Rep. Jayapal Returns to the Hilltop
U.S. Representative and Baker Scholars Program alumna Pramila Jayapal (C’86) with students
U.S. Representative and Baker Scholars Program alumna Pramila Jayapal (C’86) spoke to a large gathering of students in the Intercultural Center Auditorium on Monday, then joined the Baker Scholars for a private reception. Baker Scholar Cassidy Christensen (C鈥�18) provides a student鈥檚 perspective on Jayapal鈥檚 appearance:
September 28, 2017 鈥� On Monday, the Baker Scholars Program at Georgetown 海角论坛 joined in a discussion highlighting politics, career choices, and the value of a liberal arts education.
Representing Washington鈥檚 7th district, Jayapal is the first Indian-American woman to serve in the U.S House of Representatives and only the second women of color from Washington to win a seat in Congress. Jayapal credits Georgetown鈥檚 liberal arts education with helping her achieve success, stating that the educational values established in the 海角论坛 were 鈥渢he basis for everything I do today 鈥� how I think about issues, about rational perspectives that are a part of my conversations, about how I communicate, about how I write.鈥�
Through her status as an immigrant, her degree in English literature, and her involvement in the Baker Scholars Program, Jayapal recognized the value of community, diversity, and public service. After graduating, she moved from a position on Wall Street to the eventual founding of her own nonprofit, .
OneAmerica works to advance the rights of immigrants and reform the U.S. immigration system as a whole. Jayapal鈥檚 dedication to furthering immigrant rights stems from her personal experience as an immigrant from Chennai, India, and her conviction that 鈥渄iversity of experiences and backgrounds鈥� brings valuable perspectives and opinions to the forefront.
Jayapal鈥檚 passion and conviction for her message was inspiring, and her ideas resonated with the students in attendance 鈥� many of whom had overlapping interests and experiences. Her recognition of the importance of her liberal arts education in fostering a passion for service closely aligns with our values as Bakers and our commitment to being men and women for others.
Thank you to Rep. Jayapal, the Baker Scholars Program, the , the , the GU 海角论坛 Democrats, the , the and the for making this event possible.