Student spotlight: Peace Edem

“As a first-generation Nigerian-American, I had never gotten the opportunity to engage in academic study that is related to my experience and the experiences of my family, so it was nice to finally get the opportunity to do so at Stanford,” says Peace Edem, who graduates this June with a B.S. in human biology, with a concentration in global health policy, and a minor in global studies, with a specialization in African studies.

Her academic interests stem from her passion for global health. “I am interested in developing innovative solutions to the issue of weak infrastructure and capacity building at more of a macro level to ensure quality healthcare delivery, particularly for people in sub-Saharan Africa.”

During her time at Stanford, she had the opportunity to “open up the dialogue around colorism in an African context through visual media” through her independent study with Laura Hubbard, associate director of the Stanford Center for African Studies.

She enjoyed minoring in African studies because it gave her a greater “academic understanding of the complex systems and interactions that have led many African states, and the peoples and cultures that exist within them, to be what they are today,” she says.

She especially enjoyed learning about African history and culture from African instructors and through her interactions with fellow African students. “It would be great to have more African instructors teaching African studies classes, more classes dedicated to West Africa, and more classes that deal with Africa outside the perspective of colonization and development such as African mythology and folklore.”

Next year, Peace is looking forward to joining Oliver Wyman, a global management consulting firm. Congratulations Peace, and best of luck!

Please join us in congratulating the class of 2019! As the academic year draws to a close, we are highlighting students graduating from across our 14 programs. Click here to view more student spotlights.