MIAMI, Fla. (Diya TV) — The University of Miami has named Indian American student Aneesha Raj as its new student trustee for the 2025–2026 academic year. The appointment gives Raj full voting rights on the university’s 76-member board of trustees, where she will represent more than 19,000 students across the undergraduate, graduate, law, and medical campuses.
Raj is currently enrolled in a dual-degree program at the Miller School of Medicine, where she is working toward a Doctor of Medicine and a master of Public Health, class of 2026. With this role, she becomes only the sixth medical student to hold the student trustee position since it was created in 2002. She is also the first representative from the Miller School of Medicine to serve for more than five years.
Raj said she feels privileged to take on the role. “I’m incredibly honored to be granted the responsibility of articulating student needs across the University of Miami,” she said. She added that she aims to provide university leaders with meaningful insights into the student experience while helping guide important decisions.
As student trustee, Raj will participate in full board meetings and join the Student Affairs Committee. Her mission is to foster unity among the diverse student body and bring the unique perspective of a medical student into university discussions.
She emphasized her commitment to making sure student needs remain at the center of decision-making. “I hope to navigate high-level decisions with their best interests in mind and strengthen the University of Miami’s presence in academic leadership, research, and service to our community,” Raj said.
Beyond student government, Raj has already built a strong record in research. She has focused on global health and health equity, with special attention to tuberculosis care. In partnership with the Florida Department of Health, Raj co-authored a study on video-directly observed therapy, known as VDOT, for tuberculosis patients.
The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Tuberculosis and Other Mycobacterial Diseases, showed that VDOT significantly improved treatment outcomes and shortened the duration of therapy compared with traditional methods. Her work highlights how technology can enhance patient care and address public health challenges.
Raj’s leadership extends beyond research. She previously served as executive student government president at the Miller School of Medicine. In that role, she championed initiatives that supported student wellness, academic development, and interprofessional collaboration across health programs.
Her peers recognized her for building bridges within the medical school community and creating opportunities for students to engage in meaningful advocacy. Those experiences, she said, helped prepare her for the larger responsibility of representing all University of Miami students on the board of trustees.
