Kwesi Sam is a final-year Ph.D. student from Ghana in the Higher Education, Student Affairs, and International Education Policy (HESI) program at UMD. A counseling psychologist by training, he was drawn to the program for its emphasis on social justice, equity, and decolonial philosophies — values shaped by over a decade of higher education work across Africa.

His research centers on first-generation Black African international graduate students in U.S. higher education, challenging deficit narratives by elevating African indigenous knowledge and cultural wisdom as frameworks for resilience and belonging. Beyond research, Kwesi serves in the Office of Student Conduct, sits on the International Student Council, co-chairs the International Graduate Student Advisory Board, and has founded a nonprofit for student affairs practitioners across Africa.

Kwesi believes international student success is a university-wide responsibility — every department and unit must prioritize international student experiences inside and outside the classroom. Looking ahead, Kwesi envisions building culturally grounded counseling and student development initiatives across Africa, strengthening global partnerships, and advancing equitable student affairs practice worldwide.