Positively impacting human welfare may seem like an impossibly idealistic goal, but to Tanay Nagar (x'25), “Social service is not always about grand gestures; even small, consistent actions can create significant impact.” Nagar’s impact on advocacy, education, mental health and inclusion has recently been honored with the 2024 Richard Ralph Winter Phoenix Rising Humanitarian Scholarship.
Nagar is a senior from Mumbai, India studying computer sciences and philosophy in the College of Letters & Science. He has been using technology as a tool for service since before college. “Humanitarianism, in my view, is any action or endeavor dedicated to improving human well-being, embodying the principle of actively contributing to the alleviation of suffering and the enhancement of quality of life across communities.” One of his early successes was developing a mobile app to connect volunteers to social-impact organizations in his home country.
At UW–Madison, Nagar has continued his “personal commitment to enhancing human welfare through the transformative power of technology.” His computer science skills support a research initiative through the School of Medicine and Public Health’s Department of Surgery to reduce unconscious bias in medical school letters of recommendation using Natural Language Processing (NLP) analysis. According to Assistant Professor Dr. Sarah Jung, “This work will culminate in Tanay’s senior honors thesis and form the foundation for his future research trajectory, which will support his continued efforts using his skills in service of making educational programs and resources more attainable and accessible for all.” He also leads the student organization NeuroTech, as the technical lead, developing a mental health app for students and faculty, in collaboration with UW’s Mental Health Services, with the mission to “directly impact community mental health and foster a supportive environment.” Whether influencing his community through a computer or in his residence hall floor as a House Fellow, Nagar’s impact is undeniable.
Nagar plans to graduate in May 2025 and advance to master’s and doctoral studies. “As I look toward the future, I am committed to leveraging my expertise in computer science — along with a passion for linguistics, philosophy and psychology — to innovate in the field of Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Human-Computer Interaction. My goal is to develop technologies that dismantle cross-cultural biases and minimize language barriers, thus facilitating better understanding and cooperation across diverse communities.”
The Richard Ralph Winter Phoenix Rising Humanitarian Scholarship is made possible by the generosity of Charles Manthey Winter (’66). The scholarship recognizes humanitarian achievement and service, encouraging excellence and commitment in the application of humanitarian ideals and affirming the moral obligation to provide for human welfare.
The scholarship committee of Harry Brighouse (Mildred Fish Harnack Professor of Philosophy and Carol Dickson Bascom Professor of the Humanities), Ulrich Rosenhagen (Director of the Center for Interfaith Dialogue), Dean Ladwig (Assistant Director of Administration for the Morgridge Center for Public Service), Taylor Bailey (Assistant Director of the Center for Campus History), and Katherine Charek Briggs (Assistant Director of the Gender and Sexuality Campus Center) applauded Nagar as an intelligent visionary with character, passion and a plan.