Women’s History Month has been celebrated in the United States since March 1987 as a time when women across the country are recognized for their contributions to the country.
According to U.S. News, 56% of University of New Haven students are women. This March, the university is honoring women on campus and their achievements.
Ananya Surapaneni is a graduate student from Ballari, Karnataka, India and she is pursuing a master’s degree in healthcare administration. Surapaneni previously completed her bachelor’s degree in dentistry in India.
Surapaneni said she chose New Haven for its exceptional master of healthcare administration (MHA) program and “it was the curriculum and the positive experiences I heard that truly convinced me.”
As an international student, Surapaneni was anxious when she arrived on campus but she said she has since come to consider the university her “home away from home.” Her relationships with professors, classmates and friends have continued to provide her with “constant sources of learning and self-discovery,” she said.
On campus, Surapaneni is the event manager for the Indian Student Council, which was established in 2011 and represents the Indian student community at the university. The organization celebrates Indian festivals, helps new Indian students acclimate to campus and works with the administration by hosting a Buddy program for incoming Indian students.
Surapaneni is also involved in the Women in Business club. The registered student organization aims to enhance student professional development and share experiences as students get ready for their careers after college. Surapaneni is also on the event planning committee for the Graduate Student Council.
Living in both West Haven and Ballari, Surapaneni said “everything from the climate and food to the people, roads, classrooms, teaching styles and organizational structures is different.”
Surapaneni said the differences she has encountered have led her to appreciate a new culture.
After earning her master’s degree, Surapaneni plans to enter the health administration field and combine that with her passion for dentistry.
“My long-term goal is to establish a multi-specialty hospital back in my hometown, where I can leverage my skills as both a dentist and an administrator,” Surapaneni said.
Surapaneni wore her grandmother’s saree at her undergraduate graduation in India. She said her greatest inspiration is her grandmother who is “a single mother in a small Indian town” who overcame “societal negativity and hardship” as she raised two sons with “unwavering strength and instilled in them the importance of education and family.”
Surapaneni’s Naanamma – “grandmother” in Surapaneni’s native language Telugu – has shown her from a young age “the power of resilience and the ability of women to achieve greatness, regardless of circumstance,” Surapaneni said.
Combining health administration and dentistry will allow Surapaneni to provide dental care to underprivileged communities in her hometown, which has become more attainable because of the university’s resources, she said.
Women’s History Month, to Surapaneni, “is a celebration of all women – from Olympic champions and Nobel laureates to influential politicians and everyday heroes like my grandmother who fight for themselves and their families.”
As Surapaneni finishes her master’s degree in health administration, she said she reminds herself “to honor every woman who defies limitations and makes a difference in the world,” just like her grandmother.
