EIU Media Relations

From Ghana to Global Impact: EIU Graduate Rebecca Aba Gaisie Turns Purpose into Momentum

International Student Gaisie credits EIU for seeing, meeting her where she was in achieving personal, professional outcomes

(Charleston, IL) – When Rebecca Aba Gaisie arrived at Eastern Illinois University from Tema, Ghana, she was searching for more than a graduate degree. She wanted a university community that would challenge her academically, invest in her personally and prepare her to create real-world change.

At EIU, she found all three.

Now a May 2026 graduate with a Master of Science in Sustainability, Gaisie leaves EIU as a highly accomplished graduate student, earning eleven major awards during her time on campus, including nine honors in Spring 2026 alone. Gaisie’s awards were the Distinguished Graduate Student Award (2025–2026), the Hamand Society of Graduate Scholars Inductee (2026), the GSAC Scholarship Award (2026), the Booth Library Award for Excellence in Student Research and Creative Works (First Place - 2025), the King–Mertz Distinguished Research Award of Excellence (2026), the King–Mertz Research and Creative Activity Award (2026), the Panther Leadership Award – Leveling Up Award (2026), the Carl P. Koerner Foreign Cultures Award (2026), the International Student Ambassador Award, an induction into the National Society of Leadership and Success (2026), and the GIA Student Leadership Award.

For Gaisie, however, the most meaningful part of her EIU experience is not the recognition — it is the relationships.

“At EIU, I was truly seen,” Gaisie said. “My professors knew my name, my research and my story. Faculty believed in me before I had the full resume to justify it, and that belief changed everything.”

That support helped transform opportunity into achievement.

Throughout her graduate studies, Gaisie maintained a 4.0 GPA while earning advanced Lean Six Sigma certifications that strengthened her expertise in sustainability and operational systems. EIU’s interdisciplinary approach gave her both the technical and leadership skills to tackle complex global sustainability challenges.

Her research on biodegradable packaging and plastic waste reduction in developing economies earned First Place at EIU’s Graduate Research Symposium in 2025 — a defining moment she says solidified her connection to the University.

“Standing there presenting research connected to communities I deeply care about, and being recognized by faculty and peers, was the moment EIU truly became home,” she said.

Outside the classroom, EIU opened doors that extended far beyond Charleston.

With encouragement and mentorship from university leaders and faculty, including President Jay Gatrell, Vice President Josh Norman and Dean Austin Cheney, Gaisie built professional connections that propelled her onto national and international stages. During her time at EIU, she represented youth voices at the United Nations ECOSOC Youth Forum in New York, was selected as a U.S. Youth Delegate to COP30, and co-authored the national U.S. Youth Statement on climate action. She also founded The Remma Pact, a youth-led sustainability initiative amplifying African and global youth voices in sustainability policy and practice.

“EIU gave me the space, mentorship and confidence to build something real,” Gaisie said. “The connections I made here directly shaped my career trajectory.”

As an international student, Gaisie says EIU’s close-knit campus community made a lasting difference.

“Being far from home comes with challenges,” she said. “But EIU met me with warmth and grace. The people here made me feel valued, celebrated and capable of achieving extraordinary things.”

Those experiences, combined with opportunities like participating in the Forbes Under 30 Summit and building networks across sustainability, energy and operations sectors, helped position Gaisie for continued success after graduation.

For prospective students considering EIU, Gaisie says Eastern Illinois University’s greatest strength is its people.

“At EIU, relationships are real,” she said. “Your professors invest in your future, not just your grades. You are given room to build something meaningful — whether that’s research, leadership or your career path.”

From Ghana to Illinois to the global stage, Gaisie’s journey reflects the transformational opportunities EIU strives to provide students from down the street, or those coming to Charleston, Illinois from half a world away. 

“I came to EIU with a dream and a work ethic,” Gaisie said. “EIU gave me the tools, mentors and platform to turn that into something bigger than I ever imagined. I would encourage any student looking for a university to call home to explore EIU and the worlds of opportunity it can open up for them.”

For more than 135 years, Eastern Illinois University has responded to the evolving educational, workforce and community needs of the region and State while maintaining a strong tradition of student achievement and graduate success. Today, EIU continues to provide an affordable, accessible and high-quality education that prepares graduates to work and lead in a variety of professions.

Prospective students interested in EIU can explore EIU scholarship opportunities through a searchable, online tool at EIU Academic Works Scholarship Portal, helping connect prospective and current EIU students with personalized scholarships at the University. Prospective students looking for EIU scholarship opportunities can search for scholarships by keyword, department, field of study, career interests and more. Students who have already been admitted to the University or who are currently enrolled also can use their EIU Net IDs to log in to the online tool, where their EIU information will automatically pair them with the most useful or recommended scholarships available.

With a streamlined, no-cost application process and access to admissions counselors, prospective EIU students can quickly move from interest to enrollment while exploring scholarship opportunities and campus resources. Interested students can learn more about EIU’s admissions process at EIU Admissions.

EIU prepares students to accomplish their life goals through a combination of quality academics, personal relationships, and both on-campus and online learning opportunities. For more information about Eastern Illinois University, including its broad array of academic and career readiness programs, community-based services and opportunities, visit Eastern Illinois University or call EIU’s public information office at (217) 581-7400.