Muriel Umurungi hails from Rwanda and is a Psychological Science major with a minor in Law. This Fall, she will serve as president of both the International Relations Society (IRS) and the Black and African Student Association (BASA). In addition to her academic and extracurricular commitments, she works as a Residence Assistant (RA) for JCU Housing.
How did you end up at JCU?
I spent my entire childhood in Kigali, Rwanda. This is the first time I’m living in another country. Before I started university, I didn't have a clear path, but I really wanted to study in the American liberal arts system because it would allow me to explore different subjects. I didn't want to go to the United States because it was very far from my family. At the time, both my sisters lived in France, so choosing Italy made it easier to be closer to them. When the time came to choose a university, I remembered a JCU event hosted at one of the schools in my city a year before. I realized it was the best possible option for me.
What made you choose a major in Psychological Science?
I joke that it’s because of a series called Criminal Minds, but I’ve always been interested in knowing why humans behave the way they do. I’m doing a minor in Law, and I’m halfway through my second major in Political Science, and even those classes make me wonder about human behavior. I found a passion for Graphic Design and English Literature classes, but at the end of the day, psychology is still what interests me the most. I think I found my path; I definitely see my future in psychology, specifically in the research field. I want to conduct research in my country on reconciliation in post-genocide societies. However, before that, I want to go to law school and study international humanitarian law.
Are there any classes that had a particular impact on you?
I've enjoyed every class that I've taken. I want to point out my classes with Professor Isabella Clough-Marinaro and Professor Paola Castelli. They have been very inspiring.
I also really enjoyed my classes with Professor Lyal S. Sunga, who completed his first UN mission in Rwanda. It was fascinating to learn from someone with firsthand experience. He’s definitely a life-changing professor.
Next semester you will be the president of two clubs. Can you tell us a bit about them?
The first one is the International Relations Society, where we organize the World in Chaos event every two weeks. We host a discussion between students on a specific international relations topic, such as Iran, Israel, or Italy. We discuss what's going on in the world and get opinions from different students.
Every other week, we have Pizza and Politics. At those events, we discuss current political issues. We also organize similar gatherings on a larger scale together with the Guarini Institute for Public Affairs. We invite undergraduate and graduate students from other universities in Rome, like the American University of Rome, LUISS, or La Sapienza. Everyone, including professors, can participate.
Recently, we've been trying to collect data from participants in our discussions so that we can publish our findings in a research paper for the Guarini Institute. This project is a collaboration between students, similar to a think tank.
The second club is BASA, JCU's Black and African Student Association. I initially joined it because I wanted to be a part of a community. Then, Natasha Kisila, who was the club’s president at the time, invited me to join the board. The main goal of BASA is to create a community here at JCU, and so far, it has done an amazing job. We try to make it as fun as possible. We try something new every time, so it requires a lot of work.
We are also co-creators of Living in the Diaspora, an event that brings together JCU cultural clubs. We create a space for students from different countries and cultures to talk to each other and bond over shared experiences of “Otherness.”
What are your plans for the future?
I will start applying for internships for next summer, probably back home. And then I'm going to start applying for graduate programs or law schools.
Many of my friends have graduated. I really want to stay in Rome, but I'm open to any place. I was looking at Asia, specifically China, Singapore, Hong Kong, and then the Middle East.
What advice would you give to new students coming to JCU?
I came here with no expectations, and that's probably the best thing I have ever done for myself.
My biggest advice is to join as many clubs as possible. That's how I met my friends. Don’t be intimidated if the campus initially seems cliquish because the groups are actually very inclusive. I think you can make friends with anybody here.
Being an RA has many perks because you get to know a lot of people quickly. But most importantly, join the clubs and try to find your community.
