The Muskie School of Public Service is proud to announce that two exceptional students, Feza Wembo and Elizabeth Brown, have been selected as Alfond Ambassadors for the 2024-25 academic year. This prestigious recognition is awarded to students who have demonstrated outstanding potential and a commitment to their education and community.
Feza Wembo:
Feza Wembo’s story is one of resilience, determination, and a deep commitment to education. Having migrated to the United States from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2017, Feza faced the formidable challenge of adapting to a new language and culture. Despite these difficulties, she persevered, finding strength in her belief that “education was one of the weapons I needed to confront my limitations in order to achieve my goals.”
Feza’s educational journey led her to graduate from Deering High School and pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science with an Honors Minor at the University of Southern Maine (USM). Now, as she prepares to embark on a Master’s program in Policy, Planning, and Management at the Muskie School, she reflects on the impact Maine has had on her life. “The State of Maine has been a warm welcoming place…a home and place of safety,” Feza shares. She looks forward to her new academic venture, confident that it will “equip me with the knowledge and leadership skills to contribute positively to my life and my community.” Feza aspires to become an effective political leader, driven by her desire to advocate for accessible higher education for all.
Elizabeth Brown:
Elizabeth Brown’s path to the Muskie School has been shaped by perseverance and a deep desire to make a difference in the field of public health. Born and raised in Cumberland, Maine, Elizabeth initially pursued a premedical degree before transferring to USM in 2019. However, life’s challenges led her to temporarily withdraw from her studies, during which time she found her passion working with individuals with severe mental illness in local nonprofits.
This experience, coupled with the impact of the pandemic and her personal caregiving experiences, ignited Elizabeth’s interest in epidemiology. “The idea of studying disease prevalence, identifying risk factors for illness, and developing preventative measures inspired me to pursue a career in epidemiology,” Elizabeth explains. Her determination to return to the classroom paid off, and she successfully completed her undergraduate degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences at USM.
As a first-generation college student, Elizabeth is deeply grateful for the support of the Alfond Scholarship. “The support of the Alfond Scholarship makes pursuing my dreams a reality,” she says, as she prepares to begin the Master of Public Health program at the Muskie School.
Feza and Elizabeth’s stories are a testament to the transformative impact of education. The Muskie School is honored to welcome them as Alfond Scholars and looks forward to supporting them as they continue their journeys of academic excellence and community leadership.
We congratulate Feza Wembo and Elizabeth Brown on their well-deserved recognition and wish them success in their future endeavors.