I met Nkechi “NK” Mbaebie in my role as Director of the Office of International Students and Scholars when she applied to be on the International Student Advisory Board. When she walked into my office to be interviewed, I was immediately struck by her presence and stature. Not only was she physically powerful (standing at 6’2″), but she had great charisma and warmth.
After getting to know NK, I was very impressed by strength of character, her willingness to help others, and her personal story of life back home in Nigeria and her journey to becoming a doctor and coming to Tulane to study Public Health.
NK was a natural leader among her fellow international students, who often turned to her for guidance and support, and she went out of her way to help international students in her classes and in her residence hall feel welcomed and supported. In her role on the advisory board, she was a strong advocate on behalf of her fellow international students. We will miss her dearly and think of her often as an example of serving your own community.
– Kristy Magner, Office of International Students and Scholars