Second-year University of Vermont medical student Soraiya Thura ’18 has been appointed by the Associated Directors for the Appointment of Student Trustees to the UVM Board of Trustees. Her two-year term of service will become effective March 1, 2016.

“I believe that the University of Vermont is uniquely juxtaposed between tradition and innovation, and I hope to be an asset to developments that place the university at the forefront of higher education,” says Thura.

UVM’s Board of Trustees has full legal responsibility and authority for the University of Vermont, including entire management and control of property and affairs of the university. The Board of Trustees sets and approves policies, budgets and strategic planning.

Originally from Falls Church, Va., Thura graduated magna cum laude with University Honors from Virginia Commonwealth University with a degree in economics in May 2014 and began her medical school career at UVM in August 2014.

Thura succeeds student trustee and UVM Class of 2016 undergraduate Samantha Lucas, who succeeded Class of 2016 medical student Raj Thakrar, one of the only medical students to previously serve in this role. She brings a wide range of student organization leadership experience to her new position. As an undergraduate, she acted as chair for the UNICEF Campus Initiative National Council to advise students on how to successfully run their clubs. At the UVM College of Medicine, she serves as the Class of 2018 representative for the Dean’s Advisory Committee on Diversity and Inclusion (DACDI), is a representative on the Student Executive Board, is a student representative on the Evaluation Committee and helped launch the Social Justice Coalition – an alliance of student organizations committed to enhancing UVM’s commitment to cultural competency and inclusion in our medical education.

“Teamwork is the theme of my leadership style,” says Thura, whom as student leader of the Social Justice Coalition, helped organize a #insolidaritywithmizzou rally at the College of Medicine on November 18, 2015.

Read a February 19, 2016 uvm medicine blog post by Thura here.