MONROVIA – United Methodist University (UMU) is celebrating two of its alumni, Nyemade Pearson and Hellen S. Momoh, after both women earned master’s degrees from Harvard University, in what the institution describes as a proud moment for Liberia’s higher education sector.
The achievement is being hailed as a strong sign of academic excellence, resilience and the growing international impact of UMU graduates.
Pearson earned her degree from the Harvard Kennedy School, drawing praise for her leadership and academic performance. UMU said the accomplishment builds on the strong undergraduate preparation she received at the university and has attracted admiration both in Liberia and among Liberians abroad. The UMU Graduate School recently honored her for what it called her outstanding service to Liberia.
Her engagement with academic institutions and supporters has already brought benefits to the university, including the installation of four air-conditioning units at the Graduate School.
Pearson has also expressed interest in mobilizing alumni support at home and abroad to improve infrastructure and strengthen academic programs. Supporters who attended her graduation in Massachusetts described the moment as a source of pride for both the alumna and the country. “We are pleased to celebrate this remarkable accomplishment and extend our heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to Madam Nyemade Pearson,” they said.
Momoh, another UMU alumna, earned a Master of Science degree in Data Science and Machine Learning from Harvard University and is emerging as one of Liberia’s promising young innovators. A former freshman class president at UMU, she has also gained international attention through the Harvard President’s Innovation Challenge, a competitive platform for startup ventures within the university’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Her advancement to the final stage of the competition has placed her among a select group of innovators seeking to address real-world problems through technology and data-driven solutions. Known for her vision for Africa’s digital future, Momoh has argued that Liberia must play an active role in the global data economy. “If data is the new oil, Liberia must have its own refinery,” she said.
Reflecting on her academic journey, Momoh said graduating from Harvard marked the end of nearly a decade of perseverance. “Almost ten years ago, I started a journey I wasn’t sure I would ever finish. There were moments I had to pause, moments I doubted myself, and moments life said, ‘not now.’ But through all of it, I held on to one thing—the belief that one day I would walk across that stage,” she said. “On May 28, I graduated from Harvard with a Master’s Degree in Data Science and Machine Learning Engineering. Even writing those words feels emotional. Harvard! Ten years later. Me!”
The achievements of Pearson and Momoh have been widely praised as an inspiration to young Liberians pursuing higher education and professional success. For UMU, their accomplishment highlights the university’s growing role in producing leaders, innovators and professionals capable of competing on the global stage.
