Published: May 11, 2026
I just returned to Liberia after six weeks away, and I am in a reflective mood. It felt like far too long to be away, but God’s plans always trump mine. Reflecting on the journey and its many vicissitudes puts me in a better position to integrate the trip’s many lessons and opportunities, as well as share with the community my activities as UL president.
Although I was already scheduled to be in the United States in late April, my journey started much earlier than planned due to the sudden passing of my youngest brother, Ben. Both Ben and my brother Rama, who passed this same time last year, shared a genetic disorder known as Fragile X syndrome which causes cognitive disability. Despite his impairments (which included being on the autism spectrum), Ben was a big personality, a genuine comedian, and a generous spirit who loved to pray and was a devoted Baha’i. He was loved and remembered everywhere he went. My two sisters and I reflected on how our family has entered a different era now, with no parents left and no brothers left. We are three matriarchs now, tending our family as well as the next generation each in our own way – myself as a university president, my sister Mary as a community college head librarian, and my sister Alex as a food service professional at a state university. Higher ed is in our blood!
For me, the experience of losing my brother Ben rededicated me to the cause of advancing disability issues at UL and making sure that UL leads on this issue for the benefit of all Liberia. I am thankful to UL’s new Director of the Resource Center for Disability Services and Support and Alternative Learning (RCDSSAL), Amb. Daintowan Domah Pay-Bayee, for sharing the vision and sharing my commitment to UL’s excellence in this area. And thanks, too, are due to all the dedicated employees of RCDSSAL who are helping UL’s students with disabilities thrive despite challenges.
Given how the geopolitical situation was unfolding in the Middle East just as I was planning my travel, I made the decision not to fly back and forth between the US and Liberia twice in one month, given the rising cost of jet fuel. So, imagine my surprise when I was called to Ethiopia to join the delegation of His Excellency President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., in the middle of my trip! It was a blessing in disguise, as what I saw in Ethiopia indelibly emblazoned some new #techgoals on my mind—aligning UL with His Excellency’s recently stated goals for rapid digital transformation in Liberia. Rapid digital transformation in Liberia will not be possible without accompanying digital transformation at the University, including strengthening UL’s tech resources overall and the creating new academic tracks of study that produce the kind of professionals that a fully digitized Liberia will need. While digitization is already an objective within UL’s 2026-2030 strategic plan, this trip put fire under that part of the plan in a way that is very energizing.
Once I was back in the States, I was able to meet with Hellen Momoh, Liberia’s own tech phenom and founder of Surna Technologies, who is graduating from Harvard with her master’s in data science and machine learning engineering later this month, as well as a number of other Liberian tech experts. It was mind-blowing to be in their midst, to by a fly on the wall during high-level tech talk, and to engage in dialogue about how the University can best advance technological development in Liberia. This will surely be an evolving story!
Other highlights of my Stateside time include attending the Liberian Studies Association conference and serving as a keynote speaker, as well as attending and speaking at the annual gathering of the Trustees of Donations for Education in Liberia (TDEL), at which members of the Massachusetts Association for the Restoration of the University of Liberia (MARUL) were also in attendance. In both cases, my theme was “UL Choosing Among Futures.” I presented pathways to oblivion, greatness, and mediocrity for UL over the next five years, noting that oblivion will occur if we don’t change the path we’re on, greatness will occur if we transform at warp speed, and mediocrity will occur if we shoot for greatness but miss our targets through insufficient or uncoordinated effort. The world is changing at breakneck speed and we must adjust our stride accordingly. As with any relay race or marathon, we don’t have forever to decide because the starting bell has already been rung. Let’s choose greatness!
Conversations with TDEL were beneficial due to its focus on collaborating to fundraise for UL. TDEL has consistently operated as a fundraiser and fund manager for UL for over 150 years, giving it a level of credibility and gravitas, particularly for donors in the United States seeking a tax benefit for charitable giving. At our meeting, we discussed plans to expand and deepen our working relationship during UL’s 75th anniversary season through the five years of UL’s strategic plan. As we build UL’s administrative infrastructure for fundraising under the new Institutional Advancement unit, TDEL will be an important external partner, as will MARUL, which has proven its commitment to UL through its financial support for UL’s new Psychology Department, ably established by Chair Andrew Dean.
Before I close, I must thank UL’s Vice Presidents, especially Provost Dr. Agnes Reeves Taylor who served as Officer-in-Charge for the extended period of my travels, and all the other administrators, faculty, and staff who kept things running while I was on the road. Congratulations, as well, to the new leadership of ULFA that was elected while I was away, and all the student leaders who kept their respective constituencies engaged despite the current student government gray zone. Last but not least, I want to recognize all of the students who went to class, studied, and burned the midnight oil to complete their work over the last six weeks. Good luck on midterms! We are Team UL!
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