Hi, Hounds! This week on Highlighting Hounds, we are featuring junior Akariza Kanamugire Shekinah Christa ’26, an international student from Rwanda who has truly made her mark at Assumption University. As a junior majoring in mathematics with a minor in engineering science, she is also a part of the university’s 3:2 engineering program. As a student with a diverse range of campus roles, Shekinah has balanced her academics with leadership positions such as serving as a tutor at the Academic Support Center, an office assistant at the registrar’s office, and a student leader for Campus Ministry. Her dedication extends beyond campus life into research, having worked at both Assumption University and Tufts University on projects ranging from the Organization of Complex Systems to developing a temperature sensor for NASA’s balloon missions. Shekinah’s journey reflects not only her academic excellence but also her deep commitment to giving back to the community, making her an inspiration to those around her. In this interview, we dive into her experiences, challenges, and the motivations that have shaped her path at Assumption University.
Give a brief overview of your campus involvement and impact on the Assumption community.
My name is Akariza Kanamugire Shekinah Christa. I am an international student from Rwanda. I
am a junior majoring in mathematics with a minor in engineering science, and I am doing the
3:2 program of engineering.
For my experience at Assumption University, I am a tutor at the Academic Support Center, I am
an office assistant at the registrar office, and I serve as student leader for Campus Ministry.
Previously, I was a senator and treasurer for the Class of 2026 for two years, an orientation
leader, and a member of the finance committee.
During the summer of 2023 I performed research under the Department of Biological and
Physical Sciences at Assumption University with Professor Georgi Y. Georgiev and the research
was about the Organization of Complex Systems. Last summer, I performed research at Tufts
University with the Visiting and Early Research Scholars’ Experiences (VERSE) Program under
Professor Robert White in a mechanical engineering lab. During this internship, I worked on two
projects: one was making a temperature sensor cage for a NASA balloon, and the other was
about molding MEMS hydrophones.
Currently, I am working on my honors thesis and this summer I will be working under Professor
Herd as a research assistant. The research is focused on measuring the ionization energy of
lithium-7.
What inspired you to become so involved, and how did you obtain these positions?
At first, I got involved because I wanted to meet other students and most importantly I wanted
to contribute to the community that I was now part of. Also, during high school, I really enjoyed
the extracurricular activities I was part of and I wanted to continue the same path when I was in
college. Additionally, after my freshman year, I realized how much Assumption University had
given me in one academic year, and I saw getting involved as an opportunity to give back.
Can you tell us more about your decision to pursue the 3:2 program of engineering? What
drew you to combine mathematics with engineering science?
From a young age I was fascinated by space and planes and in grade ten I heard about
aerospace engineering. After researching this career I realized that I would enjoy being an
aerospace engineer. I did the 3:2 program so that I would be able to obtain both a liberal art
education and at the same time obtain an aerospace engineering degree.
What are your career goals? How will your experiences help you reach those goals?
My career goal is to be a certified aerospace engineer and at some point have my own business
or industry that is related to aerospace. Additionally, I want to give back in any way I can
because I am able to reach this far in my education journey because of different people who
gave back.
What have you learned from working in different campus roles (tutor, office assistant, student
leader) that has helped you in your personal and academic development?
Working in different campus roles has taught me to be more understanding and compassionate
because sometimes you think you know the whole story but most of the time you really do not.
Additionally, I learned how to effectively manage my time and how to prioritize tasks.
During your time as a senator and treasurer for the Class of 2026, what were some of the key
projects you worked on, and how did you ensure effective communication and collaboration
with your peers?
During my time as a student representative for class of 2026 I worked with other class officers
on different fundraising projects for our class such as selling small valentine’s bags on
valentine’s day and selling sweatpants during family weekend. Also, I was part of the team that
organized and executed Pup Cup 2024 and Class of 2026 Trivia Night. As a senator, I was a
member of the Student Engagement Committee where I worked with other members of the
committee to run the Student Government Association( SGA) instagram account. I was
specifically in charge of Member Monday where every Monday a member of SGA would be
highlighted on SGA instagram page.
Can you describe your role as a student leader for Campus Ministry? How do you manage the
demands of being a leader while also balancing your studies?
I am the student leader for Christian Initiation also known as Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
(RCIA). In this role, I get the opportunity to accompany catechumens preparing to get their first
baptism and students preparing to get confirmed and receive the Eucharist. Additionally, I
represent Campus Ministry at the Student Government Association (SGA) to let the whole
student body know different opportunities that Campus Ministry is offering.
