There was a time when Alisha Koulen pursued her education without one of the most basic necessities many students take for granted—electricity. Growing up in Sophia, one of Guyana’s most underserved communities, she faced hardships that could easily have limited her ambitions. Instead, they became the foundation of a remarkable journey that has now earned her a place at Columbia University, one of the world’s most prestigious universities and the alma mater of former United States President Barack Obama.

For the past four years, Koulen has helped shape the futures of thousands of Guyanese children as Operations Manager of STEMGuyana. Now, as she prepares to leave for New York to pursue another master’s degree, her story stands as a powerful reminder that talent is not confined by geography or circumstance—it flourishes when determination meets opportunity.

Koulen’s departure was marked with an emotional tribute from Dr. Karen Abrams, Founder and Executive Director of STEMGuyana, who credited her with helping transform a fledgling organisation into a national movement with an expanding international footprint.