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Council on Student Access Members

Ahmed Khalaf

COSA Co-Chair

Ahmed Khalaf

Ahmed is a member of COSA, this is his fourth year at the University of Utah. He is pursuing a degree in Psychology and minoring in Chemistry. Through his time at the University of Utah, Ahmed has been very involved with the Bennion Center, specifically the Alternative Breaks program. Students who participate in this program cultivate social responsibility, leadership, and lifelong learning; thereby fostering a generation of leaders committed to positive social change. Ahmed moved here to the US as a refugee, through his time navigating higher education, he felt very lost. However, through many trial and error, Ahmed understood how difficult it is to access higher education. He wants to help increase awareness and thorough understanding of how the system works. He is very appreciative and excited for his time with COSA being involved within his community.

 

Ahmed Khalaf

What inspired you to go to college?: “Moving to a completely new and different country was a challenging experience for me. I was around the age of 11, I was forced to learn English and had to catch up to all my fellow classmates. I always felt behind everyone else, I didn’t grow in a privileged lifestyle either. Coming from a low socioeconomic background, growing up on food stamps and affordable housing. Living with a single mother seeing how much she had to sacrifice for us to be in the position that we are today. I found that my way of power is education and thus motivated me to attend college. I wasn’t the smartest or the brightest, but I always want to learn.”

 

Abel Chavez

abel

Abel is a senior seeking a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in chemistry. During his tenure at the University of Utah, Abel has been heavily involved with the LEAP program and specifically the LEAP Health Sciences program which is a program geared to propel minority students in pursuing careers in healthcare. With this program he has served as a peer advisor and more recently a TA that guides students in working with community partners in conducting community service. Abel serves as a supplemental instruction leader for the TRIO program. Abel received the undergraduate research designation through the UROP program in his third year working with Dr. Marissa Diener in her prenatal education study on congenital cytomegalovirus. He is passionate about serving marginalized populations and providing avenues to access higher education. He is excited for his time in COSA and looks forward to opportunities in promoting equity and inclusion that is both conducive to learning and a culture of belonging. 

Abel Chavez

What inspired you to go to college?

From the time I was a little boy I knew I wanted to go to college. I am from a small place called Deming, New Mexico. This place is not unique in that it served as another border town that offers little opportunity to progress and attend an institution of higher education. This little town was historically one of the poorest performing public school systems in New Mexico, it is also one of the poorest communities in New Mexico. There were many in my community both friends and family, that succumbed to conditions present in the community. Many became involved in gangs. Some were imprisoned and some were killed due to gang violence. I wanted to serve as an example to my community, that it did not matter where you came from or if you did not grow up in affluence. My inspiration came from serving my community and honoring the sacrifices my parents made in placing me into a position to succeed.

 

Amy Coria

Amy

Amy was born and raised here in Utah, and absolutely loves the mountains and snow. On her own time she enjoys spending time with family and friends. Amy's journey has been different from many of her classmates. She started college at Salt Lake community college where she finished her associates and is now at the University working for a Bachelors in Finance. During her first two years, she became part of the student senate where she was able to learn about and help students of marginalized identities. Amy now joins COSA in hope to help even further, and make an impact in the life of students.

Amy Coria

What inspired you to go to college?: Like many, she is a first generation in her family. She values and appreciates all her family has done for her to have this opportunity in higher education. Amy fell in love with what identifies her and where her roots are planted. A woman that speaks Spanish with brown skin, eyes and hair is not what defines her, it’s the story of success. Amy had to find the pathway to college on her own. Time after time she felt confused,lost,tired, and even at the edge of quitting. Nevertheless, She believes anything is possible when you put your mind to it. Amy continues to work hard throughout her journey, because she knows that college is what opens those doors that are full of opportunities. She knows that if there is one thing nobody can take away from you, it is your knowledge through education.

 

Samantha Eddy

Samantha

Samantha predominantly grew up in Utah, and is a member of the Navajo Nation. She is a junior majoring in Architectural Studies with a minor in American Indian Studies. Through her time at the University of Utah, Samantha has been active with the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) as a Research Assistant. During Summer 2021, Samantha was funded by UROP to conduct a research project in Diné Bikéyah (Navajo Nation). Other than research, Samantha is a member of Building Resilience led by Center for Equity and Student Belonging (CESB). She hopes to continue her involvement with the university through Alternative Breaks and the American Indian Resource Center. Outside of the university, Samantha is the Student Design Ambassador for Nááts’íilid Initiative, a non-profit who wants to address the housing and infrastructure needs of Dinétah. She also enjoys volunteering at the Adopt-A-Native Elder program in South Salt Lake.

Samantha Eddy

What inspired you to go to college?

All through my secondary education, I've been consistently asked, "Where do you see yourself in ten years?" For long, I was just an American Indian girl who had no idea she'd have the opportunity to attend a university. Now, I have the privilege of being able to study at a university level. Many people don’t have that support of being in school. I am inspired to stay in the world of academia because I want other Indigenous students to see me as a role model and see themselves in a university setting.

 

Abdul Mansoor

 

Mansoor is a freshman studying computer science. He is currently involved in research through the University of Utah’s PathMaker Scholars program where he was has joined the English lab and worked with Adam Zahm on developing a method of RNA recovery unaffected by VEGAS mutations, and now plans to continue to participate in research with the lab throughout his undergraduate years at the University of Utah. In his spare time, he enjoys playing soccer, going on road trips, and all things outdoors.

