Driven by Purpose: Judy Nasser’s Path at UMD

Judy Nasser knows exactly what she wants her work to stand for. During her time at the University of Maryland, that sense of purpose pushed her toward opportunities that reflected both ambition and service — from being selected as a 2026 UMD Senior Marshal to earning recognition as a Truman Scholarship nominee and receiving the Adele’s Circle of Women Scholarship.

But for Nasser, achievement was never the end goal.

As a graduating senior double-majoring in Sociology and Criminology & Criminal Justice with a minor in Law and Society, she spent much of her undergraduate experience refining the direction she wanted her future to take. While her original coursework introduced her to questions surrounding justice, systems, and society, she found herself increasingly drawn toward international relations, migration, geopolitics, and humanitarian issues.

That shift eventually led her to the Department of Government and Politics’ 4+1 Master of International Relations (MAIR) program, where she says she found the academic environment she had been searching for.

Through the MAIR program, Nasser found herself drawn to courses and discussions centered on international policy, conflict, migration, and Middle Eastern geopolitics. She said the program helped confirm that international advocacy and public service work were the areas she wanted to continue pursuing long-term.

That clarity became one of the defining themes of her college experience.

Nasser approached her goals with an intensity that shaped nearly every part of her undergraduate years. Long nights in the library, detailed weekly schedules, constant planning, and saying no to distractions became routine. She credits much of her success to discipline and organization, but even more to having work she genuinely cared about.

During her time at Maryland, Nasser also pushed herself to pursue opportunities beyond her immediate field of study, applying for scholarships, fellowships, and leadership programs that aligned with her interests. She credits many of those experiences to being willing to ask questions, connect with other students, and seek advice from people who had gone through the process before her.

She also discovered the value of trusting her own instincts.

Pivoting toward international relations midway through college was not something Nasser originally planned, but it ultimately gave her undergraduate experience new momentum.

Nasser looks forward to deepening her knowledge of international affairs in the MAIR program and to pursuing a capstone project related to Middle Eastern geopolitics, migration, or immigrant communities.

As she closes out her undergraduate chapter at Maryland, Nasser hopes other students take away the importance of pursuing work that feels meaningful to them, even if the path evolves along the way.

“I genuinely believe that if you care deeply about something, you should pursue it fully,” Nasser said. “Don’t be afraid to take opportunities outside your comfort zone, ask questions, and put yourself out there. That’s how you grow, and that’s how you find where you’re meant to be.”

Published on Tue, 05/19/2026 - 11:12