Cultural Crown: Biosystems engineering graduate student becomes Ms. International OSU

Tuesday, May 28, 2024

Media Contact: Sophia Fahleson | Digital Communications Specialist | 405-744-7063 | sophia.fahleson@okstate.edu

A single spotlight hits the Student Union Theatre stage, immediately pulling you into another world, one of an Indian wedding complete with costumes and music. As the performance ends, you are left captivated by the dance you just witnessed.

The dancer was Navdeep Saasan, not a professional dancer or storyteller but an Oklahoma State University doctoral student.

Originally from Punjab, India, Saasan came to OSU a little more than a year ago to pursue her doctorate in biosystems engineering focusing on water resources.

“I had an interest in soil and water engineering,” Saasan said. “One day, I saw a post on LinkedIn of this job, which is what I am doing now. It combined all the parameters of what I was doing for my doctorate in India, so I took it as a sign to come to the U.S.”

Even though Saasan does not have a typical agricultural background, she pursued agriculture after taking a competitive exam, which is similar to a U.S. college entrance exam, she said. Agriculture was a new field for her, but she found a common area with computers and machinery, she added.

“I love the engineering side of agriculture,” Saasan said. “I like asking how the machines we use in agriculture work. How are they built? How are they designed? How are they implemented, and what different inputs can I use to try and generate a new development in agriculture?”

Saasan uses her combined passion of engineering and agriculture to study the impacts different management practices and systems could have in regenerative agriculture.

Saasan and Ali Mirchi, her advisor and associate professor of water resource engineering, are creating models to simulate how water management could reduce erosion and improve soil health to support sustainable agricultural practices.

“She has really developed her skills and gotten used to a different education system in the United States,” Mirchi said. “There was also a steep learning curve for her about how research is done here. I give her a lot of credit because it is not easy to be transplanted from a different country.”

The OSU culture created a natural transition for Saasan because the people here were so willing to help her, Saasan said.

“When you come to OSU, you receive a very heartwarming, welcoming response from everyone,” Saasan said.

The OSU Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering faculty members facilitate a good culture for international students by prioritizing communication on all levels, said Mari Chinn, BAE department head.

“We try to build a community,” Chinn said. “We create moments of interaction by inviting faculty, graduate students and undergrads to events, giving them places to engage, share and communicate.”

BAE faculty members promote not only academics but also the celebration of cultural events and extracurricular activities to expand their mindsets, Chinn said. They value the diversity of thought that comes from people with a variety of backgrounds coming together, she added.

Saasan is meticulous in her work while also being involved in a variety of campus organizations, Chinn said

Saasan joined the Indian Student Association and serves as the current cultural secretary. Mirchi believes Saasan’s success comes from her involvement in extracurriculars and open communication with those around her.

Based on her dance performance at the ISA Diwali Night, “everybody encouraged me to participate in Ms. International, so I first competed in Ms. India,” Saasan said.

As Ms. India, Saasan performed another dance in the talent portion of the Ms. International OSU contest.

Eight students competed in Mr. and Ms. International OSU where they participated in an interview and talent portion allowing each competitor a chance to highlight his or her culture.

“Everybody wanted to show a message,” Saasan said. “For me, a message I wanted to send to the whole society was fun and happiness. I just wanted to show happiness.”

For Saasan, the contest was about having fun sharing her culture with the world, she said.

Her dance showed different aspects of a traditional Indian wedding, a five- to seven-day event.

Now, as Ms. International OSU, she attends countless cultural events across campus.

“I love going to any event with food,” Saasan said, “especially food I’ve never tried before.”

Saasan’s openness to exploring all cultures helps keep her options open after graduation, she said. With her love and appreciation for India and its culture, Saasan is not opposed to moving home.

“I’m pretty open to anywhere and to see where life takes me,” Saasan said. “With the country I’m from, I take a big bag of culture with many languages and heritage anywhere I go.”

Story by: Bailee Schiefelbein | Cowboy Journal