From the president
Over the past three years, Ananya has demonstrated exceptional leadership across Tufts and our surrounding communities. In 2024, Ananya coordinated our FOCUS community service pre-orientation program at Tufts University. In this role, Ananya co-designed and implemented a 5-day program connecting 170 first-year students and 70 upperclassmen mentors with community organizations in the local Boston area. This involved developing partnerships with 40 nonprofit organizations and designing a 3-day pre-program staff training focused on critical approaches to service. Through Ananya’s leadership, our first-year students spent their first week at Tufts participating in community service, learning about root causes of local issues in Boston and reflecting on their role as new community members.
Alongside her work with FOCUS, Ananya participates in our Tufts University Prison Initiative at Tisch (TUPIT) program; an organizer with the Tufts Labor Coalition, a student organization dedicated to labor justice issues concerning campus workers; and a leader on our Tufts Indian classical dance team, Pulse. Through these experiences, Ananya has demonstrated a strong commitment to uplifting marginalized voices and fighting for justice. Ananya’s dedication to advocacy and her strong analytical abilities has her considering a career in law and/or nonprofit work, where she will undoubtedly make a significant impact.
Personal Statement
During my time at Tufts, I’ve found that civic engagement has become a central and necessary part of my experience. As an American Studies student, I have focused my academic studies on challenging systemic injustices and uplifting marginalized voices. Through my work with the Tufts University Prison Initiative of Tisch College, I work alongside formerly incarcerated individuals to facilitate a smoother reentry process and examine policy issues and injustices present in the carceral system. Additionally, as a coordinator for a pre-orientation program at Tufts, I welcomed incoming students through community service and civic engagement, prompting dialogue about the root causes of local social issues. Through these programs, I have deepened my understanding of how collaborative, long-term strategies are essential to making change, as well as the importance of relationship-building and community-led work.