73. Tara Uzra Dawood

Every few weeks, Cornell '95 Faces features a profile of one of our class officers. This week, meet the Vice President for Communications/Secretary. 

Global · Arts and Sciences

Name at Cornell
Tara Dawood

tudawood@gmail.com
Twitter: @tudawood

Tell us about what you're doing with your life.
I am President of Dawood Global Foundation, aka LADIESFUND, and we inspire-connect-educate women entrepreneurs and professionals. Our latest project is Educate a Girl, with a mission to educate 1,000 girls in Pakistan in vocational media scholarships to give women a voice in media. Each scholarship is $100 one time and in the donor's name. Top scholars get placed in media outlets for sustainability.

What are your duties as class officer and what have you enjoyed about the job?
I have been on Class Council since graduation in positions like Vice President (1 term), then Secretary (2 terms) and currently VP Communications/Secretary.  It is pure pleasure to be a part of a fabulous Class Council and group of classmates who really love Cornell and our class and want to facilitate connecting with each other and our alma mater. The best part is staying in touch with everyone and the friendships I've made that have strengthened through the years.  As my role is to pass on announcements and communication to classmates, it is a real privilege.  Can't wait for reunion to catch up in person.

What was your favorite class at Cornell, or the one you found the most useful?
Psychology 101. I loved learning from Prof. James B. Maas and realize this subject affects and addresses almost all areas of life. I also loved my English Lit classes with Prof. Lydia Fakudiny and Prof. Stuart Davis.

Which Cornell classmates do you keep in touch with?
Our Class Council , of course. As well as dear friends like James McCloskey, Sonia Ali, Nadie Batcha, Jim Whitaker, Katrina Bailey, et al. Too many to name. Have also made lovely friends from the Cornell Club of Toronto such as Onah Jung, Tyler McManus, Justin Tung, Paul Pederson, Peder Jacobson, et al.

What random or surprising encounters with Cornell or Cornellians have you experienced since you left?
When I was the President of the Cornell Club of Toronto, I interacted with Cornellians of all different graduation years as well as interests, and often had to call an invite an alumni I had never met to attend one of our events. It amazes me how successful and diverse our alumni body is, and how happy to hear from one another we always are.