Major: Psychology
Poonam Rahman was skeptical about enrolling at College of DuPage.
“After attending the New Student Orientation (NSO), I was intrigued by the amount of resources available for students to thrive and succeed,” she said. “I decided to attend COD because of the welcoming environment of both the students and faculty.”
The decision was a wise one, as COD helped Rahman grow both academically and personally. Her studies concentrated on psychology, an interest that started after taking AP Psychology in high school.
Outside of the classroom, she became involved in a variety of ways, including as an NSO team leader and starting an on-campus organization.
“During my first semester, I created a United Nations-based student organization called Girl Up, which aims to provide leadership development opportunities and education to young adolescent girls in developing countries,” she said. “Through my role as the founder and president of Girl Up, I was able to develop hard and soft skills such as leadership, time management and ways to effectively lead a team. Furthermore, through the rigorous classes I have taken in preparation for my graduate programs, I have developed critical thinking skills and the opportunity to build my mental stamina.”
Graduating with both Associate in Arts and Associate in Science degrees, Rahman transferred to Roosevelt University, where she continued her involvement.
“My first year was absolutely amazing! I was the financial advisor of the Muslim Students Association and worked closely with the president of the organization to manage financial records and raise donations for various humanitarian causes. I was then promoted to the vice president position my second semester,” she said. “I also had the opportunity to work as an undergraduate research assistant at two labs, where I focused on non-oral steroidal contraceptives and depression within the field of neuropharmacology.”
I decided to attend COD because of the welcoming environment of both the students and faculty.
Poonam Rahman
In 2021, she was selected as an inaugural Joan Deutsch Herczeg Scholar at Roosevelt along with eight of her peers from a pool of 44 applicants. Through the new program, Rahman and her classmates are learning from women executives to build leadership skills and confidence. The scholarship program also provides participants with one-on-one mentorship with members of the Women’s Leadership Council, which is open to alumni and friends of the university.
“It is truly a great honor to receive this prestigious scholarship and to have all of these opportunities post my graduation from COD,” she said. “As a woman of color, I feel that it is important for young girls to have role models that look like them and come from a similar background. I hope to further my work in female-centered leadership and mentorship with like-minded women.”
As for COD, Rahman is glad she overcame her initial concerns and chose the institution to begin her college career. Her advise to students is to build connections with their professors and to get involved in student activities.
“There is a common misconception that community colleges don't focus on student life, but at COD, there are countless opportunities for you to build new connections and network with like-minded students,” she said. “If you are a current student at COD, apply to be an NSO leader! Most of my good friends today are the ones I met at NSO and through this program, I was able to conquer my fear of public speaking.”
Learn more about the Psychology program at College of DuPage
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