Emmanuel Agyemang-Dua 

Hometown: Woodbridge, Virginia

Batten graduation year: 2016

Undergraduate major: Public Policy and Leadership

Extracurricular involvements: Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Black Law Students Association, Black Voices, Pentecost Students and Associates, Collegiate 100 Society of Virginia, Men’s Leadership Project and Gates Scholars Network

Which social or policy issues are you most invested in?

I am most interested in welfare and education policy in developing countries. 

How do you hope to advocate for and advance those passions post-Batten?

It is my hope to intern with USAID in their initiatives to promote sustainable development through high-impact partnerships and local solutions.

Talk about an involvement or experience—internship, job, volunteer position or otherwise—that’s deeply shaped you.

Most notable is the five weeks I spent in Ghana conducting a project on youth civic engagement and 21st-century digital citizenship. With two other colleagues, I wrote my first proposal and secured two research grants that funded and aided in the execution of a civic development project. Through the project, I assembled a group of 12 students at the University of Education in Winneba to help create a movement that would reimagine youth citizenship in 21st-century Ghana. Using workshops, debates, case studies and other activities, I drew from the invaluable technical and analytical skills I’m learning at Batten to empower students to form opinions and apply decision-making skills to address local issues. Additionally, the experience enhanced my sense of teamwork and taught me how to plan strategically to comprehend real life cases.

What brought you to Batten?

I was impressed by the school’s curriculum and programming. Batten teaches invaluable skills in leadership while preparing you with quantitative courses and a repertoire of tools for research and data analysis. 

How has your experience at Batten changed or shaped your perspective?

My two years have been well invested. I’ve navigated hard work, leadership and social entrepreneurship through Batten’s complex curriculum. I can confess to being more socially conscious because of Batten. I have developed a new craft in analytical and holistic thinking, also considering the bottom-line implications of decisions in policymaking and beyond.

What kind of public servant do you think the world needs today?

One who is removed from their own biases, with the diligence and foresight to acknowledge a particular decision’s shortcomings—and to make arrangements that may mitigate those shortcomings.

In which arena do you hope to be an agent of change?

In the area of human capital investment. Intertwined with my passion is a deep conviction that if leaders and policymakers would address humanity when making decisions, 50 percent of the issues would be resolved instantly. These policies would focus on creating equity and cater to the socioeconomic needs of every human being, affording everyone the human essentials of food, clothes and shelter.