By: Leila Biola Olukoga
NYU 2024 Graduate Lamisa Khan combines her interests in STEM and Humanities for an inclusive and colorful college career.
Ever since she was a child, Lamisa Khan was always in love with math. Khan loved the subject so much that whenever her parents wanted to distract her, they would hand Khan math worksheets to complete.
However, Khan’s interests in math didn’t stop there. Taking on an influence from her parents and brother, Khan eventually expanded her interests to history and economics in high school.
Now, as a recent graduate from New York University, Khan graduated with a double major in economics and politics with a joint minor in math and computer science and another minor in peace and conflict studies.
“When you think of STEM, I don't think you think of my degree as very stereotypical STEM,” Khan said. “I kind of threw in my social sciences, my STEM, and humanities so I got a little piece of everything.”
Throughout Khan’s college career, she served as the Senator at Large for Muslim Women within NYU’s Student Government as well as a member of the Muslim Sorority Mu Delta Alpha.
In December 2023, Khan facilitated the passing of the Resolution to Reaffirm Pro-Palestinian Speech and Civic Activity.
“I'm really proud of the passing of the resolution to reaffirm pro Palestinian speech and civic activity,” Khan said. “That has been a big part of my year. That's the one of the biggest accomplishments I think I've had, given everything going on at the school.”
In addition to her involvement in extracurriculars, Khan serves as the CEO for AVS Foundation, a non-profit organization that aims to provide students with a better education. Khan began her work with the organization in 2020 and has continued her involvement.
“I am proud that we were able to provide a lot of books and school supplies to students in need,” Khan said. “One of my favorites was providing books to a Title I School; it has been really great being able to provide books there. Now what I've been working on with my team is focusing specifically on literacy rates in New York City, especially in elementary schools”
Khan said that being a South Asian woman has impacted the way that she involves herself and is treated in these spaces.
“First of all, I think it's difficult being a woman of color in general in any sort of space,” Khan said. “As someone who's South Asian, more specifically Bengali, [I know that] the world is not very kind to Brown people. When they see you, people say comments that are (31)
Khan said that her background as a Bengali woman has contributed to her accomplishments and goals in STEM and varying fields.
“I’m proud to be a Bengali-American,” Khan said. Bangladesh exists because our community is so strong and cares so much for our culture and liberation. It’s because of that that I am able to be who I am and do all the things that I have been able to do. I’m glad that I can be in these spaces to represent the Bangladeshi community.”
Khan is going to serve as a risk analyst where she will be calculating the impact and risk of interest rates on clients’ investments. In addition to this new role, Khan hopes to continue her work in advocacy in the legal field as well as develop her non-profit more deeply.
“STEM is very difficult on its own and then being a woman of color is more so difficult,” Khan said. “But I think [we] are in positions where [we] are meant to be. [We] deserve to be where [we] are at this moment; whatever good things come [our way] is deserved.”
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