The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is proud to announce that three graduate students have been awarded International Fellowships from the American Association of University Women (AAUW). These highly competitive awards recognize exceptional academic achievement and leadership among women pursuing graduate studies in the United States.
The three 2025-2026 fellows are all doctoral students. Mahbubeh Moqadam, a Ph.D. candidate in Sociology, is completing her dissertation on feminist resistance and digital activism in Iran. Janet Husunukpe, a Ph.D. student in Regional Planning, is examining how tourism-driven urban development in Accra, Ghana, impacts gender equity and domestic labor. Mathematics Ph.D. student Manisha Garg explores connections between geometric group theory and metric space analysis, impacting large-scale geometry and theoretical computer science.
AAUW fellowships recognize women who, in addition to pursuing advanced degrees, seek to empower other women and girls. Mahbubeh has supported refugee women through advocacy, tutoring, and collaboration wherever she has lived, while Janet has fundraised for early education in Ghana. Manisha champions education for rural women in her home country of India and, at Illinois, has led math outreach activities for middle and high school students.
The AAUW International Fellowship program supports women from around the world. While all three Illinois awardees this year are doctoral students, master’s students may also apply. “The AAUW International Fellowship is a unique opportunity in that it invites applications from women in any field, in any academic or professional degree program, and at any stage of study,” said Dana N. Johnson, Director of External Fellowships. “We are proud to see our students recognized by AAUW for diverse scholarly contributions and global impact.”
For more information about the AAUW International Fellowship visit the Fellowship Finder listing. AAUW also offers American Fellowships, Selected Professions Fellowships, and Career Development Grants for Master’s and Professional Studies. Applications for the 2026-2027 cycle are due September 30.