Past Events
July 2020 | Virtual Event
Executive Team Fireside Chat
Hear from Ashesi’s leadership team about the work thus far to steward student learning during the pandemic and prepare for the long-term impacts from COVID-19.
April 2020 | Virtual Event
Giving Voice to Values: Corruption in International Development
In this participatory session, guests joined an Ashesi University Giving Voice to Values (GVV) workshop before learning more from our host and other participating Ashesi alumni about how this course fits into Ashesi’s curriculum.
September 2019 | New York, NY
Climate Week NYC 2019: Africa's Climate Innovators: Drivers of Inclusive Green Growth
The Ghana Climate Innovation Center (GCIC) at Ashesi University welcomed climate influencers, businesses with commitments to the SDGs, impact investors, philanthropists for a discussion on Africa's climate innovators.
September 25, 2019 | New York, NY
Ashesi and Facebook Explore SDG 8
Ashesi President Patrick Awuah was joined by Ime Archibong, Facebook’s Vice President of Product Partnerships, for a discussion on the roles that education, employers, and other stakeholders can play in fulfilling SDG 8 and achieving full and productive employment for all men and women. Ime currently oversees Project17, which works to support the UN's 17 SDGs.
September 15, 2019 | Seattle, WA
Ashesi Foundation's 20-Year Anniversary Celebration
In 1999, Ashesi University was still a dream for co-founders Patrick Awuah and Nina Marini. Launching Ashesi Foundation represented the first concrete step towards pursuing the Ashesi vision. As we marked the Foundation's 20-year anniversary, we celebrated with many of those who helped Ashesi grow from its pioneering class of 30 students into one of Africa’s most respected, innovative universities, now with 1,000 students from across Africa. View all photos here.
May 22, 2019 | Mountain View, CA
Google AI and Ashesi University: A Q&A with Jeff Dean and Patrick Awuah
Recently, Google opened its first Africa Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research Center in Accra, Ghana. Mere miles from this Center is Ashesi University, a liberal arts institution preparing engineering, computer science, and business leaders for the future. Guests joined us at Googleplex for a conversation between Google’s Head of AI and Ashesi University’s Founder and President and explored how AI is changing the future of work and how universities can prepare students to embrace the opportunities provided.
May 3, 2019 | MIT
Archer Cornfield Fellowship Information Session
Ashesi Faculty in Engineering Heather Beem spoke to the MIT community about Ashesi and our new Archer-Cornfield Fellowship, which provides an opportunity to combine research and teaching during a fully funded year-long residency at our modern, beautiful campus in Ghana. Selected Fellows will work alongside Ashesi’s dedicated faculty team to guide and inspire Africa’s next generation of innovators.
Heather Beem
Ashesi Faculty in Engineering
Dr. Heather Beem is Faculty in Engineering at Ashesi University. She completed her PhD in Mechanical Engineering at MIT in 2015. Her research spans biomimetics, fluid mechanics, instrumentation, and indigenous innovation. As a social entrepreneur, she also builds systems to scale hands-on STEM education in West Africa.
March 9, 2019 | NYC
Community Party
Ashesi means "beginning" in Fante. Guests joined us in New York City to meet Ashesi alumni and hear about 2019's "beginnings" — the first graduates in engineering, our new entrepreneurship incubator created in partnership with MIT, and our plans for further growth.
Attendees included Ashesi President Patrick Awuah, alumni, trustees, staff, and friends.
Alumni attendees included: a
Sedem Banini '16
Sedem is a Ghanaian Australian third culture kid that completed her BSc in Business Administration at Ashesi. During her time at Ashesi, Sedem was the Judicial and Electoral Chairperson of the 2015 Ashesi Student Council and an intern at Goldman Sachs. Today, she is earning her Masters in Media, Culture, and Communication at New York University. Her current research interests are about the state of today’s musical theatre industry and how it relates to other media forms.
a
George Neequaye '14
George is currently pursuing his MFA in Design and Technology at the Parsons School of Design, the New School. He runs a Visual Design Company with his brother (Alan Neequaye '16) in Ghana and runs a Design Consultancy with his beloved (Delasi Dafeamekpor '19) in the US and Ghana. George hopes to build networks in the US that will help him achieve his dream of transforming the media industry in Ghana and Africa.
a
January 5, 2019 | Medina, WA
Community Party
Ashesi means "beginning" in Fante. To welcome 2019, we held a Community Party to hear about 2019's "beginnings" - the first graduates in engineering, our new entrepreneurship incubator created in partnership with MIT, and our plans for further campus growth. Attendees included Ashesi alumni, trustees, staff, and friends.
