Montclair State University - Jurisprudence, Law, and Society | Economics

When I came across the Roothbert Fund Fellowship, I was stricken with a palpable enthusiasm. I found a community that both aligns with my social values and encourages their fellows to hold spiritual beliefs. This motivated me to apply for a fellowship, as I knew I wouldn’t just be another “member.” Instead, you are treated like a family member and are given the opportunity to connect with prior, present, and future fellows. My main goal is to go to law school and become an attorney to advocate for those in need. Some interests of mine include wildlife conservation, playing guitar, painting, and using my Extra Class HAM Radio license to transmit signals all over the world. My peers frequently call me “well-rounded” since I partake in so many diverse hobbies! I’m excited to see what the future has in store, and I’m extremely thankful to the committee for granting me this fellowship.

LinkedIn | Instagram: @autymdymarczyk

Yale University - Master of Public Health in Social and Behavioral Sciences

I am currently pursuing my Master of Public Health in Social and Behavioral Sciences at Yale University, where I work as a Graduate Research Assistant at the Substances and Sexual Health Lab. Upon completing my Master of Public Health, I am interested in continuing my studies through a doctorate program, where I can continue to conduct community-engaged research, develop policy recommendations, and implement interventions that promote healing justice and empower Black youth. I was motivated to apply to the Roothbert Fellowship to be in community with like-minded individuals who have a passion for advocacy and liberation. Additionally, I am interested in exploring my faith and spirituality and having the opportunity to grow as an individual.

LinkedIn | Twitter

Drexel University - Master of Public Health (Epidemiology and Social Justice Policy)

Being born and raised in the Holy Land, Palestine, and attending boarding school in India allowed me to live in rich cultures that invited me to learn about various religions and ignited my curiosity about the role of religion in communities. During my undergraduate studies, I was heavily involved in religious life at Earlham College while leading Interfaith House. My life trajectory and attending a Quaker school allowed me to comprehend religions as a means to spiritual fulfillment and inner light exploration while continuing to practice Islam. My long-term career goal is to return as a professor to Palestine to research settler colonialism as a social determinant of health and explore faith-based mental health interventions.

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Southern New Hampshire University - Master of Arts in History (Concentration in Public History)

I am happy and grateful to be a Roothbert Fellow! My hometown is New Roads, LA and I currently reside in New Orleans, LA. I am pursuing a Master of Arts in History with a concentration in Public History at Southern New Hampshire University. My goal in pursuing further education is to work as an independent public historian and consultant. I have been conducting research on McDonoghville Cemetery, a cemetery of the enslaved and free people of color located in the Cities of New Orleans and Gretna, LA. I contacted a university regarding my research, and this prompted me to pursue further education and to apply to become a Roothbert Fellow. In addition to this, my father was involved in the Baton Rouge Sit -Ins, resulting in the significant U.S. Supreme Court case Garner v. Louisiana. The Baton Rouge Sit-Ins are now a part of the Louisiana Civil Rights Trail and the U.S. Civil Rights Trail. This has also influenced my interest in public history. I enjoy outdoor and cultural activities and have a special interest in the historical, cultural and environmental preservation of the State of Louisiana.

Features:

New Orleans Historical | Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health - Masters of Public Health in Food, Nutrition & Health

Developing camaraderie while exploring compassionate and inclusive approaches to social care appeals to me deeply and prompted my application to the Roothbert Fellowship. Throughout my studies and career, I interlaced nutrition, agroecology, trauma informed care, multimedia art, and positive psychology. Nurturing whole person and planetary wellness by developing holistic solutions to climate change and social determinants of health is my life’s ambition. For six years, I have designed and implemented food as medicine programs which allowed me to uplift under resourced populations and support local food systems. By continuing my education, I aim to scale these innovative solutions and further develop leadership skills. I am honored to be selected for this opportunity and look forward to learning and growing with this cohort!

LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram: @ameliorate_industries & @amelia.romaine

Yale University - Master of Public Health (Global Health and U.S. Health Justice)

As an aspiring physician and global health leader my mission is to dismantle health inequities, advocate for immigrant and African communities and implement just and representative policies and practices. At the University of Washington, I studied Medical Anthropology and Global Health with a focus on African Studies. I am taking the skills and experiences I have gained thus far in pursuit of my master’s in public health at Yale University; in hopes of advancing my knowledge in community and global health advocacy prior to starting my career in Medicine. My faith has been the guiding force in my life and the foundation of my professional work. Coming from a culture that is heavily influenced by faith I have gained insight on the importance of spiritual healing in East African and immigrant communities. As a physician, researcher, and global health advocate I hope to integrate faith-based spaces and the formal healthcare systems to reduce barriers and promote hope and holistic healing. The Roothbert Fellowship gives me access to scholars, leaders and like-minded individuals that will inspire me to grow in my faith while cultivating my current and future endeavors.

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The New School - Visual Studies

A passion of mine that has inspired me to become a part of the Roothbert community is my love for all mediums of art. However, I am specifically interested in visual art. That is why I will be pursuing a career in curatorial work throughout my remaining years in university, and alongside this fellowship. I’ve joined the Roothbert Fellowship to further expand my comfort within spirituality. As well as surround myself with those who hold the same devotion to nurturing one’s self through spiritual ties with whomever or whatever they believe in.

