Mestenhauser Student Award

Esmira Alieva is a junior at the University of Minnesota, Morris, studying for her B.A. in Economics and Organizational and Financial Management. Throughout her studies, Esmira, an international student from Uzbekistan, has shown a high level of engagement in the University of Minnesota Morris community. Through her work, Esmira advocates for international social justice and works to create opportunities for students to engage with one another across difference in many ways. In fall 2018, Esmira gathered a group of student organizations to create a 9/11 memorial display, and in doing so, built trust among the students and created an environment that promoted peace and unity. As the co-founder of the Muslim Student Association (MSA), Esmira brought together leaders from multiple student organizations to collaborate on programming related to diversity and inclusion. Esmira serves as a representative to the Morris Campus Student Association and works as a residential advisor, in addition to her work as a student leader in the Office of Community Engagement. In these positions, Esmira demonstrates her dedication to ensuring international student representation among campus student leadership positions.