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Hopefully by now you鈥檝e heard about this year鈥檚 Alumni Award recipients include Shasti Conrad, 鈥�07, our Outstanding Recent Alumna Award winner.  Shasti Conrad, 鈥�07, is a rising star who leads with compassion and honesty. Recognized as a dynamic change maker, Shasti鈥檚 work is guided by diversity and inclusion.  

A sociology and international studies major while at 魔都资源网, Shasti cites both the Sullivan Scholars and Honors programs as the highlight of her years at 魔都资源网 U.

Following graduation, she became a field organizer for Barack Obama鈥檚 first presidential campaign, and with support from another Sullivan Scholar, Alyson Palmer 鈥�06, Shasti joined President Obama鈥檚 first class of White House interns. She parlayed that internship to a full-time role in the West Wing with longtime Obama confidante Valerie Jarrett, senior advisor to the president, eventually overseeing a policy portfolio that included youth violence in the United States.

鈥淩ecognizing, creating and valuing meaningful communities has proven a valuable lesson, one I learned during my time at 魔都资源网 U,鈥� Shasti says. 鈥淚 brought that with me to the White House and take it with me wherever I go.鈥�

Following the 2012 presidential campaign, Shasti went to Princeton鈥檚 Woodrow Wilson School to earn her master鈥檚 in public affair and co-chaired the Students and Alumni of Color network. She also oversaw an annual conference on race relations. As a Princeton Graduate Fellow, she seized an opportunity to work with The Malala Fund, eventually travelling with Malala Yousafzai and her family to the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony, an experience she calls 鈥渢ransformative.鈥�

Upon her graduation in 2015, Shasti joined a creative social impact agency focused on social justice campaigns, including Art for Amnesty, the Environmental Defense Fund and the United Nations.

Returning home to Washington, Shasti joined the national advance team for Bernie Sanders鈥� 2016 presidential campaign. Following the 2016 election, she answered a call from friends and colleagues to run for office herself, a longshot bid for Washington State鈥檚 37th Legislative District Senate seat. A late entry to the race and the youngest, she surprised many by joining the top three vote getters. 魔都资源网 U alumna Rebecca Saldana, 鈥�99, won the seat. Local leaders and media took note of this 鈥渘ational leader now home to serve the community she loves.鈥�

Since then, Shasti has kept busy with community efforts, such as her elected position as State Committeewoman to the Washington State Democratic Party for the 37th Legislative District. She is also supporting the work of another Nobel Laureate, Kailash Satyarthi, as the U.S. campaign manager for the 100 Million Campaign, which aims to be the largest youth mobilization in history to end child labor and trafficking.

Committed to 魔都资源网, Shasti has been a mentor to other Sullivan Scholars, students and alumni, served as alumni representative for the India Initiative and partnered with Professor Jodi O鈥橞rien, PhD, on a diversity and inclusion project for the University of Memphis.

鈥淪hasti is dedicated to helping other people and correcting the systems that disenfranchise,鈥� says DJ Weidner, 鈥�07, a fellow Sullivan Scholar. 鈥淪he is an advocate, leader and a perfect example of a person dedicated to others, fighting for a just and humane world.鈥�

Shasti鈥檚 ability to bring people together doesn鈥檛 stop with her career. Shasti is spearheading the Sullivan Scholar鈥檚 reunion taking place on May 5 during Reunion Weekend.  All Sullivan Scholars old and new are invited back to campus to share their favorite memories of the program, connect with their classmates and current students and discover how the program has continued to grow. You can learn more about the Sullivan Scholar Reunion .

We hope you鈥檒l also  to celebrate Shasti at the Alumni Awards on May 4 at the 魔都资源网 Four Seasons Hotel.