Throughout the month of April, we recognize Arab American Heritage Month and the many contributions and achievements of Arab Americans throughout the past and present. Our April Access Spotlight is on Avvan (AH-vuh) Sanjana, a licensed therapist who supports students through her work at the MSU Center for Survivors. Her personal interests and family background has made her particularly passionate about multicultural therapy approaches and support for individuals who are immigrants or the children of immigrants, international students, or first-generation college students.
Sanjana grew up in the metro Detroit area and was inspired by her father’s own influential experiences at a Big Ten university to apply and attend one herself. Michigan State felt like the perfect fit- distanced from home, but not too far- being the oldest daughter and the first to leave home still felt both exciting and a little daunting for Sanjana. “I felt like it really was important for me to leave and learn to be on my own for the first time,” she said. “I knew it was something I wanted to do, and needed to do, to grow as a person.”
Coming into college with a prior interest in the realm of psychology from high school, Sanjana continued on in that direction, earning her bachelor’s degree in Psychology with double minors in Health Promotion (College of Education) and Organizational Leadership (College of Social Science). The psychology program encouraged students to think about continuing their education, and Sanjara kept the idea in mind, but was unsure if she wanted to apply to grad school or explore the job market.
It was during a Teaching Education class her senior year that she first found out about social work as a field and a potential career path. Her minor required a service learning course, and the class included volunteering in the community and focused on opportunities in the educational world, intersectionality in classrooms and the education system and how young students are being impacted.
“This is in my senior year; I have no idea what I’m doing after graduation. I walked into this class in Wells Hall, and I’m very certain that I was meant to take this class, at this time in my life, and that it is the reason I am a social worker today,” she explained.
Sanjana worked with English as a Second Language (ESL) students at East Lansing High School, and met other MSU social work students and interns. She describes it as a ‘life-changing’ experience.
“I met so many students from around the world, and loved getting to hear their experiences and life stories and how they came here and what they are dealing with. I knew this was an area that I really enjoyed working in, and I became really passionate about these themes we were studying in class and seeing how it was translated from the classroom to our outside world.”
After graduation, Sanjana moved back home to take a gap year and fell into another opportunity that further affirmed her decision to attend grad school for social work the following year. She ran into a former teacher of hers at North Farmington High School, who was now the ESL director for the district. Sanjana ended up volunteering in her classroom, again working with students from across the world and all walks of life.
“I was working with adults this time, all women,” she said. “I spent a lot of time working with these women, working on their English, and hearing about their experiences immigrating to the country and now living in my hometown.”
Sanjana returned to MSU and earned her Master’s in Clinical Social Work. She continued to spend time working with ESL students, and was an intern at MSU Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS), where she learned more about integrative care and approaches to therapy.
“After that job, I knew I wanted to stay in higher education after I graduated,” she explained. “I really enjoy working with college students. This age period of 18 to 24 is so critical. I remember how much was changing in my life at that time.”
Post-graduation, Sanjana began applying for jobs, and when a position opened up with the Center for Survivors , she eagerly applied. The Center provides confidential counseling, advocacy and support for MSU students, staff and faculty impacted by sexual assault, harassment or relationship violence. As a student, Sanjana recalls sexual assault support services at MSU being few and far between, and is proud of the growth the university has experienced in its efforts to support the community in this area.
“I am one of the youngest therapists on the team, and I also have the perspective of being a student here during some tough times,” she said. “It’s truly been amazing to see, from a student to now a staff member, how much our program has changed and is respected. I like to brag that it’s one of the best offices in the country.”
Sanjana continues to feed her passion for working with immigrants and first-generation or international students through the Center for Survivors. Her background as a daughter of immigrants serves her well in supporting this population and their multifaceted needs. Sanjana’s grandparents immigrated to the United States from India in 1969 with her mother and uncle. They identify as Parsis, an ethno-religious group of Persian descent who practice Zoroastrianism and migrated to India following the conquest of Persia (Iran) in the 7th century.
It’s also helped her to further embrace her own culture and heritage. “I think that’s a big part of why students want to come work with me, someone who has those cultural similarities or whose family also immigrated here,” she explained. “I think so many students end up finding similarities, and it is a big part of my story, my life, my upbringing, who I am as a person. I think it brings a very different view and perspective to our workplace.”
As a South Asian woman and a member of a small religious group, Sanjana knows firsthand the importance of listening and learning as well as sharing and highlighting different worldviews. “Heritage is so important,” she said. “It is what makes the human race so beautiful and diverse. We may all have different religions or origins, but at the end of the day, we also have so many similarities that bring us together.
Thinking about Arab American Heritage Month in particular, Sanjana reminisces on growing up in Detroit surrounded by many immigrant populations from across the Middle East.
“We have one of the biggest Arab populations in the world outside of the Middle East here in Michigan, and we should celebrate their culture and heritage. They make our great state what it is in so many ways, and they contribute so much … it’s important to make sure that they know they are valued and seen. I think that’s a really important piece, that in addition to celebrating, we are making sure people feel seen and heard and valued in our community.”
Honorees’ views are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the College of Social Science.