From Kenya to Grand Forks

(Photo by Shawna Schill/UND Today)

(UND Today) – When Imelda Mashalia began exploring graduate programs in economics and data analytics, she didn’t expect her search to lead to an unexpected discovery: the University of North Dakota was one of only two institutions offering the exact program she needed.

Choosing UND brought her from Kenya to Grand Forks, opening a door to an academic experience and campus community that would challenge her, support her and feel like home.

After earning her degree in Economics & Statistics from the University of Nairobi in 2020, Imelda worked as a data analyst in several roles, eventually realizing that she wanted to broaden her expertise in both economics and analytics.

“Applied Economics & Predictive Analytics prepares you for the industry because what we learn [in the classroom] is exactly what’s used in real-world jobs,” she said. “I didn’t want to leave economics behind, and I love working with data — I didn’t want to choose between them. I wanted a program that strengthened both.”