Anika Amdahl ’22, ’23
Hometown: Redmond, Washington
Major: International Criminal Justice B.A./M.A.
Certificate: Advanced Certificate in Transnational Organized Crime Studies
Program: International Criminal Justice Dual-Admission Accelerated Program
Career Aspiration: Public Interest/Social Justice Attorney

Being named the winner of the Dr. Mangai Natarajan Scholarship for Global Justice was a meaningful moment for Anika Amdahl ’22, ’23, who moved across the country to attend John Jay. “I wanted to be part of John Jay’s unique International Criminal Justice Dual-Admission Accelerated Program (DAAP). Over the last two years, I’ve met lifelong friends, conducted important research, was part of the Women’s Swim Team and Mock Trial Team, and have found my place in the criminal justice world,” says Amdahl. “I’ve engaged with faculty who really care about their students, had opportunities to network with experts in the field, and was honored to work as Dr. Natarajan’s research assistant. She’s an innovator in international criminal justice and I’ve learned so much from her.” Working on Natarajan's NSF-funded research—which focused on how the pandemic impacted both victims and service providers of domestic violence throughout the country—strengthened Amdahl’s resolve to become a social justice attorney that gives back to communities.