Dear Friedman Community:
My name is Mulondo Ssenkaali and I am an international graduate student from Uganda studying in the Master of Arts in Humanitarian Assistance (MAHA) program at the Feinstein International Center at Tufts University. This is a one-year program that I started in August 2009.
I owe the opportunity of studying at Tufts to financial assistance that was extended to me since I was unable to pay the tuition obligations and necessary living expenses. Even though I am only three months into this program, the experience has already been wonderful. The MAHA program is designed with only three core required courses with the remainder being electives that I am free to choose as I wish. I have only completed one of the core course so far-Humanitarian Assistance in Complex Emergencies. This has enabled me to sample and experience other nutrition based courses from the Tufts Boston Campus but also from the wonderful courses at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. The opportunity to cross-register at other prestigious institutions and universities such as Brandeis and Harvard is also a huge bonus to my learning and experiences.
At the beginning of the program, I found the orientation program to be wonderful. All of the students enrolled in the various programs at the Friedman School come together to socialize. In addition, I was able to meet and listen to the amazing professors from the various programs during this intensive week. As a MAHA student, we get support from the various professors in the different face-to-face sessions that we have but I also enjoy the unrestricted access to their support and counseling services outside of regular class time. I feel privileged to have advice and hands on support from the faculty.
In addition to this, Tufts has wonderful library services enabling me to undertake all kinds of research and academic exploration. The resources of both print and electronic categories are virtually limitless.
I have found extraordinary inspiration from the range of support services provided to us as students- ranging from the staff at the Feinstein International Center, to staff that support health care services, international student services, finance etc.- all of whom are always standing by to assist in our every need.
Having enjoyed not only the wonderful lecture room facilities, the constant high quality opportunities to listen to speakers from other prestigious universities, departments of government, the business world and elsewhere, makes the experiencing of learning at Tufts not only representative of life in the United States, but also reflective of experiences from all over the globe.
My sincerest thanks,
Mulondo Ssenkaali
MA Candidate, MAHA program
Tufts University
The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy
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