Last spring, Connecticut College welcomed six new members to the Board of Trustees. The Board consists of a group of elected alumni who are responsible for overseeing the policies and operations at the College. Collectively, these individuals work to implement new plans and policies to develop its future. Joining these new members is a Young Alumni Trustee, Samirah Jaigirdar ‘22.
Jaigirdar was an international student from Bangladesh who double-majored in International Relations and Global Islamic Studies and minored in Arabic. Ad- ditionally, she was a CISLA scholar. Outside of class time, she conducted research through the International Relations Department in a project titled “Tearing Down the Façade: Power, Realism, and the War on Terror.” Jaigirdar was also a member of the International Student Association and the Student Government Association (SGA), serving as president during her senior year. She cites her time as a member of the SGA as one of the reasons she chose to remain connected with Conn and apply for the Young Alumni Position. Jaigirdar applied for the position during her senior spring, where she was elected by the members of her class. Her experience as a member of governing practices at Conn allowed Jaigirdar to further her connection with the school—a connection she hopes to keep after graduation.
Jaigirdar was appointed to the position during the late spring of 2022, and she began service on July 1. During her time thus far, she met with the committee in preparation for the Board meeting scheduled in early October. On the Board, Jaigirdar will be serving on the Student-Trustee Liaison Committee and the Student Experience Committee. As a member of the Committee on the Student Experi- ence, Jaigirdar will oversee matters affecting student life of the College, including residential life, student wellbeing, student activities and organizations, and will support equity and inclusion practices as they relate to student life, culture, and conduct.
When asked about what she is looking forward to as a Board member, Jaigirdar says she is looking forward to collaborating with other alumni and those equally invested in helping the College flourish. While the majority of the current Board members are many years her senior, as one of the three Young Alumni Trustees, Jaigirdar has the opportunity to bring a fresh perspective to the Board, where she can share her experiences as a recent graduate and help improve student expe- rience for current and future students.
Now, Samirah is pursuing a Master of Theological Studies at the Harvard Divinity School, where she is specializing in Religion, Politics, and Ethics, exploring the topics of extremism and propaganda. Upon completing her master’s Jaigirdar hopes to earn a PhD and eventually pursue a career in academia. Reflecting upon her classes at Conn, Jaigirdar says that her studies at the College helped lay the foundation for her future. While at Conn, she was able to develop her interests in government and international relations through her academic courses, research experiences, and international studies as a member of CISLA.
As a student both in and outside of Conn and as a person, Jaigirdar is an incredibly accomplished individual. Her work both in and outside the classroom make Jaigirdar an incredibly notable young woman. As a recent alum, she continues to make Connecticut College proud and is a wonderful addition to the Board of Trustees. •
