Student Spotlight: Aurelia Chen, Class of 2025

As the Class of 2025 prepares to graduate this week, the Harvard Global Health Institute is proud to highlight Aurelia Chen, a senior concentrating in Computer Science with a secondary in Global Health and Health Policy. Aurelia has combined technical skills with an interest in public health, exploring intersections between the two through research, fieldwork, and coursework. She is passionate about leveraging technological innovations to advance health equity by improving access and the delivery of quality care on a global scale.

Aurelia’s previous summers were spent conducting research in computational health, epidemiology, and medical anthropology, alongside developing software for a healthcare company. Beyond her academic pursuits, she is deeply interested in the intersection of social justice and visual arts, leading a social justice nonprofit outside of school.

Aurelia served as a Student Ambassador on the HGHI Student Advisory Committee, where she helped support student engagement and contribute to programming that connects global health with a range of academic disciplines. Her involvement reflected a thoughtful approach to collaboration and learning across fields.

After graduation, Aurelia will present her research at an international conference in Sweden before moving to New York in the fall to begin work at McKinsey & Company.

Reflecting on her time at Harvard, Aurelia says she’s especially grateful for the mentors and friends who shaped her experience. “Harvard has given me a space and many opportunities to explore what I was curious about and pursue passion projects,” she says. “I’ll miss being in a place where there’s always something interesting happening, from class discussions to campus events to conversations with people from all kinds of backgrounds.”

Offering advice to fellow students, she adds: “Don’t be afraid to follow what genuinely interests you, even if it feels uncertain. Some of my most meaningful experiences came from stepping outside of my comfort zone, whether that meant taking unfamiliar classes, starting something new, or just talking to people with different perspectives.”

Aurelia’s time at Harvard reflects a broad and thoughtful engagement with ideas, people, and public health.

Learn more about our student engagement initiatives at HGHI.