University of Notre Dame - Africa

UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME AFRICA

TABLE OF CONTENTS

3 Student Profiles 2 Alumni Profiles

STUDENT PROFILES

Emie-Elvire Sabumukama

Bupe Lughano Kabaghe

Ginika Kalu

Bupe Lughano Kabaghe KITWE, ZAMBIA CLASS OF 2024 POLITICAL SCIENCE AND GLOBAL AFFAIRS; INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT STUDIES MINOR

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE NOTRE DAME?

I chose Notre Dame because of its emphasis on developing both the mind and the heart. I grew up knowingthat to createthe positive change that I want in the world, I have to not only develop intellectually but I also have to grow to be compassionate, emphatic and kind. So Notre Dame was the best place for me to do that.

Additionally, I knew that I wanted to do academic research as I pursued my undergraduate experience and Notre Dame does a good job at creating research opportunities for students.

WHAT CAMPUS CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES ARE YOU INVOLVED IN?

In my freshman year, I was an active member of the African Students Association and in my sophomore year, I was elected to the board. In both years, I was on the team that hosted the Pan African Youth Conference that brought together Africans from all over the world virtually to discuss some of Africa’s greatest challenges and solutions to them. Now in my junior year, I am the co-president of the Association.

Other than ASA, I am involved with the Pamoja ND Africa Initiative which is a vibrant cross-disciplinary space for engagement between students and faculty of the University with African partners and colleagues throughcollaborative research, teaching, innovation, and policy outreach.

Lastly, in my freshman year, I worked at Notre Dame Listens, which is a student engagement center at

STUDENT PROFILES

Notre Dame that engages Notre Dame alumni, parents and friends through phone calls, emails and letters.

WHAT OTHER INTERESTING EXPERIENCES HAVE YOU HAD ON CAMPUS?

I do research as an International Scholar for the Kellogg Institute for International Studies. In my first year, I worked with Rev Robert Dowd in the Political Science Department on a research project on the Role of women in politics and civil society in Sub-Saharan Africa and I have worked with Prof. Jamie Bleck on the Kenyan Education System. Currently, I am working on a study of informal tea drinking groups in African civil society. My research interests while at Notre Dame have centered around women, politics, civil society, religion, and education.

Other than research, I also traveled to West Point, the United States Military Academy to represent Notre Dame.

WHAT HAS BEEN ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE EXPERIENCES SO FAR AT NOTRE DAME?

My favorite experience so far at Notre Dame has been studying abroad in London. It has been a great experience getting outside the Notre Dame bubble and having to experience life elsewhere. It has made me more independent, dependable on myself, and also more culturally aware. The best part about studying abroad has been working in Parliament. I am an intern for one of the Members of Parliament in the House of Commons.

Ginika Kalu

NIGERIA

STUDENT PROFILES

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE NOTRE DAME?

I chose Notre Dame because I wanted a university experience that constantly finds new and exciting ways to learn beyond the classroom by encouraging research and creating amazing study abroad programs. I was drawn to their commitment to social change and community engagement.

WHAT CAMPUS CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES ARE YOU INVOLVED IN?

I’m involved in multiple academic and cultural clubs on campus that make my ND experience special. I’m involved in the African Students Association and Dance Africa because it allows me to feel just a little closer to home and connect with other African students and their cultures!

I’m also involved in American Institute of Architecture Students ND and Student Association of Women in Architecture as an opportunity to share ideas and discuss the real world implications of architecture.

WHAT OTHER INTERESTING EXPERIENCES HAVE YOU HAD ON CAMPUS?

I had the pleasure of working with the men of Dismas House under the Center for Social Concerns. Visiting them weekly and assisting them with their learning and skills development allowed me to connect with

them and South Bend at large, and taught me to empathize with others with very different experiences than mine. Also, the School of Architecture organizes a year-long study abroad experience in Rome, which I am currently on. Not only do we get to explore Rome and it’s historical architecture, we also get to visit other cities like Florence, Siena, Pompeii and so many others.

WHAT HAS BEEN ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE EXPERIENCES SO FAR AT NOTRE DAME?

One of my favorite experiences at Notre Dame has been interning with the Center for Civic Innovation, which is an internship organized by the College of Engineering. I was able to work with other enthusiastic students across South Bend, and learned a lot about myself and the career path I envision for myself. Additionally, while in Rome, I am enjoying exploring the wonderful city, sketching in piazzas and archeological sites, and learning Italian. My favorite city so far is Siena, which has delicious food and wonderful churches to visit and sketch!

