08/19/2026
This summer, Rima Patel joined Pi515 with a goal: help turn a vision for AI education into something students could actually experience.
As a Future Leaders in Action (FLIA) fellow, Rima helped bring that vision to life through the launch of Pi515’s AI Navigator Program. Working alongside students, educators, schools, and Pi515 staff, she helped build curriculum and resources to help students better understand and navigate the world of AI.
For Rima, the experience reinforced something she believed is more important than ever: “It’s important that we learn to understand AI rather than avoid it, regardless of our personal views on it.”
Rima's favorite parts about working at Pi515 were working hands-on with students, realizing the importance of understanding an organization’s mission, and meeting our volunteers, Sweety and Arunima, who cooked and brought lunch for the Pi515 staff.
Now, Rima is heading back to the University of Iowa for her senior year, where she will finish both her degrees in Political Science and Ethics and Public Policy before pursuing law school.
As she works toward her goal of creating lasting positive change, she’ll carry out the lessons, experiences, and relationships from Pi515 with her and continue staying involved with Pi515, FLIA, and other nonprofits.
Rima, thank you for your hard work, curiosity, and dedication this summer. You have helped turn a vision into something students can experience. We’ll be cheering you on in what comes next! 💚
