Sanaa Woodley, BA '26

Name: Sanaa Woodley 

Hometown: Bronx, NY 

Program: Political Science and Sociology 

Awards: Dr. Seth Spellman Academic Achievement Award, the Outstanding Senior Award, and the 2026 Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence.  

Sanaa Woodley was born and raised in the Bronx and chose UAlbany for the balance it offered — independence, but still close enough to home. 

She majored in political science and sociology, with a minor in Africana studies, driven by a desire to better understand injustice and create change. 

“Understanding injustice was no longer enough — I needed the tools to confront it,” she said. 

A first-generation student, Woodley said navigating college largely on her own pushed her to become more independent and disciplined. 

“Walking across that stage means more than just earning a degree,” she said. “It’s a reflection of my parents’ sacrifices, their hard work, and everything they poured into me.” 

She is deeply committed to advocating for equitable policy and justice. Throughout her academic journey, Woodley has demonstrated exceptional leadership, public speaking, and organizational skills through various impactful roles such as a third-year Resident Assistant in a first-year quad, a FAFSA/TAP Ambassador, a 2025 NLNY Leader for the Center for Women in Government & Civil Society, and a Youth Justice Scholar at the New York State Youth Justice Institute, among others. 

Her academic excellence has been consistently recognized, with seven consecutive semesters on the Dean’s List of Distinguished Students, a four-time recipient of the Dr. Seth Spellman Academic Achievement Award, the Outstanding Senior Award, and the 2026 Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence.  

She graduated in December and was recently accepted to the 2026-27 LSAC Plus Guided Journey program and plans to attend law school in New York.