SNHU GEM Graduate Spotlight: Mupenzi Niyomugabo

Mupenzi Niyomugabo wearing regalia and smiling

Mupenzi Niyomugabo, SNHU GEM and Kepler College graduate, tells fellow refugee learners that “nothing is impossible.”

Each year, SNHU GEM graduates gather to celebrate earning their degrees and taking their first steps into the global workforce. At each ceremony, the excitement is palpable among the new alumni, many of whom are the first in their families to receive a college degree. This was the case for Mupenzi Niyomugabo, a member of the SNHU GEM and Kepler College Class of 2023 in Kigali, Rwanda. His story, featured in SNHU’s Impact Magazine, showcases the drive and passion many refugees have for furthering their education as a way to give back to the communities that supported them through the process. 

Mupenzi was born and raised in Kiziba Refugee Camp, Rwanda, where he faced a number of hardships growing up. When SNHU GEM partnered with Kepler College to open a campus in Kiziba camp, Mupenzi jumped at the opportunity to attend and further his education – starting down a path he had not believed was open to him. As a first-generation graduate and father of two, earning his degree was a major milestone that Mupenzi hopes will demonstrate to his sons that hard work pays off. Mupenzi graduated from SNHU GEM and Kepler College in the fall of 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in Management with a concentration in Logistics and Operations. 

Using the skills learned during his degree program, Mupenzi worked his way up from an entry-level position to become a business associate at Inkomoko, a Kigali-based organization that provides training, advisory, and low-cost financing to entrepreneurs. Today, Mupenzi has one message for his fellow refugees: “There is hope; there is nothing impossible.”

Providing access to education levels the playing field for learners displaced from their homes who face barriers that prevent them from learning or working in their host communities. Equipped with a U.S.-accredited degree from SNHU GEM, learners like Mupenzi are able to leverage their new skills and hands-on experience to gain meaningful career opportunities across the globe. We are proud to offer refugee learners worldwide the support and opportunities to pursue brighter, more secure lives.

Watch this video to see Mupenzi share his story.