by Elisabeth Coon, Student Public Relations Writer
Stories of injustice can often go unheard unless someone is willing to bring them to light. For Cedarville University alumna Sarah Mathew, that work now sits at the heart of her efforts to amplify the voices of girls and families affected by gender-based violence in India.
Mathew, a 2023 Cedarville University graduate in international studies, serves as a marketing and communications associate for the Invisible Girl Project, an international nonprofit focused on ending female gendercide in India. Based in New York City, she recently completed a master’s degree at Columbia University, where she studied technology policy and international security.
Using Storytelling to Drive Global Impact
In her role, Mathew does more than just manage communications; she brings unseen realities to light, turning them into compelling narratives that mobilize global support. Through digital strategy and donor engagement, she helps drive awareness and funding to sustain the organization’s work.
“It’s a very grassroots organization,” Mathew said. “We have a team in the U.S. and a national staff in India doing work on the ground.”
The Invisible Girl Project works directly with communities in India through education and long-term support initiatives, and Mathew helps ensure those efforts are visible to supporters.
This mission became deeply personal for Mathew during her visits to India, where she heard stories, met families and saw firsthand the effects of injustice.
“Getting to meet the girls and hear their stories is really meaningful,” she said. “It reminds me that what we’re doing is making a difference.”
Turning Stories into Action
Mathew said storytelling plays a key role in connecting supporters to the organization’s mission and the people it serves. By sharing stories with care and clarity, she helps translate on-the-ground work into greater awareness, stronger donor engagement and long-term support.
Since joining the organization in October 2023, Mathew has expanded her role beyond communications to include donor relations and nonprofit strategy.
“We’ve had opportunities to share about our work on a global stage,” she said. “It’s been incredible to see how far that impact can reach.”
An Unexpected Path to Nonprofit Work
Mathew’s path to nonprofit work began with a communications internship with Samaritan’s Purse in Vietnam, where she first developed an interest in international humanitarian efforts. After returning to Raleigh, North Carolina, a connection with the founder of the Invisible Girl Project led to a conversation that became an opportunity.
“We got coffee, and it just clicked,” Mathew said. “It turned into something I’ve learned so much from.”
Studying the Systems Behind Injustice
Alongside her nonprofit work, Mathew completed her master’s degree at Columbia University, where she studied technology policy and international security. This experience deepened her understanding of how global systems work and how they affect vulnerable populations.
“My work has really shaped how I think about human rights and ethics,” she said. “Studying technology and policy, helped me think about how these systems affect real people.”
As part of her studies, Mathew is completed her capstone project with the World Economic Forum, where she collaborated with a team researching digital governance and artificial intelligence. Their work examines how governments and private-sector organizations approach emerging technology.
Mathew said her nonprofit work has reinforced the importance of addressing real needs through action and advocacy.
“It’s not just about understanding systems,” she said. “It’s about making sure those systems actually serve people.”
Built at Cedarville
She credits Cedarville University with preparing her for both graduate studies and professional work, pointing to her coursework in international studies and business as well as her involvement in Model United Nations.
“The professors really pushed me academically,” she said. “Looking back, those classes were very foundational for what I’m doing now.”
Now that she has graduated, Mathew hopes to remain involved in nonprofit efforts addressing human rights and technology, using storytelling as a tool to elevate voices that often go unheard.
“At the end of the day, it’s about people,” Mathew said. “If I can use my role to help tell their stories and support that work, that’s what matters.”
About Cedarville University
Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences and professional fields. With 7,265 students, it is among Ohio's largest private universities and is ranked among the nation’s top five evangelical universities in the Wall Street Journal’s 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.
