“Tasneem possesses an uncommon sensitivity to her own positionality, and consciously holds space for other voices in the classroom to contribute.”

As a future English educator, Tasneem Madani is committed to helping students of color empower themselves through language, literacy, and visibility. Being a second-generation, Arab-American, and visibly Muslim woman of color, Tasneem recognizes the value of representing diverse cultural and linguistic identities in English education. Tasneem was born and raised in Ann Arbor, and Southeast Michigan’s cultural diversity both shaped her language experiences and inspired her to become a changemaker in education. Tasneem is driven by the belief that English Language Arts educators play a central role in affirming and promoting young people’s language and identity development.  

To better serve students of marginalized and intersectional backgrounds, Tasneem began exploring her identity as a Muslim-American woman in Islamic scholarship, pursuing a full-time Islamic Studies program for four years. Because of her deep work within her own identity, Tasneem can profoundly listen to others’ stories. One of her instructors writes, “[Tasneem] possesses an uncommon sensitivity to her own positionality, and consciously holds space for other voices in the classroom to contribute.” After completing her studies, Tasneem helped establish a local magazine that amplified stories from marginalized voices in Southeast Michigan. Her work as lead editor at the magazine showed Tasneem the importance of diversity and visibility in storytelling. Identifying with stories of trauma and triumph inspired her to continue her studies in English education. 

Now a student in the Marsal School of Education at U-M, Tasneem is completing her bachelor’s degree in secondary education with endorsements in English and English as a Second Language and a minor in Islamic Studies. She is also pursuing certificates in Trauma-Informed Practice and International Baccalaureate education. Tasneem hopes that shifting marginalized voices to the center will not only meaningfully include students of color in her classroom but will enrich the learning experiences of all students.

CEW+ recognizes Tasneem’s resilience and names her the Janice F. Stephens Memorial Scholar.