MUM alumna Yodit Denekew, Miss Ethiopia USA 2017
With fellow MUM classmates
At the MUM graduation
Volunteering for the Empowerment Essence Foundation at a recent anti-bully youth conference
MUM graduate Yodit Denekew was recently crowned Miss Ethiopia at the 2017 Miss Ethiopia USA Pageant. The mission of Miss Ethiopia USA is to recognize women who are involved in promoting the Ethiopian culture and supporting humanitarian causes.
Yodit was born and raised in rural Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, where she witnessed underprivileged women struggling to have access to education. She became passionate about changing the situation and she has volunteered with various organizations, including United Nations Volunteers.
As Miss Ethiopia USA, she plans to use her title as a platform for empowering young women to pursue higher education. Yodit will be implementing her plans under the aegis of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) through fundraising events and traveling to Ethiopia to spread her message.
Yodit came to MUM in 2014 for the MBA in Accounting program. She enjoyed the cultural and ethnic diversity of the MUM campus and appreciated the self-development that Consciousness-BasedSM education offers. She also found that her classes provided relevant and up-to-date knowledge, and she was well-prepared to begin her career.
“I feel that the experience I gained was truly valuable,” said Yodit. “My stay at MUM helped to develop my communication skills and my self-esteem. I experienced inner growth and developed my creativity.”
Yodit graduated from MUM in 2015 and is currently working as an auditor at a public accounting firm in the Washington, D.C. area. She is also preparing for her Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification.
In addition, she serves on the board of the Ethio-American Society of CPAs and Finance Professionals (ESCPA), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to building leaders who shape the future of accounting, auditing, and finance professionals.