Anya Wahal (SFS‘23), a dedicated advocate for water justice, has been awarded the prestigious 2024 Marshall Scholarship. Wahal joins a cohort of 51 scholars nationwide who have demonstrated exceptional academic excellence, including the four other Georgetown students and alumni who have received the scholarship this year. The Georgetown Center for Research and Fellowships oversees the Marshall Scholarship and several other UK fellowships, guiding students through the nomination and development process.
The Marshall Scholarship selects outstanding students to study in the United Kingdom. With her scholarship, Wahal will pursue her studies in water science, policy and management at the University of Oxford. She ultimately hopes to return to the U.S. to pursue a Ph.D. and continue her research to become an academic practitioner in water policy and management.
Recognizing Water’s Vital Role
Wahal’s profound connection with water predates memory. She reflects, “I can’t even recall when it first dawned on me how essential water is to creating and sustaining life. I feel as if I’ve always known it.”
Growing up in the fast-expanding cities of Arizona’s Sonoran desert, covering Phoenix, Tucson and towns along the southwestern border, Wahal witnessed firsthand the paradox between rapid urban growth and water scarcity. Through her experiences, she came to understand the critical trade-offs involved in water management and how choices in its allocation often disproportionately affect marginalized communities.
Currently a Fulbright researcher in India, Wahal is researching the intricate link between poor water quality and maternal health in Delhi’s low-income communities. Under the mentorship of Professor Neera Agnimitra at Delhi University, Wahal is engaged in a research project that investigates these intersecting challenges by exploring the experiences and coping mechanisms of women and mothers in New Delhi.
Wahal graduated from SFS in 2023, but not without leaving her mark. While on the Hilltop, she pursued various opportunities to explore her interest in water. As a Green Commons Awardee during her junior year, Wahal produced a compelling mini-documentary that shed light on the impact of water shortages in the Colorado River Basin on Arizona’s farmers. Wahal attributes her unique identity— “a half-Taiwanese, half-Indian queer girl and an Arizona native”—as a driving force behind her commitment to addressing the genuine needs of farmers.
“The sincerity and humility that I have seen her bring to every conversation no doubt explains how she was able to get more than 60 water users, mostly farmers, to sit down with her to discuss a personally and politically sensitive issue — while being filmed,” says Professor Mark Giordano, who taught Wahal in his course on water issues.
Water Policy: Academia and Practice
Wahal’s studies have been enriched by numerous opportunities from her time at Georgetown, having earned a number of prestigious fellowships, including the Mortara Fellowship, Carroll Fellowship, Krogh Scholars Program, the Paul Pelosi Scholars Initiative and Provost’s Fellowship.
Wahal’s academic achievements culminated in her STIA honors thesis, where she explored community perceptions of water use in her home state of Arizona. By establishing connections with farmers, Wahal was able to dispel misconceptions surrounding blame in the worsening water crisis. “The perception in Arizona is that farmers are at fault for the worsening water crisis —yet after meeting farmers firsthand, I realized that most actually wanted to be water conscious,” Wahal says.
Wahal also took advantage of her courses to pursue her research interests. In Professor Sarah Stewart Johnson’s Environmental Geoscience course, Wahal’s final project investigated the impact of climate change on Japan’s sushi industry, exploring threats posed by rising sea temperatures, ocean acidification, changes to primary productivity, increasing pollution and overexploitation.
“It was well beyond what I would have expected of an undergraduate student,” Johnson says. “She was always in the front row providing her thoughtful perspectives, and I lit up every time I walked into the classroom and saw her smiling face.”
A Catalyst for Civic Engagement
Wahal’s commitment to civic engagement is intricately tied to her experiences with the complex water politics of the American Southwest. Acknowledging the challenges many face in staying informed, she saw the need for clear, impartial explanations of candidates’ priorities. Her vision quickly turned into a broader mission — consolidating unbiased information for voters of all political affiliations. This experience inspired Wahal to co-found The Polling Place, a nonprofit dedicated to providing detailed, consolidated information on all candidates on a ballot.
Recognizing the need for additional resources, Wahal mobilized civically engaged youth through activist networks and local high schools. This collaborative effort involved meticulous research, analysis of advertising campaigns and the creation of The Polling Place’s consolidated, user-friendly website from scratch.
Surpassing expectations, The Polling Place garnered over 20,000 views within a month, earning recognition from local news outlets as an “invaluable resource” for fostering civic engagement. Beyond this initial success, Wahal’s vision expanded to securing nonprofit status, applying for grants, forming partnerships with local youth organizations and ensuring the initiative’s sustained impact. Managed by hundreds of volunteers across six states, The Polling Place stands as a testament to Wahal’s unwavering commitment to nurturing civic responsibility.
An Academic and Personal Interest
Wahal’s upbringing in a multicultural environment has cultivated a keen awareness of social disparities, driving her commitment to water justice. Wahal views water as a fundamental right, with its inequitable distribution reflecting larger societal challenges. For her, addressing water justice involves recognizing and bridging these gaps to ensure fair access to this essential resource.
This approach will inform her work through the Marshall Scholarship and her long-term career goals. After completing her planned studies at Oxford, Wahal aims to pursue her Ph.D. in water policy and management to conduct further research in service to the needs of marginalized communities affected by water crises.
“For myself, and for every community disproportionately affected by water crises, water justice is not just a buzzword but a lived reality,” Wahal says.