Introducing the newest Developers’ Society Executive Team members

Developh
Developh
Sep 4, 2018 · 8 min read

From coding small ideas exchanged on a whim to growing a movement across the world rooted on education, opportunity, and community for creation — we’re excited to welcome in our new executive team members for this next 2018–2019 cycle.

After approximately two years of growth, struggle, and realizing that this is a movement that is worth bringing forward, here’s a rundown on our team sharing this vision for creation.

Your returning Executive Committee

Pauline Baterna, your Vice President for Externals; Chiara Amisola, your Executive President; and Keith Leonardo, your Vice President for Internals

As a short update on your returning executive team, we’ve all begun our college journeys, coming a long way from beginning Developers’ Society two years ago in our high school computer lab. Our three heads have moved continents away and are treading through different paths in technology — all bearing the same love and belief in creation. Polly (Pauline Baterna) is heading to Ateneo de Manila University to study Information Technology-Entrepreneurship, Chia (Chiara Amisola) as the Executive President is running operations all the way in New Haven, Connecticut at Yale University intending to study Computer Science and Humanities. Our Vice President for Internals, Keith Leonardo, is at University of Melbourne studying Computer Science.

Aside from sharing a bit on our returning team and what they’re up to today, we’re excited to welcome in these amazing students from around the world coming together to build the Developers’ Society movement. We’re leading students to innovate, create, and change the world.

Daniella Joan Francisco, incoming Vice President for Computing & Archit Gupta, incoming Vice President for Education

The competitive programmer and woman in tech fronting the technical end of DevSoc’s programs.

Joan Francisco is currently a scholar at Philippine Science High School — SOCCSKSARGEN Region Campus. She is an advocate for women in tech; a competitive programmer, web developer, and public speaker. Serving as the president of her school’s computer science club, she actively shares her learnings about technology, especially in programming, in hopes to motivate people to join the National Olympiad in Informatics along with her. She also attends seminars and competes in hackathons, one in which where she and her team were awarded the title “Ambassadors of Peace”. Whenever she’s not facing her laptop’s screen, she’s probably strumming chords, spilling ink on paper, binge-watching anime series, or playing FPS and mystery games on Steam.

As the Vice President for Computing, Joan is going to be heading the technical side of our programs, as well as assist in developing modules and content from competitive programming to software development.

Meet an activist, equalizer, and our incoming head for education.

Archit Gupta is a junior at a high school in New Delhi, India. Archit is extremely passionate about political activism which is reflected in his efforts to spread awareness through various channels. He strongly believes that the future is technology and wants to make everyone technologically-abled, including those who can’t afford to. As the Vice-President for Education at Developers’ Society, he hopes to spread technological education and awareness beyond just the privileged. He also co-founded and writes for various other organisations. He is an ardent advocate of universal education and hopes to bring positive change to the world.

As the Vice President for Education, Archit will be spearheading the development and execution of our education-related programs and projects.

Christian Dasalla, our new Vice President for Community & Joseph Cottingham, incoming Vice President for Innovation

Bringing the technology scene together beyond all divides.

Christian Dasalla is an 11th Grade student at Philippine Science High School — Main Campus, specializing in Physics and Engineering. As a youth leader, advocate, and Computer Science enthusiast with a heart for the community, he aims to make an impact in society through technology and education. Aside from CS, his interests include graphic design, marketing, management, and writing. He envisions Developers’ Society as a tightly knit community of programmers, creators, and innovators who can freely share their ideas and creations to spark discussions and serve as an inspiration to others.

As the Vice President for Community, Christian will be strategizing campaigns and gatherings (both online and offline), and will centralize and head execution of plans to make Developers’ Society as close-knit as it was when we first started, now fifteen-times as large.

A technologist, hacker, leader, and developer making innovation happen in the hands of every student.

Joseph Cottingham is a high school senior attending the Downingtown STEM Academy. Having a deep background in managing the development of products and organizing teaching events, leads him to be very excited to share what he has learned with the Developers’ Society acceleration programs. Joey has a love of developing products and companies. His experience as a product development team leader and a coding instructor will aid in improving the Developers’ Society support for our student fellows.

As associate Vice President for Innovation, Joseph will be overseeing our incubation and acceleration programs and act as an “overseer” project manager, along with helping run shorter events like hackathons and creation jams.

Aria Nimoey Cordero, Vice President for Innovation & Jacob Darvin, Vice President for Marketing

Hackathon hacker, user experience specialist, designer, developer, and changemaker building the hackathon scene, creation, and community.

