From South Africa and Ethiopia to Qatar: African Graduates Leave a Lasting Legacy at GU-Q
Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) is proud to celebrate the achievements of its graduating African students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, resilience, and dedication to improving their communities. Among them are Michelle Hadebe and Philmon Abraha, two exceptional students whose stories embody the spirit of Georgetown’s commitment to global engagement and transformative education.
Michelle Hadebe: Leading with Passion for Cultural Advocacy
Michelle Hadebe, an International Politics major with a passion for cultural advocacy, has played an instrumental role in shaping the community at GU-Q. A graduate of African Leadership Academy in Johannesburg and hailing from Mamelodi, Pretoria, South Africa, Michelle shone as an organizer and leader.
In her first year, she became the face of GU-Q when she established the Desert Hoya Blog, sharing the student experience at GU-Q. She went on to serve as student lead of the Georgetown Admissions Ambassador Program where she organized her peers to welcome admitted students, and serve international students living in dorms through leading the residential life task force. She further represented GU-Q as a member of the women’s basketball team.
Michelle moderates a conversation with Ambassador Timmy Davis, US Embassy Doha
As President of the Black Students Association (BSA), Michelle’s leadership helped foster a more inclusive environment for Black students through community-building initiatives, cultural programming, and institutional advocacy to amplify Black student voices both on and between campuses.
Under her guidance, the association played a critical role in launching the Inaugural Black Literary Arts Festival in 2025, successfully instituted mandatory training for student leaders, and even moderated a conversation with the US Ambassador to Qatar for Black History Month.
Michelle moderates author talk with Dr. Anita Gonzalez, Georgetown University, during Black Literary Arts Festival
Intellectually, she explored her interests at the intersection of education and social justice through a research fellowship at the Berkeley Center for Social Justice, where she studied how education hubs in Krakow support displaced Ukrainian teenagers amid the ongoing war. She returned to South Africa during a trip for a course on post-conflict recovery, where she had the chance to learn about fostering peace and economic development. “I was inspired by the power of grassroots leadership in listening to marginalized voices and driving societal change. It deepened my understanding of conflict resolution and solidified my commitment to promoting social justice in South Africa and beyond.”
As she moves forward, Michelle plans to continue advocating for cultural inclusion and social justice, drawing on her education to create lasting positive change.
Her insights on Africa have already been recognized with a column on “Voices of Global Politics and Governance” for The Voice of Africa. “My goal is to break down global complexity and spotlight African agency in shaping the world we live in,” she shares.
Philmon Abraha: Bridging Economics and Technology for African Development
Philmon Abraha, an International Economics major with a minor in Computer Science, is another standout graduate whose unique interdisciplinary approach positions him to make significant contributions to Africa’s future. Originally from Bahir Dar, a semi-urban city in the conflict-ridden region of Northern Ethiopia, Philmon grew up in a community that valued compassion and resilience.
“I am indebted to the community that got me where I am, and I wish to serve and pay them back,” he shared. Thanking his parents especially, he added, “Any success I’ve had is just me standing on the shoulders of their sacrifice.” This commitment to his community extends to tackling the complex challenges facing his country.
Philmon’s hometown of Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
His academic journey led him to seek ways to leverage technology as a tool for economic development, especially in sub-saharan Africa where traditional development models have fallen short.
During learning and service trips to South Africa, Nepal, and New Orleans, he learned about other cultures and gained a global perspective on overcoming differences and developing effective and sustainable programming to mitigate conflict, disaster, and poverty.
Philmon in South Africa for Zones of Peace, Zones of Conflict course trip
Through Education City’s multiversity environment, he took Computer Science courses at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar and completed his computer science minor during a semester abroad at Georgetown’s main campus in Washington, D.C, becoming the first ever student at GU-Q to do so.
Digitization Assistant Philmon at work
Throughout his time at GU-Q, Philmon’s technical expertise was put to use in real-world applications. As a digitization assistant, he developed solutions to streamline university operations, including building an inventory management application and events calendar website. His work caught the eye of Clare Wait, Chief Facilities Management Officer, who further mentored him in applying classroom knowledge to practical situations.
Philmon graduates with a clear path ahead: a summer internship in marketing analytics at Snoonu, followed by a move to the United States to pursue a Master’s degree at UC Berkeley’s School of Information. There, he will focus on using AI and machine learning to combat hate speech and misinformation in conflict-affected regions – an ambition shaped by his academic journey at Georgetown and deeply personal experiences. “Coming to the Middle East was a big leap for me and my family,” he reflected. “But my time here has completely shifted how I see the world. It’s prepared me to take the next step toward making a meaningful impact and giving back to the people and places that shaped me.”
The African Student Experience at GU-Q
Both Michelle and Philmon exemplify the diverse, transformative experiences of African students at Georgetown University in Qatar. These students bring unique perspectives, shaped by their cultural backgrounds, and apply them to global challenges. Through academic excellence, leadership, and service, they are building bridges between their communities and the wider world.
Georgetown University in Qatar continues to foster an environment where students from Africa and beyond are empowered to thrive and create positive change in their home countries and around the world.