Class of 2025: Rawan Elbanna wastes no time

By Sian Wilkerson

Rawan Elbanna has always been ahead of schedule. At 17, she finished high school a year before most of her peers. Now, not even three years later, Elbanna – a double-major in criminal justice and homeland security and emergency preparedness – is completing her bachelor’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs.

It has taken a lot of work, Elbanna admits. But with her sights set on a master’s degree and, eventually, law school, there’s a lot she wants to accomplish. And true to form, she doesn’t want to wait.

“The accelerated pace was something I wanted to do because I do want to pursue further education,” she said. “I was like, ‘If I really want to go through with all this, I don’t want to be a lawyer at 28. I want to do it at 24.’”

Now only 20, Elbanna’s dreams are realistic: “As long as I’m passionate, as long as I put my mind to it, I think I can do it,” she said.

Brad Lehmann, Ph.D., an assistant professor of criminal justice in the Wilder School, witnessed – and praised – Elbanna’s “exceptional dedication, intelligence and passion” for her studies, which he outlined in a letter of reference recommending her for the school’s graduate program in criminal justice.

“Rawan is a leader in the classroom and very dedicated,” he said.

Even with her rigorous academic load, Elbanna, who is also part of VCU’s Honors College, maintained a 4.0 grade-point average throughout her studies, balancing her coursework with participation in VCU’s Emerging Leaders Program. Administered through the Office of Student Leadership and Engaged Learning, the program facilitated Elbanna’s volunteer work in the community.

She also took part in an internship with the Richmond Police Department and served on VCU’s Student Voice Committee, which was launched this fall to foster dialogue, mutual respect and meaningful collaboration between VCU Police and the student body.

For Elbanna, who is Palestinian and participated in a pro-Palestinian protest outside Cabell Library in spring 2024, taking the opportunity to advocate for students and the community was important.

“We talked a lot about [the protest] and how we can … make the students feel safe or make them feel heard, and foster an environment where they can trust the police department,” she said. “I’ve done ride-alongs, and it’s so cool. They’re very friendly. If you have a talk with them, they’re on the same page as us.”

Eventually, Elbanna wants to work as an international criminal lawyer, a path inspired by her commitment to making a difference in the world.

“It will definitely be something that I’d be very passionate about and work every day toward,” she said. “I wouldn’t even view it as work because I [already] look at cases and stuff in my free time. It’s a really big interest of mine.”

When she’s not busy with schoolwork or her many extracurriculars, Elbanna enjoys pursuing her biggest hobby: exploring the world around her. Whenever she gets a chance, she hops in the car and takes a drive, destination unknown, with that same curiosity and passion that fuel her academically.

“I like to just discover,” she said.