Miriam Weinstein Peace and Justice Education Award
2009 Neil Panchmatia
Neil’s leadership and activism is ever-present in his life and academics. He has worked on smoking-cessation campaigns within LGBT and communities of color mentored his peer international students who were coming out and coordinated the Minnesota Social Justice Conference for Youth. Neil strongly believes that social change begins in the classroom and hopes to use his role as a future educator to promote equality and social justice. His academic studies have focused on social inequality and a critical analysis of social systems. All of this is aimed at a career in education where, in his own words, he can “use the classroom as a platform for equality.” Neil is completing a master’s in social responsibility at St. Cloud State University while working as a graduate assistant in international student services.
