Diwesh Kumar ’24 to Receive the Global Learning Leadership Award The mathematics and economics double major will be presented the award at the Center for International Education awards ceremony on May 28.

By Brian Laubscher
May 13, 2024

Washington and Lee University student Diwesh Kumar ’24 has been selected by the Center for International Education (CIE) to receive the 2024 Global Learning Leadership Award. He will be presented with the award and accompanying $500 prize at the CIE annual awards ceremony held in the Center for Global Learning Atrium on May 28 at 5:30 p.m.

The Global Learning Leadership Award is presented annually to a student in the undergraduate senior class who manifests the values, aspirations and spirit of global learning.

“I am truly honored and grateful to be receiving this award from CIE, as they were the first group of people I interacted with after my admission, and they were so instrumental throughout my time here, from navigating getting to the U.S. during Covid shutdowns to my post-graduation plans to everything in between,” said Kumar. “Everyone at CIE is so thoughtful and understanding and selflessly helpful, and I’m just very grateful for all they’ve done for me and every international student on campus.”

A mathematics and economics double major from Karachi, Pakistan, Kumar has pursued diverse international educational opportunities during his time at W&L. He first traveled to the U.S. as a foreign exchange student at Rockbridge County High School for the 2017-18 academic year. This experience influenced his later decision to attend W&L.

Kumar was set to enter the university as a first-year student in fall 2020, but like all incoming international students, the COVID-19 pandemic delayed his entry to the U.S. Consequently, he and the other incoming W&L international students began their collegiate experience abroad at the University of St. Andrews (U.K.). There, Kumar served as a student leader until the group arrived in Lexington for the start of Winter Term 2021.

He studied abroad again for Spring Term 2022, this time traveling to Copenhagen, Denmark, where he explored childhood education in Scandinavia. Most recently, during Fall Term 2022, Kumar studied at the prestigious University of Oxford (U.K.), engaging in rigorous tutorials in both math and economics.

Kumar further contributed to international student integration the following year by sharing an overview of W&L’s Honor System and student governance structures with new international students during orientation. He also organized a reunion for the special cohort of international students who, like him, studied at the University of St. Andrews for the Fall Term in 2020, fostering a sense of community among this globally minded group.

“Diwesh has been an exceptional global ambassador and leader in his time at W&L,” said Hunter Swanson, associate director for international education. “His impressive study abroad experiences, coupled with his significant contributions towards enhancing international student integration and global learning on campus, make him a well-deserving recipient of the Global Leader Award.”

Besides his global academic pursuits, Kumar has demonstrated remarkable leadership in fostering cross-cultural connections and supporting international students on campus. During the 2023-2024 academic year, he served as the vice president of the Executive Committee, representing the student population and advocating for their needs. He’s also served as associate director of the Williams Investment Society (WIS) and has been an international student orientation leader, helping new global learners acclimate to the university and American culture.

“My study abroad experiences shaped my overall experience at W&L and put many things in perspective,” said Kumar. “I was able to expand on my academic and social interests and saw all that different parts of the world have to offer. It helped me rekindle my passion for learning, but, more importantly, the time away from W&L made me truly appreciate the school and the Lexington community. And so, when I returned, I fully immersed myself in all the different aspects of W&L life.”

Following graduation from W&L later this month, Kumar will begin working in investment banking for Morgan Stanley’s San Francisco office.

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