University of South Florida

Sriram Madhusoodanan

Senior

International Studies, Economics, Honors Research Major

“The role of a university is, of course, to educate, but also to inspire by providing opportunities one wouldn’t have been able to experience otherwise,” says Sriram Madhusoodanan.

As he starts his last year at USF and reflects on the countless opportunities he has taken advantage of, Sriram has been nothing but inspired — inspired to be civically engaged, a voice for social justice, and an advocate for the marginalized.

“To live ethically. To be an active citizen and help as many people as I can every day. That’s the ethos by which I want to live my life,” he says. And when asked what his inspiration has been, he credits his experience at USF. “It always comes down to a class I took, a professor I met, or an opportunity I had here at USF.” Those opportunities include undergraduate research as well as leadership roles in local, national and international service efforts.

Born in Mangalore, India and a graduate of an International Baccalaureate program at Vanguard High School in Ocala, Fla., Madhusoodanan received multiple USF scholarship awards. His participation in research began his freshman year as he investigated cord blood stem cells and hematopoiesis, presenting at both university and national conferences. As a sophomore, he worked as a research fellow for The AIDS Institute attending public policy forums and participating in lobbying efforts. And as a senior he was selected to present his research on the development of nationalism in India at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research.

In addition to research, Madhusoodanan has been extensively engaged in organizations on and off campus: co-founder of Peace-at-Large, student coordinator for the Volunteer USF Leadership Board, site leader for Alternative Spring Break trips, initiator of a Fair Trade campaign with Students for Social Justice, representative to the Coalition for Global Justice, and president of the Student Society for Stem Cell Research.

And then there are a multitude of service projects, in particular, Alternative Spring Breaks, most recently, at the nation’s largest homeless shelter in Washington, D.C.

Madhusoodanan’s future? Graduate school, undoubtedly.

A life of activism and service, most certainly.

Inspired by his years at USF.