The Scholarship & Social Justice Undergraduate Research Conference at Harvard College was launched ten years ago as a joint project between the Phillips Brooks House Center for Public Service and the Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race relations to bring more attention to socially engaged research. It was 2015 and our deeply traditional research institution had yet to jump into the engaged scholarship movement with plans for a full program in engaged scholarship still a year or two off in the future. The students, however, were fully on board with this area of research--particularly those who were deeply immersed as activists and volunteers on and off campus. These student activist/scholars were already doing thesis and capstone research that integrated their interests in social change from an activist and intellectual perspective. We decided to amplify and honor their work by hosting a national conference featuring the work of undergraduate researchers taking a critical lens to research on understudied communities and issues related to marginalized communities. The conference model was simple; research was divided into sessions reflecting unified themes such as health access and educational equity. Undergraduates would present their work to an audience that included a faculty member to provide feedback and other guests who could ask questions. A happy outcome of this format led a number of students to consider pursuing advanced research as a career, especially those from groups underrepresented in higher education. We had not anticipated how effective this format would be in encouraging young scholars. In an age where academic inquiry is under attack, this was a way to reaffirm the role of higher education in producing new knowledge.  

In 2015, we received thirty proposals for twenty spots and ten years later, we received nearly two hundred proposals for thirty-five spots for presenters and we are still the only national conference for undergraduate researchers. What has changed is the growth in programs and classes for undergraduates pursuing this type of inquiry. In the beginning, only seniors were doing independent research but now we are receiving proposals from second, third, and fourth year students who are engaged as independent researchers. We also could not have had this growth without the support of our colleagues and national campus partners. It is through their recruitment and support that students are aware of this opportunity. This year, we have partnered with one of those national partners, the Michigan Journal of Service Learning and Community Engagement to feature some of the undergraduate researchers who presented at the Scholarship & Social Justice Conference this year. This research exemplifies the kind of critical thinking and engaged research produced by undergraduates across the country. We are pleased to present some examples of scholarship to those who are not able to attend our conference. Thank you to the team at the Ginsberg Center  for making this possible!  -Varsha Ghosh, Director of Student Engagement and Leadership at Harvard College

You may find short bios for each student researcher and links to their write-ups below:

Allister Dias graduated from the University of Las Vegas-Nevada in 2025 with degrees in Economics and a minor in Global Entrepreneurship. Over his four years at UNLV, Allister served as the President of the Honors College Student Council and Editor-in-Chief of UNLV's student newspaper, Scarlet & Gray Free Press, and is CEO of AI-startup company, YouChef. After graduation, he hopes to continue studying economics by pursuing a PhD.

Byron Gonzalez graduated from Harvard College in 2025 with a degree in Psychology, a secondary in Global Health and Health Policy, and certificates in Civic Engagement and Latin American Studies. Byron has been a dedicated public service leader at Harvard, leading multiple public service programs, as well as a campus activist advocating for greater equity for all of our community members. Originally from Southern California, Byron will continue to advocate for equity and access for all. 

Humnah Poonawalla and Fatima Zohra Poonawalla are co-authors on "Crossroads of Justice". Humnah, `27, is originally from Edison, New Jersey. Humnah is majoring in Operations Research and Financial Engineering with minors in Greek Studies, Sustainability, and Machine Learning at Princeton University. Passionate about the intersection of mathematics, finance, and artificial intelligence with diplomacy and global energy transitions, she is active with the Society of Women Engineers, Princeton University Energy Association, and Princeton Women in Entrepreneurship. Fatima is a class of '27 high school student in New Jersey. Her passions lie at the intersection of environmental science, STEM, and education. Whether developing tools to support NASA space missions or presenting research at national conferences, she thrives on tackling real-world challenges through innovative, interdisciplinary approaches. With a heart for advocacy and a mind for STEM, she envisions a future where technology serves both people and the planet. She’s especially drawn to potential majors like environmental science, public policy, computer science, or education, all of which reflect her commitment to both equity and sustainability. Fatima is passionate about youth-induced change.

Vaishali Garg graduated in 2025 from NYU-Abu Dhabi with a degree in Social Research and Public Policy and Psychology. Vaishali grew up in India. She brings passion to exploring the intersections at mental health, social justice, and media, and how they affect human behavior and well-being, to research opportunities in Ghana, Italy, and Singapore. A dedicated student leader, Vaishali has served as a resident assistant and first-year peer advisor.