AMHERST, MA– The University of Massachusetts Amherst will honor the exemplary achievement, initiative and leadership of some of its most talented and accomplished graduating seniors during Undergraduate Commencement on Friday, May 10 at McGuirk Alumni Stadium beginning at 4:30 p.m.
Jiya Nair of Shrewsbury, MA is one of the 10 members of the graduating class who will be honored as 21st Century Leaders at Undergraduate Commencement
Ms. Nair is a Commonwealth Honors College student graduating with dual degrees in operations and information management and political science.
She served as as attorney general of the Student Government Association and worked to reform the student conduct system. As president and treasurer of the South Asian Students Association, she sought to create inclusive space on campus for South Asian students.
As policy advocacy coordinator for Student Bridges, Ms. Nair addressed issues of college affordability. She also served as the student trustee for the Amherst campus. She was also a University of Minnesota Public Policy and International Affairs fellow and a fellow at South Asian Americans Leading Together, working to combat Islamophobia on college campus.
After graduation, she will travel to India on a Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship in preparation for graduate study in public policy.
