From the president
Faria Tavacoli, a distinguished student at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas's prestigious Honors College, maintained a 3.9 GPA and was awarded the 2023 Barry Goldwater Scholarship for her impactful work in public health research, specifically focusing on epidemiology and the LGBTQ+ community. As a Hope Scholar, she has initiated innovative programs to support unhoused students, significantly enhancing their access to campus resources. Through her involvement with America Reads Counts, Tavacoli diligently works to boost literacy and numeracy among elementary students. Her advocacy with the Johns Hopkins Juvenile Justice Committee has actively contributed to policy discussions on juvenile justice reforms. Significantly, Tavacoli is one of the 32 youth leaders chosen nationally to serve on the advisory board of Lady Gaga's Born This Way Foundation, where she actively supports initiatives focused on youth mental health and wellness. Additionally, her role as a Health & Wellness Volunteer Coordinator with UNLVolunteers has led to organizing community health events and distributing health kits, directly addressing public health needs. Tavacoli's wide-ranging efforts in public health, education, and justice reform underscore her application of academic excellence and leadership to address critical social issues.
Personal Statement
Social change for me has been to recognize that solving issues requires civic engagement and social participation, cultivating environments that promote community well-being, empowerment, and trust. As a young person who faced significant financial and physical adversities, I entered college as a public health major to promote equity of services and strengthen the Las Vegas community to ensure that the same experiences would not continue for others. I served as a volunteer coordinator with UNLVolunteers under the Service Learning & Leadership office, putting on programming in food insecurity, housing, and health & wellness that not only brings awareness to health inequalities that exist in Clark County but also serves the most marginalized communities with some of the worst health outcomes. I have worked in juvenile justice settings under a youth board dedicated to raising awareness and supporting mental health policy through the support of Mental Health America, in part with their Young Leaders Council, recognizing the power of collective action and youth social agency. I am grateful for the opportunity to interact and learn from community members who have taught me the value of resilience, a skill that I will continue to employ in my health advocacy journey.