Boise State hurdler and senior Maggie Shirazi balances athletic duties and challenging academics brilliantly. The pre-med student, majoring in biology and Spanish, has achieved accolades on and off the field. She has been named Mountain West Scholar-Athlete twice and appeared on the Dean’s List every semester since starting at Boise State in 2022.
The key to Shirazi’s success? Discipline, passion and a whole lot of support from her Boise State community, including her coaches and professors.
The interest in running started early for Shirazi. Most students dread running laps in gym class, but she admits to enjoying it.
“I grew up running with my dad,” she said. “I started doing cross country when I was six, so I always kind of had a love for that.”
After competing in track events throughout her secondary education, Shirazi’s coaches suggested that she try hurdles in her senior year of high school. It turned out to be excellent advice and, by the end of the year, Shirazi was fielding interest from several universities, including Boise State.
For Shirazi, who grew up in Eagle and graduated from Capitol High School in west Boise, the choice was clear.
“I chose Boise State because I’m really passionate about community and I think that that’s something that we do really well here,” she said. “That’s something that’s integral to the team dynamics that we have.”
The other half of Shirazi’s Boise State experience — her double major in cellular biology and Spanish — also has deep roots in her childhood.
“My mom is a nurse practitioner for cardiology, so I’ve kind of been around that my whole life,” Shirazi said.
That early exposure and her compassionate nature set her up for a medical career. The biology classes are helping her prepare for the MCAT — the standardized test that most medical schools require — and her interest in Spanish came up naturally from taking courses in high school and her desire to help others.
“We have a pretty big discrepancy in doctors that are able to speak Spanish and a pretty big population of native Spanish speakers in the United States,” Shirazi said. “So if I’m able to use those skills to help even just one person, then everything’s worth it.”
Shirazi is eager to explore different specializations in medical school. Though she isn’t ready to commit to anything quite yet, she’s interested in cardiology, like her mother.
Academics and athletics aren’t just two distinct parts of Shirazi’s Boise State experience — they come together and complement each other.
“I’m really interested in what’s going on inside my body and just knowing how all of that works,” Shirazi said. “So it’s really cool and very rewarding to be able to learn that information and then translate that to what I’m doing on the track.”
This ability to connect her courses and her track career helps Shirazi manage her busy schedule.
“I think if I didn’t really care about everything that I was doing, it would be a lot harder,” she said. “I just feel really lucky. I’ve had professors that have invested in me. They work around my schedule, they make time for me when I need extra help and then my coach has been amazing too.”
Shirazi’s dedication to both sides of her Boise State experience is clear to all those who work with her.
“Maggie’s combination of intellectual curiosity and athletic drive is inspiring,” said Professor Troy Rohn, who teaches cell biology, neurobiology and pharmacology. “She’s the kind of student who not only meets high expectations but raises the bar for those around her, balancing her training schedule and academic work with remarkable composure and energy.”
Andy Green, Boise State’s assistant coach for sprints and hurdles, said that he often forgets how much Shirazi has going on in her life, because she shows up for practice so focused.
“She manages everything so smoothly,” Green said.
Shirazi will graduate in May 2026. This will be her last season of competitive track and field at Boise State, though she expects the sport to leave a lasting impact.
“I see myself running for the rest of my life,” Shirazi said. “The career I’ve picked can be a little bit stressful, so finding beneficial ways to alleviate that stress is going to be really important. I think fitness is definitely one of those.”