Countdown to Commencement: Aditi Prabhu

Aditi Prabhu, '26 MS Public Health, believes in the value of global education. It's the reason why, despite already earning two master's degrees, she traveled from India to attend San José State.

"This third master's degree will be the first one I will receive in the U.S.," says Prabhu. "I love studying. I'm here at SJSU because I wanted to get a global education and learn more about medical research."

But Prabhu's journey has not been without challenges. During her second semester at SJSU, her father passed away in India.

She not only had to navigate grief, far from her family, but she also struggled with bouts of low self-confidence.

In her home country, Prabhu was at ease speaking publicly and communicating with patients throughout the seven years she spent working as a doctor. Her patients deeply valued her counseling skills and often sought her out for guidance.

"When I first got here to San José, my confidence was low because my classmates couldn't understand me, due to my accent," says Prabhu. "Also, since English isn't my first language, it seemed like everyone around me had grammar and vocabulary that was better than mine. That was the biggest blow to me because I always felt that I was good at speaking. When I was a child, I received various awards in interschool debate competitions and olympiads."

New Opportunities

Then, in 2025, Prabhu received an email that would change everything.

The email was from one of the coordinators of Grad Slam, a fast-paced competition where graduate students present their research in front of a live audience and a panel of judges. In order to secure a spot as one of the top 10 students that would go on to present, students had to communicate their ideas with impact.

Although the thought of competing against others by way of public speaking made her nervous, Prabhu knew that she couldn't let the opportunity pass her by. She felt that committing to something like this would help to resurrect her self-confidence.

"Even though it seemed like a very daunting opportunity, I thought I might as well do it, so that I could get my confidence back," says Prabhu.

At the time, she had been immersed in a research project that was perfect for the competition. It was based around how AI can improve people's physical activity. Prabhu applied for Grad Slam, citing her research, and prepared her presentation for the application process.

"Not only did I make it to the top 10, but a lot of opportunities came out of it as well," says Prabhu.

Dean Marc D'Alarcao of the College of Graduate Studies attended last year's Grad Slam and was impressed by Prabhu's presentation. He later invited her to serve as the only student member of a search committee to hire SJSU's next associate vice president of research.

"Aditi exemplifies the engaged graduate students who participate in our Grad Slam event. Not only did she present a great talk on her public health research using AI to enhance the wellness benefits of wearables, but after the competition, she stayed engaged and active in university activities," says D'Alarcao.

She was also featured in an AI literacy orientation video led by SJSU's Center for Faculty Excellence and Teaching Innovation. In addition, the Division of Student Affairs invited her to speak as a panelist at an event for international students.

"Grad Slam was the beginning for me. Because of that, I ended up getting many opportunities at SJSU, which completely changed me. And I'm able to speak very confidently now," says Prabhu.

During this final semester of grad school, she is busier than ever. She'll be receiving her third master's degree this month.

She currently serves as president of the Master of Public Health Student Association, supporting students as they navigate coursework and academic concerns. She is also a student-at-large for the Associated Students Academic Affairs Committee and serves as runway manager for the SJSU Fashion Club, while singing as a soprano II member in the university's Treble Choir.

Research-wise, Prabhu is leading a project focused on mental health among Asian Indian immigrant students at SJSU. In collaboration with the Student Wellness Center, she's hoping that her work will help to shape improvements in campus mental health support.

Beauty and Brains

Along with balancing all of her activities, Prabhu has a side hustle. She loves to model and has won multiple beauty pageants in the past.

"My goal has always been to be 'beauty and brains,' so that's what my profile looks like," says Prabhu.

Back in India, Prabhu won the title of Miss India in 2024 for the International Glamour Project. That same year, she also represented India in Ms. International World and got a sub-title. She has been published in international magazines and has walked high-profile runways at events like New York Fashion Week and San Francisco Fashion Week.

"Modeling has always been my passion but because of med school, I kept that dream at bay for a while. I became a doctor and have still decided to pursue modeling on the side," she says.

After receiving her third masters, Prabhu hopes to work for at least one year in the United States to understand the practical implications of healthcare research. After that, she'd like to head back to India and continue to practice as a doctor, while continuing her modeling career.

"As much as I love practicing medicine and helping the community, I love the modeling side as well. In the modeling world, I meet a lot of people who have stories like mine, and despite all the challenges, they're on stage, confidently walking," she says. "And being able to do that is what always gives me the strength to continue working in medicine."