5/18/2009

On Sunday, May 17, Mame-Oumy Mbengue (BSBA ’09) addressed the Class of 2009 as Suffolk University’s first international Commencement student speaker. A Senegalese native, she began her undergraduate studies in 2005 at Suffolk’s Dakar campus and transferred to the Boston campus the following year. Mbengue graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and information systems and operations management.

Twelve of her family members flew from Senegal to celebrate her accomplishment. In addition to enjoying her address—which she kept a carefully-guarded secret—the Mbengue family were special guests at Sunday’s Trustees’ Luncheon. At this event, they met former US Ambassador to Senegal Harriet Elam-Thomas, who holds a 2002 honorary degree from Suffolk University.

At Suffolk Dakar, Mbengue was active in campus associations and worked in the Admission Office, where she shared her enthusiasm for Suffolk with prospective applicants and their families.

She further distinguished herself in Boston, joining the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) and becoming president of the Boston Metropolitan Student Chapter. She also was a member of the winning team at the 2008 NABA Student Case Study Competition. Mbengue participated in Deloitte and Touche LLP’s summer mentorship program; since January 2009, she has interned in the Boston accounting office of the William J. Clinton Foundation, where she recently met the former president.

In recognition of her academic and extracurricular achievements, Mbengue was named a 2009 Outstanding Senior by the Boston Chapter of Financial Executives International.

President David Sargent shared her international academic success story with the honorary degree recipients and Summa and Frost Society members attending Saturday’s Commencement dinner. The Boston Herald profiled Mbengue in its Sunday edition.

She plans to work in Boston and to attend Suffolk University Law School.

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