Alumni attendees included:
Susan Sasu '11
Susan leveraged her Ashesi degree to roles with Unilever Ghana. In 2018, she earned her MBA from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business. Today, Susan is a product marketing manager for Microsoft.
a
a
Delanyo Aborchie '17
Since graduating with his BS in Computer Science, Delanyo has moved to Redmond to work as a software engineer for Microsoft. While at Ashesi, Delanyo worked as a UX Designer for the alumni-founded startup DreamOval.
a
a
a
a
October 5, 2018 | NYC
Gordon Adomdza, Associate Professor and head of the Ashesi Design Lab, spoke at New York University about how design thinking is empowering Ashesi students to develop innovative solutions for their continent.
September 19, 2018 | NYC
Sparking an African Renaissance
Patrick Awuah is working to transform African higher education. SIA-Africa and Manale International hosted a casual reception to find out how.
a
June 11, 2018 | DC
Future Directions for Higher Education in Africa
Demand for higher education in Africa is skyrocketing, and new entrants like private universities and online programs have begun to fill the demand. Guests convened at the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) for a conversation on future directions for higher education in Africa.
a
June 7, 2018 | NYC
Driving African Innovation: The urgent need for ethics and entrepreneurship in higher education
To spark innovation across Africa, today's university students must gain foundational skills in ethics and entrepreneurship. Guests joined us in New York City for a discussion on nurturing these abilities through higher education. Panelists included Ashesi President Patrick Awuah, MIT Professor Emeritus Phillip Clay, and Leading Ladies' Network Founder Yawa Hansen-Quao. The event was hosted by The John P. & Anne Welsh McNulty Foundation.
a
April 19, 2018 | MIT
Information session for faculty, PhD candidates, and postdocs interested in teaching at Ashesi
Business Faculty Gordon Adomdza and Adjunct Faculty in Engineering Heather Beem spoke about Ashesi and opportunities for faculty, visiting faculty, and leadership positions on campus. Areas of focus were Engineering, Business, Finance, Computer Science and Information Technology.
January 22, 2018 | Harvard University
Information session for faculty, PhD candidates, and postdocs interested in teaching at Ashesi
Provost Suzanne Buchele and Business Faculty Gordon Adomdza spoke about Ashesi and opportunities for faculty, visiting faculty, and leadership positions on campus. Areas of focus were Engineering, Business, Finance, Computer Science and Information Technology.
a
2013-2017 Events
November 2, 2017 | Bay Area
Africa’s growing jobs gap: The critical role of STEM education in job creation on the continent
This discussion, moderated by Rich Lyons, Dean of Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley, centered on the role of STEM education in creating jobs on the continent. Panelists included Ashesi President Patrick Awuah, Vice President of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Heather Grady, Founder of the Harambe Entrepreneur Alliance Okendo Lewis-Gayle, and Senior Data Scientist at GitHub Omoju Miller.
July 16, 2017 | Seattle
Join us in Seattle to learn about the Ashesi vision and the latest news from campus, including the launch of the Education Collaborative at Ashesi and our first cohort of entrepreneurs at the Ghana Climate Innovation Center. Attendees will include President Patrick Awuah, Ashesi alumni, and Foundation trustees and staff. Don’t miss this stellar gathering of Ashesi community members!
May 18, 2017 | D.C.
Join us at the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for a panel discussion on innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa Higher Education and lessons from the US. Panelists include Ashesi President Patrick Awuah, and representatives from the IFC, World Bank and Olin College.
November 5, 2016 | Medina, WA
Join Patrick Awuah, Ashesi President and 2015 MacArthur Fellow, to learn about the Ashesi vision and the latest news from campus, including year two of our engineering program and the explosion of design thinking at the University.
