Cynthia Okafor, a PhD candidate in pharmaceutics from Agulu, Nigeria, and recipient of a 2025 Global Student Award, embodies how mentorship and community can elevate international education.

University of Iowa student Leila Assadi, a double major in economics and political science and recipient of a 2025 Global Student Award, embodies what it means to be a globally minded Hawkeye.

The Global Student Award recognizes one undergraduate and one graduate student who are leaders deeply engaged in international education on campus or abroad. The 2025 winners are Leila Assadi and Cynthia Okafor.