Nikunj Agarwal 
Graduate student, University College London (UCL) 
B.S. in Environmental Economics and Management / Agribusiness Management ‘22, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Whether he’s in East Lansing or jetting to Seoul from London where he’s in the homestretch as a graduate student at University College London, Nikunj Agarwal always finds his people when Spartans are nearby. Among the youngest to attend the Global Spartan Reunion—Agarwal graduated from the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources only three years ago.

And while MSU’s top 10 ranking in ag may have been what initially drew him in, it was the sense of community that convinced Agarwal he belonged at Michigan State. 

“Before I stepped foot on campus, I felt supported. I still remember the thoughtful communication from Amber Longtin during the admissions process—answering more than 100 emails from me, the warmth and mentorship of Dr. Deepa Thiagarajan who was like a campus mom to me, and the academic encouragement from Dr. Satish Joshi,” says Agarwal.

He was also part of RISE—Residential Initiative on the Study of the Environment, one of 10 academic living-learning communities where students live and learn about issues, they share a common interest in. For Agarwal, that meant he was immediately surrounded by students as passionate about sustainability as he is. Today, 40% of students living on-campus choose to live in living-learning communities.

In addition to RISE, Agarwal was instrumental in establishing a community that will thrive beyond his years at MSU. His steadfast advocacy on behalf of the International Students Association (ISA) led to the opening of ISA’s headquarters in 2025. 

“Leading [ISA] and launching the ISA HQ was a dream come true. It became a dedicated physical space for international students to gather, feel supported and build community,” Agarwal says.

At his core, Agarwal is a changemaker. Some of the most fulfilling work he’s done during his undergraduate years was through student government and serving on university committees.

“Knowing that I was able to contribute to real policy changes in academic advising, student support and campus inclusivity gave my time at MSU a lasting purpose,” Agarwal says.