Living and Working in Nairobi: International Alumni Provide A Glimpse Into Future Career Paths
On March 5, 2025, Georgetown University alumni living in Nairobi, Kenya, and current Georgetown students participating in an alternative spring break program had the opportunity to engage with each other at an event hosted by the Walsh School of Foreign Service’s African Studies Program and the Office of Advancement.
Connecting Current and Former Students
Since 2011, the African Studies Program has offered a week-long alternative spring break program for graduate and undergraduate students in Kenya. During the spring 2025 program, students had the unique experience of participating in an event with alumni in Nairobi. With more than 300 alumni living in cities in Africa spanning from Nairobi to Kampala to Dar es Salaam and beyond, Georgetown has a growing network of international alumni in the region eager to engage with current students.
In advance of the event, the students prepared questions for the alumni about the political, policy, and business landscapes in Kenya. In turn, the alumni shared insights with the students about living and working in Kenya. Elizabeth Koenck (SFS’27), who joined the 2025 spring break program, felt invigorated by the conversations with alumni.
“Hearing from alumni about the opportunities available from a Georgetown degree reminded me why I study the things I do and about all the possibilities available to me once my time on the Hilltop ends.”
Representing a Diversity of Professional Paths
In Nairobi, the alumni represented diverse fields such as real estate development, venture capital, humanitarianism and refugee settlement, information and communications technology, consulting, and religious missionary work. As global student experiences expand at Georgetown, more students like Koenck will have opportunities to engage with international alumni and be inspired by the diversity of professional paths they have pursued.