American University Alumni Join Gates Cambridge Class of 2024

American University graduates Aneisa Babkir, (SIS/BA'23), and Ifeanyi Umunna, (SPA/BA'23), are among 75 recipients of the Gates Cambridge University postgraduate program for scholars from around the world. Established in 2001 through a donation from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the program has awarded more than 2,000 scholarships to students representing nearly 800 institutions of higher learning in more than 100 countries.

"I am elated that Ifeanyi and Aneisa will have the opportunity to grow academically at Cambridge while joining a global community of future leaders," said Paula Warrick, senior director, AU's Office of Merit Awards, Career Center. "The Gates Scholarship is a competitive and generous award that recognizes academically outstanding young people who are committed to serving others. At AU, we are proud to offer unique academic and experiential learning opportunities that prepare our students to address the most pressing challenges of our century."

Ms. Babkir, from Howard County, Md., graduated magna cum laude from AU in 2023 with a degree in international studies focusing on the Middle East/North Africa region and issues of justice, ethics and human rights. Her publication and research as part of the Cambridge Security Initiative reflect her continued engagement in the field of global human rights. She has worked with international organizations tackling women's and children's rights, was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Iota Rho Honor Societies, was a Gilman Scholar, and currently serves as a Teach for America Ignite Fellow. At Cambridge, Babkir aims to complete her MPhil in multi-disciplinary gender studies.

"I am excited to join the brilliant minds of the Gates community- a community of leaders tackling today's complex global challenges," said Aneisa Babkir. "At Cambridge, I will explore the gendered dimensions of Sudanese displacement and reintegration. Through my research, I aim to reimagine socioeconomic reintegration methods in Sudan and amplify the voices of displaced women in post-conflict states."

Ifeanyi Umunna, a first-generation American from Quincy, Massachusetts, graduated summa cum laude from AU in 2023 with a degree in political science and African American studies. Ms. Umunna was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, has served in leadership roles with the School of Public Affairs Leadership Program, the Black Student Union, Black Affinity Housing, and the Sine Institute of Policy and Politics. Her passion for criminal-justice reform, particularly for Black and immigrant communities, has led her to volunteer to help unhoused people in D.C. and the Maryland Office of the Public Defender. She will pursue the MPhil in Criminology.

"I know that I've worked really hard to get to this point," Ifeanyi Umunna said. "I also really want to take full advantage of the experience of being a student at Cambridge, which is something that a lot of people fight tooth and nail for. I just see it as a duty to make the most of it, so that I can come back to my community and serve them."

The Gates Cambridge Class of 2024 year enfolds citizens of 29 nations, including the program's first scholars from Nicaragua and Libya.