Meet the Team

Founder & CEO Lisa Lu graduated from Stanford University and is currently a first-year at UC Berkeley Law School. Named a 2020 National Youth Advocate of the Year, Lisa's work began in 2017 when she surveyed 857 students in China. Witnessing a normalized culture of teenage smoking, she founded IYTC and expanded the organization to 60 countries. Lisa oversees all international efforts, travels to network for IYTC, and executes grant projects. From advocating in Congress to speaking at national and international conferences, Lisa believes that IYTC is a platform for passionate youths to make a difference. Lisa worked as an undergraduate researcher at Stanford Medicine, was a National Youth Ambassador for Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, and served on the California Youth Advocacy Network college board. In her free time, Lisa enjoys playing basketball, rapping, and going to the gym.

President Hi! I am Samhita Mirmira, a senior at Basis Independent Fremont. I am the president of my school's GSA, and volunteer with special needs children. I have been a part of IYTC for the past three years and am committed to helping spread IYTC's message across the world. By educating kids and teens about the harms of tobacco products, millions of kids and teens will be aware of the dangers and will be less likely to use tobacco. Every kid should be able to live a healthy lifestyle free from addiction. Tobacco use not only affects them in the present but also hurts their future and can have medical disadvantages. As IYTC President, I can start living that dream by helping as many kids as possible stay away from the dangers of tobacco.

Vice President Sahiti Bulusu is a senior at Basis Independent Fremont. She loves to do art, code, and sit in the library, reading books. She is an existing member of the American Red Cross, and has been part of her school club for more than 3 years, and is the president of the UN Girl Up Fremont chapter. Tobacco and substance abuse is a leading problem in teenagers across the globe. By being an IYTC board executive director, she is able to help in mitigating this problem. Educating, spreading awareness, and more can help millions of kids around the world to stop using tobacco or vaping. Addiction to these things can severely harm kids for the rest of their lives, and no one should have to go through that pain for short-term pleasure. By being an IYTC officer, she is able to help in the movement of keeping kids away from the dangers of tobacco.

Chief of Staff Kaelin Lee is a high school senior at CSArts. As IYTC’s Chief of Staff, she oversees all national directors, acts as the board secretary, and much more, working with the executive board to ensure the success of IYTC. She is also the SoCal chapter’s advisor and works to lead chapter initiatives. In the past, Kaelin served as a board member and SoCal's secretary, after being an intern. Additionally, Kaelin was the educational director for our Indonesia trip, and she led the educational activities at our school visits. Having had family members pass away from smoking, she is passionate about the work IYTC does to uplift youth voices and make a positive difference in the global smoking issue.

Outreach Director Geoffrey Foong is a senior at San Marino High School who stays busy with a variety of activities in his free time. He participates in speech and debate, plays tennis, listens to music, weightlifts, and enjoys spending time with friends. As a dedicated member of his organization, he aims to make a meaningful impact by advocating for legislative change. His interest in tobacco prevention stems from witnessing the addictive effects of tobacco on some of his friends and family. Geoffrey is determined to enact change so that others can avoid the health issues associated with tobacco use.

Tech Director Hi! My name is Saanvi Atluri and I am in 9th grade. I live in California and go to Basis Independent Fremont Upper. My hobbies are painting, baking, and chatting with my friends. If I had to describe myself I'd like to think I am a resilient, compassionate, and detail-oriented individual with a keen eye for small yet important fine points that are easy to miss. I thrive on challenges and work hard to reach the end result. This is a key factor as to why I joined IYTC to begin with. I wanted to be a part of the process that helps reach the ultimate goal; prevent tobacco in underage communities.

Financial Director Michelle Tuey is currently a sophomore at San Marino High School. She serves as the vice president of Medical Youth of San Marino Club and the secretary of Red Cross Club at her school. In her free time, she likes to read, write, make paper flowers, and play video games. Her passion for advocating against tobacco usage began after researching the topic and reading through numerous stories where young teens were negatively impacted by access to tobacco, specifically vaping. By joining IYTC, she hopes to raise awareness about the severe risks that come with tobacco consumption, helping others make informed and healthier decisions.

