Service

My commitment to service stems from a desire to foster inclusive and equitable spaces within academia and beyond. At Indiana University, I served as president of the Geography Graduate Student Organization (GGSO), where I advocated for students' needs and contributed to faculty hiring processes to increase diversity and interdisciplinary research within the department. As an active member of the department's DEIJ (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice) committee, I collaborated on initiatives to promote anti-racism research and spearheaded efforts to rename our flagship lecture, removing its association with a geographer linked to environmental determinism. I also volunteered for the department’s bicentennial history project, conducting oral history interviews to create a more inclusive account of its legacy.

Beyond the university, my service extends to the broader community. As an International Student Ambassador, I developed resources to support international students’ transitions to Indiana University, while also advocating for equitable evaluation processes for graduate instructors. I have collaborated with the Center for Refugee Studies to organize events, such as welcoming Afghan refugees to Bloomington, and I co-organize the award-winning International Mother Language Day celebration to honor cultural diversity. Through mentorship, I have guided over a dozen international students in their graduate applications, helping them achieve admissions to programs in the U.S. and Europe. These experiences reflect my dedication to fostering inclusive academic spaces and building bridges between institutional resources and the communities they serve​​.

I am actively engaged in advancing the discipline of geography through professional service. As a reviewer, I contribute to the peer-review process for academic journals, including Antipode, Political Geography, GeoJournal, and the American Journal of Islam and Society. These roles allow me to support the dissemination of critical scholarship and foster intellectual growth within the field.

Additionally, my involvement with the American Association of Geographers' (AAG) Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Communication Sub-committee underscores my commitment to building a more inclusive and equitable discipline.

I am honored to be a recipient of the prestigious John H. Edwards Fellowship (2024-25) at Indiana University, which recognizes graduate students who exemplify academic excellence, public service, and integrity of character. This fellowship acknowledges my commitment to advancing equity and inclusion through research, teaching, and community engagement. It has supported my efforts to address pressing societal challenges while fostering inclusive learning environments and contributing to public service initiatives within and beyond academia.