When Ibrahim Tahmid moved to Blacksburg from Dhaka, Bangladesh, to pursue his Ph.D. in computer science, he was more focused on practicalities than finding community. As he learned his way around Virginia Tech however, he found a sense of belonging that empowered him to embrace his passions and help others do the same.  

Starting with the familiar

Tahmid first found community in Blacksburg by seeking out the familiar. He joined the Association for Bangladeshi Students (ABS), which became his “first stop for everything related to starting life at Virginia Tech.”

“From leasing my apartment to grocery shopping, I always found someone from the ABS community to help with advice, logistics, or first-hand assistance,” he said.

Tahmid said that the association’s events, including many that aligned with festivities in Bangladesh, helped him feel closer to home.

Inspired by his Ph.D. program, he also joined the Computer Science Graduate Council, which introduced him to more students in his field.

“That was an opening for me to start building my professional circle and grow as a researcher,” he said.

While many students are encouraged to get out of their comfort zones to make new connections, Tahmid said comfort can play an important role in finding community, as it did for him: “It’s hard to be authentic when you are not comfortable with yourself. So be authentic and take all the opportunities to make new memories with the people and with the place. The community will find you.”

Embracing opportunities and branching out

After finding his footing at Virginia Tech, Tahmid began to take on leadership roles.

He became an officer in the Association of Bangladeshi Students, where his contributions helped the association receive a grant to support events in collaboration with Cranwell International Center. With Cranwell’s help, Tahmid and other officers with the association organized two events for International Mother Language Day in February 2023. The event’s programming highlighted multi-lingualism and its significance for cultural identities through engaging performances, presentations, and a virtual reality experience made by Tahmid that gamified global language diversity.

An International Mother Language Day virtual reality experience created by Ibrahim Tahmid. Photo courtesy of Ibrahim Tahmid.

A man in a tan tweed jacket and a checkered blue and white scarf wears a white virtual reality headset. He holds a white contraption out in front of his face. There is a black watch with a blue strap on his wrist.
An International Mother Language Day virtual reality experience created by Ibrahim Tahmid. Photo courtesy of Ibrahim Tahmid.

Five pieces from an art installation by Badhan Das at an International Mother Language Day event. Photo courtesy of Ibrahim Tahmid.

In an open-concept art space with white walls and hardwood flooring, five canvases are positioned in front of a black table where pink, orange, yellow, and purple flowers are laid. The canvases each have a painting of part of a tree against a sunset, overlayed by a white window frame. The five canvases fit together to depict a tree top at sunset. There is a large red circle in the center canvas, along with the tree top.
Five pieces from an art installation by Badhan Das at an International Mother Language Day event. Photo courtesy of Ibrahim Tahmid.

A scene from the virtual reality game Ibrahim Tahmid created for International Mother Language Day. Photo courtesy of Ibrahim Tahmid.

Five white doorways are positioned in front of a garden with green trees and white flowers. Above them, the sky is clear and blue. There is a large red circle in the center doorway, which is taller than the other four. The ground in front of the doorways is glassy and reflects some parts of the doorways.
A scene from the virtual reality game Ibrahim Tahmid created for International Mother Language Day. Photo courtesy of Ibrahim Tahmid.

A scene from the virtual reality game Ibrahim Tahmid created for International Mother Language Day. Photo courtesy of Ibrahim Tahmid.

An animated globe is positioned in front of an outdoor scene with green trees, rocks, and a blue sky. Three blue boxes below the globe read: Happy International Mother Language Day, That I May Serve, and Thank You.
A scene from the virtual reality game Ibrahim Tahmid created for International Mother Language Day. Photo courtesy of Ibrahim Tahmid.

Tahmid said the event marked the proudest moment of his life as a Bangladeshi, as he was able to help represent his country while sharing meaningful pieces of history with an international audience.

“Through this event, we not only raised awareness of our proud history with the international community, but we also gave them a platform to celebrate with us," he said. "That openness turned it into a cultural celebration unlike anything I had done before.”

The success of the event resulted in the Association for Bangladeshi Students receiving Outstanding Student Organization Event of the Year for 2023.

“The ABS-led programming around UNESCO International Mother Language Day is a model for a student organization leading a campuswide intercultural learning and bridge-building experience,” said said Rob Emmett, associate director for international programs at Cranwell.

The event was a springboard for Tahmid’s further involvement with Cranwell International Center.

“It was my first collaboration with the beautiful souls at Cranwell,” he said. “It also created an opening for the incoming Bangladeshi students of that year to get involved in the community.”

In December, Tahmid was honored with the Aspire! Award for Pursue Self-Understanding and Integrity from Student Affairs for his work in strengthening the international community.

He said the award helped him feel validated in his work.

“The award meant a lot more because it came from the nomination of Susie [Young] and my Cranwell family, people whom I admire and look up to,” he said. “Being acknowledged by them made the award all the more special.”

International Mother Language Day event organizers stand with Badhan Das's artwork. Photo courtesy of Ibrahim Tahmid.

Nine individuals stand around an art installation in an open-concept art gallery with hardwood floors. The art installation features multiple canvases that fit together to depict a tree at sunset. Each of the canvases has a piece of the scene, as well as a white frame. The center canvas is the biggest, and features a large red circle in addition to the tree center and sunset background.
Ibrahim Tahmid at (far left) and other International Mother Language Day event organizers stand with Badhan Das's artwork. Photo courtesy of Ibrahim Tahmid.

Ibrahim Tahmid and Frances Keene, vice president for Student Affairs, at the Aspire! Awards in December 2024. Photo by Robert Robinson for Virginia Tech.

Frances Keene, wearing a black suit and a wrist watch, stands next to Ibrahim Tahmid, wearing a black suit jacket and tan pants. Tahmid is holding an award certificate. The backdrop behind them is white and has a VT Student Affairs logo.
(From left) Frances Keene, vice president for Student Affairs, with Ibrahim Tahmid at the Aspire! Awards in December 2024. Photo by Robert Robinson for Virginia Tech.

"Home Beyond Home"

Tahmid’s most recent project with Cranwell is "Home Beyond Home," a community-driven photography exhibition featuring photos by international students and community members. The exhibition was organized in collaboration with the Blacksburg YMCA and will be at the YMCA Community Gallery at 1000 N. Main St. from April 4-19 during the YMCA’s business hours.

"Home Beyond Home" started as Tahmid’s leadership project when he served as the Cranwell ambassador in 2024. Due to its success, Cranwell leadership turned it into an annual event. This year, it is led by Susie Young with Tahmid serving as a consultant.

“I could not be prouder of the work Ibrahim has done over the years with Cranwell,” said Young. “'Home Beyond Home' is one of those special projects that gets to the heart of international student stories. This year, partnering with the Y has allowed us to bring Ibrahim’s work to the broader community and continue to build more robust connections between VT international students and the Blacksburg international community.”

The April exhibition follows a photography workshop facilitated by Tahmid in March in which he guided 10 participants through the language of photography and basic composition rules. Participants’ ages ranged from 15 to over 50.

“I was very happy with the attendance,” said Tahmid. “Teaching such a diverse group of people was a very new and exciting experience for me.”

Tahmid wasn’t familiar with the concept of a university motto before coming to Virginia Tech. When he learned more about Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), he said, “The meaning behind these words deeply moved me, and I’ve strived to embody this motto throughout my tenure as a Hokie. I'm grateful to everyone who has supported me and made it possible for me to remain true to this principle.”

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