Tarang Tripathi

As an international doctoral student, I know how difficult it can be to find spaces in academia that feel welcoming. CIES was the first professional community where I felt a sense of belonging. From my first conference, people made room for me, took my work seriously, and helped me understand how to navigate the field. At a time when I was still figuring out where I fit, CIES felt like home.

That experience is why I joined the New Scholars Committee as soon as I had the opportunity. I wanted to make sure other students could feel the same acceptance and support I received, and I felt a responsibility to help create that experience for them. Over the past two years as Chair, I have worked to bring more students into NSC and to widen the range of perspectives represented in our spaces, including students and practitioners across regions and contexts.

At a time when the pressures and challenges on academia are ever mounting, I believe CIES has both the potential and the responsibility to be a place of support and growth for all students. I am running for Student Representative because I know what it currently feels like to navigate academiaas an student, and I want CIES to continue growing as a society where students feel welcomed, supported, and able to participate fully. My candidacy is grounded in a simple belief: student voices matter. If elected, I will focus on creating more opportunities for graduate students to grow within CIES. Concretely, this means advocating for more intentional approaches to funding, building stronger mentorship structures, and providing clearer guidance on pathways for students to get involved and advance within and outside academia.