Abdul Mansoor

What inspired you to go to college?

Mansoor was born and raised in Afghanistan, a country that has lacked access to education, which is vital. He had never expected to have continued his education as far as he is right now and the distance he is hoping to go. Grateful for the opportunities and resources here, he is inspired to maximize them. He believes one way he is able to maximize his opportunities is by getting a meaningful higher education.

 

Yousuf Haidari

Yousuf

I was born and raised in a country where every system is corrupt. The education system is more than destroyed. It is a country where every family has difficulties putting food on the table. A country with child labor, a country where more than half of the population is unemployed. Afghanistan is not only the most dangerous country in the world but it is a country where a child has no future, which in my opinion, is more dangerous. My family’s life in Afghanistan was challenging in many ways; such as; poverty, lack of education, lack of safety, violence, and exploitation.

I intend to pursue a major in biomedical engineering (BME) while being enrolled in pre-medical courses. I chose BME because I have a strong interest in both the

medical field and robotics. I was the president of my school’s robotics team, which drives my interest to join engineering. At the same time, my hope and my main goal is to attend medical school to become an Internal medicine physician. I know that it will be difficult and expensive to be in medical school, but my desire to become a doctor will overcome all the challenges that will arise during this journey to my career.

Yousuf Haidari

What inspired you to go to college?

The thoughts of aiding people and helping them one-on-one gives me motivation to keep going to a higher education. I understand that I have high expectations and expensive goals, but a dream is just a dream without hard work. I am more than certain that I can achieve my goals through hard work and dedication. I am the first individual in my family endeavoring to step into college. I will make myself, my friends, and my family proud. The tragedies and difficulties in my life have helped me understand the value of education to my future and the future of my family.

 

Alejandra Rodarte-Robles

Alex

Alex is a member of COSA and is in her junior year here at the University of Utah. She is currently majoring in International Studies with a focus in Development & Sustainability as well as minoring in Korean Studies. For the past two years, she was a member of First-Gen Scholars, a program dedicated to inspire and engage first-generation students to be actively involved in the community through leadership, advising, and mentorship opportunities. Through her participation in First-Gen Scholars, Alex joined the Defining Your Path program as a lead-ambassador. She facilitated trips for Kindergarten through eighth-grade students to the University of Utah campus, providing them with valuable learning experiences that will help set them on a path toward higher education. She is passionate about serving marginalized communities and wants to continue to help students access higher education.

Alejandra Rodarte-Robles

 

What inspired you to go to college?:

The thought of going to college was always intimidating for me, especially as a first-generation student. Because I grew up in a low-income household, I never pictured myself going to college. However, I was fortunate enough to have my parents’ and mentors’ support and encouragement throughout middle school and high school. Seeing the amount of effort my mentors committed to help underrepresented students in my community opened my eyes and made me realize that I too want to help those in my community. Now more than ever, the world benefits from access to higher education, and I am a strong proponent of sharing these opportunities and my experience with those who may need it most.

 

Jaina Lee

Jaina

Jaina is a member of COSA and is in her senior year at the University of Utah. She is currently studying Health, Society, and Policy along with Anthropology with an emphasis in Health. Her passions are in dismantling oppressive systems in both health and higher education. She also has the occasional knack for picking up random hobbies. Her social justice journey began in the Bennion Center’s Alternative Break Program which has helped her realize that access to higher education is complex and goes far beyond just financial barriers. She believes education is how students of marginalized backgrounds find empowerment to make strides in their own community and hopes the work COSA does can help achieve this goal of elevating students' opportunities.

Jaina Lee

What inspired you to go to college?:

Like many of my fellow COSA members, I am a first generation student who has been able to obtain a college education through the sacrifices of my immigrant parents. I was lucky enough to have grown up with having all my needs and wants met through my hardworking parents. Through the knowledge I have gained through college, I have realized what a privilege it is to be on any college campus and that for many, college was not an option but rather a closed door. I have been able to find my own identity and reasons for wanting to continue my education since being here and I hope to support other students in finding their own passions and voices so that they can go on to be models in their own communities.

 

Sai Parsawar

Sai

Sai is a senior studying Health, Society & Policy and Ethnic Studies with a minor in Psychology. During her time at the University of Utah, she has been involved in the Alternative Breaks program and SURF (Students United For Reproductive Freedom). Through these experiences, she has gained invaluable insight on organizing on campus and the systems that affect and create the institution of higher education. Sai is invested in making higher education a safer space for marginalized students by helping dismantle systems that make it inaccessible. She is particularly interested in reproductive justice, abolition (in all forms), and equitable/decolonized health care. Through her work in COSA, she hopes to empower communities who have historically been denied access to higher education and to help those already in higher education navigate it better.

Sai Parsawar

What inspired you to go to college?:

I am a first-generation college student.

 

Amery Kongphouthakhoun

COSA Academic Advisor

Amery

Amery, the DYP Field Trip Coordinator, has been planning and leading field trips for the University of Utah since 2015. She started out as a DYP volunteer while earning her undergraduate and graduate degree on campus. Soon after she became an intern for DYP for several years and is now the program coordinator. She is an energetic leader who enjoys working with students of all ages. She has a passion for giving back to her community through promoting college access to students from diverse backgrounds. As an inclusive educator, she continually works to create educational environments that are both engaging and interactive for all.  

 

 

Last Updated: 8/30/23