As the nation marks its semiquincentennial, we look to the future that American University students are actively building. Armed with purpose, passion, and an AU education, these Eagles hold up a simple symbol with a profound meaning.

For them, the plus sign is not just an emblem of this historic milestone—it is a personal promise. It represents the distinct, transformative ways they intend to add to the world, multiply good, and elevate their communities.

We asked students from across campus a fundamental question: How do you plan to use your AU education to add to your community? From sustainable policymaking to grassroots advocacy, their answers prove that an AU degree is ultimately a tool to lift up, give back, and compound positive change

• Madeline Shantz, SPA/BA ’27, Fairfield, Connecticut: “There are enough clothes on the planet right now to [dress] the next six generations. My shoes were my mom’s, and my outfit is thrifted. I want to go into sustainable policy research to make a difference on an even bigger scale.”
• Henry Kreminski, SPA/BA ’29, Powell, New Jersey: “I plan on going to law school. I want to represent people who can’t afford the best legal representation or aren’t sure what to do. I want to guide people if a company, for instance, has done wrong to them.”
• Riyo Williams, SOC/BA ’29, Kaneohe, Hawaii: “I want to work in immigration, helping NGOs and nonprofits that assist migrants and asylum seekers. Migration is such a divisive issue, and I want more people to recognize that we all come from different places, and that shouldn’t divide us. America was founded on the idea that we’re all better together.”
• Charlie Watt, SIS/BA ’29, Arlington, Massachusetts: “I want to use my privilege wherever I can to help people however I can.”
• Megan Kelley, SIS/BA ’28, Mililani, Hawaii: “Growing up isolated in Hawaii, seeing families unable to afford food and our island’s flora and fauna being depleted hurts. This is why I love working with nonprofits, specifically in food insecurity and environmental sustainability. Ultimately, I want to join or start my own NGO and be a part of the next generation of policymakers.”

• Louna Petit, CAS/BA ’26, Paris, France: “It’s important to see how other people live, to get out of your comfort zone. AU helped me broaden my horizons. I’m from the French Caribbean and want to give back to my community in any way that I can.”
• David Azaran, SPA/BS ’29, Barrington, Illinois: “I’m interested in geopolitics, working in international relations, and helping to solve world issues.”
• Rosie Zehnter, Kogod/BS ’28, Long Island, New York: “I play the violin. Music has always been a huge part of my life, and I want to share that with others. The arts are vital in early education, and I want to serve as a connector between kids, teachers, and performers by raising funds that help communities invest in music education and accessibility. Music brings people together, and the more awareness and open-mindedness it can provide regarding other cultures, the better society will be.”
• Jacob Sulek, Kogod/BS ’28, East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania: “I hope to provide trusted financial advice to people in need and teach them how to budget. Learning how to manage your finances is an important skill in life.”
• Kylie LaDuca, SPA/BA ’28, Henryville, Pennsylvania: “My goal is to go to law school and work in the entertainment industry to protect artists’ rights. Too often, [creators] have their name or likeness used without permission, and they’re cheated out of royalties. They invest time and energy into their work, and that’s important to protect.”
• Charna Skolnick, SPA/BA ’27 MA ’28, Fort Washington, Pennsylvania: “I plan to fight for reproductive justice and hopefully work as a policy analyst for a nonprofit [advocating] for women’s rights and bodily autonomy. AU has not only inspired my career path but grown my interest with the amazing professors working in the field and the opportunities offered here in DC. I am excited to work at fixing what this administration has destroyed.”

