Yolanda Nosakhare
University of Maryland, School of Public Policy
CLASS YEAR: 2025
Yolanda Nosakhare is earning a Master of Public Policy at the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy, where she specializes in International Development. A proud first-generation college student and first-generation American, she graduated in 2021 with a Bachelor’s in International Relations, along with a minor in Computer Science from Loyola Marymount University. As a student, Yolanda maintained a variety of leadership positions on campus. This included being an intercultural facilitator, the Vice President of the Black Student Union, a resident advisor, and a contributor to her university’s written core. Additionally, she spent a summer teaching English in Qingdao, China, where she earned her certificate to Teach English as a Foreign Language. In 2021, Yolanda was recognized by Loyola Marymount for her major contributions to improving the climate of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility on campus.
In 2019, Yolanda became one of the youngest recipients of the U.S. Department of State’s Foreign Affairs Information Technology Award, which aimed at bridging the gap between technology and diplomacy. Upon graduation, Yolanda worked full-time as an Information Management Specialist in the Foreign Service with the U.S. Department of State in Guatemala and South Africa. Her experience living and working overseas sparked a fascination with policies that ameliorate the catastrophic effects of economic depressions, gender inequality, and ethnocentric conflicts. In addition to her work with the State Department, Yolanda has worked at the Federal Bureau of Investigation as an analyst in the Victim Services Division. While Yolanda’s interests cast a wide net, her goal is to make large-scale impacts that will improve the societal wellbeing of underprivileged populations. She envisions a life-long career being known as a “change-maker” and of helping others on a global scale.