Nathan Ncube ’22
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
As a business administration major, Nathan Ncube ’22 had no trouble finding a job immediately after graduation. He works as a business development specialist at SEI Investments outside Philadelphia in Oaks, Pennsylvania.
“I love it,” he said. “I live 30 minutes away. It’s a beautiful town.”
But, he first had to find a place of belonging.
After coming to the U.S. from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, when he was 15, he went to high school in Mt. Joy, Pennsylvania.
“It was quite an experience,” he said of the transition. “I’m still adjusting to a lot of things to this day.”
Two people brought him to Messiah-- Dereck Kamwesa, former assistant director of admissions, and Dwayne Safer, associate professor of finance.
“Dereck Kamwesa recruited me to come to Messiah,” said Ncube, “and the first time I visited, I met Dwayne Safer at the open house. He was telling me a whole lot about Messiah’s business program.”
When Ncube returned to campus for accepted student preview day, Safer remembered his name. That sealed his decision to attend Messiah. His first year on campus, however, he struggled with finding community and a sense of belonging.
“I was still going to my classes and playing on the men’s club soccer team, “ he conceded, “but my sophomore year, I joined a good number of clubs.”
Through the Multicultural Council, the African Student Union and the Investment Club, he found a community. In his junior year, he became the president of the African Student Union and then, his senior year, the chair of the Multicultural Council.
He also found a mentor in Andy Babyak, Department of Business chair and associate professor of management.
“Nathan became a part of our family during his first-year at Messiah when he came over for Thanksgiving and played soccer with our boys in the backyard,” said Babyak. “It has been amazing to see his growth from a first-year student to a confident and faithful professional who is launching his career.”
For students considering a career in business, Ncube highly recommends Messiah’s program.
“They hold us to a standard as working professionals,” said Ncube. “The honest, constructive criticism prepares you for the real world.”
—Anna Seip