For Rakshith Ramdas, his path to the University of Alabama at Birmingham began with a nudge from his sister. “My sister actually graduated from UAB in 2021, and she was the one who really encouraged me to consider it—especially because of the research and internship opportunities,” said Ramdas. “You’re able to gain that experience early, even as a freshman or sophomore, which allows you to hit the ground running.”
He continued, “As someone who’s pre‑law and hopes to become an attorney, having that experience early on was incredibly valuable. It strengthened my applications for research positions and internships without waiting until junior or senior year to get started. And it truly paid off. I secured an internship at the Institute for Human Rights during my freshman year and later interned for Judge Elisabeth French downtown. UAB has opened doors for me that I never would have imagined possible.”
As he prepares to graduate, Ramdas reflects on those opportunities with CAS and shares more about those doors opened for him at UAB.
CAS: Your college experience has included being involved in quite a few extracurricular activities. Tell us about those.
RR: My involvement with the Undergraduate Student Government Association (USGA) began during my freshman year. I first joined the Freshman Forum and later became involved with the Judicial Branch. Now, as a senior, I serve as Chief Justice and lead the branch. I also served as a UAB Ambassador during my junior and senior years, including two years on the Leadership and Service Council. In addition, I am the Director of Programming for the Blazer Spirit Council, where I oversaw major campus initiatives such as Homecoming, Creed Week events, and Senior Sunset.
I had the honor of serving as Mr. UAB from my junior year into my senior year. In this role, I worked closely with the National Alumni Society and the 2025 Ms. UAB, Samanvi Vootukuri, a fellow College of Arts and Sciences student, to organize on‑campus events that encouraged greater student engagement with the organization.
I’ve also been deeply involved in the Honors College throughout my time at UAB. For the past two years, I’ve served as an Honors Ambassador and have been a member of the Honors College Leadership Council for four years. This year, I served as a SMART Leader, mentoring the next generation of student leaders within the Honors College. That experience was especially fulfilling—having gained so much from my time on campus, being able to share those lessons and help other students find their place at UAB was just as rewarding as the opportunities I’ve had myself.
CAS: The average college student goes to class, maybe a party, and then goes home—but you’re doing all these different things. What inspired you to want to be so involved and make these commitments?
RR: Throughout my time at UAB, I’ve really come to understand the importance of higher education and the impact it can have. That realization motivated me to give back and reach the next generation of students in any way I could. I wanted to help shape campus in a positive way and leave it better than I found it—leaving my mark was something I knew I wanted to do even before I stepped foot on campus.
But ultimately, it came down to how deeply I recognized the value of higher education. When you hold roles in organizations, like student government or serve as an ambassador, it really does feel like that idea of “with great power comes great responsibility.” You realize how meaningful those positions are, and if you choose not to use them to create change, the opportunity is wasted. Along the way, I’ve had mentors and peers who pushed me to see that potential in myself and encouraged me to make the most of every opportunity. That support made all the difference.
CAS: You’ve talked about mentoring and leading others, and also about those who have mentored you. Who are those professors, leaders, or fellow students who have shaped your journey?
RR: Dr. Robert Blanton, the chair of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, and Dr. Stacy Moak in that department have both played pivotal roles in my academic development, along with Dr. Lauren Cotant (currently director at the Career Center) through her previous role serving as the advisor for the UAB Ambassadors and the Leadership and Service Council. She really helped me grow as a public speaker and continually encouraged me to put myself in positions where I could lead others and advocate for meaningful change on campus.
In the Department of Philosophy, Dr. Lindsay Brainard has been especially impactful—she consistently pushed me to speak up in class. Dr. Josh May has also been very influential; I’ve taken several of his courses, and his class on the ethics of good and evil was one of the most challenging—in the best way—courses I’ve ever had. It forced me to reflect deeply on core philosophical concepts and was eye‑opening.
I would also highlight Kyle Adams, the President of USGA and a former Mr. UAB. I met him during my first tour of UAB, when I was paired with a Political Science major. From the very beginning, he represented the level of involvement and leadership I aspired to. He guided me through USGA and offered invaluable advice on coursework and campus involvement, helping shape my journey at UAB.
CAS: What’s next for you?
RR: I’m doing a Master’s in higher education at the University of Pennsylvania. That’s a one-year degree, and then hopefully law school to specialize in higher education law with aspirations to work as in-house counsel for a university.
CAS: What is your advice to incoming freshmen?
RR: Do what you’re most passionate about, be yourself, and stay humble. Being yourself is essential, and college is really the place where you learn how to explore and understand who you are. If you don’t give yourself that time and grace, it becomes much harder to succeed, whether academically or in other areas of campus life. The person you are in high school isn’t the same person you’ll be in college, and that’s okay. Growth takes time. Recognize that there will be ups and downs, and allow yourself the space to learn from all of it.
