Heller Student Association

HSA vision and mission

The vision of the Heller Student Association (HSA) is to take an inclusive approach to understand and empower all of our educations through a focus on cross-collaboration between students, working groups, professors, and staff at Heller.

The mission of the HSA is to participate meaningfully in decisions affecting students’ time at Heller. We will amplify the diverse voices of the student body by bringing your input to the faculty, administration, career services, staff, steering committees, and program directors with whom we meet regularly.

Heller Student Association Co-Chairs

Lois Sarpong

Lois Sarpong is a passionate advocate for social change and sustainable development, with a keen interest in youth development, women's advancement, and environmental management. With over eight years of experience in development project management, she has consistently demonstrated her passion and unwavering commitment to creating a more equitable and sustainable world by fostering positive change and promoting sustainable practices in Ghana and across the West African region.

Before joining the Heller School, Lois played a key role in the UNDP Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme, where she designed and implemented projects aimed at reducing poverty while generating global environmental benefits in areas such as biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, and sustainable land management. Together with her team, she built the capacity of over 5,000 indigenous people, including persons with disabilities, helping to reduce their vulnerability to environmental risks, fostering sustainable entrepreneurship, and promoting inclusive growth and self-sufficiency.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Management from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana and is currently pursuing a master's degree in Sustainable International Development at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management.

Richard Antwi Boasiako

Richard Antwi Boasiako, RN, MPH, is a healthcare professional and Brandeis graduate student with experience in clinical care, public health, and international health systems. He has served in the Ghana Armed Forces and UN missions. Richard specializes in data analysis, research, and health policies and was elected the Heller Student Association Co-Chair for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Heller Student Association Board Members

Ijeoma Wogu

Secretary and Budget Coordinator

Ijeoma Wogu is a medical doctor and a graduate student at Brandeis University's Heller School for Social Policy and Management, pursuing a Master of Science in Global Health Policy and Management. She currently serves as the Secretary and Budget Coordinator for the Heller Student Association, and she is the co-founder and president of Heller Dolphins Swimming Club! Ijeoma helps to promote the HSA initiatives through corporate communications. In addition to her academic pursuits, she is a 2025 Heller Awards Committee member. Ijeoma also serves on the leadership team of the Brandeis University Africa Forum (BUAF), and leads the Brandeis Graduate Christian Fellowship (BGCF) choir.

Bipasha Roy

Student Accessibility and Support Coordinator

Bipasha Roy is a Master’s candidate in Sustainable International Development at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management, where she serves as the Student Accessibility and Support Coordinator. In this role, she advances equity-focused initiatives that improve student access to housing, transportation, etc. - ensuring that equity and inclusion remain central to student life at Heller. Originally from India, Bipasha brings over three years of experience in education policy, gender equity, and inclusive program design. She has worked extensively with government stakeholders in Jharkhand to strengthen inclusive education systems, deliver trauma-informed educator training, and implement policy frameworks across rural districts. Her background includes leadership roles in community-based interventions and strategic consulting for nonprofits focused on child development and public education.

A strong advocate for innovation in development, Bipasha is the winner of the Brandeis Social Impact Start-Up Challenge, the SPARKTANK Pitch Competition, and the SPARKTANK People’s Choice Award. She is also a cross-registered student at MIT’s Urban Studies and Planning Department, deepening her interdisciplinary expertise in planning economics and systems change. Passionate about education, inclusive policy, and social impact, Bipasha aims to contribute to development models that are responsive to the diverse experiences and needs of historically underserved communities.

Geraldine Gabon

Event Coordinator

Geraldine Gabon is a graduate student at Brandeis University's Heller School for Social Policy and Management, pursuing a Master's in Sustainable International Development. She currently serves as the Event Coordinator for the Heller Student Association, where she fosters community engagement through inclusive programming and promotes student-led initiatives via social media platforms and targeted digital outreach. In addition to her academic pursuits, she works in workforce development at the New American Association of Massachusetts, supporting immigrants and newcomers with job placements and helping them navigate pathways toward economic stability.