Although Haneefah Syed basically grew up in the neighborhood of Cal State Fullerton, becoming a student here wasn’t a given.
She felt the pull of novelty from out-of-state schools, but she has family members who have studied and even taught at CSUF. When Syed learned about the university’s President’s Scholars Program, which provides merit-based, full scholarships to high-achieving students, she was sold.
An English major set to graduate in 2026, Syed was elected president of Associated Students Inc., the student government organization that provides programming, facilities, and funding for campus groups and events.
Syed’s interest in student government grew from her friendship with past ASI president Maysem Awadalla, who Syed said “took me under her wing.” After serving as ASI’s chief campus relations officer, Syed decided to run for a leadership position this year.
With an intelligent, energetic, social personality, Syed is well-suited to her role in ASI, said Irena Praitis, chair and professor of English, comparative literature and linguistics. The professor and the student got to know each other when Syed worked in the English department office, and they later collaborated to research Southwest Asian and North African literature.
In addition to being open-minded and positive, Syed is “hardworking, dedicated and has tremendous energy,” Praitis said.
Syed understands the importance of effective communication and storytelling in fields such as law and diplomacy, where her future ambitions lie. She hopes to attend law school and eventually work in human rights advocacy or international politics.
Communication is especially useful in her ASI position because she serves as a bridge between students and university leadership.
Being a campus leader is “not about a power dynamic, it’s about who can amplify your voice at the table,” Syed said.
She also wants to help implement the campuswide ASI Student Wellness Initiative, which was approved last spring. The initiative proposes more funding for scholarships and student groups, a wellness hub, events, and expansion of the Titan Student Union and Student Recreation Center.
Syed hopes her peers will take advantage of ASI office hours, consider serving on one of its five advocacy commissions, or check out the concerts, lectures, festivals and other signature programs like the Beyond the Conversation speaker series.
She said she’s glad she decided to attend Cal State Fullerton because “there’s a level of personability on this campus that I feel like no other campus has. Professors are more willing to make connections with you.”
CSUF alumni are also easy to find in businesses and organizations around Southern California, in the state capitol and beyond, Syed said.
“You can be a part of the Titan family anywhere.”