November 18, 2024
Shaping Tomorrow’s Leaders: Guita Taheri’s Impact and Vision
We are thrilled to announce the first recipient of the Kay Knox Fellowship at the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Policy & Governance. Guita Taheri is an incoming first-year Master of Public Administration student. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Washington and, prior to her acceptance at the Evans School, worked with local nonprofits to promote public service among teens and increase voter turnout in rural Washington. Taheri’s return to the University of Washington will allow her to focus on nonprofit management and philanthropy.
We asked Taheri to share what the Kay Knox Fellowship means to her, what inspired her passion for public service, and the impact she hopes to make.
Congratulations on being selected for the Fellowship Award for the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance! What does this award mean to you?
Guita Taheri: Thank you! This award is an immense honor, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to enter the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance with this support. Making the decision to go back to school was a big one for me, and this fellowship gives me much needed financial assistance, as well as increased confidence in my ability to meet my goals for graduate school.
I want to thank WithinReach, the University of Washington’s Evans School, and Kay for this fellowship opportunity. I am thrilled to learn from her long history of intentional leadership and empowering action through monthly mentorship meetings with Kay, and I’m so grateful to be connected to the WithinReach community.
How do you hope this fellowship will help you achieve your career goals?
Guita Taheri: My goal for graduate school is to gain the foundational skills I need – like budgeting, strategic planning, policymaking, community-building, and ethical leadership – so that I can build an impactful career in the non-profit sector. This fellowship will not only aid my next chapter in higher education, but my connection to WithinReach will help me better understand the needs of our community. My ultimate hope is to gain a better perspective on how to build effective and conscientious community support programs.
What sparked your passion for public policy and governance?
Guita Taheri: I always credit my father for my passion for public service. When my father came to America after escaping Iran during the late 1970’s revolution, it was a nonprofit organization that paid for his flight to the United States where he was granted asylum. It was the critical support of public institutions that gave my father the chance to build a successful life and start his family. I am passionate about creating ways for all people to do the same- to find belonging and live full, healthy lives – whether they are incarcerated, unhoused, struggling with mental health or addiction, young adults without support, or families in need.
In addition, I’ve had the opportunity to work within some amazing organizations like the YWCA of Olympia, Rural Turnout Organization, and Teens in Public Service. I have been very inspired by both the amazing leaders and participants of these programs and feel motivated to follow in their footsteps.
What excites you most about your studies at the Evans School?
Guita Taheri: I am looking forward to broadening my perspective on what it means to be an ethical leader, developing long-lasting connections within the vast Evans School academic and professional networks, and gaining an intimate understanding of how to best uplift my community.