Design Director Olivia Ma, a senior at BASIS Independent Fremont Upper School, loves figure skating, running, performing, and spending time with her family. She’s the co-founder and editor-in-chief of her school newspaper and captain of the speech team. As being IYTC's newly-selected Newsletter Director, she hopes to combine her passion for storytelling and advocacy to raise awareness on tobacco control. Olivia aims to amplify youth voices, change their perspectives, and inspire action to foster lives without tobacco.

Social Media Director Hi! I’m Yiqi, a 12th grader living in Irvine, Southern California. Growing up in Guangdong, China, I developed a strong appreciation for culture, resilience, and community. I enjoy using creativity to make a difference—whether it's through running my Craft Club, or organizing educational initiatives for children in underserved areas. My experiences have inspired me to pursue a career in public health, and I can't wait to contribute more to IYTC and make a big impact.

Legislative Director Janice Lee is a senior from Los Angeles, California. She has been passionate about advocacy against youth tobacco use ever since she began working with the Anaheim Anti-Vaping Endeavor within her local school district, and has continued to grow her work since. As the President of the Health and Wellness Club at her school, Janice led the annual Red Ribbon Week to further spread awareness about this pressing issue. She hopes that one day, the communities she interacts with will be free of teen tobacco use and replaced with a healthier environment. In her spare time, Janice enjoys exploring hidden gem restaurants, singing, and traveling with friends and family.

Northern California President My name is Madhav Mirmira and I am in 9th grade at BASIS Independent Fremont. A fun fact about me is that I enjoy watching basketball. I am the Regional President for the Northern California chapter of IYTC. In this role, I organize events and oversee operations for our chapter. I’ve held this position for two years now, and I’m passionate about raising awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco. I believe that many people don’t fully understand the dangers of tobacco use, and I want to help change that. Through my work with IYTC, I aim to make a positive impact in my community by educating others.

North India President I enjoy taking on responsibilities in both sports and school, often finding myself in leadership roles. Basketball is a passion of mine, and I appreciate the teamwork it fosters.Service is a huge part of what drives me; I love making a difference wherever I can.. Learning new things is exciting for me, especially when it's hands-on. But reading? Let’s just say, if it’s between a book and a spontaneous adventure, you’ll find me exploring the world instead of flipping pages—sorry, novels!

Maryland President Hello! My name is Noor Said and I am the regional president of the Maryland chapter! I am very excited to be holding this position. I hope to expand this chapter, hold regional events, and spread tobacco control awareness in local schools. I am incredibly excited to be a part of so many meaningful projects this year and getting to know so many new people!

Indonesia President Salsabila Novayanti is the Regional President of the IYTC Indonesia Chapter, with a background in psychology and a passion for public health. Holding a bachelor's degree in psychology, Salsabila is deeply committed to promoting youth health and well-being, particularly in tobacco control. Her experience extends to developing impactful interventions for young people, focusing on prevention and education efforts. Salsabila's dedication lies in raising awareness among youth about the dangers of tobacco and fostering healthier communities across Indonesia.

General Board Member Samarth Shah is a senior at Basis Independent Fremont Upper. He is incredibly passionate about exploring the junction between biological sciences and technology, and how it can be progressed to optimize the advents of healthcare. He is an existing coordinator of the East Bay chapter of Sewa International, and has been volunteering with them for the past two years, deeply integrating ancient Hindu values into their works and projects. Tobacco and substance abuse is a leading problem in teenagers across the globe. By being an IYTC board member, he plans to continue these values and contribute to the advocation of good health amongst the youth and beyond.

