2023 Community Service Award

The Community Service Award is presented to the graduating student or students whose active contributions to the life of the University community and to the endeavors of our neighbors in the surrounding community most admirably embody an appreciation for the value of social responsibility.

New York City

Tasfia Rahim’s tireless commitment to social responsibility and community service has not only made a tangible difference in her community, but also helped her peers engage with activism.

In 2020, Tasfia partnered with the Center for Community Action and Research (CCAR) to increase voter education ahead of the presidential election. Her commitment to voter education continued well past the election as she continued to conduct online information sessions, course presentations, and trainings about local elections.

Tasfia further committed to serving her community by stepping into the role of Student Projects Coordinator for CCAR, where she worked with more than 50 students individually to match them with volunteer experiences. As part of this role, Tasfia also led a student-run advocacy campaign in support of the Immigrant Worker Freedom Act, which would provide citizenship to the nearly 2,000 undocumented workers who participated in 9/11 cleanup efforts in New York City.

She continued her record of service as the student co-chair of the Social Justice Week marketing committee in 2022 and partnered with CCAR as a volunteer for environmental nonprofits. Outside of Pace, Tasfia has interned with multiple local organizations, including as a SNAP navigator intern at the Council of the People’s Organization in Brooklyn. At the Asian American Federation, she conducted research on anti-Asian hate legislation and presented three policy recommendations to New York State.

Some of her most impactful work has been done for the benefit of her Pace Community. Tasfia was selected as a UN Academic Impact Millennium Fellow, an honor offered to only six percent of students globally, and decided to address food insecurity on campus. She and two other Fellows created Fare Trade, a program that facilitates the redistribution of meal plan funds to food insecure students. Last year, over $600 was redistributed and Fare Trade is continuing to make an impact on the New York City Campus, with efforts underway to bring the program to Westchester. Though her Fellowship concluded, Tasfia remains a dedicated custodian to the program, also serving on two subcommittees on the new Food Insecurity Task Force.

Tasfia’s unwavering dedication and infectious enthusiasm for community service has made a significant impact on her community that will continue to improve the lives of her peers.

For exemplifying the core values of Opportunitas and Pace University, today we honor Tasfia Rahim with the 2023 Community Service Award.