Antioch University New England - Doctorate in Clinical Psychology

As a devout Muslim, faith has played a pivotal role in my life in providing me solace and direction. Yet, I unraveled quite early on: Surface-level knowledge of faith and spirituality is often insufficient. It is for that reason, after my undergraduate degree, I decided to deepen my understanding of God and to truly connect with my Creator. I traveled to the Middle East for six years to study Islam and to unlock the classical and traditional works of scholars and predecessors of the Islamic faith. This journey has been incredibly meaningful to me. As a recently appointed faith leader however, I have recognized how severely my community suffers from mental health issues and illnesses, yet the type of assistance that the community seeks is not readily available. Although religion and spirituality can be an incredible remedy, knowledge of the psychotherapy approaches are essential in systematic treatment. Through my education I hope to provide Islamically-integrated psychotherapy to the very underserved Muslim-American population and others alike.

Instagram: @hamzavohra2407

Johns Hopkins University - Master of Business Administration | Maryland Institute College of Art - Master of Art in Design Leadership

Zain is a second-generation Pakistani-American Queer Muslim passionate about community engagement and arts-cultural management. He currently serves as the International Fellow for Domaine de Boisbuchet, a French arts and cultural non-profit, and the Co-Chair for Hidayah US, an organization providing support and welfare for LGBTQIA+ Muslims across the world. Having spent the past few years learning to reaffirm his spiritual and cultural upbringing with his identity as a progressive Queer Muslim, Zain has worked to find and create spaces where he and others like him are welcome. Combining his passion for socially responsive design work with his interests in management, he hopes to continue supporting minority socio-cultural-religious groups as a professional by one day leading creative enterprises in fostering contextually responsible work that engages with underserved and underrepresented communities. Zain hopes to take advantage of the opportunities presented by receiving the Roothbert Fellowship to connect with other socially responsible global citizens and learn how to better serve other organizations and communities. He looks to connect with other spiritually driven leaders to not only help re-affirm his personal spiritual motives and his mission to actively shape and benefit his community, but also in transferring those impactive teachings to groups he hopes to work with as a Queer South Asian Muslim cultural leader.

Website | LinkedIn | Instagram: @zainhashmi

Princeton University - Cognitive Science with a minor in African American Studies

My goal is to bridge my passion for equity and neuroscience. I plan to bridge these interests by studying conditions like strokes and Alzheimer’s Disease in marginalized populations. I was drawn to the Roothbert Fund because of its focus on spirituality, as spirituality is a significant component of my life and success. I appreciate having a fund dedicated to recognizing the diverse influence that spirituality can have on individuals and society. I was hoping to use the money for college so that cost would not be as much of a limiting factor when I made my matriculation decisions and I could truly focus on the education.

Howard University - History

I am called to uplift and center Black women and girls in my work as a journalist and future historian. I plan on doing this as an audio documentarian, archival producer, and historical consultant. This fall, I will begin the master's program in history at Howard University. I plan on majoring in public history and minoring in United States history. And, I would like to study Black women's experiences and contributions to the Civil Rights Movement and the Black Power Movement. In 2021, I was included in IWMF’s Women to Watch Round-Up. I am an alumna of Spelman College and Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, a 2020 IWMF Gwen Ifill Fellow, a 2019 AIR New Voices Scholar, and a 2016 White House Correspondents' Association scholarship recipient. In 2015, I was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Society.

Website | LinkedIn | Twitter

The New School - Masters in Environmental Policy and Sustainability Management

I am an Indian Muslim researcher, community facilitator, and designer, born and raised in Queens, New York. My current research is focused primarily on two topics: 1) the intersections of security, climate justice, and Muslim communities, and 2) the relationship between the fashion industrial complex and border imperialism. I am guided by my faith to challenge oppressive systems while working towards collectively building care-based alternatives. The Roothbert Fellowship is a community of grounded thinkers I am grateful to learn and build with in this struggle for justice.

LinkedIn | Instagram: @kokakoli

Features:

Fordham University | Raices Verdes Podcast | Muslimah Podcast

Columbia University - Master of International Affairs

I aspire to use my education to safeguard the rights and opportunities of disabled people through effective international disability policy research, practice, and intervention. Specifically, I have an interest in preventing global human rights violations by increasing the efficacy and ratification of international disability treaties, such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2007) and its Optional Protocol. These ambitions are innately tied to my own experience as a disabled woman and my belief that I can most wholly demonstrate the love of God by leaving a legacy of justice and tangible social change. I applied to become a Roothbert Fellow because I have learned the most from friends of every religious affiliation (or lack thereof). During my graduate education, I am enthusiastic to form lifelong connections with a community dedicated to social betterment that spans many forms of spirituality, religious practice, and worship.

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Spelman College - Ethel Waddell Githii Honors Porgram - Political Science

Striving against societal “boxes” has inspired me to integrate both my interest in fashion and calling for advocacy. In 2022, I administered a mission drive in which I collected, donated, and distributed menstrual products to women in need in my community. Also, I persuaded my high school to earmark a large donation to a Kenyan organization in which period management products were provided for menstruators lacking adequate resources. To integrate my interest in fashion, I sewed sanitary napkin holders to prevent young girls from feeling vulnerable or exposed. The Roothbert Fellowship’s mission to build a community of open-minded individuals who improve the world through unconventional solutions resonates with my life aspirations. Long term, I hope to enter politics in order to combat injustices including period poverty and mass incarceration.

Website

Princeton University - Master of Public Affairs

As a Palestinian and Muslim-American who grew up in post-9/11 America, many of my experiences and conversations have been defined by religious violence. As a result, my goals are always informed by how they can improve the lives of those most affected by religious conflict. Through my studies, I aim to better understand how to prevent religicide and human rights violations, not just for Muslims but for those of all faiths. This work is fundamentally built on connection, understanding, and mutual support. I applied to the Roothbert Fund Fellowship because it embodies exemplifies the nature of inter-faith cooperation and dialogue, and by extension, religious violence prevention. I’m excited for the meaningful conversations and connections that this fellowship will create.