2023 Senior Awardee: Zachary Ferretti, A23

Hometown: Long Island, New York

Major: Political Science

Minor(s): Economics and Urban Studies

Zachary is a senior from Long Island, New York, majoring in Political Science with double minors in Economics and Urban Studies. At Tufts, Zachary has received widespread recognition as a student leader, community organizer, and compassionate classmate. 

Throughout his four years at Tufts, Zachary has served in various leadership positions including President of the Pre-Law Society and Co-President of Tufts Student Giving. Even further, Zachary was elected Co-President of the Leonard Carmichael Society (LCS) for two consecutive years, playing an instrumental role in re-energizing the spirit of service on-campus following the COVID-19 shutdown. Additionally, as a four-year member of student government, Zachary was the President of the TCU Judiciary, before serving as Student Body Parliamentarian and Class of 2023 Senator in his senior year. 

At the height of the pandemic, Zachary worked at the Urban Justice Center to support New York City’s most vulnerable populations facing homelessness and unlawful eviction. The following summer, Zachary was a Tisch Summer Fellow in the Office of the New York City Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives, where he authored several policy briefs for the City government. Furthermore, as a Laidlaw Scholar and UN Millennium Fellow, Zachary conducted an intensive independent research project on water contamination, before relocating to Mexico City for the summer where he worked alongside urban youth to build resilience for climate change. 

Zachary has worked tirelessly to make Tufts a better institution for his peers — a member of both the Tisch College Student Advisory Council and the StAAR Center Student Advisory Board, as well as a two-year FOCUS Pre-Orientation Leader. Likewise, his dedication to the communities of Medford and Somerville is steadfast — having volunteered as a bilingual student teacher at the East Somerville Community School, an ESL teacher for Spanish-speaking refugees in Somerville, and a buddy for local adults with disabilities.

In his free time, Zachary likes to listen to new pop music and spend time with his friends in the Campus Center. Beyond graduation, he wishes to leverage his academic interests and professional experiences into an impactful legal career.