Welfare Officer Serene Singh has been recognised with a prestigious 2024–25 John Robert Lewis Fellowship.
Serene is known around the St Peter’s College community as a member of our Health, Wellbeing and Welfare Team, a person to whom our students can turn when they need support. But Serene’s ‘day job’ is her work as a Rhodes Scholar pursuing a DPhil in Criminology at Christ Church College, University of Oxford, researching the material experiences of women on death row in United States prisons. The John Robert Lewis Fellowship recognises Serene’s justice-focused thesis research and her many other leadership ventures.
Each year, the Faith & Politics Institute (FPI) awards 20 scholarships and fellowships to young leaders whose work reflects the legacy and ideals of the late American politician and civil rights activist, John Robert Lewis. The Institute says that the goal of the programme is ‘to build a network of young leaders who are inspired by the moral leadership of John Lewis, educated, and empowered to use King’s principles and strategies of nonviolence, and committed to applying these competencies to become changemakers in their local communities.’
The FPI said of Serene that ‘her multifaceted approach merges academia with initiatives, showcasing a dedication to challenging stereotypes in pursuit of a more just society.’
A native of Colorado, Serene has an inspiring track record of leadership and advocacy for women, girls, and the Sikh community. She received the National All-American Miss title for 2021–22, authored a children's book (The Queen Machine), founded a Victoria's Secret award-winning charity dedicated to supporting the voices of marginalized communities of women, served as a Global Dalai Lama Fellow, received a Diana Humanitarian Award, and served as a Harry S. Truman Scholar.
Serene said, ‘To be a John Robert Lewis Fellow means to be honoured with carrying forward the legacy of civil rights, human rights, and non-violence. John Lewis was someone who truly embodied a value-centric way of life, including in his public service career. As a Sikh woman, I am passionate about using his way of leadership and the bravery through which he served the United States as a blueprint for my career and life. I am particularly focused on uplifting my Sikh community, promoting gender equity, and contributing to the liberation of all communities under oppression worldwide.’
St Peter’s is proud to congratulate Serene for this notable recognition of her leadership and advocacy for a more just world.