student leader, and being awarded merit scholarships from both her department and college. In her spare time, she enjoys attending various social events and hanging out with friends.

Pavan Kalyan Hanumanthu is pursuing a Master's degree in Computer Science. He has worked in the office of the Department of Biomedical, Industrial, and Human Factors Engineering (BIE) to represent CECS at college fairs and various events. Kalyan's role in CECS has been to assist with recruitment, as well as meeting with students to address their needs and to provide campus tours. He is committed to enhancing the success of graduate students at Wright State University through event programming and mentoring activities.

Sifat Mahmud holds a master's degree in professional banking from the University of Dhaka (Bangladesh) and a BBA in International Business from AIUB (Bangladesh) and has over 10 years of experience in banking and analytics. He came to Wright State to pursue an MS in Marketing Analytics and Insights, where he has made notable contributions to campus life, including roles as an RSCoB Graduate Academic Researcher, as a Student Safety Advocate for the Police Department, and as a Student Development Officer for the Annual Giving Department. He was also a plenary speaker at Wright State’s Celebration of Research 2023 and was featured on Wright State’s official YouTube channel and in UCIE newsletters. Sifat’s achievements include strategic market research and analysis using unique business models that increased sales at HSBC and Boost Engagement, LLC. Sifat is fluent in English, Bengali, and Hindi, and he enjoys traveling, rock music, and singing.

Mounika Thatikonda is a driven Graduate Research Assistant pursuing her thesis under Dr. Fathi Amsaad's guidance and a dedicated Graduate Teaching Assistant at Wright State University. Her teaching expertise spans both undergraduate (CS 2200 - Discrete Structures and Algorithms) and graduate levels (Distributed Computing CEG 7370 and Information Retrieval CS 7800). Beyond academia, Mounika's creative spirit shines through her love for travel, art, and craft, including painting and mandala arts. She's also an adventure-seeker, always eager to explore new interests. She recently discovered a passion for strength training at the gym, teaching her valuable lessons in discipline and consistency. An avid reader, Mounika enjoys devouring books on various subjects, further fueling her curiosity and growth. As a skilled communicator and empathetic leader, she is eager to serve and support fellow graduate students as a Graduate Ambassador, fostering a sense of community, inclusivity, and excellence.