Student Recruitment and Engagement Specialist Niyogushima Edithe Rose ’20, at Berea College in Kentucky, empowers students to succeed in higher education, paying forward the support and community built across her educational journey.

Moving from Tanzania to Georgia at an early age, the Atlanta Friends Meeting house was Edithe Rose’s family’s first sense of home in America. At Atlanta Friends School, a teacher of hers, an alum of Westtown School, overheard that she was interested in a boarding high school, and helped her make it happen. That moment changed her life forever.

Edithe Rose devoted all her free time to perfecting essays, preparing applications with her school counselor and planning how to financially afford the experience. 

“I had my eyes set out on George School because of the grass and the greenery,” shared Edithe Rose. “Looking out on South Lawn, I was in so much awe of the campus and the possibilities. I got in and it was just up from there.”

Edithe Rose served as the vice president and president of her class, a prefect and a leader in UMOJA, a New Student Orientation leader, and served on the Student Inclusion Committee. But her success did not come without the support of the community she built around her.

She recalls memories of her English teacher, Kim McGlynn, who sat in on calls with her and her classmates when they struggled with reading comprehension and Laura Kinnel, her advisor, who helped her “mentally pivot” from being “not a math kid.”

“I've had many instances where that has been true for me and for many others,” said Edithe Rose. “It speaks true to the George School philosophy of teachers going above and beyond for you inside and outside the classroom.”

Facing the college admissions process as the eldest daughter and first-generation student, Edithe Rose worried about the financial impact, but her college counselor, Tova Meyer, was there for her every step of the way, navigating scholarship opportunities and applications. “I would call her nonstop until she answered me … and she always picked up.”

She followed her dream to attend Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia, five minutes away from her childhood meeting house.

At Agnes Scott, she continued her work in access as vice president of PathMakers, a first-generation college student organization, a resident assistant, and interned at the Higher Foundation, a nonprofit that promotes educational equity by providing basic-needs assistance to Georgia students.

“George School taught me I had a voice. When I arrived at college, I was ready to put it to use,” shared Edithe Rose.

Now, in her role, she works with students from Georgia, the Carolinas, Alabama and study abroad students to eliminate barriers they may face during their college years. The first college in the South to be co-educational and interracial, Berea College is an institution historically committed to providing an educational opportunity for students of all races, primarily from Appalachia, who have great promise and limited economic resources.

“I want to give back to my community and pour into others the same way others have poured into me,” shared Edithe Rose.

Her work has not gone unnoticed. Last year, Edithe Rose was named as a class of 2025 30 Under 30 award recipient by the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Atlanta (YNPN Atlanta), an organization that recognizes young leaders actively shaping the future of the nonprofit sector.

Looking back on her George School experience, she remarks on lessons she carries with her every day. What stands out the most though, is a “Theory of Knowledge” lesson on “intent versus impact,” the idea that despite having good intentions, the impact may differ depending on the person receiving it.

“I’m a completely different person because of that lesson; before I respond, I put every situation through that microscope,” she said.

Edithe Rose continues her legacy at George School with her family: Dianne Niyera ’22, current sophomore Buntu Dignite ’28 and incoming freshman Eddy ’30. 

Edithe Rose’s Advice to GS students

1. On campus life: Have conversations with your peers and teachers in between classes and in the dorms; that will be what you remember after graduation.
2. On finding your voice: Learning how to advocate for yourself will help you go far in life – not just academically. No one’s going to advocate for you better than you can!
3. On College Admissions: Remember, while colleges are evaluating whether you’re a good fit for them, you should also be making sure the college is a good fit for you — and don’t forget, you’re a prize as well.
4. Reflect: How do you want to impact the world positively after you graduate? George School is a time to make the mistakes, fall and have ample resources to help you get up.