Aria is a critical designer and an artful developer. A regular in hackathons, she enjoys solving everyday problems with solutions that focus on efficiency and sustainability. Also a UI/UX specialist, she is interested in sociocognitive psychology, social engineering, and behavioral economics.

As associate Vice President for Innovation, Aria will be focusing on the incubation and acceleration programs held offline, directing short-term events like hackathons, creation jams, and other events to drive creation and making in the community.

Founding member and long-time creator driving our presence and creative front.

Jacob Darvin is a freshman at De La Salle University taking Computer Science. He has been with the Developers’ Society since its launch in 2016 and has been active in creating media for the organization and in joining several events as a core member. Being continuously passionate in creating for many years, he aims to create as an expression and for the betterment and enjoyment of others. He has a strong drive for developing media, games and overall teaching and educating others of what he knows through any means; either on his own or as a workshop head. He has worked on several personal projects involving technology and creation most notably in map design which has reached over ~10,000 people.

As Vice President for Marketing, the organization’s creative presence, vision, and other campaigns will be directed under Jacob.

Davendra Hassan, incoming Director for DevEd

Paving the way for education for all through STEM and the arts.

Davendra Hassan is an artist, activist and aspiring astrophysicist from 81 Senior High School Jakarta. She is a lover of both science and art. Her designs have been featured in numerous ways, from school merchandises to international magazines. Studying under the rigorous Indonesian curriculum has shaped her beliefs in building the presence of technology and providing quality education to all.

As the , our educational collective, Davendra will help manage our team of contributors in the curation, research, and creation of our student-created education project.

Isabelle Lavandero, our international Director for Cipher & Kirsten Sison, our Philippine-based Director for Cipher

is our student women in tech collective and community under Developers’ Society that runs campaigns and projects that seek to empower and unite gender minorities in computing. In alignment with Developers’ Society’s growth, we’re expanding Cipher to showcase the real voices, creations, and thoughts of real minorities in technology and breaking boundaries.

Developer, creator, international student, and leader bringing together women in computing from all over.

Isabelle Lavandero is a developer and life-long student who is passionate about championing the advocacy for diversity in tech. Hailing from the Philippines, she is now a junior at New York University studying computer science and communication. She serves on the executive board of the NYU Women in Computing club, organizing tech talks and workshops where students can cultivate inclusive learning communities outside of the classroom. This year, she is also leading an online space for fellow college women interested in open source development as part of the Rewriting the Code program. Aside from code, Isabelle is fascinated by art and words in all their forms.

As the international Director for Cipher, Isabelle will specialize in heading and overseeing projects that unite minorities in computing from all over — especially Filipinas in technology in the global sphere.

No stranger to the technology scene: conference organizer, startup founder, designer, and coder

Kirsten Sison is an enthusiastic freshie from De La Salle University Manila who is passionate to reach greater heights by empowering women in the tech scene. She loves organizing and going to tech conferences and related events in general to gain knowledge and connect with inspirational women in the field through storytelling. In her free time, she likes to play with Photoshop, help peers on their endeavors, and experiment with codes for amusement. At the moment, she is focusing on co-founding a startup that focuses on sustainability and recycling of waste materials.

As the Philippine Director for Cipher, Kirsten is directing programs aimed at Filipinas based in our home ground, uniting students through events and activities along with the Philippine-based core team.


With students committing to our principles on community and creation along with a stronger than ever desire to equalize access to education and opportunity in the technology sphere, we’re striding towards our vision for a world of students leading change. From a half-empty computer lab to endless nighttime meetings and (unintentionally) building a family and a movement, we’re confident in the change that this team can bring about.

Today, we know more than ever that the world is worth creating for.


👥 Are you a student and interested in being part of Developers’ Society? We’re open to students of all backgrounds, as long as you’re committed to creation and are looking forward to join an amazing community!

💡 You can learn more about Developers’ Society at , as well as liking us on and .

Developh

Developh believes that in a world fueled by technology, every student deserves to be a part of developing their future. Hear our stories, projects, updates, and developments.

Developh

Written by

Developh

Bridging the innovation gap by providing education and opportunities to students in the developing world. For-students, by-students @ https://developh.org

Developh

Developh

Developh believes that in a world fueled by technology, every student deserves to be a part of developing their future. Hear our stories, projects, updates, and developments.

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