BY SAMANTHA RAGHU [SHE/HER] | SYSTEM AND UNIVERSITY RELATIONS COORDINATOR
Hello everyone! My name is Samantha Raghu, and I am beyond excited to be joining Students United as the new System & University Relations Coordinator!
A little bit about myself: I identify as Indo-Guyanese, and my pronouns are she/her/hers. I grew up in the small, rural town of Arlington, Minnesota. In 2021, I graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College with a bachelor's in Sociology/Anthropology and a minor in Political Science. During my sophomore year, I became a Student Mentor for Gustavus' Gusties Attaining Interpersonal Networks (GAIN) orientation program. As a mentor, I worked with the Center for Inclusive Excellence (CIE) office to help students of first-generation, low-income, multicultural, bilingual, etc. backgrounds transition into college. During the fall of 2019, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Chiang Mai, Thailand through the financial support of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, where I learned about and navigated the social structures and dynamics of Thai society, politics, and international relations. Through my time at Gustavus, I was introduced to a vast network of amazing students, professors, and faculty. The relationships I've built with each individual are ones that I hold dear to my heart!
While I had many wonderful adventures and learning opportunities, completing my undergraduate degree and navigating higher education as a first-generation student came with hardships and trepidations. There were many days and nights when I felt academically, financially, and emotionally overwhelmed and lost. As a student of color, I often felt solitude navigating an institution that was predominantly white and affluent. The sentiments of exclusion and barriers I faced are the driving force behind my passion to create and advocate for higher education spaces that are more equitable and inclusive of the needs of first-generation and low-income students.
My lived experiences and passion for higher education are precisely what have led me to this role and organization! I am inspired and astonished by Students United's work in implementing state and system-level change by amplifying the lived experiences and voices of Minnesota state students. I am honored to be tasked with serving Minnesota State students, and I am eager to establish long-lasting connections and bonds with students and members of the system office!
Outside of Student's United, I love to read, listen to music, and go on hikes! Currently, I am reading The Good Immigrant edited by Nikesh Shukla and Chimene Suleyman, and my go-to album is Forest in the City by UMI. Also, I absolutely LOVE Marvel movies. Quite frankly, I can talk about them all day.
If you are reading this and are interested in having a conversation about your experience with or thoughts on higher education, or would like to know more about Students United and our role, please do not hesitate to reach out! You can reach me at sraghu@studentsunited.org.