Mia Bezar, a junior in Penn’s College of Arts and Sciences, passed away on February 13. She was 20. 

Ms. Bezar was a Philadelphia native and she attended the William Penn Charter and Baldwin Schools, graduating in 2019. She then came to Penn, where she studied political science with minors in urban studies and French and Francophone studies. While in high school, she became involved with the Model United Nations, an association she continued in college at Penn’s Model UN Economic and Social Council. 

Ms. Bezar was passionate about environmental studies and climate change. She served as a partnerships and public relations officer at Earth Refuge, the planet’s first legal think tank dedicated to climate migrants. There, she worked in outreach and launched the organization’s Spotlight Series, a series of articles that saw Ms. Bezar interview local thought leaders on environmental policy. 

“She was profoundly kind and compassionate and surely left this world better than she found it,” said her family in an online tribute. “We will remember her for her love of being outdoors in any weather, running, all things French and Italian, cooking, travel and adventure, her boundless energy and wonderful sense of humor but mostly for her love of her family and dear friends.” 

Ms. Bezar is survived by her parents, Nadeem and Gina (nee Stuardi) Bezar; her siblings, Giovanna and Mark Conway; her nephews, Jackson and Brady; and her grandmother, Sultana. A memorial service was held on February 26.