Wonder Women of NUSTIAN USA
The National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) is among the top higher-education institutes in Pakistan, imparting premium quality research and professionals across multiple disciplines. NUST has one of the biggest international alumni networks of Pakistan, with talent spread across the globe.
This Women’s day, we want to introduce you to a small chunk amongst many talented women of NUSTIAN USA. We are proud to acknowledge our wonder women who have played a significant role in making this alumni chapter functional and grow by taking out time from their busy lives while managing their personal and professional lives in parallel. They have been playing a vital role in management, outreach, and mentoring for the organization.
“Women empowerment transcends gender boundaries. Everyone benefits when we raise the standards of conduct and discourse and focus our time and energies to build each other up.” says Dr. Maria Riaz
Dr. Riaz is one of the founding members of NUSTIAN USA and holds the role of V.P. Alumnae. She did her undergrad in Software Engineering from Military College of Signals (MCS), followed by masters from South Korea and a doctorate from North Carolina State University. She’s currently working as a senior software engineer at Google headquarters. Her contributions back to her Alma mater began from her role as a professor at School of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science (SEECS), NUST and she continues her guest lectures and webinars for current students. Dr. Riaz is a multi-talented and inspirational role model with a distinct voice in the executive team and is always vocal with her innovative ideas and encouraging Alumnae participation across the organization. She’s an advocate for women empowerment in her engagements including NUSTIAN USA. Being an active part of the coaching/mentoring team, she frequently mentors aspiring individuals who want to pursue graduate studies or job hunting in the US.
Sundas Zahra, a Mass Communication graduate from School of Social Sciences and Humanities (S3H) NUST, took the initiative back in 2018 to formulate the communication team and social media policy for NUSTIAN USA. She did talent hunting for the roles of bloggers, content writers, video editors and initially covered the events in Silicon Valley and Midwest chapters. She traveled to San Francisco (Silicon Valley Chapter) in 2018 summer to interview and feature success stories from individuals, which was helpful in growing this community from 200 to more than 500 members. Her initiatives helped in spreading the message across all regional chapters and form a vibrant community. Currently, she is a research assistant and a graduate student of Journalism at Ohio University. Zahra believes that unwavering faith and consistent efforts can make anything possible. “If you want to achieve your dreams, be stubborn and never bow down to any emotional or societal pressure. At the same time, be humble and always have an open mind to unlearn and relearn as you proceed on your journey”, says Zahra.
Saira Tabassum moderates the NUSTIAN Instagram account to share updates of the various NUSTIAN events around the US. Saira graduated from NUST School of Social Sciences and Humanities (S3H) with a bachelors in Mass Communication. Currently, she works at HCL as a technical writer. As part of NUSTIAN communications team, she has helped the fundraising campaign through designing posters and robust digital marketing. The online campaign helped raised funds for need-based scholarship back at our Alma mater. She also single-handedly managed the marketing and event coverage of the first 2019 annual board meeting held in Silicon Valley. Saira is always keen to help, “I am looking forward to seeing NUSTIAN grow and excel further while playing our part in helping our communities”
Mahnaum Maqsood has also been supporting the communications Team through social media strategies, discussions and managing our Facebook group. She was one of the very few first volunteers to join the communication team back in 2018 when the communication team was formed. The Telecom Engineer from Military College of Signals (MCS), NUST, currently works at Code Authority. Helping the NUSTIAN team means a great deal to her. “I always try to remind myself to make time to serve our community. Only through serving others and giving back we shall reach our full potential”, says Mahnaum.
Yusra Farhat Ullah manages the membership database for NUSTIAN USA by sourcing it through multiple social media platforms. Her coordination with other leaders has significantly improved communication among members. This EME grad is currently enrolled at the University of Minnesota for her graduate studies in mechanical engineering.“Every little bit matters. Never underestimate your effort to be too small to make a difference. Contribute whatever you can to the causes that matter to you”, says Yusra.
Fatima Quddos, the graphic designer at NUSTIAN communication Team, joined the College of William and Mary in Virginia after she completed her bachelors in Applied Biosciences from ASAB (Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences) NUST. She also manages the Facebook content for the organization and is known for her amazing creative designs. Fatima believes “There is light at the end of the tunnel” and that’s her message for fellow women struggling to achieve their goals.
Sara Sultan is an active mentor and coach who has helped a lot of students during their journey to higher education in the USA. She recently visited NUST H-12 campus, Islamabad and conducted back to back sessions to inspire students and help them with their applications for Grad School. Sara is an Energy Engineering graduate from U.S.-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Energy (USPCASE) NUST, currently working at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. As a part of the communication team, she moderates the NUSTIAN LinkedIn account. She believes every individual has something special and everyone has a right to equal opportunities. In Sara’s words, “People should understand that anyone can do anything. Just let them try. Just let them use their energy. Let them be who they are”.
We at NUSTIAN USA believe in equal opportunities for all and we surely don’t need a single day to celebrate these amazing ladies. Our organization would not have been the same if it were not for these women who wholeheartedly support their fellow alumni and are an inspiration to many. They are a true asset and pride for NUSTIAN USA.
This article is written by Sara Sultan
