Public policy student Imaan Shikoh is committed to creating meaningful change, both on the University of Maryland campus and beyond. Advocating for underrepresented voices and ensuring campus safety, Shikoh exemplifies how students can turn their passions into action.
In 2023, Shikoh co-founded the Asian American Policy Union (AAPU) to provide a space for Asian students in the School of Public Policy. Her inspiration stemmed from her experience as a South Asian student who found Asian Americans underrepresented in public policy. “Growing up, I always saw the people around me gravitate towards STEM-related fields and it made my career toward public policy quite lonely,” Shikoh shares.
Through AAPU, Shikoh has created a platform for Asian American students to build solidarity and a network of support for navigating academic and professional spaces. “I wanted to be able to help empower a new generation of Asian American leaders who will grow to know that there is nowhere they don’t belong,” she explains.
Shikoh is also actively involved in addressing campus safety and discrimination. As a member of the Joint Presidential and University Senate Task Force on Antisemitism and Islamophobia, she collaborates with university leaders to shape policies addressing rising Islamophobia and anti-Semitism. “Higher education institutions have always been at the center of historic change,” Shikoh reflects. “I think this serves as a reminder of how connected we are, even here at Maryland, to crises and events happening across the world.”
As director of the Student Affairs Committee for the Student Government Association, Shikoh works to promote student safety. Initiatives like the annual Safety Walk turn student concerns into actionable solutions. “We take our everyday conversations with our friends and look at what students are sharing on YikYak or Reddit,” Shikoh explains. “We then find ways to formally approach administrators and let students know that we are working to fix it.”
In addition to her advocacy, Shikoh amplifies student voices as an opinion columnist for the Diamondback. Journalism serves as a powerful tool for Shikoh to create impactful stories for those who are often overlooked. “For me, trying to write impactful stories meant platforming the experiences of marginalized communities that aren’t represented well,” Shikoh expresses. “It meant giving a voice to those who needed it most, and providing pathways for our university to address their concerns.”
Shikoh gained federal policymaking experience during an internship with Representative Ilhan Omar’s office, working on welfare policies, including food security programs, affordable housing, educational equity initiatives and broader social safety nets designed to address systemic inequities in Minnesota’s fifth district. “My time in Rep. Omar’s office underscored what it means to be a principled policymaker,” Shikoh reflects. “To stand unapologetically for equitable policies, to be fierce in the face of opposition and to lead with compassion and integrity.”
As Shikoh approaches her final year at the University, she credits mentors like Assistant Professor Apolonia Calderon who have been particularly impactful. “As a professor of color making strides in the field, she has been a role model and motivates me to navigate this space with purpose and resilience,” Shikoh explains.
Looking ahead, Shikoh plans to pursue a career in public policy, focusing on legislative work related to foreign policy, global development and crisis management. “I want to work on social policies that support the underprivileged communities across the United States,” Shikoh says.
For students considering a policy career, Shikoh offers this advice: “Stay true to your values and never compromise on them, even when faced with challenges. Always continue learning—not just from textbooks, but from the stories of people, their lives and real experiences.”