One Spark! Project Manager Is Defining What it Means to be a Leader

From working on and creating groundbreaking computational and data-driven projects, Spark! students are not only growing their technical expertise — but leadership skills as well. Savannah Majarwitz has cemented her legacy at Spark! as a Forced Migration and Human Trafficking Co-Lab Project Manager. The International Relations junior, who admits that she’s non-technical, credits Spark! with helping her to adapt and challenge herself in the technical realm.

Majarwitz is currently working on a Microsoft project. “It is called TIRA or Trafficking Interruption Resource Agent. Essentially the goal of the project is to help anti-human trafficking nonprofits be more efficient in providing resources to survivors,” said Marjarwitz of her favorite project thus far. “It [TIRA] has helped me understand more about backend logistics when trying to build a platform.”

Majarwitz is also working with Project CORA, Community Operations Resource Agent. “That project is also ongoing and the goal with it is to essentially enable any nonprofit to connect those in need with proper resources (if it sounds somewhat similar to TIRA it is actually because they are “sister” projects!)”

Spark! is just one piece of the pie that has helped to ignite Majarwitz’s college leadership career. She currently serves as Co-Chair of the Mental Health Committee (MHC), acting as a liaison between administration and students ensuring proper quality of mental health services. 

Through town hall style events with other student groups, the MHC is able to communicate student complaints and suggestions to Behavioral Medicine, Wellness & Prevention, and the Center for Psych Rehab.

Despite the pandemic driving up rates of mental health concerns, the progress that the MHC has made is a far cry from years before. In 2015, the committee had to fight to rectify the fact that only 18 professional staff members were servicing the mental health needs of thousands of BU students. 

As part of the committee’s commitment to the student body, a large part of their recent efforts have been directed towards aiding the #BUHasAProblem protest movement to vocalize the demands of sexual assault survivors. “We truly cannot do this work alone and really value partnering with other student groups because of the strength in numbers and diversity in opinions and experiences,” Majarwitz said.

When it comes to leaving a legacy on campus and off, Majarwitz’s work will impact the wellbeing of Terriers for years to come.