Zainab Olaniyan is a senior at The University of Texas at Dallas majoring in public policy with a minor in African and African American diaspora studies. On campus, she chaired the student government’s Legislative Affairs Committee, oversaw voter registration drives and town halls with elected officials, and promoted civic engagement. She was a founder and the vice president of Faces of African Muslims (FAM), a student organization that teaches and celebrates the heritage of African descent Muslims; under her leadership, FAM grew to 100 members in its first year. Additionally, she conducted research and published findings on the impact of the Ebola virus health policy on survivors in Liberia and worked in the Office of U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (CO) as a legislative intern. Through these varied experiences, Olaniyan has developed an interest in education, labor, and health policy, and she is committed to empowering communities through active participation in policymaking. She aspires to a career in public service where she can advocate for policies that uplift her community.