Zahra Modarres Vahid

For Zahra Modarres Vahid, self-understanding and integrity are interconnected. She said, “self-understanding gives me the clarity to make decisions that reflect my integrity, while integrity holds me accountable for my choices.”

In addition to being a valued member of the Graduate School’s academic cohort, Zahra is committed to community engagement, especially when it comes to Virginia Tech’s international community.

Her values of integrity, empathy, growth, and community inspire her leadership. She is driven to deeply understand the communities she serves so she can respond to their needs with authenticity.

She said, “I believe in the power of collective strength and in supporting others in ways that build connection and mutual understanding.”

Zahra is working on the foundations of programs and opportunities to support spouses and partners who come to the U.S. with students who hold academic and cultural exchange visas.

As Zahra has brought to the attention of Graduate School administration, international student-visa holders have academic, professional, and personal resources and support during their time in the United States.

While these resources extend to the children of an international student, they do not extend to their partners — the partners do not have any structured support networks.

“Concerns about isolation, disconnection, loneliness, and other detrimental mental health conditions are much higher with the international population,” said Zahra’s nominator. “The same holds true for their partners as well, likely at even higher rates.”

Zahra has carefully researched how to meet the needs of these community members. She has gone out of her way to connect with appropriate contacts on and off campus to make her project possible.

“Her dedication to a community that she isn’t even a part of speaks to her ability to understand and embody self-understanding and integrity,” said her nominator. “She is taking the time to critically delve into this topic.”

The nominator said it was exciting to see Zahra’s work unfold, as she intends to “engage the community through focus groups and interviews to learn more about their interests, concerns, and needs, in order to center them in the experiences she develops.”

Zahra is also a textile artist. She says her artistic practice allows her to slow down, focus, express her emotions, reflect on her experiences, and engage with her inner self. The cultural and traditional aspects of her artwork also remind her of her roots and her values.

She said, “By incorporating techniques and patterns from various cultures, I feel that I am creating art and connecting to a rich history of craftsmanship and storytelling.”

The communities and histories she engages through her work nourish her sense of belonging and purpose. She said, “They help me stay grounded in my mission to not only create beautiful works of art, but also to foster deeper connections with those around me.”

Zahra is a PhD candidate in the Alliance for Social, Political, Ethical, and Cultural Thought program in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. In the future, she plans to continue her work in community engagement. She said, “I want to create platforms that foster greater understanding across diverse groups.”

For her careful work in turning empathy into positive change, Student Affairs is proud to present the Aspire! Award for Pursue SELF-UNDERSTANDING and INTEGRITY to Zahra Modarres Vahid.