To say that philanthropy has been a part of Sumaiya Imad’s MSU experience is an understatement.
Everywhere around her are scholarships, fellowships, programs, and support systems that are either funded thanks to the generosity of donors, or made possible through the equally generous gift of time from mentors and members of the community.
Sumaiya, herself, is a philanthropist, too.
“In 2020 I started my own nonprofit,” she says. A native of Dhaka, Bangladesh, she began her work within her own community. “I focused on helping victims of trafficking and former sex workers, to break the cycle of exploitation and abuse by using vocational training programs, mental health workshops, and funding grants to start their own businesses.”
Here at MSU, the busy and tenacious economics major is working just as hard to care for the community and the world around her.
She works with the Tenants Resource Center in Lansing, helping displaced individuals from a local encampment find housing and regain a sense of autonomy. She is a Social Science Scholar; a member of the Generations Connect program that bridges the generational gap between students on campus and members of the surrounding community; a volunteer through the Community Engaged Scholars program; and an award-winning undergraduate researcher.
None of this would be possible without support.
“All throughout the three years that I’ve been here at MSU, I’ve been able to conduct intensive research, which I was very lucky to get funding for through alumni donations,” Sumaiya says. “Through the funding I received, I was able to continue the work of my nonprofit back home, and expand on my research on survivor reintegration.”
“My ultimate goal is to become a human rights lawyer. I want to advocate for vulnerable communities specifically in the human trafficking sphere, shape policies that promote justice, and use my legal expertise to drive systemic change.”
“I’m grateful for every experience, mentor, and opportunity that has shaped my journey so far, and I can’t wait to see where this path leads next.”
Interested in supporting the kind of campus programs and organizations that help students like Sumaiya have an incredible Spartan experience? Learn more at givingday.msu.edu.