Dr. Serene Kaur Singh
Dr. Serene Kaur Singh is a Sikh-American advocate and educator passionate about fostering justice through empathy, making it her mission to amplify unconventional voices in mainstream narratives. A Rhodes Scholar with a completed DPhil in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Oxford, Serene is committed to dismantling stereotypes, championing justice, and uplifting underserved communities.
In 2019, Serene made history by becoming the first Sikh American woman to win the Rhodes Scholarship and the first woman from the University of Colorado for her leadership, service, character, and activism. She is the Founder and Executive Director of The Serenity Project 501(c)(3), an international nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering marginalized women through runway fashion shows across various backgrounds. She is also the author of The Queen Machine, a children’s book inspiring youth to build confidence and self-resolve through embracing their most authentic selves. Alongside her activism, Serene researches the prison experiences of women who are capitally punished.
For her work in collaboration with other public servants and leaders, Serene has been recognized as a Truman Scholar, a Fulbright Scholar recipient, National All-American Miss, a Diana Award recipient, a 2024–2025 John Robert Lewis Fellow, a Global Changemaker, a Dalai Lama Fellow, and a Boettcher Scholar.
Dr. Serene Kaur Singh
No One Way to Lead

Research & justice
Serene’s mission is to show that no person is “irredeemable.” Her Oxford research examines the experiences of women on death row and the material realities of life in confinement.

Fashion, dance & storytelling
National All-American Miss, Bhangra dancer, runway model, and academic consultant for Netflix/BBC. Her love for fashion and Punjabi heritage runs through her work on the runway, on stage, and on screen.

Coaching & teaching
From public speaking and debate to Bhangra workshops and contemplative leadership with Dalai Lama Fellows, Serene teaches students to find confidence in their voices, their ideas, and their movement.

Confidence, from childhood onward
The Queen Machine invites children to embrace their most authentic selves. The Serenity Project supports marginalized women through mentorship, creative programming, and runway fashion shows.
In service & community
Sikh Education Council · May 2026
The General Shabeg Singh Annual Lecture
Watch Serene’s 2026 lecture with the Sikh Education Council.
Watch the lecture
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