Samira Shirazy

Samira Shirazy is a recipient of a Fellowship from the Marcy Migdal Fund for Educational Equality. The award supports exceptional students engaged in activities aimed at enhancing access to education for vulnerable students, either locally or throughout the world, and helping them succeed in their education. Click here to learn more about the Marcy Migdal Fund. 

I am a rising senior studying Human Centered Design & Engineering at the University of Washington. I am passionate about exposing and developing solutions that address the challenges faced by marginalized communities with technology. This upcoming school year, I will be applying for Ph.D. programs aligned with my values.

Since my freshman year at UW, I’ve been deeply involved in several organizations, particularly the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) and A Vision for Engineering Literacy and Access (AVELA). For AVELA, I have served on the Social Media and Design team, and held positions on the board as Event Chair and Vice President. In the upcoming school year, I will serve as AVELA UW’s President. I am very grateful for the opportunities that these organizations have provided me with and I always encourage minority students to find their community.

AVELA’s mission is to bridge the gap between underrepresented minority (URM) students and STEM education. We offer free, hands-on STEM workshops and lessons for URM K-14 students. One of AVELA’s proudest achievements is being entirely student-led. We use a near-peer mentorship model, where graduate students mentor undergraduates to create content based on their coursework and research. These undergraduates then bring this content to K-12 students in the community. We are continually seeking collaboration opportunities with organizations and partners aligned with our mission to provide accessible education.

The Marcy Migdal Fellowship will provide funding for AVELA student instructors and equipment needed for our classes.