Rida Hamid

During my time at Penn State, I have taken advantage of the vast opportunities available on campus. Since my freshman year, I have been working as an undergraduate researcher within the Clinical Neuropsychology Laboratory here on campus, understanding the impact of traumatic brain injury on neural networks. My own research is analyzing the relationship between racial disparities and access to rehabilitation facilities. I participated in the Nittany AI Challenge with our project, Oris— an artificial-intelligence application that detects early signs of cavities and gum disease— working to apply our product to regions in the world lacking access to dental clinics.

I am also passionate about my advocacy work in Days for Girls (DfG), educating students on menstrual health and fighting period poverty. Through DfG, my team and I have collaborated with Penn State administration and managed a $40,000 budget to install free menstrual product dispensers in all campus bathrooms. Furthermore, I have had the privilege to study abroad, traveling to Italy and Mexico through Education Abroad programs to recognize differences in healthcare and prevalent global health issues, especially those relating to women’s health.

Because of the wonderful experiences I have gained through my involvement with campus life, I wish to give back to the Health and Human Development (HHD) community by running as the UPUA Representative and Student Senator for the college. My diverse understanding of activities on campus allows me to hear the voices of other HHD students and what changes they want to see from student government and faculty. I strive to provide more opportunities for HHD students, especially with funding for study abroad and research. Every student deserves to be supported and take advantage of the opportunities provided by Penn State!