Axana Soltan, 26, a graduate of the Honors Academy of Virginia Commonwealth University and a law graduate from the George Washington University Law School, is a passionate advocate for female empowerment. Born in Afghanistan under the repressive Taliban regime, she witnessed the injustice of girls being denied access to education. With the nonprofit organization Enhancing Children’s Lives, she established the inaugural women’s library and solar powered ed tech radio platform in Afghanistan. She has been a Princeton University researcher on world affairs, a United Nations policy advisor, a volunteer with the International Rescue Committee, a girl’s education advocate with the Malala Fund and has served in other roles supporting marginalized communities. At Oxford she will focus on conflict-affected regions to advance a project she calls Women Empowerment Through Sustainable Entrepreneurship, which connects budding female entrepreneurs with mentors and capital.