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For International Women’s Day 2025, we are chatting with students at UD dedicated to intercultural engagement. Janna Azzam is a second-year student at UD and was born in Palestine. She is the communications chair for the Muslim Student Association. 

Why did you get involved with the Muslim Student Association? What do you hope that the MSA will accomplish, especially for women?

I got involved with MSA because I wanted the organization to promote their students’ presence on campus. We’re becoming more present especially as we are celebrating Ramadan. We’re also working on expanding the sisterhood and involving more of our international sisters. 

What brought you to UD?

 I chose UD because it felt like home. The first time I ever came to campus I kept hearing people talk about how there's a place here for everyone and I really felt it in their enthusiasm. 

What have been some of the things you've learned about yourself, about the culture, or about the world that have been important for your life?

In the time that I've been here, I've learned to take comfort in the bigger picture. Each step, decision and experience leads up to something bigger. The important thing is to live in the moment and enjoy the process. It's better to slow down and take in everything around you than to speed past it and regret not appreciating them later on. The minor details we tend to ignore, the people helping us achieve our goals and how we feel through it all, makes us who we are and pushes us to where we're supposed to be.

What does home mean to you? 

When I hear "home" I think of the people and places that have granted me endless support to be able to achieve my dreams. My home is my family, they've never doubted me once even when I wasn't so sure of where I was headed myself. 

How do you influence the spaces you're in?

My multicultural experiences have allowed me to be a bridge between two worlds. I've been able to introduce new perspectives to topics that may be lacking a new lens. For example, for the past two years I've been a panel member for the Human Rights Center's Palestine Event. I was able to present the audience with a more "foreign" topic in a way I knew they would understand and would resonate with them. 

What does it mean to you to be an international woman on International Women's Day?

Being an international woman for IWD means that I get to embrace my roots and my ambitions together. Being Palestinian, I try to embody the spirit of our people in my daily life as a foundation of who I am.

What are some of the challenges faced by women, in your opinion?

In my opinion, the biggest challenge women face is lack of genuine representation. Oftentimes, the media doesn't portray women in a positive or realistic light. This can be harmful to women by leaving them feeling inadequate or unseen. We need a true and diverse representation of us; true empowerment and strength comes from embracing each others' identities and voices. 

Is there a woman in your life who inspires you? How? 

My biggest inspiration is my mom. She's my best friend and my greatest role model. I learned resilience and dedication from her. It's because of her that I'm able to take leaps of faith and follow my dreams. My mother has always shown me compassion and held me up during some of my most difficult times. I wouldn't be who I am without her.