North India Vice President I'm currently in 11th grade, I have a major interest in psychology and want to pursue it further. I have always been interested in contributing to society in every way possible and tobacco control is one endeavor that I believe in. Since childhood, I heard my father talking about how my grandfather passed away untimely due to prolonged tobacco consumption and how it affected him deeply since then I have always wanted to do something about this issue. I'm deeply grateful to be part of IYTC as it provides me with a platform to do just that!

Arizona President Samarth Dunakhe is currently a sophomore from Arizona. In his free time he enjoys playing tennis, hanging out with friends, and playing the guitar. He hopes to make a tangible impact in helping to prevent tobacco usage in youth through his position as the Arizona Regional President, and plans on hosting events to accomplish this task. He became interested in this topic after witnessing the negative impacts it has had on youth in his own community.

Junior Advisor Elaina Lee is a junior at UC Berkeley majoring in Public Health on the pre-medical track. Inspired by her time in IYTC, she now uses her major to advocate for youth health outcomes. Formerly serving as IYTC's Board President, Secretary and Design Officer, she is excited to give back and pass her knowledge to the new generation of youth advocates. She connects with IYTC’s goal because she sees the negative effects of vaping and tobacco at her school and community and believes this issue should be legislatively reformed. Outside of IYTC, she plays basketball, likes drinking copious amounts of coffee, and baking.

Junior Advisor Allie Ladwig is a Milwaukee School of Engineering alum and currently serves as a health actuarial consultant. This is her fifth year with IYTC and is excited to be continuing her role as a junior advisor. In this role, she serves as a mentor to all of the board of directors and offers insight while allowing newer and younger minds to run the organization. Prior to being a junior advisor, she led as the Financial Officer for several years and first ever Internship Director. Coming into her eleventh year in tobacco control, this cause motivates her to use her strengths to help IYTC because of her mother's battle with stage-four lung cancer due to childhood secondhand smoke. She met CEO, Lisa Lu, in Minnesota at the National Conference on Tobacco or Health after speaking as the American Lung Association's keynote speaker at their Oxygen Ball Gala in 2018.

Junior Advisor I am a recent college graduate with seven years of experience at IYTC, where I have served on the Board of Directors, primarily as Vice President, and also as Chief of Staff. In my role as VP, and as one of the orignal founding members, I was instrumental in drafting significant portions of the organization's bylaws and policies, contributing extensively to intra-organizational development and outreach efforts. Currently, I work as a clinical research coordinator for the health tech startup LaughMD. Moving forward, in my role as a Junior Advisor at IYTC, I aim to mentor the Board of Directors, offering guidance while empowering younger leaders to shape the organization’s future.

Advisor Michelle Freridge is an Executive Director of Asain Youth Center. She completed a B.A. at Michigan State University and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration at Western Michigan University before moving to Southern California in 1999. After more than 20 years of direct service, development, and management work in the non-profit sector, she attended Loyola Law School’s evening program and was admitted to the California Bar in 2011. Ms. Freridge is an Adjunct Professor at University of the West, where she teaches MBA classes with a non-profit focus. Michelle sits on the Board of the Rosemead Kiwanis Foundation, the San Gabriel Valley Bar Association, and the Pasadena Community College President’s Asian American & Pacific Islander Advisory Committee. Ms. Freridge is deeply committed to empowering youth leadership development and wants to assist IYTC youth in their advocacy and efforts to impact health through IYTC's mission.

Advisor Dr. Gay Yuen is a retired professor of education at California State University, Los Angeles. She dedicated her life to service as a leader in countless nonprofits, nominated by Congress as one of the “Phenomenal Woman of the Year” and received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Advisor Dr. Dayi Hu is the chairman of the Chinese Association on Tobacco Control, director of the Intervention Center at Peking University People’s Hospital, and dean of Clinical Research Institute at Shanghai Fudan University. He promotes the concept of “small hand holding big hand”: through educating youths about the harms of tobacco, youths would persuade their parents to quit.