Sabumukama GITEGA, BURUNDI

CLASS OF 2023 COMPUTER SCIENCE

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE NOTRE DAME?

I chose Notre Dame because it is an institution that not only focuses on intellectual exploration (mind), but also greatly emphasizes the overall humanity and well-being of a person (body and soul). This reflects not only through academics, but also extra-curricular opportunities where Notre Dame invites her community to servant leadership and to work towards what one would fight for.

WHAT CAMPUS CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES ARE YOU INVOLVED IN?

On campus, I am involved in the African Student Association, the IDEA Center, and the Society of Women Engineers. I also explore Data Science and Ethics in the iTreds program and have undertaken diverse social impact projects as part of the Hesburgh-Yusko Scholars Program.

WHAT OTHER INTERESTING EXPERIENCES HAVE YOU HAD ON CAMPUS?

I have conducted research within iTreds that combines my passion of applying technology to global development research. My spring of 2022, I spent my semester in California as part of the Silicon Valley Semester Program.

STUDENT PROFILES

WHAT HAS BEEN ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE EXPERIENCES SO FAR AT NOTRE DAME?

One of my favorite experiences so far at Notre Dame has been attending football games with friends, getting to learn how the game works, and most importantly, hear the band play (this is my favorite part of the games!). I have enjoyed participating in a Campus Ministry retreat where I got to find a community where I could share my faith. I have also greatly enjoyed my time in California (the sun, the palm trees, and especially the people). My college experience was heavily affected by the pandemic, so it was a great time for me to be in California with a sample of my computer science classmates who I got to befriend.

Emie-Elvire

ALUMNI PROFILES

Ngor Majak Kithinji Mwirigi

Ngor Majak

SOUTH SUDAN

CLASS OF 2018

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND EDUCATION, SCHOOLING, AND SOCIETY (ESS) MINOR

WORK EXPERIENCE:

After graduation, I moved back to South Sudan to lead a nonprofit organization I had started at Notre Dame. I still work for the organization today. Under my leadership, Education Bridge has built two secondary schools and is on its way to building a network of ten secondary schools to provide access to quality secondary education, innovative peace education and transformative leadership development in a country deeply in need.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND INTERNSHIPS:

During my time at Notre Dame, I served as a research assistant to Neil Lobo, working on Malaria research. I interned at Kwazulu Natal Institute in South Africa, doing HIV research. Most of my free time on campus was spent playing basketball.

ALUMNI PROFILES

FAVORITE THING ABOUT NOTRE DAME: Playing basketball was my favorite thing to do at Notre Dame. Without a schedule to follow, I could play the whole day. Outside the sports center, I enjoyed the smiling faces of people. It is amazing how welcoming people at Notre Dame were; in fact, it initially threw me off before I got used to it.

HOW NOTRE DAME CHANGED ME: Notre Dame nurtured in me a heart of service. Through its various volunteering opportunities such as the Robinson Community Learning Center, Appalachian trips and others, I got to see the reward of life spent in service. This was also embodied through the University personalities such as Fr. Hesburgh.

WORK EXPERIENCE:

The classical architecture curriculum at

ND saw me spend lots of time over the years in the architecture studio atBond Hall withclassmates, honing my skills in design, drafting, and creating watercolor presentationpieces. This was interspersed with other classes in business, philosophy, and language (Italianand Spanish) that I chose to take.

ALUMNI PROFILES

I got an opportunity in the summer of my senior year to have an internship with Urban Design Associates—an architectural firm in Pittsburgh with a focus on the design of cities, towns and neighborhoods.

Mwirigi

KENYA CLASS OF 2001 ARCHITECTURE

Junior year was spent in Italy with my classmates, traversing the length and breadth ofthe country to see,sketch and study theexistingmasterpieces of built work produced by the acclaimed Italianarchitects of the Renaissance period and beyond.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND INTERNSHIPS:

My lovefor basketball was manifest bythe many hours I spent depending on the weather—playingpick-up games either in the indoor or outdoorbasketball courts found oncampus.

FAVORITE THING ABOUT NOTRE DAME: The beauty and serenity of the campus, the life-long friendships established, and the all-around culture of excellence and achievement.

HOW NOTRE DAME CHANGED ME: It helped me create and develop a character of good work ethic, and adopt “the pursuit of excellence” as a guiding life principle.

Kithinji