Samara Rezwan

2026 Newman Family Scholarship Recipient

My name is Samara Rezwan, and I am a junior majoring in International Studies on the Political Economy and Policy track, with a certificate in Health Policy. My academic interests focus on development, health, law, and policy, and I plan to pursue a career as an attorney.

I am particularly interested in development work in Bangladesh, where I hope to support efforts to improve access to essential services in culturally responsive ways. My interest in healthcare equity and the empowerment of women and children has been shaped by my long-term involvement with BERNOSSUS, a free clinic and after-school program serving an underserved community in Dhaka.

I have been involved with BERNOSSUS since 2014, but more recently have contributed to initiatives including women’s health literacy programming, vocational sewing training, and COVID-19 education modules. Through this work, I have seen how poverty, limited educational access, and gender norms directly impact health outcomes. It has also shown me how much community-based interventions can create a meaningful change.

I strongly agree with the Newman Family’s belief that engaging with diverse cultures creates the understanding necessary to address complex global challenges, and I am deeply grateful for their support in helping me continue this work.