Photos by Gabriel Nwaete
Five Mount St. Mary’s University upper-class students in the School of Science, Mathematics & Technology traveled to Houston this month for AfroTech, an annual gathering for Black tech innovators. The transformational experience brought more blessings than they anticipated,
What started as a dream for seniors Malika Dosso, Mahlaki Henry and Gabriel Nwaete turned to reality when three Mount leaders pulled their units’ resources to support the students’ attendance at the three-day conference. Dean of the School of Science, Mathematics & Technology Christine McCauslin, Ph.D.; Dean of Students Adrienne D. White, Ph.D.; and Vice President and Chief Equity & People Officer Paula Whetsel-Ribeau, Ph.D., opened the opportunity to other students, which led to the inclusion of senior Jacin Anderson and junior Jessica Asare in the group. Joshua Spivey, Ed.D., director of the Mount St. Mary’s University Career Center, accompanied the Mount students and advised them on maximizing their participation in the conference.
In thanking university leadership in a LinkedIn post, Mahlaki Henry, a computer science major, stated that he and his 
classmates came to the leaders “with a plan to find water” and they were handed “a bucket to make it happen.” “As a group, we will forever be grateful for this divine opportunity,” he said.
AfroTech included panel discussions about the latest in the tech industry, a career fair with 168 leading corporations, and networking events hosted by companies that sought to connect with prospective employees.
Gabriel Nwaete, a cybersecurity major, shared that the 37,000 conference participants had a common goal to “level up in their respective industry and expand their professional network.”
“The opportunities, connections, education and advice I’ve come across exceeded my initial expectations and gave me the exposure and the reassurance I needed to continue on the path of increasing my value and impact in the fields of cybersecurity and digital design and curation,” Nwaete said.
Malika Dosso, a computer science and cybersecurity major, now sees possibilities she never imagined for herself. “Every conversation, every session, and every connection felt like a step toward my future. I'm walking away with not just knowledge and connections, but with renewed confidence and excitement about where my path could lead,” she said.
Jessica Asare, a computer science major, was also inspired by AfroTech. “Success in tech is not just about skills but also about building meaningful connections and lifting others along the way,” she said.
“We were able to achieve many great things in our short time in Houston and I know we all have even greater things on the horizon,” concluded Jacin Anderson, a computer science major.
Nwaete advised college students to seriously consider attending AfroTech in 2025. “The financial investment is little compared to the exposure and insight you’ll receive during the conference,” he stated. “With it being in Houston again, the city itself is rich with culture and high achievers. In my opinion, taking that element and adding the conference to it creates an opportunity of a lifetime.”