2025 Award Recipients

As a mentor for over 200 fellows from more than 50 countries during AMEL’s Spring 2024 fellowship in DC (The African Middle Eastern Leadership Project), I had the profound honor of guiding passionate leaders through transformative topics such as human rights, gender equity, and activist safety.

At Ohio University, I’ve drawn on leadership skills from my military background to make a positive impact. As a veteran and Ph.D. student in physics, I mentor other students—particularly veterans and non-traditional students—on balancing research, family, and personal goals.

When I graduate, my leadership will be felt within the office of Learning Community Programs specifically as I’ve worked directly with my team to improve the weekly meetings of our leaders.

To further support the online student community, I organized virtual peer support sessions within my graduate cohort. These sessions provide a space for students to discuss their challenges—whether related to academics, clinical experiences, or work-life balance—and share resources on self-care, time management, and resilience.

Not only have I revived Swarm of Dykes, I have built a community of people that not only trust and care about each other, but care about making the world a better place. I have created a safe space within Swarm of Dykes for all queer people to feel welcome and understood. It allows people to liberate themselves through direct action and make a difference in Athens.

VARIANT Magazine is a fashion publication dedicated to uplifting diverse perspectives while championing creativity, individuality, and representation.

As Program Director at the OU Aquatic Center, I’ve worked to make swim lessons accessible to all, especially those from underserved backgrounds, ensuring every participant feels safe and confident in the water.

Throughout my time at Ohio University, I have dedicated myself to fostering academic and personal success, particularly in my role as Lead Academic Coach.

Recently I have been helping develop a mentorship program for first generation first year students in the College of Business through my work in the Business Academic Advising and Career Services office.

As an ALAANA+ Women’s Leadership Cohort Facilitator at the Women’s Center, I've had the privilege of guiding and inspiring a group of 10 talented women. One of the most impactful aspects of this role has been witnessing the growth and development of the cohort members.

Through my leadership in Greek life, I have worked to create events that celebrate diverse voices and foster meaningful connections among students from different backgrounds.

As a student at Ohio University, I’ve actively supported the international community through my involvement with the Ohio Program of Intensive English (OPIE) and cross-cultural initiatives. Working with programs like the Brazilian Fulbright and Chubu University exchange program, I’ve helped international students transition into campus life by providing guidance, creating connections, and ensuring they feel welcomed and supported.

Being a Resident Advisor (RA) has significantly shaped my experience at Ohio University and contributed to my personal and professional growth in meaningful ways. One of the most rewarding aspects of this role is the sense of community it fosters. I've built meaningful connections with my residents, creating a family-like bond.

In my various leadership roles in the Political Science Majors Association and Phi Alpha Delta I have helped plan meetings that discuss immigration law, the exploitation of the Global South for resources, and how those experiences connect to injustice faced worldwide.

My leadership at Ohio University has focused on fostering inclusivity, supporting academic success, and enhancing the sense of community for diverse student populations.

Throughout my time at OHIO, I have had the privilege of holding several leadership positions in Alpha Psi Lambda, the nation's first and largest co-ed Latino fraternity.

The diversity of clubs at Ohio inspired me to believe in myself and encouraged me to explore my interests. This confidence led me not only to found the Ecuadorian Student Association but also to serve as Communications Leader and later Secretary for the university’s Chinese Language Student Association.

As a Resident Assistant (RA) and LINKS Peer Mentor at Ohio University, I’ve actively supported students in navigating their academic and personal challenges.

As president of the Black Student Cultural Programming Board for the past 2 years, positively impacting my community has been a significant goal from me. As a student who came in when Covid-19 was just starting to subside I felt a need to be apart of an organization who brought students and the community together.

Through my efforts as the Vice President and co-founder of the South Asian Student Association and an International Student Ambassador for the Honors Tutorial College, I actively strive to organise events of cultural and identity exchanges like Diwali and Holi celebrations, potlucks, discussion hours and webinars to answer questions of BIPOC prospective students.

My service in providing therapeutic care at OHIO has contributed to the well-being and strengths of the campus community. As a social worker trainee (SWT) at OU-CPS, I have actively created a mentally and emotionally supportive environment for OHIO students i.e., stress management, mindfulness, and self-care, helping students navigate the challenges of academic life, personal struggles, and cultural adjustment.

The OU Nutrition Club is a student-led organization whose mission is to promote healthy eating and provide nutrition education to the OHIO campus and the Athens community.

From the Greek Life Office to meetings for Promoting Awareness- Victim Empowerment, I do my best every day to help others find their voice. My leadership hinges on using my voice to advocate for others and ensuring that others feel empowered to speak up.

As a University Innovation Fellow and Community Leader in various roles, I have sought to enhance the Ohio University community by fostering innovation, mentorship, and inclusivity. Through my role as a UIF Guide, I led initiatives such as the Innovation Sprint, where students collaborated to solve real-world problems, igniting a culture of creativity and entrepreneurship.

I strive to always lend a hand whether that's volunteering at Tenderfoot Learning Lab, helping students get LGBT resources to navigate their journey of queerness, and helping first years get adjusted to their new college lives through the Links program.

As I've progressed through my online program at OU I've had the opportunity to collaborate with my advisor, and two classmates, to create our student ambassador program. We've worked to create connections and a sense of community that can sometimes feel missing from an online program.

In my commitment to enhancing the OHIO community, I have embraced various leadership roles that inspire growth and sustainability. As a mentor for high school students in the Athens area, I’ve guided them academically while fostering their personal development, collaborating with Athens County Children Services to connect students with opportunities like summer scholarship camps.

One of my most impactful leadership endeavors was starting the student organization, Phone a Friend (PAF). PAF is the first student organization to take an active approach to reducing sexual violence on campus.

As a student trustee on the OU Board of Trustees, I present student perspectives in decision making ,contributing as a link between the student body and university administration.

As a peer coach, I assist hundreds of students each semester with academic and career advising, focusing on resumes, CVs, personal statements, LinkedIn profiles, and major and career exploration.

It was not so long ago that it was my first time stepping into a harness and getting on a climbing wall, but sometimes it is easy to forget that. Being a member of Outdoor Pursuits has helped me to remember I need to be an active participant in every activity I engage in.

I’ve worked to support both the online student community and my local community through initiatives that foster connection and growth. Within the MSM program, I organize Fireside Chat events and Executive Coaching Sessions to help students build leadership skills and meaningful relationships in a virtual environment.

I identified a need for support and leadership development among men of color and founded Manup, a community focused on faith, career advancement, and networking.

Being a leader has taught me that the path to creating meaningful change is not always easy. It requires hard work, resilience, and unwavering dedication. Every day, as I step into my leadership roles and advocate for my community, I am reminded of the importance of persistence.

Ohio University's Residence Hall Association (RHA) is a representative body for OHIO's around 8000 on-campus residential students. The purpose of RHA is to be an advocate for students who live on campus and improve their experience by putting on programs that promote community, diversity, equity and inclusion, and leadership development.

Being a part of Margaret Boyd Scholars Program allowed me to grow personally and professionally. It was through the support of the faculty, board and my peers that I shaped what my perspective of being a student-leader on campus was and helped me become one. The program gave me countless opportunities and truly helped build the foundation for my future.

In YiSO, we support both the Ohio University Community and surrounding communities. We are welcoming of all majors–including non-science majors–and aim to create stronger educators.

Swarm of Dykes is a grassroots direct action community group focused on liberation, community care, inspiring queer joy, and educating.

The AAPISU is a student-run, identity-based organization at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. Our goal is to create and sustain a safe space and strong community where AAPI students can feel included, accepted, acknowledged, respected, and heard.