Name: Fatoumata Waggeh

Recipient Year: 2018

Major: Law

Description: Fatoumata is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School. A self-identified Black Muslim feminist, Fatoumata was born and raised in New York City to West-African immigrants. Her intersectional identity has shaped her commitment to social justice and passion to use the law as a tool to advocate for marginalized and underserved communities throughout inner-city America. Prior to law school, she was a Corporate Paralegal at Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz and a Civic Organizer at an African immigrant rights organization called African Communities Together. As a Civic Organizer, Fatoumata helped advocate for the unique challenges facing Black immigrants on the local and national landscape. She successfully helped mobilize the inclusion of French and Arabic in New York City’s language access plan and coordinated a coalition to combat the refugee and Muslim ban as well as the termination of Temporary Protected Status and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. 

School Name: University of Pennsylvania

Sponsor: Ghulam and Arifa Azad Family Scholarship