This neuroscience student found her calling and her community at George Mason

When Saniya Darediya stepped onto George Mason University's Fairfax Campus for Orientation four years ago, she was fresh off the plane from Gujarat, India, and had never been to the United States. She chose George Mason sight-unseen-and then carved out a place for herself.

"I did a ton of research on universities all over the world before I came here," she said. "George Mason felt like a university that draws a lot of opportunity outside of class. They had a lot of research programs, and I really wanted that hands-on experience."

Now graduating with a bachelor's degree in neuroscience, Darediya, who calls herself a "professional brain nerd," is this year's student commencement speaker. The aspiring neurosurgeon will address her fellow graduates and their family members at Spring Commencement in EagleBank Arena.

Darediya views neurosurgery as an extension of her creative passions, which include painting and dance. She credits her artistic pursuits as giving her the skills required to go far in medicine. When working as a medical assistant at a cosmetic and laser dermatology practice, for example, a doctor complimented her on her steady hands.

"I realized that is because when you're painting, your hand has to be so steady. One wrong stroke of the brush and your painting is ruined. In surgery, one wrong cut of the knife can cost someone their life," she said. "And with dance, I learned patience and that everything comes with practice. You can't expect to learn a new dance right away. It's the same with medicine."

During her time at George Mason, Darediya participated in the Research and Interdisciplinary STEM Experiences (RISE) Scholars Program through the College of Science, which gave her an introduction to the research world. She is the recipient of the college's Outstanding Neuroscience Senior Award (2025-26) and the inaugural Community Leadership Award, which recognizes her impact on the George Mason community and beyond.

Darediya is also a mentor with the Mason Autism Support Initiative (MASI), where she supports fellow George Mason students with autism in navigating the academic, social, and structural transitions of college life. She was honored as Student Mentor of the Year for the academic year 2024-25 for her dedication to supporting and guiding fellow students.

She also interned with the American Chemical Society.

Darediya has many ways of balancing the hard hours of study and work. She reads novels and paints to rest her brain, and dances to release stress. She also threw herself into George Mason's social scene, joining the Lambda chapter of the Kappa Phi Gamma sorority.

"Some days, if my exams are over and I just want to have fun, I go out with my friends," she said. "There is so much going on at Mason. We just look at Mason 360 and there's a new event every day."

She noted that, when she came to George Mason, there were nearly 400 student organizations-now there are 500. And she helped create one of them. As a first-year student, Darediya was looking for community support for those interested in neuroscience, and all the groups were focused on graduate students. So she created her own, along with two friends. "We wanted a community of people where we can just talk about our journey and our plans, or if we're tired, just come and vent."

The Neuroscience Club now has 200 students and welcomes anyone curious about the field. They host gatherings that include intellectual seminars about the brain, learning about journals and research, and sometimes just game nights to blow off steam.

After graduation, Darediya plans to continue her journey in medicine, with a focus on integrating research, clinical care, and advocacy to improve patient outcomes and expand access to care.