Lala Mustafa
CAS ’26
PGS: Rivalry, Competition and International Security in Northeast Asia
Lala Mustafa is a junior from Azerbaijan studying International Relations and History. This semester, she’ll travel to Hiroshima and Tokyo through a Penn Global Seminar to explore international security dynamics in Northeast Asia. On campus, Lala serves as co-editor-in-chief of the Sigma Iota Rho Journal of International Relations and conducts research with Professor Julia Gray on international institutions. Driven by her commitment to human rights, she has volunteered with the Crossroads Women’s Center in Germantown, serves with Amnesty International at Penn, and writes on global justice issues for the Penn Undergraduate Law Journal and The Daily Pennsylvanian. Outside the classroom, you’ll find her behind the front desk at Houston Hall, tending to hives with Penn’s Beekeeping Club, wandering through the Philadelphia Museum of Art, or scouting out new cafés with friends. She’s passionate about bridging global divides and building a more equitable world through policy and storytelling.
During her upcoming trip, she is particularly looking forward to…
- Crossing the world’s busiest intersection at Shibuya Crossing
- Then, sipping matcha tea to unwind
- Exploring the ancient temples of Miyajima Island
- Reflecting with locals at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and learning about their lived experiences
- Witnessing the excitement of a Japanese baseball game
- Picking out souvenirs to bring back home for friends and family