VCU news

By Mike Porter

Describing Virginia Commonwealth University senior Sai Iyer as an overachiever is an understatement.

Iyer, who is on track to graduate in May, is pursuing degrees in international studies, religious studies and mass communications.

He enjoys a well-rounded life outside of the classroom too, serving as president of the history department’s Alexandrian Society student organization and staying active in student government, the Green Unity for VCU student environmental group, the VCU Arabic Club and the Amber Circle Leadership Society, which is working to establish a chapter of the Omicron Delta Kappa national leadership honor society at VCU.  

Off campus, Iyer has been busy in community service efforts, such as mentoring for the Carver Promise program and volunteering at Maymont Estate, where he cleaned barns at the Children’s Farm and interacted with visiting children.

“Keeping a lot of things on my plate and trying to manage them creates positive tension, which makes me more productive,” Iyer said.

So it doesn’t come as a surprise that when President Obama’s re-election campaign asked him to become a national co-chair, Iyer didn’t hesitate in saying yes.

Iyer is the only student on the list of governors, longtime Obama friends and Hollywood celebrities announced last month. The 35 national co-chairs will advise the campaign on key issues and help to mobilize voters. 

The invitation to become a national co-chair was not random. Iyer has had a four-year connection to Obama’s campaign and his presidency.

In 2008, just two days after graduating from Woodson High School in Fairfax County, Iyer packed a suitcase and headed for Richmond to serve as an Organizing Fellow for the “Obama for America” campaign.

“I slept on a stranger’s couch,” recalled Iyer. “But I really wanted to help him (Barack Obama) get elected. I was one of two 18-year-olds out of about 50 people working for the campaign in Richmond. We organized activities, registered voters and traveled around the area.”

Iyer said the campaign experience was rewarding and taught him about the value of working hard together to reach a common goal.

“It was also a reaffirmation of my commitment to public service,” Iyer said. 

After the election, some of the campaign volunteers went on to work for the Obama administration. They never forgot Iyer’s dedication to the campaign and encouraged him to apply for a White House internship. And last fall, Iyer interned in the White House Office of Management and Administration.

For Iyer, the internship was much more than an opportunity to add to his resume. It allowed him to realize a dream. Growing up, he didn’t feel that political service was something he could pursue.

“My parents came from India. I am the son of immigrants, a tall, skinny kid with a funny name,” said Iyer, noting the similarities to Obama’s own life story. “It didn’t seem possible until President Obama inspired me to get involved and to care. I understand that it’s important to recognize what needs to be done and then do it.” 

Iyer said the president’s focus on college affordability, student loan reforms, Pell Grants and strengthening community colleges is appealing to his generation.

And he’s proud of other major accomplishments that occurred in the president’s first term of office, such as health care reform, the ratification of a new START arms reduction treaty with Russia and the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

Iyer is also proud of VCU, where both his older brother and older sister are graduates.

“I think my experience at VCU has been critical to my success,” Iyer said. “It has been significant in orienting my trajectory toward caring about public service.”

In addition to serving as national co-chair for the Obama re-election campaign, Iyer is poised to take the next important step in his life of public service. 

After graduation, he will move to Detroit to help teach English as part of “Teach for America,” a national teacher corps of recent college graduates who commit two years to teach and to help create change in under-resourced urban and rural public schools.

“We all have a stake in helping kids go to college and upward mobility for families,” Iyer said. “The president calls this fair play. As I think about what I want to do in life, this is what resonates.”