Ayesha Ali is a junior in the School of Arts of Sciences Honors Program and Douglass Residential College, majoring in Political Science and minoring in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and International and Global Studies. Ayesha has worked as a Learning Assistant at Rutgers University for the course Modern Urdu Literature and Pop Culture where she worked alongside the course professor to engage students with South Asian culture, language, and more. She has also worked with Rutgers University’s Pre-College Initiatives and College Success Division of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement where she interacted with middle school students for a college preparation workshop. The program is designed to motivate students to graduate high school successfully, prepare for college admissions, and attend the college or university of their choice. As a first-generation Pakistani-American, working with low-income, first-generation students represents the work Ayesha hopes to continue after graduating. Ayesha is currently a part of the Rutgers Summer Service Internship program where she is interning at PEN American Artists at Risk Connection Program. As an intern, Ayesha has gained an understanding of the global artistic freedom environment, including the threats artists face for their work. Working at an organization that protects artistic freedom on a global scale has strengthened Ayesha’s desire to work in the human rights field. In the fall, she will be a part of Douglass College’s Global Village Learning Communities working alongside other students passionate about racial equality and social justice. In her free time, Ayesha loves to drink coffee, read books, talk about all things pop culture, and travel.
