Hassan Javed (Pakistan)

Biography

Hassan is a first-year Master’s student at Penn GSE in the Language, Globalization, and Intercultural Studies program. Originally from Lahore, Pakistan, he also grew up in New Zealand for seven years during his childhood. He completed his B.A. in Communication and Media Studies and Film at Allegheny College and worked in marketing in Pittsburgh for a year before beginning graduate school in Philadelphia. Alongside his studies, he works part-time as a Communications Assistant at the Penn GSE MarComm office.

At Penn, Hassan is interested in Applied Linguistics and Anthropology, with aspirations of becoming a research-based documentary filmmaker. His goal is to combine his passions for linguistics, anthropology, psychology, journalism, and filmmaking to tell stories that bridge cultures and foster deeper understanding.

As part of ISAB, Hassan is committed to supporting international students in navigating life in the U.S. and finding belonging at Penn. Drawing on his experiences of living across continents and studying in Pennsylvania for nearly six years, he hopes to help others transition smoothly, whether that means settling into American society or exploring Philadelphia.

In his free time, Hassan enjoys cooking and baking, gardening, gaming, playing soccer and golf, weightlifting, and cheering for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He also loves reading, especially the Sherlock Holmes series, and traveling. In addition to English, he speaks Urdu, Punjabi, and Arabic.