We're pleased to announce that two Drexel students have been nominated for the 2026 Truman Scholarship, which recognizes undergraduate juniors committed to careers in service of the public interest. This highly prestigious program provides Scholars with mentorship, professional development through a summer internship program, and funding for graduate school to prepare them to be change agents and leaders in the realm of public service. Drexel's nominees will now represent the University in the national Truman Scholarship competition. We wish them the best of luck!
Sanjana Bandi, biomedical engineering ’27, Honors
Sanjana Bandi is a biomedical engineering junior at Drexel University. Her academic and research interests center on neuroscience and development. Alongside research pursuits, she values her hands-on clinical experiences across emergency medicine, pediatric, and community health settings. Committed to equity and public service, she is actively involved in community-based education, health advocacy, and youth mentoring initiatives. She maintains a strong interest in communication and leadership, and is involved in The Triangle, Drexel’s student newspaper, and as a peer reader at the Drexel Writing Center. She will spend her 2026 co-op working as a research assistant within the Neurosurgery Clinical Research Division at Pennsylvania Hospital. Sanjana has been involved in the Pennoni Honors College through the Honors Program, as a 2024 STAR Scholar, and as an Undergraduate Research Mini-Grant recipient.
Dejenae Smith, biological sciences ’27, Honors
Dejenae Smith is a fourth-year student at Drexel University, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biology and concentrating in ecology, evolution, and genomics. Alongside her major, she is also pursuing a minor in data science. She aspires to become a climate scientist, specializing in the intersections of environmental science, climate, and data analysis. She is currently working with Dr. Megan Phifer-Rixey studying urbanization’s morphological impacts on pollinators and herbaceous flowering plants. Dejenae is also a first-generation Jamaican-American from Philadelphia, and alongside studying the environment, she is dedicated to including more diverse voices in STEM.
As for her involvement, Dejenae is a 2023 STAR Scholar and Honors Student, and is thoroughly involved in the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, Beta Beta Beta Biological Honors Society, and Women's Club Rugby. She is also part of the SuperNova Undergraduate Research Fellows Program in the Pennoni Honors College. In her personal time, Dejenae enjoys drawing, reading, and is an avid and experienced Scrabble player, enjoying the game both casually and competitively. She would like to make a special thanks to her mother, whose guidance has not only taught her invaluable life lessons but also instilled in her a commitment to excellence, perseverance, and resilience. Dejenae was awarded a 2025 Udall Scholarship in the environmental category and is also nominated for a 2026 Goldwater Scholarship.
Special thanks to the members of the Truman Campus Committee, who worked with Undergraduate Research and Enrichment Programs to review applications, conduct interviews, and advise our nominees on their applications:
David Brown, PhD, Professor of Politics and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
Jordan Hyatt, PhD, Professor of Criminology and Justice Studies and Director of the Center for Public Policy, CoAS
David Kaganovsky, BS '95, Pennoni Honors College Advisory Board Member
The Truman Scholarship is a highly prestigious national program that supports the graduate education and professional development of outstanding young people committed to careers in public service, including education and non-profit sectors. Since its creation in 1975, the Foundation has supported over 3,600 Truman Scholars who are making a difference in all corners of the nation and around the globe.
For more information, visit the Truman Foundation website or contact UREP at fellowships@drexel.edu.