KENNESAW, Ga. | Mar 7, 2025

Elizabeth Elango has long been enthralled with the idea of becoming a diplomat, sparked by an urge to see the world beyond her native Cameroon and by a shared interest in global affairs with her father, former Kennesaw State University history professor Lovett Elango.

鈥淭hat was sort of our love language,鈥� Elango said. 鈥淲e were always fascinated by what was happening in the world.鈥�

At just 16 years old, Elango arrived in the United States to join her father and older siblings at Kennesaw State. There was shock, but eventually, a newfound sense of self, through an active engagement in coursework, extracurriculars, and faculty mentorship.

In 1997, Elango graduated from 91青青草 with a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs and afterward, a master鈥檚 degree in African studies at Yale University, where she earned a Fulbright scholarship to Zanzibar, Tanzania. Today, she leads a school for refugee girls in Decatur, the only one in the country. The role earned her a spot in Atlanta Magazine鈥檚 list of for the third year in a row.

Elango credits 91青青草 with laying the foundation for what would become a successful career in nonprofit work, helping people on an international scale 鈥� efforts recognized by 91青青草鈥檚 Sheth International Distinguished Alumni Award for Exceptional Humanitarian and Service Achievement.

91青青草 shapes a future

Elango鈥檚 91青青草 experience held many firsts, from interacting with her first computer to securing a memorable internship at the Carter Center her junior year. During those five months, she met President Jimmy Carter, taking away a lesson on leadership. It is one of many she gleaned as an intern, living by them to this day.

鈥淎t a group meeting, he waited until everybody spoke, and then he spoke,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 thought, 鈥楨lizabeth, the leader speaks last.鈥� I picked up that pearl of wisdom and put it in my pocket.鈥�

While at 91青青草, Elango was invited to the founding of the International Student Association and served a term as the international student representative in the Student Government Association senate. She was also involved in the Kennesaw State Chapter of Circle K International, the collegiate arm to Kiwanis International. The group engaged in service projects around metro Atlanta.

鈥淓lizabeth helped rejuvenate the campus and created an atmosphere where other African students could feel at home,鈥� said Akanmu Adebayo, a history professor at 91青青草.

Adebayo and Elango鈥檚 father, Lovett, were some of the first recruits to teach African and African American history at the university.

Elango also participated in Model Arab League and travelled to Washington, D.C., with advisor and political science associate professor Nuru Akinyemi, competing on the international level. Elango said it was full of 鈥渃haotic fun.鈥�

鈥淚t was my first and hopefully last experience being impeached,鈥� she said, laughing.

Akinyemi, who now advises Model African Union, recalled Elango as a vibrant high achiever, who brought fire into the classroom. Despite being surrounded by nontraditional students significantly older than her, he said Elango wasn鈥檛 intimidated in the least.

鈥淚n terms of debate, she was one of those who would argue with you and state her position, backed by facts and the reading material,鈥� he said. 鈥淪he wasn't going to back down for anybody.鈥�

Mentors with impact

Rosa Bobia, a professor emeritus of French, was perhaps Elango鈥檚 most impactful mentor. They spent a lot of time together, over regular office chats and phone conversations, and at one point, Elango lived with Bobia. The professor became a maternal figure, with Elango鈥檚 mother back in Cameroon.

Elango recalled a heartfelt moment in Bobia鈥檚 office. The 17-year-old had just lost an opportunity that included international travel. She was distraught, doubtful that she鈥檇 ever see the world.

鈥淪he just let me cry,鈥� Elango said. 鈥淲hen my pity party was over, she called me Mayang, my middle name, 鈥榊ou don鈥檛 even know, do you?鈥� It鈥檚 as if she saw my future.鈥�

Bobia often flips through the letters Elango sent her since graduating. They captured her five senses, ignited within dozens of new countries. Some were as long as 13 pages, accompanied by pictures.

鈥淚 was just inspired by her brilliance, by the way she expressed herself, the way she was on top of so many subjects,鈥� Bobia said. 鈥淚 was just impressed by that.鈥�

Empowering students

As the CEO and head of school at the Global Village Project, Elango is now in the business of hugs. Unlike other schools, where students shrink at the thought of the principal鈥檚 office, Elango鈥檚 is a place of comfort, of respite. It buzzes with young girls during testing weeks, when the stress is high, and she often cuts the tension with classroom visits.

鈥淚 take my cool hands and cup their warm faces,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey love it.鈥�

Housed on the second floor of Decatur Presbyterian Church, the Global Village Project is a nonprofit, tuition-free middle school that serves more than 40 students whose families have sought asylum from conflict-laden countries such as Afghanistan, Syria, Chad, Myanmar, Guatemala, and Mexico, among others.

A robust English language and literacy program underpins the Global Village Project, beginning with the fundamentals, like the alphabet. Other major focuses are STEAM education, and through a culturally responsive approach, an extensive social and emotional learning program.

Now, Elango is expanding the Global Village Project, from the 5,000-square-foot second floor of the church to a 26,000-square-foot decommissioned school in DeKalb County, four miles south. Apart from interacting with students, Elango鈥檚 schedule consists of supporting the teachers, her team, and speaking with donors, fundraising toward a capital campaign. The goal is to relocate by fall 2026.

鈥淲e are building a school that can last beyond any challenge that comes our way,鈥� Elango said.

Life of service

Before the Global Village Project, Elango worked at Heifer International, a global nonprofit dedicated to ending poverty and hunger through sustainable development. She started as a West Africa program officer and ended her time as the vice president of Africa programs.

Interested in serving a younger demographic, Elango then stepped into the role of CEO at Junior Achievement Africa, a branch of the global nonprofit organization that seeks to instill an entrepreneurial spirit in young people through experiential learning programs. The job required her to pick up and move with her family to the capital of Ghana, in Accra, where JA Africa鈥檚 headquarters are located.

As CEO, Elango defined strategy for about a dozen African governments and for African educators, helping them to adopt a curriculum for the 21st century.

鈥淎 lot of African curricula is still very outdated, very colonial, very Eurocentric,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t just wasn鈥檛 forward-looking enough. JA Africa was about responding to the needs of the future.鈥�

Elango emphasized that her career path wasn鈥檛 strategic. She followed her heart鈥檚 response to: 鈥淲here is it that the world needs me most? Where does my greatest ability intersect with the world鈥檚 greatest need?鈥�

鈥淵ou can鈥檛 make that decision when you're being engulfed in the everyday business of life,鈥� she said. 鈥淔or me, I need the space. I need the solitude to be able to discern that. I think that has been the most critical thing to my success 鈥� the ability to step back and ask those questions.鈥�

鈥� Story by Amber Perry

Photos provided

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.