Student Spotlight: Meet Islamic Studies Minor Student Lara Mohammad Hafez, ’24
Lara Mohammad Hafez is graduating this year with a B.A. in political science and minors in human rights and global studies, with a specialization in Islamic studies.
“I have always wanted to become a civil rights lawyer who specifically worked within Muslim and Arab communities, which is why these programs all felt critical for my education and future occupation,” said Hafez, who will be attending Columbia Law School on a full ride merit scholarship next year.
Read the Q&A below to learn more about Lara’s undergraduate experience at Stanford.
Tell us about your favorite class.
In Professor Samer Al Saber's class, TAPS 22N: Culture, Conflict, and the Modern Middle East, we simulated the Middle Eastern experience through food, atmosphere, songs, and pictures. We were all sitting and talking about what we had learned in the class and were truly able to distance ourselves from simply speaking on academic terms. Instead, it was a welcoming space to explore our and others' identities.
As you reflect on your time at Stanford, what are you most proud of?
I am most proud of the work I was able to do through my thesis. I studied Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) Americans and their political engagement levels, which lead to insightful research that will help build the foundation of understanding MENA individuals in the U.S. and within politics. Not much research has been done about the MENA population, which is why I was excited to add to the current literature.
How have your minors in human rights and Islamic studies changed your understanding of the world and prepared you for your next steps?
As someone who wants to protect the human rights of individuals domestically and abroad, both of my minors have allowed me to explore the manifestation of human rights violations and the dehumanization and otherization of Muslim individuals, which will equip me to understand how I can better support the communities I intend to support.