Now Reading
4 South Asian American Women Among 62 Truman Scholars of 2021

4 South Asian American Women Among 62 Truman Scholars of 2021

  • These aspiring public leaders were selected from 845 candidates nominated by 328 colleges and universities.

Four South Asian American women are among 62 aspiring public leaders selected as 2021 Truman Scholars, selected from 845 candidates nominated by 328 colleges and universities. Scholars demonstrate outstanding leadership potential, a commitment to a career in government or the nonprofit sector, and academic excellence. Each scholar receives funding for graduate studies, leadership training, career counseling, and special internship and fellowship opportunities within the federal government. The scholarship was established by Congress in 1975 as the living memorial to President Harry S. Truman and national monument to public service. 

Following at the South Asian American scholars:

Gurtaran Johal of North Dakota, who is pursuing a dual-degree in sociology and political science, with a minor in Spanish studies at  University of Minnesota. Her passion for women’s rights stems from her identity as a Sikh woman, which has motivated her to pursue a career advocating for women and women of color who are systematically disadvantaged by institutional structures. She has previously worked at the YWCA and EMILY’s List. On campus, she is involved with her university’s undergraduate student government, the Minnesota Student Association, where she chaired the Sexual Assault Task Force and currently serves as the Speaker of Forum. Following graduation, she plans to pursue a JD focusing on public interest or criminal justice, with the goal of breaking down the barriers faced by underrepresented communities.

Dhwani Kharel of South Dakota is a Nepalese American raised in the American Midwest – Michigan, Nebraska, and South Dakota – and studies government at Dartmouth College. On campus she is involved in sexual violence prevention advocacy and has also worked extensively as a student researcher on menstrual health management. Kharel has interned at both the Congressional Research Service and the Brookings Area United Way. She hopes to pursue a career in the legal field to challenge the structural problems that continue to limit women’s potential. Kharel’s  commitment to public service stems from an understanding that rights, opportunities, and potential should never be denied based on arbitrary factors.

See Also

Sakshi Sehgal is a proud first-generation low-income (FGLI) student and Atlanta native pursuing a BA and MA in philosophy and minoring in chemistry at University of Pennsylvania. She is particularly passionate about issues related to mental health, advocacy for low-income individuals, and equitable access to care. Her personal and professional experiences have fueled her work related to FGLI advocacy, particularly as related to mental health and wellness. Sehgal has also engaged in volunteering and advocacy work in her hometown of Atlanta, serving as a Behavioral and Mental Health Community Action Team volunteer, a coronavirus testing site volunteer, and as a research assistant at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, studying the obesity crisis. She plans to translate this commitment to improving care for underserved populations by pursuing a joint MD/MPH.

Hillary Shah is studying political science, economics, and pre-law at University of North Texas. She is passionate about alleviating social invisibility in marginalized communities through voting rights and civic mobilization work for historically disenfranchised groups. As a community leader and grassroots activist, Shah has organized electoral and issue campaigns across the state, including the Beto for Senate campaign and Battleground Texas. She founded her own successful civic empowerment organizations, lobbied city councils and legislative bodies, and managed programs providing professional resources to first-generation students and women of color. Her passion for advocacy has additionally led her to serve as the youngest University of North Texas student government vice president, earned her internships at the American Civil Liberties Union and the Department of Commerce’s Office of Civil Rights, and become one of the top undergraduate moot court competitors in the country, both in 2020 and 2021. After graduation, she intends to pursue a JD and work as a voting rights attorney. 

What's Your Reaction?
Excited
0
Happy
0
In Love
0
Not Sure
0
Silly
0
View Comments (0)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

© 2020 American Kahani LLC. All rights reserved.

The viewpoints expressed by the authors do not necessarily reflect the opinions, viewpoints and editorial policies of American Kahani.
Scroll To Top