Animesh Paul is named 2025 recipient of the Saeeda Peermahomed Award
Animesh Paul, a third-year Ph.D student in Engineering Education and Transformative Practices in the College of Engineering is this year’s Saeeda Peermahomed Award recipient. The award is given annually by International Student Life to recognize outstanding international students.
Animesh’s experience as an international Ph.D. student at UGA has been marked by a strong commitment to fostering a welcoming, supportive, and globally engaged campus community. Through scholarship, leadership, and service, he has worked to ensure that students from a variety of backgrounds have the opportunity to succeed, contribute, and feel connected to campus life. His research in engineering education has focused on improving access to quality education and strengthening workforce preparedness, particularly for international and underrepresented students. With multiple published studies on digital learning access and the school-to-work transition in engineering, his work offers practical, research-based recommendations to enhance academic environments and better support students entering today’s workforce. His participation in the competitive EMEE 2025 program further reflects his dedication to advancing excellence in engineering education.
Beyond the classroom, his leadership and service roles have consistently centered on building strong communities. As the founding president of UGA’s ASEE Student Chapter and Vice President-Elect for Out in STEM (oSTEM), he has created opportunities for students to engage in professional development, mentorship, and collaborative dialogue. His contributions as an Orientation Leader, World Leader, and Service Ambassador have helped international students transition smoothly into campus life, while service initiatives connecting students with local volunteer opportunities have strengthened ties between the university and the Athens community. Drawing from professional experiences in cross-cultural leadership and corporate team management, he continues to demonstrate a commitment to responsible leadership, practical service, and community building — leaving a positive, lasting impact on UGA’s campus and its broader community.
Paul stated, “as an international student, this award is more than a recognition—it is a celebration of resilience, purpose, and the power of community. I will do justice to this award and help the UGA community thrive by honoring the goals of intercultural exchange for which Saeeda Peermahomed stood and believed in.”
Linden Dudley, Director for International Student Life said that Animesh is well deserving of this award. “The selection committee was impressed by his varied involvement on campus and felt that it showed a true embodiment of the award’s purpose,” said Dudley.
This year’s selection committee was comprised of:
• Dan Silk, Associate Vice President for Public Safety
• Beau Seagraves, Associate Vice President for Student Well-being
• Sarah Urbanski, Associate Director of Engagement, Leadership, and Service
• Chelsea Wenofske, Assistant Director of Career Center Diversity Programs
• Amelia Ross, Manager of Quality and Health Equity
• Kristine Garcia, Immigration Advisor
The award is made possible by the Peermahomed Family and is given in memory of Saeeda Peermahomed. Saeeda was a University of Georgia student from India who was studying to obtain a master’s degree in journalism when she was killed in a tragic automobile accident in North Georgia in 1979. Saeeda was an outstanding international student who was active in international student organizations and promoted cross-cultural exchange. This award is given in Saeeda’s memory to honor the goals of inter-cultural exchange for which she stood.
Each year, all currently enrolled UGA international students are eligible to apply as long as they have a current GPA of 3.5 or better. Application details are made available in early February each year at isl.uga.edu.
International Student Life is one of the 16 departments within the Division of Student Affairs, and focuses its work on supporting UGA’s 2,700+ international students while also creating unique and educational opportunities for all UGA students to build skills related to intercultural competencies and cross-cultural understanding.