Meet Ameera Mustafa ’28 After a Writing 101 class, Mustafa is considering a career in criminal justice reform.

Office of Communications and Public Affairs
February 25, 2025

Ameera Mustafa ’28
Hometown: Charleston, West Virginia
Majors/minors: Undecided

Why did you choose to come to W&L?
During my application process for W&L, I had the opportunity to meet with a local alum for an interview. What made this experience unique was that rather than being asked questions, I was invited to ask her about her experience at W&L instead. Our conversation had a profound impact on what I wanted for the next four years. I distinctly remember her sharing how the school offered countless opportunities to travel, which greatly enriched both her education and life. Before this experience, I hadn’t placed much emphasis on the idea of traveling in my college decision. However, after having the incredible chance to visit Baltimore, Chicago and Mars Hill, North Carolina, during just my first semester, I can attest to how much of an effective setting an unfamiliar environment can be for learning. The financial aid and being three hours away from home helped, too!

Have you discovered a course or topic that you didn’t expect to study when you first came to W&L?
This fall semester, I took Writing 100: Race, Gender and the Prison-Industrial Complex with assistant professor of English Lubabah Chowdhury. Before coming to W&L, I had little knowledge of the injustices ridden in the prison system. Taking this class opened up a hidden world that I had never been able to see before. Professor Chowdhury did an incredible job teaching the course, and by the end of the semester, I found myself writing final papers for two other classes about issues related to mass incarceration. Currently, I am preparing another paper about the effect mass incarceration has had on the children of incarcerated individuals. I regularly reflect on the significant impact this class has had on my academic interests, and I hope to continue exploring the subject. Looking further into the future, I am considering a career in criminal justice reform.

What has been your most impactful experience at W&L, either on or off-campus?
This November, I had the opportunity to travel to Mars Hill, North Carolina, along with a group of students to assist in recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene. There I encountered individuals with amounts of resilience and strength I never thought was possible. The tragedy that had occurred there was unforgettable, but so were the people we were fortunate enough to work alongside. I am honored to have met such generous individuals.

What was your favorite class and why?
My favorite class this semester is Religion and Conflict in Asia with professor of religion and adjunct professor of law Tim Lubin. Although it’s my earliest class of the week, it’s also the one that I look forward to the most. I had never taken a religion course before, and it has been an amazing experience so far. Although the course focuses on religion, it delves a lot into the history and psychology of mankind and offers insights into the present. Professor Lubin is an excellent speaker, and his lectures are always engaging. I look forward to taking more religion classes at W&L.