Melissa Yu CC’25 is a passionate advocate dedicated to improving student health, equity and wellness at Columbia University. Serving as VP of the Columbia College Class of 2025 Student Council, she organizes events and advocates for comprehensive policies that enhance student wellbeing, addressing both mental and physical health. Yu also represents her peers as one of two Columbia College undergraduate members on the Student Health Advisory Committee, collaborating directly with university administrators to address student health concerns and shape campus health initiatives. As VP of the Columbia Brain Exercise Initiative, Yu coordinates a volunteer team of more than 100 members, leading efforts to provide cognitive support to dementia patients at assisted living facilities throughout New York City. Her commitment to community wellness extends through her role as a peer advocate for Columbia Health's Sexual Violence Response, where she provides confidential counseling, advocacy and crisis intervention to survivors of sexual and relationship violence. Her dedication to social justice is also evident in her helping to found Columbia Roots, the university's first academic journal devoted to race and ethnicity studies, fostering critical dialogues on campus. Outside of her academic and advocacy roles, Yu spends her free time as a tattoo artist, using her artistry to empower others and encourage self-expression. Driven by her interdisciplinary interests in neuroscience, public health and advocacy, Melissa aims to continue advancing health equity and wellness within her community and beyond.