Student Spotlight—Meet Sara Kaufman

Sara Kaufman is a remarkable student whose journey reflects the incredible fusion of creativity, technology, and community service. Currently a sophomore at Johns Hopkins University, she is pursuing her dual passions in biomedical engineering and creative writing, embodying the spirit of a new generation eager to innovate and uplift others.

At the heart of Sara’s inspiring story is her family. “My dad actually passed away when I was young. He had cancer. I do have a strong memory of nurses coming to the house, and I was very interested in what they were doing and what they were working on,” she remembers. Despite the challenges, this experience sparked her early interest in the medical field. Her father worked as a researcher at a hospital and in academia, which ignited her passion for science and innovation.

Sara’s dedication and efforts have driven her to Johns Hopkins University, where she has fully immersed herself in her studies of biomedical engineering and creative writing. Alongside her academic workload, Sara is always looking for complementary skills in different fields that can help her stand out in her market.

She passionately advocates for the integration of art and science. According to her, creativity can enrich STEM by emphasizing how artistic expression fosters innovative thinking. “They’re both iterative processes, as seen in the scientific method or the engineering design process, where you test different outcomes and then refine your approach. The same applies to creative writing, where you draft, revise, and edit your work until it aligns with your vision. Creativity is a crucial component of scientific advancement; it encourages us to think outside the box,” she states.

Sara speaks from a place of experience. Beyond her academic load at Johns Hopkins, she pursued AI courses, earning the AI Fundamentals credential from IBM SkillsBuild, which is offered for free by IBM to learners at all levels. She first heard about the course through the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, a nonprofit organization – and IBM SkillsBuild partner – that aims to empower and inspire the Hispanic community in the United States. “Though I do not want to go into computer science, I knew that AI’s capabilities were soon going to be incorporated into nearly every sector of daily life, and I found it important to understand them as best as I could. I did not have a strong computer science background when I started the course, but it met me at my level and taught me about how AI functions from a computer science perspective,” she reflects. The Hispanic Heritage Foundation also guided Sara on her educational journey. “I had been looking for different scholarships to help pay for my college, and this was one of the options that came my way,” she shares.

Inspired by the support she received, Sara founded PARSE—Post Secondary Achievement Resources for Students Everywhere. This initiative was specifically designed to support diverse communities, particularly Hispanic students who may not have grown up in the U.S. and therefore face some challenges navigating the college application process. “I wanted to create a space where students can find everything they need to pursue higher education, regardless of their backgrounds,” she explains. “Every student deserves to feel empowered to chase their dreams. With PARSE, I’m striving to create an environment where they can thrive,” she emphasizes.

As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, Sara’s achievements underscore the importance of representation and advocacy in education, illustrating how diverse backgrounds can enrich academic environments and foster groundbreaking innovations. Her story serves as a reminder of the positive impact of providing AI resources to all communities, ensuring they are met where they are.