Student Spotlight: Zulekha Tasneem
Zulekha Tasneem (SFS ‘22) is an undergraduate studying Science, Technology, and International Affairs with a concentration in Global Health and Biotechnology in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University.
Tell us about your interest in global health. What inspired you to participate in the Conversations in Global Health Court?
My interest in global health is centered around addiction and mental health. This interest stems from familial experiences and reading more on drug policies. I believe the intersection of addiction and mental health can be further developed, and I hope to make an impact in this area. I had the opportunity to learn more about global health through my class with Professor Emily Mendenhall. It inspired me to get to know more of the members in the global health community through this class and learn about the different ways to make an impact in the field of global health.
What are some global health events you may have participated in on campus/in D.C.?
Even though my interest in global health is relatively new, I have been able to participate and help plan speaker events in the field of global health. For example, this semester I was able to help bring Dr. Leana Wen, the former president of Planned Parenthood through Lecturer Fund. She was able to share her expertise on women’s reproductive rights from both a medical perspective and a policy perspective. In the future, I hope to continue help planning events for speakers in the global health field.
What activities are you involved with on campus?
The two activities I am involved with on campus are 1) Lecture Fund - a nonpartisan student-run organization that enriches the academic experience of the Georgetown community by bringing outside speakers that educate, entertain, and foster dialogue; and 2) GU Jawani - Geogreotwn University’s premier bhangra team that has become my second home on campus and an outlet for me to spread my South Asian culture to the broader Georgetown community. Additionally, I am a student worker at Georgetown’s Office of Compliance and Ethics, which has given me the opportunity to research new ethical standards - specifically related to the protection of minors.
What is your favorite part about being at Georgetown?
I love that Georgetown is a small campus in the larger D.C. community. There are many opportunities for me to go out and explore D.C. with all the museums, restaurants, and attractions right at my finger tips. However, I also have the comfort of being in a small campus that easily facilitates building close connections with friends and faculty that I will inevitably see around campus.
Tell us about your educational and professional aspirations.
In the future, I hope to attend law school and focus on global health law. After receiving a law degree, I hope to advocate for people who inject drugs and the broader community of people with mental health issues. I hope to somehow make a difference by reconciling the differences between the criminal justice system’s perception and public health's perception of harm reduction. Especially with the rise of the opioid epidemic, I believe there is still a lot of progress to be made in the US on the treatment of people who use drugs and broader drug policies.