Young Alumnus of the Year Award

Niraj B. Swami, Eng ’06
Streamwood, Ill.

Niraj Swami came to Marquette from India as an international student with an engineer’s mindset. His Marquette experience with a liberal arts education expanded his approach to problem-solving; he went from only focusing on the “how” to always asking “why.” Niraj loves working with clients in healthcare, education and conservation technology to blend logic and creativity into innovative solutions.

Niraj is passionate about creating products and strategies that make a tangible difference to his clients. In the healthcare field, he supports clinicians with resources that reduce burnout and give them space to reflect and grow. In the field of education, he works to inspire learners and educators to engage with reflective practice and creative growth. In conservation technology, Niraj supports global teams in accelerating science and fieldwork, which directly protects our planet.

One of his long-term goals is to sustain innovation that helps individuals and teams thrive while addressing complex challenges. He likens this approach to composing a melody in music – harmonizing different elements to create something meaningful and enduring.

Outside of work, Niraj serves as a mentor to students who are exploring cross-disciplinary fields, which he finds both inspiring and energizing. Niraj defines success as creating opportunities for others to thrive. He credits his Marquette education with challenging him to think beyond systems and equations – to consider purpose and the broader human impact of his work.

Fun Facts:

Name someone (past or present) with whom you’d like to have dinner.

If I could have dinner with anyone, it would 100% be my grandmother. She was my anchor, my idol and the first person who showed me what values and work truly meant. As a prominent surgeon in India and the UK, she broke barriers and made a remarkable impact in her field. But to me, she was always just my grandmother—a gardener at home, the person who rooted me in family, my biggest cheerleader during my lowest times, and a steady balancer during my highs.

I lost her the same year I moved to the States to attend Marquette, and not a day goes by that I don’t think of her. If I could sit with her now, I’d love to tell her how much my memory and observation of her have seeped into the work I’m drawn to today. My conservation work feels connected to her serious gardening hobby, and my focus on healthcare and education reflects her identity as a healer and teacher.

What is one of your favorite Marquette memories?

Some of my favorite Marquette memories revolve around the experiences I shared with my friends, but one that really stands out is finding this hidden gem in our dorm. I love playing the piano and keyboard, but as a college kid, I didn’t have one in my room. One day, I stumbled upon a small room in our dorm with an old upright piano – it felt like I had uncovered a treasure.

After dinner, I’d head there to play for hours. Sometimes, friends would join in, and it became a way for me to connect with people in a way that felt familiar and natural. Playing the piano became more than a hobby—it was a creative outlet that helped me balance the logic of my studies with something imaginative and personal. It reminds me of how music and math often intersect, sparking ideas and connections that carry into my work today.