• Demar Goodman, SPA/BA ’27, Atlanta, Georgia: “I grew up on SNAP and in Section 8 housing. I want to work in local politics and represent the community where I’m from to help improve the quality of life and promote equitable policies that bridge gaps in social supports.”
• Maddy Stewart, CAS/BA ’27, Annapolis, Maryland: “I’d like to work with kids on the autism spectrum. My mom is a special education teacher, and it’s a field I’m passionate about. These kids deserve the best support and education possible.”
• Ciera Thacker, CAS/BA ’27, Huntington, West Virginia: “I want to start a nonprofit to help athletes in rural areas. Just because there’s less exposure doesn’t mean there’s less talent. I started running in middle school, and now I’m a collegiate track and field athlete at American University. I want to help people get where I am.”
• Emma Blankenship, CAS/BS ’28, Concord, Ohio: “Ever since I was young, I’ve wanted to be a doctor. My plan is to become a pediatrician to help children thrive and grow so they can make a difference in the world.”
• Alice Young, SIS/BA ’28, Raleigh, North Carolina: “I want to do nonprofit work with a focus on sustainability and global health, but wherever I [go], I want there to be a strong sense of community. I want people to feel safe and connected.”
• Logan McWright, Kogod/BS ’29, Ellicott City, Maryland: “I want to support the Catholic Church and nonprofits more generally, distributing food and bringing people into parishes, helping the poor, and building community.”

• Justin Park, Kogod/BS ’29, Tenafly, New Jersey: “I want to [transform] neighborhoods help build more homes.”
• Milki Bato, Kogod/BSBA ’29, Silver Spring, Maryland: “I want to work with first-time homebuyers. To me, where they live isn’t just a house—it should feel like a home, a place where they genuinely feel safe.”
• Isabella Alvarez, SOC/BA ’28, Louisville, Kentucky: “I want to work in artist management to amplify creatives and ensure they can keep making music, which is such a vital source of joy. Music is a universal language—no matter the lyrics, people connect through it. It’s a way of coping with or escaping from everyday life. Right now, the world is going through a lot, and it’s incredibly important to continue having an outlet for that.”
• Thomas Dalporto, CAS/BS ’28, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia: “I want to get into mathematical finance. I’d like to be philanthropic and support my family. I know nonprofits in my community—especially educational nonprofits—were saved by philanthropic foundations.”
• Sean Curtin, CAS-SPA/BA ’28, Mahopac, New York: “I’m looking forward to working with emerging tech like AI. Innovation is exciting, but cybersecurity is the true forefront of new algorithms. As we adopt these technologies, they must be safe, ethical, and regulated. With people becoming reliant on AI infrastructure, it will only integrate deeper into our systems and industries. I want to ensure it enhances rather than replaces humans and human creativity.”
• Gabrielle Rutledge, SPA/BA ’26, Austin, Texas: “I want to work in the Secret Service and prevent crimes. Everybody has the right to be safe in their community. People shouldn’t be scared that mass shootings could happen at any moment.”

• Sarah Fischer, CAS/MS ’27, Tustin, California: “This summer, I’ll be interning in national security and defense. I had a long journey to understanding what I wanted to do with data science, but I ultimately decided I wanted to work with complex datasets to find tangible solutions to real-world problems. It’s a way to serve my country in a meaningful way that is true to who I am.”
• William Palmer, CAS/BS ’28, SPA/BA ’28, Houston, Texas: “I want to work in public service—perhaps for a transit agency—to improve community infrastructure and give people the resources and ability to thrive in a community.”
• Dwain Alexander III, CAS/BS ’28, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: “I’ve wanted to be a veterinarian since elementary school, with a goal to work in wildlife conservation and protect our ecosystems. But representation matters. Knowing that only 4 percent of veterinarians are Black, I plan to use my AU education not just to care for animals, but to build a more equitable field. By one day establishing a scholarship for African American students, I want to remove the financial barriers to this career. With climate change moving in an unprecedented direction, we need as many hands as possible to foster a harmonious, symbiotic relationship with our planet.”
• Karolin Pascual, CAS/BA ’29, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic: “I’ll be the first one in my family to graduate—I’m very proud of that and of my parents. I can be an example for other Hispanics who emigrate.”
• Ava Shaw, SPA/BA ’27, Bloomfield, New Jersey: “I want to work on the Hill for the president or a congressperson. I’m interested in a more peaceful approach to foreign policy issues. It’s important to create a positive outcome because that leads to real change.”