Student spotlight: Anja Zehfuss

Anja Zehfuss is graduating this year with a major in human biology and a minor in global studies, with a specialization in African studies. She chose these academic programs because she was interested in understanding the “systems that contribute to increasing inequality and infectious disease in sub-Saharan Africa.”

As she looks back on her time at Stanford, one of her fondest memories was traveling to Cape Town, South Africa during the summer of her sophomore year. Anja also enjoyed being a student athlete, and she was actively involved in several campus organizations. “I am most proud of the fact that I finished my four years committed to many different activities,” she said. “I was on the rowing team at Stanford for four years, and also got involved in other things on campus like tour guiding, being in a sorority, and working as a teaching assistant for several years.”

The COVID-19 crisis has dramatically impacted Anja’s final months at Stanford, and she is looking forward to returning to campus one day to reunite with her friends. “My last quarter has not ended the way I anticipated,” she shared. “I thought I would be able to leave Stanford with closure, and that has not been the case. I miss many of my friends and my senior season for rowing. I miss pushing myself with my team and being able to grab coffee at Coupa with friends or to go for a stroll on the Dish. When quarantine is over, I would love to go to a restaurant and get dim sum.”

In the fall, Anja will be starting a master’s degree program in development studies at Oxford University. “I am looking forward to focusing on what I’ve learned throughout the global studies minor.”

Please join us in congratulating the class of 2020! As the academic year draws to a close, we are highlighting students graduating from across our 14 programs. Click here to view more student spotlights.