Alumni Spotlight Series: Elizabeth Elango 1999

The following interview is part of the Council on African Studies’ Alumni Spotlight series featuring graduates from both the Master’s and Bachelor’s Degrees in African Studies. Elizabeth Elango graduated with an MA in AFST in 1999. Elizabeth is CEO and Head of School for Global Village Project, a school for refugee girls.

Please introduce yourself and tell us a little about yourself?

My name is Elizabeth Elango. I live in Atlanta, Georgia, where I work as CEO and Head of School for Global Village Project, a school for refugee girls. Professionally, I am a non-profit leader and self-described lifter of people. People are my passion and joy is my superpower. I am honored by my roles as leader and the ability to inspire willing followers. I have over 20 years of experience working in global and local organizations. I love to see ideas come to life and grow. I enjoy seeing people achieve things they did not think they could. I am fulfilled by seeing my teams succeed.

I was born and raised in Cameroon and came to the US at age 16 to go to college. I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in International Affairs from Kennesaw State University, during which time I did an internship at the Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta, GA. Thereafter, I pursued my Masters in African Studies from Yale University. After my time at Yale, I was a Fulbright Scholar in Zanzibar, where I continued my study of Swahili, then worked in South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania for GlobaLearn, an educational organization. I’ve travelled the world extensively (over 50 countries) and have worked in over 30 of Africa’s 54 countries. Through those experiences I have gained a considerable understanding of the power and richness of diversity when it is properly leveraged.

Prior to my current role, I was CEO at JA Africa based in Accra, Ghana where I was honored to work with young people across Africa in shaping their futures and the future of the continent. Before that, I worked for 15 years at Heifer International, leaving there as Vice-President of Africa programs.

I am committed to people and community development, and I believe that three things – choices, voices and opportunities- are key to changing the trajectory of people’s lives. My commitment to social causes is testament not just in my work abroad, but also in the US where I’ve served on the Boards of Directors of the Arkansas Foodbank and the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas.

I hold a Master’s Certificate in Non-Profit Management from the University of Arkansas and am a graduate of Leadership Arkansas; a program of the Arkansas Chamber of Commerce. I am fluent in English, French, Swahili, West African Krio (pidgin) and have a passable understanding of Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. Personally, I am a mother of two girls, an avid collector of African art and a lover of all things artistic and African.

How was your time at Yale? Can you share a few memories that you think might encapsulate your experience?

Going to Yale was a big culture shock for me, but a necessary path to growth. I had been in the US for only four years at the time and was still learning to navigate a new culture. Adding in the dimension of regional cultures (and climates) moving from Georgia to Connecticut created an added level of complexity that took me a long time to adjust to. At Yale I got exposed to different people, cultures and backgrounds than I had experienced before but even though it took some time, I found my community. Our African studies program cohort was very small - just three students - but there were other students from the other disciplines studying Africa who complemented our group. For me, having these relationships was like iron sharpening iron. Our social and academic gatherings provided opportunities for rich and deep conversations, which I revelled in. These classmates helped me think of the world in general and Africa specifically, in new and different ways.

The professors were also a revelation. I still remember sitting in Robert Ferris Thompson’s book-filled offices listening to him think and talk. I recall Anne Biersteker’s transportive Swahili lessons. I remember long hours in the libraries conducting research under the hallowed ceilings of old architecture.

How did you end up at Yale focusing on African Studies?

My father was a college professor. He taught world and African history at Kennesaw State University, where I went to college. History and current affairs were a common interest my dad and I shared as well as a love of languages. Many evenings we’d plop ourselves in front of the TV watching World News Tonight. Once a month, when his copy of the Journal of World Affairs arrived in the mail, we’d read it from blue cover to blue cover, folding pages until they were dog-eared. Growing up in Africa, African history, culture or languages were almost non-existent in the curriculum so I was thrilled to learn about it more in college and it only sparked my curiosity to learn more in graduate school.

How did your time at Yale and the AFST degree influence your life professionally and or personally?

My time at Yale and my degree from Yale set me up really well on my professional path. I did end up working in the Africa program of a large international non-profit. My education came in handy for that. While I was at GlobaLearn I was essentially a blogger, long before that term or profession was popular. I travelled in South Africa and East Africa. My Swahili language from Yale was very useful in my east Africa travels. I ended up living and working in Ghana for five years. In all of my personal and professional travels and work in Africa, my degree and the knowledge I’d acquired from that program was an invaluable reference point.

Can you tell us about your career – how did you start out after you graduated, what was your early career decision making process and also discuss how that led to where you are now?

I didn’t really have a career plan after graduate school. I knew I wanted to work in non-profits, but not exactly what I wanted to do. Much of my career was defined by serendipity…luck, providence. I walked through the doors that opened and each door led to the next. My barometer for success was asking myself the questions: “Am I enjoying this?” “Do I feel useful?” “Am I learning?” Everything else was icing on the cake. It’s been 20 years now and doors are still opening and I’m still leveraging my voice, my choices and the opportunities that come my way to make my mark on the world.

What advice would you give either to a current graduate student in AFST or an undergraduate student who is considering focusing on Africa as an undergrad or for graduate study?

Africa is still one of the world’s great unknowns and fascinating places. It will be the center of the world. To understand it, is to understand not just our past but our future. Learn more about Africa! I’d also advise: don’t overplan your life and your career. Make room for serendipity. Allow yourself to be surprised. Embrace the unknown. That’s where the good stuff is.