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Israah Ansari

Israah Ansari

Student Speaker

Israah Ansari is a fourth-year transfer student at Johns Hopkins University, majoring in political science and psychology. Having come from a background where higher education was barely an option, she strives to advocate for student success initiatives while furthering her own understanding of education policy.


Ansari received her Associate of Arts in both social sciences and general studies from Howard Community College. While at HCC, she served as the Student Government President and Civic Engagement Programs Associate. In this role, she collaborated with Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball, HCC administrators and other community partners to establish various programs, resources, and opportunities that benefit students personally, academically, and professionally. Of note, Ansari began Howard Community College’s Homecoming tradition, implemented monthly Student Safe Spaces for her peers to connect over important topics, united the community through an end-of-Ramadan iftar and end-of-semester Stomp the Yard, and was HCC’s 2023 Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship recipient.

Ansari now engages with Hopkins’ Dean of Admissions and orientation team to improve the transfer student experience, as well as the SNF Agora Institute to increase students’ civic engagement and her involvement in education policy. Ansari’s end goal is to work in higher education to further break down barriers that underserved students face.