Outstanding Master’s Student Award In Community Impact
This award celebrates master’s students who have significantly contributed to Northeastern’s community, displaying a commitment to instigating positive change within and beyond the academic sphere.
2026 Honorees
Gab K De Jesus
Gab K De Jesus
AMD’26, MFA Information Design and Data Visualization
Gab K De Jesus is a second-year MFA student in Information Design and Data Visualization at Northeastern’s College of Arts, Media and Design. He is passionate about making quality information accessible through visual communication and design, helping people grow and make decisions.
His interest in local communities have led him to a co-op with HomeWorks Energy—Massachussett’s largest home energy efficiency company—designing handouts, trainings and infographics for HVAC technicians. He has also worked with the Charles River Museum to create an exhibit on Waltham’s harpsichord history, opening to 180 visitors including the mayor of Waltham.
He also enjoys engaging back in home base, having worked as a graduate program assistant connecting busy grad students to industry opportunities, and as a teaching assistant for EEAM2000 helping first-year students prepare for co-op. When not on the clock, he’s a bit of an MBTA fan, taking micro-journeys, hiking, and answering questions such as “how dangerous are the Green Line derailments” through data visualization.
Mohamed Danish Khan
Mohamed Danish Khan
E’26, MS Information Systems
Mohamed Danish Khan is a Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS) student at Northeastern University, specializing in software engineering, full-stack systems, and applied artificial intelligence. His work is driven by a commitment to designing scalable, secure, and human-centered technologies that address complex challenges in healthcare innovation, campus safety, and community infrastructure. He has contributed to applied AI research through the Archimedes Club, exploring emergency medicine applications, and gained industry experience as a web development intern at Automate 365. Beyond academics, Danish has led successful advocacy efforts to improve graduate transportation services and holds leadership roles within Residential Security Operations and the Center for Belonging.
Cassidy Loft
Cassidy Loft
SSH’26, MA History
Cassidy is an MA student in the history department pursuing a degree in Public History and a certificate in Digital Humanities. Cassidy specializes in modern East African history and the diaspora, often working with “hidden” histories, the stories left untold or forgotten. During her time at Northeastern Cassidy has worked with a wide range of institutions and on various research projects including the Women Writers Project, encoding women’s writing pre-Victorian era for digitization, with the Harvard Art Museums developing the first ever comprehensive visitor experience survey, and creating and leading a 250th anniversary project regarding the Black patriots of the Monadnock Region during the Revolutionary War. In addition, Cassidy has spoken at multiple conferences within the past year regarding her work on Kenya’s historical landscape and received multiple awards and travel scholarships to further her education and involvement in the community.
Abhishek Sagar Sanda
Abhishek Sagar Sanda
E’25, MS Information Systems
Abhishek Sagar Sanda graduated in December 2025 with a Master of Science in Information Systems from Northeastern University and is building a career at the intersection of applied AI and human-centered innovation. He is drawn to creative, “yet-to-exist” challenges—problems where a thoughtful solution can meaningfully improve everyday life and create positive impact for communities. Deeply curious about the latest developments in generative AI, he focuses on turning emerging ideas into practical tools. With guidance from Professor Yizhen Zhao, Abhishek built a centralized Northeastern-focused chatbot to help new students quickly find accurate answers without spending hours across scattered websites. Outside academics, he performed with Northeastern’s Nusanakriti dance club and enjoys exploring AI research.