Mestenhauser Student Award

Prashasti Bhatnagar is a senior at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, studying Sociology with minors in Public Health, Neuroscience, and Social Justice. Prashasti demonstrates leadership in creating inclusive environments for international students and promoting social justice by challenging inequities, particularly regarding healthcare systems. Prashasti led an initiative as a Student Affairs Student Senate Committee member to increase access to mental health services for international students on all campuses of the University of Minnesota. Prashasti also worked as a Lead Peer Adviser at the Center for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL), where she is credited with contributing an international lens to the work of community engaged learning. In this role, Prashasti designed and implemented a Racial Equity Discussion Partners program for staff as well as a workshop series for students, with the goal of fostering conversations around social justice, equity, and creating change. Prashasti is committed to using her leadership skills and experiences to empower minority communities and striving toward making healthcare an affordable and accessible human right.