2019-2020 ACTIVE MINDS OFFICERS
Yusra Soomro
President
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Hello Everyone! I’m currently a junior Accounting major exploring the business field. Upon having a two-minute conversation with me, you’ll most likely learn that I am a huge advocate for mental health. This obviously means I made a beeline for the mental health groups on campus. As someone who has seen the ins and outs of mental illness, I was delighted to find a club that wanted to raise awareness AND make a community of mental health advocates. I was finally home! I fully love and connect with the message that Active Minds spreads and I can’t wait to spread it throughout the campus!
Aniruth Srinivasaraghavan
Vice President​
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Hello friends! My name is Ani and I’m a junior biology major on the pre-med track. For the better part of my life, I hadn’t really noticed any discussion around mental health and this is especially true for university students. I hope to be part of a culture that will end the silence surrounding mental health discussions and I wish to do my part in fighting that stigma against mental health. I’m looking forward to being a part of active minds as your event coordinator!
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Zan Rehman
Vice President​
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Hey friends! I’m honored to serve as your Fundraising Coordinator for Active Minds and I can’t wait for the exciting events we have planned for the year! One thing I’ve observed as I’ve grown older is that many people hide their mental illnesses and don’t open up to others about issues that are bothering them. By combating the stigma associated with mental illness, I really want people to know that there is ALWAYS a shoulder to lean on and there ARE resources available for help. I am currently an Accounting Pre-Med and would like to become a doctor in the future. I have a wide array of interests and love experiencing new and different things (I’d also love if there were more than 24 hours in a day). Feel free to contact me for anything and I look forward to meeting you all!
Juy Yusuf
Treasurer
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Hey Everyone! I am currently a senior majoring in neuroscience and minoring in psychology. I have plans to attend medical school with high interest in psychiatry. Mental health has been a topic I have found very genuine since the later stages of high school and has only grown more through college. The society we currently live in is very unforgiving for those suffering from mental problems. I feel it is up to all of us to raise awareness of this stigma against treating mental health seriously for those who don’t have the voice to do so. I am glad to be your treasurer for Active Minds this upcoming year and excited to work with you all to weaken this stigma in our society!
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Hussain Taqi
Secretary
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Hey y'all! My name is Hussain and I'm thrilled to be working as an Active Minds officer this year! I'm a junior majoring in healthcare studies hoping to become a dentist *fingers crossed*. The reason I wanted to work with Active Minds is because I've seen several friends and family members go through various mental health issues and I have two main goals for them: 1) To make sure they aren't embarrassed to get help. 2) To help them learn about all the treatment opportunities available to them. I hope to start making a difference beginning at a college level and one day at a much larger scale!
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Bryant Karenson
Event Coordinator
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Hi everyone! I’m super excited to be your event coordinator for the year! I’m a neuroscience major and a psychology minor going along the premed track. I’ve always been so frustrated with the stigma surrounding mental health, and I’ve wanted to be more involved in giving others the platform to learn and grow from the struggles they’ve faced for the longest time. I hope that with my time being the event coordinator I get the chance to hear more stories from others and help provide opportunities to promote overall wellness for our community here at UTD!
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Shreya Balamurali
Publicity Chair
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Hey y'all! My name is Shreya and I'm honored to serve as your Public Relations Officer this year. I am neuroscience major and psychology minor hoping to go to medical or graduate school (we'll see). Mental Health Awareness is one of my biggest passions and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to connect with peers to learn, grow and share our mental health journeys. Keep a lookout for our events coming up!
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Matebah Iqbal
Publicity Chair
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“Hi everyone! I am excited to serve as your public relations officer this year. I am a junior biology major and I hope to attend medical school in the future. Mental health is a serious topic in today’s society and among all age groups, defeating the stigma and letting people feel comfortable expressing themselves is something I strive for with everyone in my life. I look forward to getting to know everyone this upcoming year!“
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