Student Profiles
James Maker Atem
James is originally from South Sudan. He is pursuing a Master of International Affairs ’23 at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs, with double specializations in United Nations Studies and International Conflict Resolution.
Lily Ghebrai
Lily Ghebrai is currently pursuing an MPA in Economic and Political Development from Columbia SIPA. Lily is originally from Asmara, Eritrea and grew up in Seattle, WA.
Patience Olanitori
Patience is a second year MBA student at Columbia Business School (CBS) and her post-MBA plan is to start a business in Lagos, Nigeria. She is president of the African Business Club and planning the African Economic Forum.
Modou Cham
Modou Cham is from The Gambia and was raised in Norristown, Pennsylvania. He is currently studying for a Masters of Science in Sustainability Management at Columbia University’s Earth Institute.
Bianca Flamengo
Bianca Flamengo is a first year Master of Public Administration in Development Practice student. She comes from a mixed family with roots in Guinea-Bissau, Cape-Verde and Portugal. She grew up in Guinea-Bissau and worked as a development consultant before coming to SIPA.
Shamira Lukomwa
She is a first-year MPA candidate at SIPA and is particularly interested in urban development, education and job-creation in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Cuthbert A. Onikute
The Leitner Family Fellowship enabled Columbia graduate student in urban planning Cuthbert A. Onikute to conduct research in Guinea-Conakry. Read his account of his summer research.
Stephen Wood
Stephen Wood, a graduate student in Columbia's Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, discusses his research on food security in Kenya. His research was supported by the Leitner Family Fellowship.
Morenikeji Akinade
Morenikeji Akinade is a third year JD student at Columbia Law School. She was born in Philadelphia but raised largely in Lagos, Nigeria. As an undergraduate at Northwestern University, she had the opportunity to intern at the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos, a joint venture between the Nigerian and Chinese governments.