How has your experience as an orientation leader influenced your perspective on leadership?
What strategies do you use to connect with new students?
Being an orientation leader showed that the best skill that a leader can have is to pay attention
to people’s body language and understand what they imply. When first-year students come for
their orientation, they are nervous, and as their orientation leader, you are called to try to see
things from their perspective to be able to offer them what they need. The strategy I used
to connect with the new students was to be authentic and present.
What are your key takeaways from your experience?
My first key takeaway was that having a good relationship with the people you work with is just
as important as effectively fulfilling the responsibilities and duties of your role. Additionally, if
something isn’t going well, it’s important to let everyone you’re working with know and address
the problem together so that everyone stays on the same page.
Will you continue your education? If so, what are the key factors that will influence your
decision on where to continue your education?
Yes, I would like to continue my education. However, I want to first work for a few years after
obtaining an undergraduate degree to know which area under aerospace I would like to learn
more about. However, I hope to obtain a PHD and an MBA at some point.
You’ve worked on some fascinating research projects both at Assumption University and Tufts
University. Could you tell us about your most memorable experience during your research
under Professor Georgiev’s supervision in the Department of Biological and Physical Sciences?
My most memorable experience was the process of applying to the Conference on Complex
Systems 2023, which involved submitting an abstract and gaining the opportunity to present the
research outcomes at this conference. During this research, I was also fascinated by the
presence of self-organizing phenomena in our daily lives.
During your internship at Tufts University, you worked on creating a temperature sensor cage
for a NASA balloon. Can you walk us through the process you followed and any challenges you
encountered along the way?
My mentor, Professor Robert White, told me he needed something to cover the sensors that
were going to be placed on a NASA balloon. These sensors were designed to measure air
temperature, but to provide accurate readings, they needed to be shielded from direct sunlight.
My first challenge was that I had to use computer-aided design (CAD), specifically SolidWorks, to
design the protective cage—something I had little experience with at the time. I had two weeks
to submit the final design. During those two weeks, with help of other research assistants, Phd
students in the lab and guidance from my mentor, I learned how to use SolidWorks and
successfully designed the cage.
How has your experience working with MEMS hydrophones in a mechanical engineering lab
shaped your understanding of applied engineering research?
It helped me realize that having the chance to apply what you study gives you a much deeper
understanding of the material than just learning the theory. There’s a lot of appreciation that
comes from seeing how what you’ve learned in class can be used in real-world situations.
Additionally, this opportunity showed me that knowing the area or industry where a specific
concept can be applied prevents a student from feeling lost about how and where their
knowledge can be used.
You’re currently working on your honors thesis with Professor Herd. What specific challenges
are you facing as you research, and how are you addressing them?
( I am building the laser that will measure the ionization energy of lithium-7 as my thesis, I am
not specifically researching the ionization energy of lithium.)
Since this is my first time working on a thesis, it was initially hard to know what to expect and
how to plan effectively while balancing my thesis work with schoolwork for other classes.
However, my mentor and the staff here at Assumption University have been very supportive
throughout the entire process.
As an international student from Rwanda, what unique perspectives or experiences have you
brought to your academic and extracurricular activities at Assumption University?
As an international student from Rwanda, I believe I have been able to bring unique
perspectives to various projects or academic assignments. In extracurricular activities, it has
been easier for me to connect and understand students from diverse backgrounds. For instance,
I have noticed that different regions or states teach concepts like adding fractions in different
ways—what I was taught is not the same as what most of my classmates learned. Being aware
of this helps me be more mindful during tutoring sessions, giving students the space to show
me their approach so that I support them effectively instead of causing confusion.
Looking back on your time at Assumption, what would you say is the most rewarding aspect
of your involvement in student leadership? How has it influenced your personal and
professional growth?
The most rewarding aspect is the people I met and the challenges I faced. The people I met on
my journey of being involved in student leadership made Assumption become a home far from
home and some of the people I worked with became my close friends and great mentors.
Additionally, the challenges I faced pushed me to get outside of my comfort zone and my mind
was able to discover new ways to think through ideas. Additionally, the challenges I faced made
me less scared of facing the unknown.
Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently in your leadership roles, or
any lessons you wish you had learned sooner?
It is hard to answer this question while I am still on this journey. However, I would have asked more often
for feedback from the people I was serving in different roles I have had on campus.
If you are interested in being featured on Highlighting Hounds or know of any students who would be a strong candidate, please email us at careerdevelopment@assumption.edu!
