Turna Barua

Turna Barua ’26 is a familiar face on campus. The political science major worked as a student ambassador, social media intern, and resident advisor, and was a member of the South Asian Student Association and on the e-board for the International Student Association (you may recognize her from various International Gala performances).

During summer 2025, Barua received a Projects for Peace grant to carry out an educational program in Rangamati, her family’s hometown in Bangladesh. The project, called Egiye Jao (“Go Ahead”), offered evening classes in math and English to parents. Barua recruited local college students to serve as program teachers, training them in culturally sensitive methods and peace-building facilitation.

After commencement, Barua is heading to Emerson College to pursue a master’s in political communications. But first, she’ll be working as a resident advisor in Washington, D.C., this summer for the American Civil Liberties Union, supervising high school students in its National Advocacy Institute.