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Alumna Swarnaprava Mishra.
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125 Anniversary Celebration: Swarnaprava Mishra

May 19, 2025

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Editor's Note: This is a series of stories about Western Illinois University students, alumni and community members, highlighting their experiences during our 125th anniversary celebration. We will feature 125 individuals from August 2024 to August 2025.

MACOMB, IL - - For alumna Swarnaprava Mishra, Western Illinois University is characterized by a quality education and a welcoming and supportive community that makes you feel at home.

"When I think about WIU, I think about home," Mishra said. "A place that will always feel like my home in the U.S. as an international student. The quality education, engaging activities and the warm, supportive nature of the people made my experience at WIU truly special, memorable and unique."

To Mishra, being a Leatherneck is more than just a title—it's an identity rooted in pride, unity and resilience.

"A Leatherneck represents pride, resilience and a strong sense of community. I truly felt the spirit of what it means to be a Leatherneck through the support, opportunities and connections I found at WIU," Mishra said. "To me, being a Leatherneck is a lifelong identity built on unity, purpose and pride."

Reflecting on her time as a student, Mishra's favorite Leatherneck memory is being elected as an International Student Ambassador.

"As an International Student Ambassador at WIU, I had the meaningful opportunity to support both incoming and current students by answering their questions and helping them navigate university life," Mishra said.

Mishra works as a senior analyst at JPMorgan Chase & Co. and credits WIU with providing her networking opportunities and career development opportunities.

"My journey truly began at WIU. Through WIU's NABA Chapter, I had the chance to connect with corporate professionals, which opened the door to the national NABA network," Mishra said. "Attending the NABA National Conference in Louisiana proved pivotal—I networked with professionals from various firms, including JPMorgan Chase. I'm deeply grateful to WIU and everyone I met along the way who supported and shaped my career path."

As a student, Mishra was actively involved on campus. She was the vice president of the NABA WIU Chapter and the team captain of WIU's winning team in the nationwide DATAFEST competition organized by the American Statistical Association (ASA) in 2022 and 2023, representing the WIU Applied Statistics and Decision Analytics program.

For those considering attending WIU, Mishra's advice is to get involved and take advantage of the professional development opportunities WIU offers.

"Join activities and be part of a chapter that aligns with your interests. Connect with professors, seniors and the career center to learn from their experiences and gain insights into the job market or an advanced career," Mishra said. "Also, take time to explore the beautiful WIU campus, library, and recreation center. Embrace the journey and wear your Leatherneck pride with honor!"

As we honor 125 years of educational excellence, we invite local WIU students, alumni, faculty and staff to share their stories and be featured in our series. Contact University Communications at U-Communications@wiu.edu to participate.

To learn more about the WIU MS Applied Statistics and Decision Analytics program, visit wiu.edu/cbt/eds/graduate-appliedstats.php.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing