MONROVIA — Twelve Liberian students and University of Liberia (UL) faculty have been awarded full fellowships to pursue the prestigious Online Master of Science in Computer Science (OMSCS) at the Georgia Institute of Technology, marking the first Liberian cohort in the program’s history. The announcement was made in a statement from UL on Tuesday, September 9, 2025.
On the same day, eleven of the fellows met with UL President Prof. Dr. Layli Maparyan at Capitol Hill to share their motivations and aspirations for joining the program. During the meeting, each fellow spoke about the factors that inspired them to apply for what Forbes ranks as the world’s top online master’s in computer science. The program aims to expand access to advanced technology education and strengthen Liberia’s digital talent pool.
Mr. Josephus T.C. Nyumalin, a faculty member in UL’s Department of Economics, cited his passion for technology and data science as the driving force behind his application. “Incorporating technology into my teaching will enhance productivity and make my career more tech-savvy,” he said. Mr. Nyumalin already holds master’s degrees in quantitative economics from California State University and statistics from American University in Washington, D.C.
Another fellow, Mr. Alieu Farhat, a part-time faculty member in Information Technology at UL, praised the program’s curriculum. “I fell in love with the course outline. It’s a real opportunity,” he said, crediting his department chair for introducing him to the program.
President Maparyan congratulated the fellows and highlighted the significance of this achievement. “It’s a great program and Georgia Tech is a great school,” she said, recalling her visit to the university’s new engineering building. She also acknowledged Ms. Cynthia Blandford, president and CEO of the University Consortium of Liberia (UCL), for her role in securing the partnership and emphasized UL’s decades-long collaboration with Georgia Tech.
The initiative stems from President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s 2023 visit to Atlanta, during which Georgia Tech officially launched the OMSCS scholarship program for Liberia. The program reflects a broader effort to build Liberia’s capacity in technology and computer science while providing students and faculty with international learning opportunities.
The 2025 Liberian OMSCS cohort includes Harris Barwu, Clarence Carlwolo, Viola Cheeseman, Alieu Farhat, Varney Jarteh, Fredrick Juah, Abubakar Keita, Yougie Kessellie, Josephus Nyumalin, Melvin Soclo, Michael Umunna, and Martin Wallace. The fellows will join the global OMSCS program later this year, embarking on a journey that could significantly influence Liberia’s technological and academic landscape.
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