July 17, 2016 | Seattle
Four Ashesi alumni are making waves in Ghana’s technology sector through their renowned tech company, DreamOval. Join these Ashesi entrepreneurs in Seattle to learn how they are championing tech innovation as an avenue for Ghana and Africa’s transformation!
April 30, 2016 | San Francisco
Join Patrick Awuah, 2015 MacArthur Fellow and Ashesi President, to learn about the Ashesi vision and current initiatives on campus, including our new green tech incubator and engineering program. Downtown SF restaurant near Union Square.
July 19th, 2015 | Seattle
Join Ashesi President and Founder Patrick Awuah to learn about the Ashesi vision and current initiatives on campus, including the 2015 launch of our engineering program committed to gender balance, and our new green tech incubator. Join us to learn how you can get involved.
July 14th, 2015 | Los Angeles
Join Ashesi President and Founder Patrick Awuah to learn about the Ashesi vision and current initiatives on campus, including the 2015 launch of our engineering program committed to gender balance, and our new green tech incubator. Join us to learn how you can get involved.
July 16th, 2015 | San Francisco
Join Ashesi President and Founder Patrick Awuah and Provost Dr. Marcia Grant to learn about the Ashesi vision and current initiatives on campus, including the 2015 launch of our engineering program committed to gender balance, and our new green tech incubator. Join us to learn how you can get involved.
July 16th, 2015 | San Francisco
Hear the latest news from Ashesi’s Founder and President, Patrick Awuah, and discuss the Ashesi experience with alumni and TED fellow, Zubair Abubakar ’08.
July 26, 2014 | Seattle
Seattle residence near Seward Park Don’t miss this festive afternoon celebrating Ashesi University in Ghana! Join us for a lively discussion with Ashesi University alumna, Naa Ayeleysa Quaynor-Mettle ’13, and Ashesi’s Founder and President, Patrick Awuah.
May 20, 2014 | Seattle
Bertha Knight Landes Room Join us for a presentation by Pamela McClusky, Curator of Art of Africa & Oceania at the Seattle Art Museum. The talk will feature Patrick Awuah as a creative giant for the inspirational lead he has taken in founding Ashesi.
April 3, 2014 | New York
Harvard Club of New York City. Join us for a lively discussion with Ashesi University alumna, Aba Ackun, whose work has improved the lives of impoverished citizens across Africa, and learn how Ashesi University is educating the ethical, entrepreneurial leaders that Africa so urgently needs.
March 6, 2014 | Seattle
Ashesi Prof. Korsah on “Creativity + Engineering = African Progress”. Join us in welcoming award-winning Ashesi University Professor, Dr. Ayorkor Korsah, for a lively conversation about the power of creative, entrepreneurial engineering to transform Africa.
January 2, 2014 | Seattle
A conversation with Ashesi Alumni Rose Dodd ’09 Please join us to meet an Ashesi graduate who is using her skills to tackle tough problems and improve the lives of rural Africans. Rose Dodd ’09 will share her experiences at Ashesi and her challenging work in Ghana delivering feasible solutions to people without access to electricity and sanitation.
November 20, 2013 | San Francisco
A lecture for Swarthmore Alumni and the Ashesi Community Dr. Grant has helped to build and grow liberal arts programs around the globe. As Ashesi’s Provost, Dr. Grant heads the faculty and all academic matters at the University. Her lecture, “The impact of the Swarthmore archetype” will explore new educational ventures at Ashesi University in Ghana and in the Middle East and Pakistan.
November 17, 2013 | Seattle
Innovative & Unstoppable: Meet two people who are transforming Africa: Please join us in welcoming Ashesi Provost, Marcia Grant and alum, David Darkwa for a lively conversation about jump-starting and sustaining progress in Africa.
October 9, 2013 | Chicago
Social Entrepreneurship in Africa The Farley Center at Northwestern University welcomed Patrick Awuah, the founder and president of Ashesi University in Ghana, to campus for a talk on the road to establishing his social entrepreneurship venture in higher education.