Center for Improving Youth Justice Externship via Extern
Aspiring Policy Specialist
I'm a dedicated student and research assistant focused on peace and security, eager to build my skills and make a difference.
Work samples
Discover my diverse community engagement efforts to drive meaningful impact.
Project Pratidhwani Data-Driven Decision Making Externship with CIYJ 
Center for Improving Youth Justice · ✅ Verified by Extern · ⏱️ In progress
Data-Driven Decision Making Externship with CIYJ
A CIYJ externship focused on analyzing long-term juvenile justice datasets to surface patterns in incidents, staffing, and outcomes.
Data AnalysisPythonData VisualizationStatistical Research
About me
I'm a dedicated student and research assistant focused on peace and security, eager to build my skills and make a difference.
I am Bidisha Kaphle, an incoming Public Policy candidate at Carnegie Mellon. I have worked in various research projects as a Peace and Security Research Assistant while actively engaging in various leadership roles, including president of the United Nations Association Soka Chapter. I am passionate about community engagement and honing my skills in project management and research.
Externships
Data-Driven Decision Making Externship with CIYJ
In progress
Experience
Peace and Security Research Assistant
Soka University of America · Oct 2022 – Present
President
United Nations Association (UNA) Soka Chapter · Mar 2023 – Present
Admissions Operations Assistant
Enrollment Services; Soka University of America · Oct 2024 – Present
Program Development Intern
Alcardo Andrews Foundation · June – Aug 2025
Policy Research Intern
National Policy Forum; Nepal · Aug – Nov 2024
Project Co-Lead
Soka Alternative Spring Break (ASB) · Nov 2023- May 2024
Founder and Project Director
Project Pratidhwani · May – July 2023
Education
Soka University of America
BA in Liberal Arts | Focus: International Studies · Class of 2026
Universidad de Barcelona
Study Abroad · Class of 2025
Carnegie Mellon University
MS in Public Policy and Management · Class of 2028
Skills
Community EngagementProject ManagementCross-Functional CommunicationEnglishSpanishNepaliHindiSlate CRMPeopleSoftStataZoomMacOSGoogle SuiteMicrosoft ExcelLightroom
Project Pratidhwani
Overview
What I've accomplished
I secured a grant from the Pacific Basin Research Center to lead a project that provided alternative educational channels about the most common taboo topics in Nepali schools and communities.
Outcome
I facilitated conversations on victim restoration among women of suburban Nepal, aiding their understanding of support avilable support to combat gender based violance.
✅ Verified by Extern · ⏱️ In progress
Data-Driven Decision Making Externship with CIYJ
A CIYJ externship focused on analyzing long-term juvenile justice datasets to surface patterns in incidents, staffing, and outcomes.
Data AnalysisPythonData VisualizationStatistical Research
Overview
The externship worked with CIYJ's longitudinal juvenile justice dataset, covering surveys, incident reports, demographics, and outcomes. The work established what correlational analysis can and cannot determine and framed practical analytic approaches for the dataset. It concluded with a clarified conceptual foundation for subsequent analyses.
What I've accomplished
I established the analytic baseline that guided later data work: what questions correlation can address, common data pitfalls, and the practical boundaries of interpretation.
