Riya Patel is a junior in the School of Arts and Sciences and the Honors College, majoring in Political Science with a minor in South Asia Studies. Riya’s passion for advocacy and community service is reflected in her volunteer work, most recently through her internship with the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) as part of the Rutgers Scarlet Service Internship (RSSI). As an Organizing and Advocacy Intern with the AFSC New Jersey Immigrant Rights Program, Riya conducted legal research to support individuals in ICE custody, primarily at Delaney Hall, while coordinating meetings with congressional offices to advocate for detention reform. Connecting with individuals in detention and their families strengthened her commitment to pursuing a career as an immigration attorney.
Beyond the legal field, Riya is a founding member of the New Jersey chapter of the Dementia Art Therapy Alliance (DATA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the well-being of individuals facing neurodegenerative conditions through therapeutic art activities.
Riya is also committed to encouraging greater civic engagement among Hindu youth. She serves as a Youth Action Network leader for the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CYAN) in New Jersey, where she organizes student advocacy initiatives addressing Hinduphobia.
On campus, Riya serves as the Co-President of the Hindu Students Council, one of the university’s largest cultural organizations. For the past two years, she has also supported her peers as a Math Learning Assistant. In addition, Riya serves on the executive board for the Women’s Pre-Law Society, where she works to expand professional opportunities for undergraduate women pursuing law. In her free time, Riya enjoys experimenting with new vegetarian recipes. Through the Gardner Fellowship, she seeks to continue exploring the role of advocacy and public policy in addressing social challenges.