UMass Boston

Basim Naeem, Class of 2025 graduate, has been named this year’s recipient of the JFK Award for Academic Excellence, the highest honor a UMass Boston undergraduate can receive.

Naeem was born in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, to Pakistani parents. His heritage is an important part of his identity–so much so that he co-founded the Pakistani Student Association on campus to build a sense of belonging for fellow students. 

Throughout his undergraduate education, Naeem has served as a resident assistant, a medical assistant, and a research assistant in the Pathania Lab, where he studied the molecular mechanisms behind breast cancer tumor formation. He is also a co-author on a publication from the lab.

When he first came to UMass Boston, he didn’t imagine himself standing out, let alone standing on the stage as the 2025 undergraduate commencement speaker.

“I thought I was just going to get my degree and leave,” Naeem said. “I never really thought I could stand out like that.” But, when he got to college, he decided to give his full effort to succeed academically and participate in the campus community. 

His path to UMass Boston was shaped by his curiosity for medicine and a desire to serve others. In seventh grade, he had a close encounter with death and became a hypochondriac as a result. 

“I would diagnose myself with every disease on the planet,” he said. “I was very paranoid about my health.” 

Eventually, Naeem’s fear of illness turned into a fascination. “I started enjoying researching the different diseases I was diagnosing myself with.”

Naeem decided to set his sights on becoming an oncologist and was sold on UMass Boston after visiting the Integrated Sciences Complex and learning of the many research opportunities. 

Now, Naeem is graduating with a degree in biology with the goal of one day attending medical school.

Human connection drives Naeem’s approach to both medicine and life. “This past summer, I worked at UMass Chan Medical School in clinical research,” he said. “One of the patients shared that they didn’t care whether or not the clinical trial worked to cure their ALS; they wanted to help the research so that no one else had to go through what they go through. That kind of selflessness is what inspires me.”

His academic success is matched by his passion for community building. He served as secretary of the Muslim Students Association and was captain of his intramural basketball team.

“He works to continually bridge the great divide between academic research and community engagement,” wrote Interim Honors College Dean Len von Morzé in his nomination letter. 

Under the mentorship of Associate Professor Shailja Pathania, he contributed to research examining why BRCA2 mutations cause such high cancer susceptibility. 

“Basim has distinguished himself as an exceptionally talented, driven, and intellectually curious researcher whose contributions far exceed what is typically expected of an undergraduate student,” Pathania wrote in her recommendation letter. 

Naeem’s advice to new students? Be curious.

“Take advantage of everything,” he said. “We have absolutely amazing resources. Every single opportunity I received and succeeded in was because of my curiosity.” 

“Go to your club's events,” Naeem urged. “We have club events for almost every race and religion, and if there’s something else you’re interested in, you can make it yourself.” 

Reflecting on his journey, Naeem was surprised to find himself at the center of the commencement stage. When he received news that he’d won the award, he was in disbelief. “I actually asked them to send it to me in writing because I could not believe it.” 

In his speech, Naeem hopes to inspire curiosity and hope for his fellow graduates. 

“The world can accomplish great things, and I witnessed that firsthand.”