A letter to the Ashesi Community from Linda Young-Ribeiro, former Dean of Student and Community Affairs

Friday, December 16, 2005

Dr. Awuah, Pioneering Students and Staff of Ashesi:

I wish I could be here with you all on this historic day, but unfortunately am not able to.  I would however like to share some thoughts with you.

The first year at of Ashesi seems like only yesterday.  I would arrive on campus every morning at daybreak, enter the empty parking lot, and immediately admire the clean, neat and simple grounds surrounded by young bougainvillea that Mohammed, then the gardener, lovingly tended.  I’d begin my daily ritual… unlock the doors of the administration building, greet the several students already faithfully arrived and waiting for me to let them and the cleaning crew in…  open up the computer lab, turn on the computers and check and make sure the network was up and running…  open our (one) classroom and the library…

I’d settle into my office and check my list of things to do…  meetings… interviews… correspondence that must go out…   follow up on outstanding issues… housing, food, health services, strategic planning assignments…  Update the notice board with any current news…

As the early morning progressed, more students and staff would make their way in… The students would inevitably park themselves in strategic locations ready for the day ahead… behind a computer, in a library study cubicle, in the cafeteria, either alone or in small groups.

I’d watch, listen and smile to myself, as some would heatedly set out to debate a hot philosophical, social, political or economic issue presented in the previous day’s lecture, while others would discuss and resolve a difficult mathematical  or computer problem.  I’d think, “Yes…”

The pace would increase as the day moved on, becoming hectic and non-stop.  Our tasks were set…There would always be more work waiting to be done… 

• Meeting with Ms. Togba, then the nurse,  about student health concerns, supplies and upcoming health-related seminars…
• Going out with Ms. Wulf to scout for suitable residential housing for the students… Going back again and again to follow up on potential sites.   Getting stuck in the mud with Ms. Wulf while prospecting for possible in-town sites… 
• Collaborating with Prof. Apt on the current judicial committee case or  the Women of Ashesi… or watching her tackle the pile of prospective instructor applicants.
• Informing a student of the painful consequences of their inappropriate behavior or poor academic performance.
• Watching Ms. Wulf, then Director of Admissions, painstakingly mull over student applicants, narrowing down the pool to only those who fit the Ashesi profile… high academic standards, proven leadership potential, a vision for themselves…
• Giving  Mr. Annie moral support as he resolves the ongoing campus water, electricity and myriad facilities issues…
• Checking with the cafeteria staff to ensure menu of the day was on.
• Watching as Ms. Asiam takes yet another prospective student on a tour of the campus while describing Ashesi’s liberal arts philosophy and academic program…. 
• The constant staffing interviews…painfully trying to find the perfect fit for each position to be filled… interviewing candidate after candidate…  checking background, work experience,  asking ourselves what they had to offer Ashesi beside the obvious credentials.  Not settling… knowing that the key to Ashesi’s success is having the very  best people for the job who are committed and share its vision.  Bracing myself for  Dr. Awuah’s inevitable question, “What’s your gut feeling?”
• The weekly late-in-the-day grueling strategic planning conference call meetings with our local executive staff, Dr. Awuah, Ms. Marini and the Ashesi Foundation staff in Seattle… taking on  our never-ending assignments for the week…
• Planning academic seminars and social events, assisting students with their fledgling student government and social activities…. Noticing how many of the young women would in the beginning, defer to the men both in the classroom and on campus.  But as time went on, find their voices and begin to firmly and confidently express their views and become actively involved.  Knowing that these young women would gradually take their proper place in sharing the running of affairs. 
• Moving  to our second Labone site.  Making the regular trek back and forth between the two sites in the hot midday sun.
• Trekking up into the hills to visit the Berekuso site… Ashesi’s future home.  Taking a moment to envision the campus that will one day sit here.
• Meeting and talking to students about anything and everything…, student government, plans for upcoming activities, helping with individual financial, housing  and personal problems, health related issues, academic performance.
• Staying into the night to provide the students with extra hours of library and computer lab access.  Closing up the buildings at night and leaving for home completely exhausted…, only to begin again early the following morning… 

Being witness to firsts… the first official debate against another university… the first student government election… the first student organized excursion to Wli Falls…  the first academic and Leadership seminars… Ashesi’s official inauguration… and countless other milestones.   I would think… Yes… this is our future…  These young men and women are our hope.   This fuels me…  Always more to be done… We have a mission…. We must keep going…. 

These are some of my thoughts of Ashesi’s first year… precious memories that will stay with me always.  This is the gift that you, Dr. Awuah, and the pioneering students and staff of Ashesi have given me… The gift of wonderful memories… of being a part of something bigger than any of us… and of hope for the future….   

To you the students, on this commencement day, you leave the shelter of Ashesi, and embark on the lives that you create for yourselves.  As Ashesi’s pioneering class, you have the great responsibility to mark the trail for future graduates to follow.  I know that each of you will in your own unique way, change the world for the better, both professionally and personally.  I know you all will make us proud.

To the staff of Ashesi, a finer team cannot be found.  This is also your day to celebrate your great achievement of successfully sending off this first group young people into the world.  Because of you, they leave armed with not only a top class education, but also with the knowledge that they are now the alumni of a top class university, Ashesi….

God bless,

Linda Young-Ribeiro

Linda Young-Ribeiro now resides in Atlanta, Georgia.  She was Dean of Student and Community Affairs during Ashesi's first year of instruction.  Although we all understand her need to return home to the United States where she could be be close to her family, we miss her presence on campus.  Linda, thanks for sharing the memories.