Building connections and confidence: Four international graduate students reflect on transformative conference experience

(From left) Mercy Dwomoh, Bernard Homiah, Joshua Ewudzie and Joseph Ampah. 

Graduate students Mercy Dwomoh, Bernard Homiah, Joshua Ewudzie and Joseph Ampah attended the African Studies Association conference last semester in Atlanta where they joined scholars from around the world — an opportunity made possible through donor support. 

“Opportunities like this are not simply trips; they are formative professional experiences," said Dwomoh, a second-year history graduate student. "Financial support makes it possible for graduate students to participate fully in academic spaces without the added stress of cost barriers."

As international students, the impact of donor support is especially profound. “Their generosity helps international students like me have the chance to share my research interests and network with scholars from other parts of the world,” Ampah said. 

Their conference experiences reflect the transformative impact that professional development opportunities can have on students long after the conference ends. From engaging with leading researchers in African history to refining their own research, all four students returned to campus with clearer research directions, new professional connections, and a deeper sense of belonging in their field. 

“It felt affirming to sit among scholars who are deeply committed to historical research and recognize that I am part of that community,” Dwomoh said. “ It reinforced why I chose this path and reminded me that the work we do in archives and classrooms connects to larger intellectual conversations.” 

Learn more about their conference experience and their takeaways below.

How did attending this conference help you grow professionally and academically?

Dwomoh: One of the biggest skills I strengthened was networking. I met scholars whose work intersects with mine and had meaningful conversations about research interests, archives and future projects. Those exchanges helped me practice articulating my own research clearly and confidently. I also strengthened my ability to engage in scholarly discussion, asking thoughtful questions after panels and participating in informal conversations that often continued beyond the session rooms. The conference reminded me that academic growth happens as much in conversations as it does in formal presentations.

Homiah: The conference was a great academic and professional exercise. I had the opportunity to listen to presentations on emerging scholarship in African and Ghanaian environmental history. It was great to know what colleagues in other schools are unearthing in the archives and to be able to query them on their methods and general experience.

Ampah: The conference exposed me to new research trends in African history and gave me a clearer sense of where the field is heading and how to situate my research. Participating in the panel discussions pushed me to articulate my ideas more clearly and engage with scholars whose perspectives challenged and enriched my own.

Ewudzie: Being in a space where scholars engaged themes of African intellectual traditions, governance, urbanism and knowledge production sharpened my understanding of how my work fits within broader conversations. The conference strengthened my awareness of ongoing debates in the field and clarified how my research contributes to discussions about infrastructure, inequality and African agency.

What skills did you strengthen during the conference?

Dwomoh: I strengthened my ability to engage in academic discussions thoughtfully and confidently. I practiced asking focused questions after panels and contributing to conversations in ways that were constructive and analytical. I also paid close attention to how presenters structured their talks — how they balanced narrative and argument and how they handled questions from the audience. Observing those dynamics helped me think more intentionally about my own professional development.

Homiah: Networking was a big part of my conference experience. It was a great opportunity to meet scholars whose books I have read and discuss the trajectory of the field and their experiences.

Ampah: I met several scholars whose research has influenced my understanding of African history. Engaging them in conversations shaped my communication and networking skills, and listening to the diverse presentations strengthened my ability to analyze arguments, identify gaps, and connect ideas across subfields.

Ewudzie: Observing panel presentations improved my understanding of how to articulate complex arguments clearly and concisely for diverse academic audiences. I paid close attention to how presenters framed their interventions within broader historiographical debates and how they handled questions with confidence. The conference also strengthened my networking skills – I engaged in meaningful conversations with scholars and had the opportunity to connect with a professor whose work intersects with my research. Conversations like these were invaluable in helping me think strategically about long-term academic goals.

What did it mean to you to have the opportunity to participate in a national conference?

Dwomoh: The opportunity meant a great deal to me. It felt affirming to sit among scholars who are deeply committed to historical research and recognize that I am part of that community. It reinforced why I chose this path and reminded me that the work we do in archives and classrooms connects to larger intellectual conversations.

Homiah: To me, it screamed of hope, enthusiasm and the joy in a common cause. The feeling of a community of like-minded scholars to support and integrate me as young professional was very encouraging.

Ampah: It signaled that my work belongs in larger academic spaces and that I am part of a community of scholars working toward similar questions.

Ewudzie: As an emerging scholar, it affirmed that my research interests are part of a vibrant and evolving scholarly community. The experience deepened my sense of belonging within the academic community and strengthened my confidence as a developing historian. It reminded me that scholarship is not produced in isolation but through conversation, critique, and collaboration.

If you could share one message with donors who help fund experiences like this, what would you want them to know?

Dwomoh: Their support directly shapes our growth as scholars. Opportunities like this are not simply trips; they are formative professional experiences. Financial support makes it possible for graduate students to participate fully in academic spaces without the added stress of cost barriers. That investment builds confidence, community, and long-term academic development.

Ampah: Their generosity helps international students like me have the chance to share my research interests, learn, and network with students and professors from other parts of the world. Opportunities to participate in conferences helps shape our understanding of research and builds confidence.

Ewudzie: Their support does far more than fund travel – it creates intellectual transformation and professional momentum. Their generosity enabled me to access conversations, networks and ideas that will shape my scholarly development for years to come. The impact of this support extends well beyond the conference itself; it contributes to the development of the next generation of scholars.

How will what you learned at the conference influence your work going forward?

Dwomoh: The conference encouraged me to think more carefully about how I communicate my research to different audiences. It reminded me that clarity, structure and engagement matter just as much as the substance of an argument. Professionally, the experience made me feel more prepared and more intentional about the next stages of my academic career.

Homiah: I learned that my specific field is tied to other fields. It showed me the need to expand my scope in discipline and geography to learn about not just environment and policy making, but also urbanism, technology, and more of other places and how they are connected on a global scale.

Ampah: It exposed me to new methodological tools and frameworks to consider in my research. The conversations I had with scholars also helped me identify new archives, comparative cases and theoretical debates worth exploring.

Ewudzie: Research-wise, it encouraged me to more explicitly situate my study of colonial infrastructure within broader conversations. It also strengthened my commitment to interdisciplinary engagement, particularly between history and science and technology studies, and I plan to incorporate insights from panels and discussions into how I frame questions for my students. Professionally, the conference strengthened my resolve to pursue a career where I can contribute to African urban history, engage in collaborative scholarship and mentor future students navigating similar academic journeys.