Dr. Jane Fernandes
If we are serious about building a just and prosperous future, we must not close doors to them. Instead, we should expand pathways for them to study, thrive, and contribute here. Their stories remind us that American higher education is at its best when it is both a beacon and a bridge.
Let me introduce you to five such individuals I’ve had the privilege to know.
From Kenya to Washington, D.C.: B. Mutisya Nzyuko grew up with a dozen siblings sleeping on a dirt floor in a small hut. While tending sheep, he and his brother entertained themselves by reciting Shakespearean English. That spark of intellectual curiosity carried him across an ocean. In the U.S., Mutisya worked his way up at Gallaudet University, from communications staff to immigration compliance officer, while earning both a master’s degree in public administration and beginning doctoral work at the University of Maryland. He has consistently stood up to misuse of power—whether challenging colonialist attitudes in development work back home or working to strengthen bridges between African-born and African American Deaf communities. His journey reflects both personal resilience and civic courage.
From China to Microsoft: Shuxu (Sev) Tian Huffman arrived determined to study information technology, but quickly discovered her program lacked the advanced training she needed. Undeterred, she taught herself new programming languages and built an online platform to share signed stories from around the world. Her innovation caught the eye of a computer scientist at the University of Washington, who steered her toward further studies and an internship at Microsoft. Today, she is a senior engineer at Microsoft, a master’s graduate in computer science, and a teacher of AI and web applications. Shuxu demonstrates how international students fuel American innovation—and how U.S. classrooms, in turn, can benefit when alumni bring their expertise back to teach.
From France to the Faculty: Morgane Vincent began as an au pair, caring for children to learn English. At Gallaudet, she excelled academically, earning University Honors in psychology with a thesis on genital mutilation. She went on to pursue graduate research on sexual and gender-based violence in refugee camps and asylum facilities. Today, she is an assistant professor of psychology, guiding new generations of students to confront issues of trauma, resilience, and human dignity. Morgane’s story shows how international students enrich not just the sciences, but also our moral imagination.
From Gabon to the Presidency: Serge Okogo arrived in Washington with dreams of politics. After completing a master’s in Ethics, Peace, and Global Affairs at American University, he returned home and now serves as a presidential advisor in Gabon, focusing on deaf and disability affairs. His work demonstrates the diplomatic and cultural influence of U.S. education: when we welcome international students, we also invest in global leaders who carry forward democratic values and human rights.
