LUMS Elects First Female Student Council President and Vice President

In a historic moment, the University's student body have elected a female President and Vice President for Student Council 2021-2022. This milestone is a strong testament to LUMS’ commitment towards gender equity at the University.

Anoosh Fatima Khan, BSc ’22, President, and Sana Chaudhry, MBA ’22, Vice President, are ushering in a new era. Although women have previously held roles in the Council, this marks the first time that they have held these leadership positions.

“We are thrilled that Anoosh and Sana have been elected as leaders of our vibrant student body. I am also extremely proud that LUMS continues to recognise women leaders who are represented in our faculty, in senior administrative positions and now in our Student Council. I encourage everyone to give their full support to ensure their success,” commented Dr. Arshad Ahmad, Vice Chancellor, LUMS.

Dr. Adnan Khan, Dean, Office of Student Affairs, LUMS, notes, “Annual elections for student representatives provide our scholars with an opportunity to experience the democratic process. This year, the election of the first woman President and Vice President of the Student Council is very welcome news and will be celebrated by all who wish for more gender balance in leadership roles.”

“I am incredibly humbled by this honour,” says Anoosh. For her, winning with integrity was of the utmost importance. “It wasn’t about just winning, but rather winning based on my principles. I didn’t want to use the ‘woman card’. My entire campaign revolved around merit, and I am glad that this rhetoric carried on.”

She believes that every capable person – regardless of gender or background – should have an equal opportunity to run for Council. “LUMS is a place where everybody is heard and everybody is equal. Inclusivity is a part of LUMS, so it should be a part of the Student Council as well,” she says.

For Sana, laying the foundation for female representation is essential. “To be the first woman Vice President is both an honour and a huge responsibility. We have set a precedent for other girls to be motivated to apply for leadership positions in the future and have given them hope that they too will be heard and seen. That is the real win.”

The Council is already planning for the year ahead and has strong objectives for its tenure. “At the moment, providing students safe access to the campus and its facilities, while remaining mindful of the COVID-19 constraints, is a huge priority. We also want to ensure that the Student Council represents the student body. The Council must be approachable and visible, so we plan to have more office hours and issue reports on our progress. The aim is to minimise gaps and have greater communication,” says Anoosh.

Sana adds, “Decision-making should be a participatory process so that all groups truly believe that their voice matters and thus any amendments made will reflect this.”

LUMS extends its congratulations and best wishes to the Student Council for its tenure.