By Tennille Haegele, MSFS Director of Admissions
During the 2013-2014 academic year, the Master of Science in Foreign Service (MSFS) program launched a new initiative to strengthen our outreach to talented students from sub-Saharan Africa in order to complement our diverse U.S. and international student body. We are excited to announce that Mitchelle Osok is the first recipient chosen for this prestigious award. A native of Kenya, Mitchelle graduated from the University of Nairobi with a degree in economics and enrolled in the MSFS program this fall. This past week, I interviewed Mitchelle and asked her several questions about her upcoming move to DC and Georgetown.
Q: What are you excited to do while at Georgetown/Washington, DC?
I’m excited about everything! I have heard so many positive and refreshing things about Georgetown and DC, so I’m keeping an open mind and looking forward to the new culture and different sites that DC has to offer.
Q: What will you miss about home?
Three things: first, I will definitely miss my family and friends, especially my mother. I get my strength and resilience from her. She raised me to always be optimistic and to never give up. Second, the food – Kenyan food is delicious. Kenyans have great taste buds, and it translates to great cooking skills. I will miss nyama choma (roasted meat) and kachumbari (salad made of tomatoes, onions, and coriander). Third, the politics – I work in the Parliament of Kenya, and it has been an amazing journey working hand-in-hand with our national leaders. I will miss the dynamic and unpredictable political environment.
Q: How did your personal and professional experiences bring you to MSFS?
I look at the great strides Africa is making towards development, and I want to contribute. The Constitution of Kenya (2010); the Kenya Vision 2030, which is our national strategic plan; and the Millennium Development Goals, among others, outlay a clear vision for development. There are still many challenges we are experiencing as a country and a continent. I want to create policies and programs that will enable us to meet our objectives as a country and compete globally.
Q: What personal or professional experiences are you excited to share with your classmates?
I’m excited about sharing my experiences as a young woman leader in Kenya and Africa. Most recently, I’ve worked on various development programs and projects with Nairobi Women Representative Hon. Rachel Shebesh as well as Member of Parliament for the Kibra Constituency Hon. Ken Okoth. This has been my way of giving back to society and will contribute to discussions with my future classmates.
Q: What are your goals and how do you expect an MSFS degree to help you achieve them?
I believe very strongly that I am a leader and that I have been called to public service. I look forward to embracing the international perspective. The mingling, sharing, and learning from other people’s experiences is something I’m looking forward to. If given the opportunity, my goal is to launch a career in Parliament. As a Member of Parliament, I would like to translate the knowledge I will learn at MSFS into building the capacity of the current regional and global structures while creating new international and beneficial inter-parliamentary forums.
Q: What does this scholarship mean to you?
Being the first recipient of the Africa scholarship is no mean feat, especially as a woman and only 25 years of age. I know there is a lot of expectation of me from my family, friends, mentors, and the MSFS program. I also know that this is no longer about me, but about Africa, as I now represent the entire continent. As such, I must put my best foot forward. I must set a great precedent that will be followed by my successors in this scholarship program.
You can support the MSFS Africa Scholarship too! To donate, please go to the following link: https://bit.ly/1swizqP
Under “Direct your gift,” click “Other.” Then write in “MSFS Tuition Assistance Fund.” Next, under the section “Special Instructions,” write “CC2439, 1702, PP7001, PG002074.”