nishat tasnim

Hi, I’m Nishat!

I pay attention to who gets seen, heard, believed, and remembered.

I study Islamophobia, anti-immigrant racism, and the interaction between media and public policy. I am a Communication PhD student at Cornell, I coach college essays, and can be found behind the lens of a camera.

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Nishat Tasnim smiling on a terrace at UC Berkeley
Nishat smiling and adjusting her glasses beneath a leafy tree
Research College applications Photography
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What changes when the headline changes?

The facts
  • Students held a peaceful, two-hour sit-in.
  • They asked for a meeting about campus accessibility.
  • The office stayed open; visitors used a side door.
The Campus Ledger
Campus newsFictional example · same event

A two-hour sit-in at the university office puts campus accessibility in focus.

Tap a phrase to look at the choices behind it.

Framing changes what gets attention. Whose perspective is centered? Whose isn’t?

This is what my research is all about.

I care about equity within media narratives: whose perspectives are heard, and how that shapes society.

Research & current projects.

PRESENTED AT UC BERKELEY’S ISLAMOPHOBIA CONFERENCE · OCTOBER 2026

The Condolence Clause

How does news coverage express sympathy for Muslim victims while narrowing the discussion of responsibility? This project examines coverage of the San Diego mosque shooting, using qualitative framing and critical discourse analysis to study racialization and the boundaries of institutional accountability.

FINDINGS FROM THIS PROJECT
26articles across five national news organizations
17 / 26emphasized heroism or protection
3 / 26identified institutional accountability

From The Condolence Clause conference presentation: a working analysis of coverage published May 18–20, 2026. These descriptive counts apply to this sample, not all news coverage. Categories can overlap.

Sympathy is not the same as accountability.

This project asks what gets lost when news stories recognize suffering without explaining the political and institutional conditions around it.

IslamophobiaNews framingAccountability

What happens after the condolences?

Have a question, a dataset, or a half-formed idea? I welcome collaborators.

Start a research conversation

Alongside my research, I help students plan, write, and revise their college applications.

College application support.

How I read an opening

Five sample openings. Tap a highlight for my feedback.

I offer support with UC applications, PIQs, and the Common App, including personal essays, activities descriptions, and college-specific supplements.

HOW WE’LL WORK TOGETHER

  1. Meet, brainstorm & make a plan.

  2. You write your first drafts.

  3. I read & leave comments.

  4. Revise, talk it through & refine.

  5. A final review

Support that fits where you are.

Advising sessions

$50 per hour

Brainstorm, choose topics, or discuss a draft. Preparation and written feedback are quoted separately.

Written essay reviews

Common App personal essay · $50
One existing draft, around 650 words.

Four UC personal insight questions · $115
Around 1,400 words, with feedback on each response and how the four work together.

Each review includes one thorough read, written comments, and a detailed revision plan.

Essay coaching

Common App personal essay · $215
60-minute brainstorm · 2 feedback rounds · 30-minute follow-up.

Four UC personal insight questions · $335
60-minute planning session · 2 feedback rounds on all four PIQs · two 30-minute follow-ups.

We’ll walk through essays from admitted students and discuss what worked well, using anonymized examples shared with permission.

  • Single PIQ or supplement (around 350 words): $35
  • Activities and awards review, one application system: $50
Let’s plan your application

Find your fit

Three quick questions, and I’ll suggest where to start.

Which application?
Where’s your draft?
How much support do you want?
I’d suggest

Make time for your application.

UC · Fall 2027 entry

November 30, 2026

Deadline: November 30 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time.

Check UC dates
Common App · January 1, 2027

January 1 is one of the most common dates. Check each college’s own deadline.

Counts down to 11:59 p.m. in your device’s local time zone.

Find your college
Book a consult

For fun, I take photos.

People I’ve
photographed.

A few examples of my work below. Select a photograph to see the full frame.

Individual portraits

Couples

Loved ones & gatherings

Also available for graduations, parties, and creative shoots. Let’s talk! Photography sessions are $50 per hour. Travel within 10 miles of my base for the session is included. For locations farther away, I’ll share travel costs after you submit the inquiry form.

Ithaca and NYC

I’m based in Ithaca for most of the year and can also travel to New York City for shoots by arrangement.

Bay Area, California

Summer and winter breaks: Berkeley, Palo Alto, and the wider Bay Area.

Tell me about your shoot

Off the clock.

AT THE MOVIES

My virtual film diary.

My watches, ratings, and film discoveries live on Letterboxd.

Follow @nishatmosphere
ON MY BOOKSHELF

On my shelf.

Books that inspire me.

Let’s connect.

Select a topic and send me a note. I’ll aim to get back to you within 48 hours.

Research & collaboration

College application consulting

Photography in New York & the Bay Area