Junior elementary education major Bettylenah Njaramba was elected president of the University of North Carolina (UNC) Association of Student Governments (ASG). She will be the first African-American woman to hold this position for the organization.
The ASG is a student organization designated to represent the interests of students in the deliberations of the UNC Board of Governors.
In this role for the 2018-2019 academic year, Njaramba will serve as the chief executive officer of the organization and act as the official representative and spokesperson. She will also serve as an ex officio member of the UNC Board of Governors and the Council of Student Body Presidents.
She also serves as president of NCCU’s Association of Students for a Better Africa and is a member of the university’s student government association.
Njaramba credits her mentor, former senior class president Brianne Gill, for her passion in student government. In 2015, Njaramba served as freshman class president. Also during her freshman year, Njaramba served as a delegate for NCCU at ASG’s formal meeting. She has served in this role for subsequent years in addition to serving as speaker pro-temp for the 2017-2018 academic year.
Njaramba, a Raleigh, N.C., native by way of Kenya, tributes her African culture as a significant influence on her life and success.
“My culture is very important to who I am as a student-leader,” said Njaramba. “In order to be great servant leader you must be true to yourself.”
Immediately after graduation she plans to join the Peace Corps with aspirations to pursue a doctoral degree to teach.
Bettylenah is the daughter of Duncan Njaramba Kihoro ( Former KCFA president) and Mary Njaramba ( current chair, KCFA North Carolina Triangle chapter Chair).
Here below is her encouragement message to her cheerleaders.
It is with immense joy, humility, and gratitude to announce that on March 27 th, 2018, I was elected as the first black woman President of the University of North Carolina System Association of Student Governments.
For the 2018-2019 academic school year, I will have the honor of serving as a member on the North Carolina Board of Governors and, more importantly, serving the 225,000 students across North Carolina’s public universities, alongside my powerhouse Senior Vice President, Anderson Clayton.
I have so many emotions to express, so many words to say, and so many people to thank, but above all of those things, my God deserves the highest praise.
This moment, and all the moments that led to it, are a testimony of His perfect timing, divine favor, and all things working together for the good of those whom He has called according to His purpose.
Thank you to everyone who believed in me, supported me, motivated me, and saw something in me that I couldn’t even see in myself. Thank you for the outpour of love and well-wishes. My heart is so full. To God be the glory. Time to get to work.
Humbly
By Bettylenah Njaramba
Kenyan Student Named President of UNC System Association in North Carolina
