From the president
Jannat Musawi, a junior at the University of Washington Tacoma, demonstrates a deep commitment to civic engagement by serving a tremendous range of organizations, engaging in impactful public service on and off campus, and using her leadership roles on campus to inspire other students to be civically engaged. She exemplifies a boundless capacity for the public good and is an achiever and collaborator. Jannat is UW Tacoma’s first student ambassador for the NextGen Civic Leader Corps, a program launched in 2023 to support students pursuing careers in public service and civic engagement locally and globally from all majors across campus. Jannat is a First-Generation college student serving as president of the Middle Eastern & South Asian Student Association and Student Social Work Organization. In 2022, she was a Jackson Munro Public Service Fellow, which includes a scholarship and bi-weekly meetings with a cohort of eight students engaged in public service activities to share experiences and insights. In the community, she volunteers for the Iraqi Arab health Board and tutors children at a nonprofit helping homeless parents. She has mentored college-bound youth through the UW Dream Project and Upward Bound and works as a peer mentor supporting college students in optimizing their learning.
Personal Statement
I was born and raised in Iraq, which ignited my passion to someday return and help address some of the country's most urgent problems. I pursued a degree intending to use my education to tackle the issue of intergenerational trauma that I have witnessed in my home country. However, as I continue to advance in my education and gain more experience, I am realizing that Iraq's issues are more complex and systemic than I initially thought, motivating me to become more civically engaged. I have been attending various events to learn about public policy and reform, such as a summit focused on combatting political polarization in Washington State, a Legislative Reception where I had the opportunity to meet local lawmakers and discuss topics I am passionate about, and a day in Olympia, the capital of Washington, where I met legislators and lawmakers, including Jay Inslee, the governor. I utilize comparative and innovative approaches to understand how various governments tackle social issues and apply successful approaches to problems in the United States and, eventually, in Iraq. I understand that my goals will continue to evolve as I progress in my education, but I am excited to see what the future holds.