Broadening Skills and Perspectives

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.” 

When she discovered that UND was the only public university offering this rare combination, it became the clear next step — and the beginning of an experience that would surprise her in ways she didn’t expect. 

Something that UND has taught me is to always question things first. You don’t just accept information. You analyze it.

Arriving on campus in the middle of a North Dakota winter may not have offered the warm welcome Imelda imagined — literally.

“You hear about it, and you prepare yourself mentally, but no amount of preparation prepared me for this,” she said with a laugh. Coming from a country where 18 degrees Celsius (about 64 degrees Fahrenheit) is considered cold, North Dakota’s temperatures were a bit of a shock. In those first weeks, Imelda juggled basic tasks like shopping and settling in, all while adjusting to the freezing temperatures.  

But what made those days manageable, she said, was the immediate support she received from other international students who had already been through the same experience.

“The help you get from people who’ve been here is amazing,” she said. “Every single person told me there was someone who helped them when they arrived, so they wanted to do the same for me.”  

She soon realized this generosity wasn’t a one-time occurrence; it was a culture paying it forward.

“People pass that help down, not because they expect anything back, but because they know you’ll do the same for the next person who arrives.”

That network was strengthened even further by the International Center, which quickly became a home away from home for Imelda.“It’s such a good resource. You can lean on them at any time,” she said. “Any questions you have, they’re there. The support has been really good.”

Even the everyday logistics of settling in felt manageable thanks to UND’s responsiveness. “If I need information, I just make a phone call,” she said. “When I call the International Center or schedule an appointment with my advisor, everything is so easy.” 

As she settled into life in Grand Forks, Imelda quickly realized that the support she found outside the classroom was fully matched within it. UND’s academic environment, from small class sizes and accessible faculty to hands-on, discussion-driven coursework, began to reshape the way she approached problems and evaluated information.

“The professors are so supportive; they're there to help you,” she said. Through seminars, workshops and resources like the Gershman Graduate Center, Imelda found herself pushed to think more critically.

“Something that UND has taught me, that I think is really important, is to always question things first,” she explained. “You don’t just accept information. You analyze it.” 

That academic mindset also translated into a newfound confidence. Through required presentations and team-based analytical projects where she applied modeling techniques to real datasets, Imelda found opportunities to lead and share her work. Presenting her findings strengthened her voice and helped her grow more comfortable speaking from a point of knowledge.

“It’s given me the confidence and ability to stand and say, ‘Here’s what the data tells us,’” she said.  

With her growing confidence and expanded skill set, Imelda is already focusing on the next chapter of her career, and she’s aiming high. While her immediate focus is on breaking into the industry, she hasn’t lost sight of the long-term impact she hopes to make. “Eventually I want to work in economic development, managing large scale projects for the development of Africa.” And thanks to the flexibility of her degree, she knows her path can take many shapes.

“With my degree, I’m not chained to anything. I could work anywhere, in development, finance or consultancy,” she said. And while her journey is still unfolding, one thing is clear: Imelda is just getting started, bringing a leader’s mindset and a sense of purpose into everything that comes next.