Surabhee Eswaran

As an Environmental Studies major and Public Health and Psychology minor, Surabhee Eswaran used her liberal arts education to explore her passions while also broadening her research skillset and perspectives on social issues. She focused on environmental justice and the complex relationship between humans and nature, pursuing an honors thesis on equity in environmental disasters.

After graduation, she will attend medical school at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, combining her two interests — environmental justice and medicine — to treat patients in the context of their environment and community. She plans to continue her research on how social and environmental factors are associated with health outcomes in various communities.

Sam Tarpley

Sam Tarpley is an Andrew W. Mellon Fellow in Community-Engaged Scholarship receiving his master’s in English. He also received a Boren Fellowship, which allowed him to spend six months in Riga, Latvia, studying Information Security and Conflict Resolution, as well as Russian.

Sam interned at the World Affairs Council of New Orleans (WACNO) to bring accessible and inviting international education to the Greater New Orleans area. Most recently, he worked on a collection of lives and voices that will become a permanent part of the Williams Center for Oral History at LSU, which was premiered at a panel discussion this past semester. Read more about Sam’s work with WACNO.

Ananya Anand

Economics major Ananya Anand credits the School of Liberal Arts for “consistently pushing the boundaries of my academic curiosity.” Making it a point to connect with professors outside of her field to better understand their work and perspectives, she has been “empowered to ask meaningful questions across disciplines” that positively impacted her educational experience.

This summer, she will move to Dallas to join Citibank as an analyst but will continue to collaborate with Economics Senior Professor of Practice Antonio Bojanic on an independent economic research project.

Lillian Milgram

Lillian Milgram’s interest in the social determinants of health took shape in New Orleans, as she worked towards an Environmental Studies degree. Approaching her passion for healthcare through a liberal arts lens, coupled with her volunteer work as an Emergency Medical Technician with New Orleans EMS, allowed her to explore the social determinants of health and form a broader understanding of environmental wellbeing.

Following graduation, Lillian will present her case study on title rights and the feminization of the nursing profession at the International Council of Nurses Conference in Helsinki, Finland, before heading to the University of Washington in the fall to pursue a nursing degree. 

“Looking back, I’m so grateful for how my liberal arts background at Tulane has shaped me,” she said. “It’s given me the tools to think across disciplines, work with people from all walks of life, and stay open to the unexpected.”

Ayanna Hill

Ayanna is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, with a concentration in International Affairs, and a Bachelor of Science in Management. She is a recipient of the Charles B. Rangel Graduate Fellowship Program, which is run through the U. S. Department of State and awards up to $42,000 a year for a two-year period to cover tuition, room and board, books, and fees towards a two-year master’s degree.

She plans to attend Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies in the fall, where she will pursue a degree in international relations. Read Ayanna’s full Tulane Today featured spotlight.

Barclay Zislin and Maya Shields

Barclay Zislin and Maya Shields received the 2025 Jim Runsdorf Excellence in Public Service Student Award, which the Tulane Center for Public Service awards.

Maya majored in English and Political Economy and minored in Environmental Studies and International Development. She joined the Community Action Council of Tulane University Students (CACTUS) in her first year at Tulane and worked her way up from events coordinator and co-president to president. CACTUS facilitates all service projects and organizations on campus and sponsors campus-wide service events.

Barclay, who is graduating with bachelor’s degrees in International Relations and Social Policy & Practice, was a member of the inaugural cohort for the Center for Public Service Civic Engagement Fellows Program. While in the program, he helped design, implement, and evaluate initiatives aimed at promoting bipartisan understanding and civic engagement among the student body.

Read more about both Maya and Barclay’s experience and their plans after college in this Tulane Today article.