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Community is at the heart of spring 2025 undergraduate commencement speaker Albiona Selimi's ³ÉÈËAPP¾«Ñ¡experience and her message to the graduating class.

"I love the community I’ve formed here. I’ve met inspirational professors who have shaped my passions and made lifelong friendships," said Selimi, a Wasilla High School graduate drawn to ³ÉÈËAPP¾«Ñ¡for its affordability and closeness to home, only to be pleasantly surprised by its abundance of opportunities. "It’s such a warm and welcoming place, where you can see firsthand the care and passion that students, staff and faculty put into improving the environment."

Graduating summa cum laude from the Honors College with a Bachelor of Arts in political science and minors in women's studies and justice, Selimi hopes to eventually practice law at a civil rights organization. She credits the interconnectedness of her undergraduate studies with allowing her to bring fresh, nuanced perspectives to each.

"I’ve really loved the way this trio has complemented each other," said Selimi. "I love making the connections between topics, especially because these three areas of study are so deeply intertwined."

As rewarding and inspirational as she found her studies, Selimi also commends her non-academic experiences with augmenting her ³ÉÈËAPP¾«Ñ¡experience. In her first year, she joined UAA's student government, USUAA, to represent and advocate for other students. Recognizing her aptitude for the role, Selimi's fellow US³ÉÈËAPP¾«Ñ¡members encouraged her to apply for the student regent role with the UA Board of Regents — a competitive two-year, volunteer position with full voting powers on the board. Selimi began her board term in 2023 after being elected by her peers, appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Legislature.

"Since then, I feel I’ve made meaningful contributions to the UA community, including advocating for student interests and ensuring their voices are heard at the Board of Regents level," said Selimi.

The aspiring lawyer also gained legal experience through internships with the Alaska Innocence Project and the State of Alaska's Office of Administrative Hearings. Next on her journey, Selimi plans to attend law school in the fall with support from the Truman Scholarship, a prestigious award for aspiring public service leaders.

"I’m still torn on what particular field I want to pursue, but an abundance of options is never a bad thing in my book," said Selimi. "I’ve taken so many invigorating courses at ³ÉÈËAPP¾«Ñ¡that have made me passionate about a variety of issues, like criminal justice reform, voting rights and constitutional law."

No matter what Selimi decides, community will continue to guide her. Similarly, she encourages her classmates to do good in the world regardless of what field they choose.

"I believe that we have a collective responsibility to each other; the whole 'you don’t owe anyone anything' mentality never sat right with me. As human beings, we owe each other a lot, including empathy, compassion and collaboration."