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鈥淓ducation is key for success.鈥澨�

That鈥檚 the response Ali Sekou, a 2019听graduate of the at the听, gave when interviewed earlier this year by the听New Hampshire Union Leader听after .听

When Sekou, 38, describes what he means with that answer, he听says that education听opens the door听to opportunity听and helps people understand, accept and have an open mind. Both听a听formal and informal education can help individuals to cultivate the importance of belonging and adopt a听鈥渟ervant鈥檚 heart,鈥� as described by activist and evangelist Christine Caine,听as well as听a servant leadership style.听

鈥淎s an immigrant new to American cultures,听not听only听did听I have to learn English,听but I had to learn from and emerge with new cultures,鈥� says Sekou, who moved to the United States from Niger in 2012. 鈥淥ne thing I did was to adopt Caine鈥檚 鈥楽ervant Heart鈥� philosophy as a leader. I learned to step back and learn from those around me, to show care in how I communicated and engaged with听others.鈥澨�

And one way he achieves that is through multilingualism. Sekou can speak five different languages 鈥� a skill that truly allows him to communicate听with other people and show that he cares听about听and understands them.听

"Carsey contributed to my successes by preparing and giving me the tools and formal training I needed to better serve my community. The curriculum in the MCD program is truly meant to prepare students to serve in a better and larger capacity."

Shortly after immigrating听to New Hampshire, Sekou began taking English as a Second Language courses at Laconia鈥檚 Adult Education Center. He听went on to earn his听Associate鈥檚听degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management from New Hampshire Technical Institute and his Bachelor鈥檚 degree in Tourism Management and Political Science from Plymouth State University. In 2017, he enrolled in the master鈥檚 degree program at the听Carsey听School of Public Policy (UNH). His capstone project, titled听Sustainable Tourism Development Model in听Tillaberi听Region, Niger, West Africa, focused on challenges and opportunities for the听Tillaberi听Region in implementing a sustainable tourism operation.

鈥淐arsey听contributed to my successes by preparing and giving me听the tools and formal training听I needed to better serve my community,鈥� Sekou says. 鈥淭he curriculum in the MCD program is truly meant to prepare students to serve in a better and larger capacity.鈥�

Sekou's professors at Carsey praise his work ethic and his devotion to collaboration and teamwork.

鈥淎li is the kind of student every professor and university wants,鈥� describes , Director of the MCD program. 鈥淗e鈥檚 intelligent, thoughtful, hard-working and encouraging of his fellow students. I鈥檓 really happy to see him get this recognition.鈥�

"What impressed me most about [Ali] was his bond to his culture, roots and his desire to serve his community," says , Academic Affairs Coordinator at the Carsey School and an MCD capstone project advisor. "This was evident when he chose to do his capstone project on sustainable tourism in his country of origin, Niger. He was determined in pursuing this as a continuation of his work before he came to the United States, fully knowing that there would be challenges in trying to complete this from thousands of miles away. However, he showed great responsibility and invested his own money to travel to Niger so he could design and implement parts of the project."

Sekou听attributes some of his success to graduating with zero student debt 鈥� an achievement made partially possible by scholarships he recieved from the Carsey School.

"I am very grateful and thankful for the support, guidance, and scholarship I have received from Carsey," he says.

"It鈥檚 a great honor to live and work in a community that really pushes you to become better, gives you the opportunity to strive. For me, it鈥檚 truly about saying 鈥楾hank you鈥� to the community that has helped me, supported and trusted me, empowered and inspired me."

Today, as an Assistant Store Manager at Hannaford in Concord and an active member of many different community organizations 鈥� including serving on the boards of the , (CPLF), the , and the (ORIS)鈥� Sekou applies lessons learned from his master鈥檚 program on a frequent basis. Just two examples of this are the importance of building a formal project management structure and the value of understanding and interpreting policy at a foundational level.

When asked what advice he has for people considering the听MCD听program at听Carsey, Sekou states 鈥済o in with an open mind, be humble, and have the desire and the dedication to learn鈥�Be willing to dive in and ask a lot of questions.鈥澨�

And when asked what this recognition from the听New Hampshire Union Leader听means to him, he adds: 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great honor to live and work in a community that really pushes you to become better, gives you the opportunity to strive. For me, it鈥檚 truly about saying 鈥楾hank you鈥� to the community that has helped me, supported and trusted me, empowered and inspired me. I love living here.鈥澨�

Spoken like a true听servant leader.听