{"id":155,"date":"2026-03-02T09:47:22","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T14:47:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/matter\/?page_id=155"},"modified":"2026-03-17T11:41:03","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T15:41:03","slug":"amira-said","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/matter\/amira-said\/","title":{"rendered":"Amira Said"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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make it matter<\/div>

Amira Said \u201926<\/h1><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
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Sowing Seeds of Leadership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019d asked University of Mary Washington senior Amira Said to describe herself when she first came to campus, she might have used the word \u201cshy.\u201d Now the Student Government Association (SGA) president and Class Council treasurer is anything but \u2013 especially when it comes to planning ASPIRE Week, a six-day celebration of UMW values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt really blossomed under her leadership,\u201d said Associate Provost for Community Relations and Compliance Shavonne Shorter. \u201cWe would not be where we are without her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A key role on UMW\u2019s Orientation team sparked her leadership journey. And when a desire to alleviate food waste led her to major in environmental science, she embarked on a quest to bring composting to campus, turning tossed-away meals into nourishment for University grounds. Her work was bolstered by a Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grant she received in spring 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m passionate about everything I do, especially sustainability,\u201d said Said, who was born in Egypt. \u201cWe have a beautiful Earth. Why would you ever want to deplete it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A member of UMW\u2019s Presidential Emerging Leaders Program, she\u2019s also a RISE peer mentor, Student Enrichment Program counselor and COAR volunteer. She joined the President\u2019s Council on Sustainability, presented at the Virginia Student Climate Action Summit, and interned with the Fredericksburg Clean and Green Commission and the Fund for the Public Interest in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI look at myself back when I just came in as a freshman, and I\u2019m like, \u2018wow,\u2019\u201d said Said, who plans to pursue a master\u2019s degree in environmental policy and become a consultant. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019d ever have imagined this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sowing Seeds of Leadership If you\u2019d asked University of Mary Washington senior Amira Said to describe herself when she first came to campus, she might have used the word \u201cshy.\u201d Now the Student Government Association (SGA) president and Class Council treasurer is anything but \u2013 especially when it comes to planning ASPIRE Week, a six-day 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