Shruti Venkatesh '25
Shruti Venkatesh ’25 grew up just a few miles from Binghamton University, a Vestal native who attended Vestal schools throughout her academic career leading up to college. Even with her deep roots in the area, she found that her experience at Binghamton, especially through the Emerging Leaders Program, opened doors to parts of the community she had never seen before and shaped the way she approaches her future in medicine.
Venkatesh first learned about ELP through emails she received as soon as she activated her Binghamton account. She was immediately drawn to the program’s mission and the chance to give back to the community she considered home.
“I knew right away I wanted to be part of a program where people were equally invested in giving back to the community,” Venkatesh said, adding that being local made the opportunity feel even more meaningful.
She joined ELP as a first‑year student in the Public Service Knowledge Community and remained involved through her junior year, eventually serving as both a mentor and a program assistant. Her early experiences included working with a local group home in Binghamton, where she and her peers organized activity days filled with arts and crafts, games and conversations.
The goal, she said, was to create a safe and supportive environment where children could simply enjoy being kids without worrying about challenges at home. The group even organized a fundraiser for the home, an experience that left a lasting impact on both the students and the families they served.
As a mentor, Shruti shifted her focus to global awareness and citizenship, guiding students as they developed a cultural night for Vestal Hills Elementary School, the same school that Venkatesh attended as a child. The event featured food, traditions and crafts shared with families — some of whom represented the cultures highlighted. Shruti said watching her students take ownership of the project was one of the most rewarding parts of her role.
“Having that event take place in the same school where I attended as a student meant a lot,” said Venkatesh. “It really brought things full circle and felt like we were truly giving back to the community that raised me.”
Her time as a program assistant offered a different perspective. She hadn’t realized how much coordination and behind‑the‑scenes work went into running ELP and ensuring collaboration across Knowledge Communities. Seeing the operational side strengthened her appreciation for the program and helped her develop professional skills including time management, professional communication and leadership.
Shruti graduated in May 2025 with a degree in neuroscience, a Scholars minor and additional coursework in anthropology. She has since completed her first year of medical school at SUNY Upstate, including clinical rotations in internal medicine, oncology and endocrinology. She sees a clear connection between her ELP experience and her development as a future physician. She noted that while college often emphasizes independence, ELP taught her the importance of collaboration and connection, values she now recognizes as essential in healthcare.
The teamwork and collaboration skills I learned through my time in ELP have been invaluable,
“They’re so important in the medical field for providers to work together to provide the best, most comprehensive care for their patients," said Venkatesh.
Throughout her time at Binghamton, Venkatesh found mentors and advocates who helped shape her path. She still keeps in touch with several program assistants she worked alongside, including peers who are now pursuing PhDs and other advanced degrees.
“Tyler [Lenga], Nicole [Flohr] and the rest of the ELP staff were incredibly supportive throughout my time with ELP,” said Venkatesh. “Tyler even wrote one of my letters of recommendation for medical school. They’re great advocates for me and helped shape me to who I am now as a student.”
Reflecting on her undergraduate years, Venkatesh encourages current students not to isolate themselves. She said her best memories came from ELP and other clubs where she met people who supported her academically and personally.
“Students should take advantage of every opportunity they find to meet new people,” said Venkatesh. “You never know where those connections will lead.”