Executive Board
President
David Newill-Smith '14
Major: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
I got involved in designing for poverty i.e. Development Design as soon as I stepped on campus by joining Engineers Without Borders; however, right after I joined I realized that everything I thought I knew about international development, charity, and social entrepreneurship was not really founded in fact. So it became my passion to learn as much as possible about Development Design from both the technical side and the qualitative side, and then to apply what I learn to making this world a place in which I’m proud to live. Besides being President and Co-Founder of DDI, I am currently a sub-team leader on the Princeton Sierra Leone Engineers Without Borders Project, Co-Founder and Co-Manager of Princeton-Comet Connection, and a member of the Oshiyie PAGA School Project in Ghana.
I got involved in designing for poverty i.e. Development Design as soon as I stepped on campus by joining Engineers Without Borders; however, right after I joined I realized that everything I thought I knew about international development, charity, and social entrepreneurship was not really founded in fact. So it became my passion to learn as much as possible about Development Design from both the technical side and the qualitative side, and then to apply what I learn to making this world a place in which I’m proud to live. Besides being President and Co-Founder of DDI, I am currently a sub-team leader on the Princeton Sierra Leone Engineers Without Borders Project, Co-Founder and Co-Manager of Princeton-Comet Connection, and a member of the Oshiyie PAGA School Project in Ghana.
Vice President
Russell Burton '16
Major: Physics or Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
I came into contact with DDI through my involvement with the COMET pump project. Unlike many outreach programs to those in poverty, what really attracted me to DDI was the emphasis on the students designing the solutions. I really value this unique approach to design since it really encourages creative thinking on our part, and the projects become our own responsibility. Besides working with DDI, I also enjoy playing jazz drum set, taking long bike rides, and reading.
I came into contact with DDI through my involvement with the COMET pump project. Unlike many outreach programs to those in poverty, what really attracted me to DDI was the emphasis on the students designing the solutions. I really value this unique approach to design since it really encourages creative thinking on our part, and the projects become our own responsibility. Besides working with DDI, I also enjoy playing jazz drum set, taking long bike rides, and reading.
Treasurer
Kevin Liaw '15
Major: Chemical and Biological Engineering
I got involved with DDI through the Princeton Comet Connection during my freshman year. What I think is great about DDI is the focus on the students. We get to work on interesting and relevant engineering design projects autonomously and intimately in small project groups. Students are the ones who run the week to week operations of DDI, as well as contact resources around campus and establish liaisons with partner organizations. In DDI, besides serving as treasurer, I am a member of the Princeton Comet Connection and
Princeton Splash Connection projects. Outside of DDI, I am a fellow of the Entrepreneurship Club and an editor
for the Princeton Journal of East Asian Studies.
I got involved with DDI through the Princeton Comet Connection during my freshman year. What I think is great about DDI is the focus on the students. We get to work on interesting and relevant engineering design projects autonomously and intimately in small project groups. Students are the ones who run the week to week operations of DDI, as well as contact resources around campus and establish liaisons with partner organizations. In DDI, besides serving as treasurer, I am a member of the Princeton Comet Connection and
Princeton Splash Connection projects. Outside of DDI, I am a fellow of the Entrepreneurship Club and an editor
for the Princeton Journal of East Asian Studies.
Princeton Comet Connection Project Manager
Yan Wu '14
Major: Chemical Engineering
Coming into Princeton, I was barely even aware of the development community. Working on the Comet-ME project with David, Colleen, and Richard was my first experience in development design and I immediately developed a passion for it. My favorite part of DDI is the way it helps students, like us, harness their passion for helping people and turn that energy into measurable results. I believe that if we give students the right tools, their ingenuity and passion will create some incredible ideas. Outside of DDI, I conduct research on tumor development in Professor Link's protein engineering lab. I love playing basketball and I'm a huge video game addict.
Coming into Princeton, I was barely even aware of the development community. Working on the Comet-ME project with David, Colleen, and Richard was my first experience in development design and I immediately developed a passion for it. My favorite part of DDI is the way it helps students, like us, harness their passion for helping people and turn that energy into measurable results. I believe that if we give students the right tools, their ingenuity and passion will create some incredible ideas. Outside of DDI, I conduct research on tumor development in Professor Link's protein engineering lab. I love playing basketball and I'm a huge video game addict.
Princeton Splash Connection Project Co-Managers
Amanda Santillo '14
Major: Architecture
I'm an architecture major, also studying urban studies and environmental studies. I've had an interest in design for years and really got to try my hand at it as I worked for a structural engineering firm for the past two summers. This interest in design, along with my goal of making a difference in this world (don't we all want to?), are what got me involved with DDI. At Princeton, I'd worked on a couple of other design projects, but DDI offers such an amazing opportunity to really own the project, communicate directly with NGO's, and collaborate with a group of truly dedicated and passionate people. I've learned so much through this club so far, and I know that the experience in leadership, research, and teamwork that I have gained will help me as I move forward into the arena of development and urban policy.
I'm an architecture major, also studying urban studies and environmental studies. I've had an interest in design for years and really got to try my hand at it as I worked for a structural engineering firm for the past two summers. This interest in design, along with my goal of making a difference in this world (don't we all want to?), are what got me involved with DDI. At Princeton, I'd worked on a couple of other design projects, but DDI offers such an amazing opportunity to really own the project, communicate directly with NGO's, and collaborate with a group of truly dedicated and passionate people. I've learned so much through this club so far, and I know that the experience in leadership, research, and teamwork that I have gained will help me as I move forward into the arena of development and urban policy.
Payam Paysepar '14
Major: Political Science