Congratulations to Jesmyda R Viyano (USAP ‘17) for receiving the 2025 Mandela Rhodes Scholarship to pursue a Master’s degree in Public Health at the University of Cape Town!
Jesmyda R Viyano graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry and Biophysics from Amherst College in Boston, USA. The Zimbabwean born scholar is committed to empowering individuals and leveraging science for social change. While at Amherst, she served as a community advisor, advocating for student well-being, and engaged in protein folding and dynamics research in the Jaswal LabYou. Jesmyda has an interest in public health and aspires to further her education to enhance her strategic thinking capabilities to formulate clear recommendations that can guide advocacy priorities and inform future interventions in public health in Southern Africa.
Jesmyda was interviewed and below are her responses:
You are a USAP Class of 2017 alumna. Tell us a bit about your life and academic journey so far. How has USAP been part of it?
I began my undergraduate studies at Amherst College in Massachusetts in August 2018, starting without a clear idea of my major. Amherst’s open curriculum allowed me to explore various classes that shaped my thinking in diverse ways. At the end of sophomore year, I was still torn between Biology and Chemistry. Having worked in a biochemistry lab for some time, I wanted my Principal Investigator (PI) to be my advisor, so I ultimately declared my major as Biochemistry and Biophysics
At Amherst, I built strong relationships with other international students, faculty, and staff. I also connected with domestic students through dance, participating in groups such as Dance and Step at Amherst College (DASAC), the African and Caribbean Student Union (ACSU) dance troupe, and Five College Dance. After graduation, I joined Kia “The Key” Dance Company, a project-based dance company focused on expanding education in hip-hop street styles and house dance.
In addition, I joined a consulting firm that I left after three weeks, as I discovered it wasn’t suitable for Optional Practical Training (OPT). After leaving that position, I struggled to find another job, and during that challenging transition, I leaned heavily on my community for support. My network rallied behind me as I worked to get my life back on track. Eventually, I secured a contract at Bristol Myers Squibb, working on their downstream drug processing team for a year and a half. I then started a new contract at Moderna as part of their Small Scale Vaccine Unit.
My presence at Amherst came from being part of USAP, so I credit USAP for my exposure and experiences since my interview with Education Matters in 2017. Through USAP, I formed strong friendships and mentorships with individuals who have loved, supported, held me accountable, and taught me invaluable lessons. I wouldn’t be here without USAP pouring into me and their faith in my potential.
What inspired you to apply for the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship outside of going to
graduate school?
Reflecting on my reasons for coming to the US, I realise it was about more than just the
opportunities; I was also running from a lack of freedom, autonomy, resources, looming
responsibilities, and high expectations. Through my relationships, knowledge from school and
work, and life experiences, I got to know and accept myself better. I developed a sense of
urgency and drive to participate in crafting and implementing solutions in the public health
space. I was ready to commit to building communities and uplifting others.
I had been seeking an entry point into public health and leadership development in Africa. I was
interested in contextualising my skills and being around young African professionals who were
creatively tackling healthcare problems.
So, when Mai Mano sent me the opportunity and encouraged me to apply, I jumped on it. I
visited the Mandela Rhodes Foundation (MRF) website and reviewed the qualities they were
looking for and the aspirations candidates should have. Their mission resonated deeply with
me, and their leadership development program drew me in, but I questioned my qualifications. I
struggled to complete the application and mentally quit several times.
Knowing that my recommenders had already spent their time helping me and that the Mandela
Rhodes alums had invested their time to meet and answer my questions motivated me to finish.
I realised that I could not let their efforts go in vain.
Being professionally vulnerable and allowing myself to be known ultimately led to this
opportunity.
What and where do you plan to study on the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship, and what skills and experience are you excited to gain?
I will study for a Master’s in Public Health at UCT, focusing on epidemiology. I am eager to learn how to measure and analyse health states at both individual and population levels. I hope to gain study design, extensive data analysis, and mathematical modelling for disease transmission skills. I am excited to be proficient in effectively communicating my findings to diverse audiences and collaborating with healthcare professionals and policymakers to prevent disease and promote health. I commit to developing a mindset that leads to decision-making that fosters equity, efficiency, and effectiveness in healthcare services and health systems.
I look forward to inner transformation through the MRF’s leadership development program, which will involve unlearning and excavating patterns of thinking or behaviours that don’t promote outstanding leadership.
Share your future dreams. How do you plan to continue making a positive impact in your community and Africa at large? What do you see as your future legacy as a Mandela Rhodes Scholar and USAP alum?
At my core, my main goal is to uplift others. I want to engage in meaningful, genuinely beneficial and satisfying leadership for those I serve. With this in mind, I aspire to advocate for policies and initiatives that strengthen sustainable public health infrastructure, aiming to promote better health outcomes for communities in Southern Africa and across the African continent. My focus is on contributing to preventive measures for health conditions and health-related behaviours that impact morbidity and mortality at individual, community, and population levels.
What advice would you give young Africans, especially current USAP students?
Success, for me, is all about relationships. The quality of these relationships—whether with God, yourself, your family, teammates, mentors, or teachers—defines what success truly means. It’s important to cultivate strong interpersonal skills, show up with openness and honesty, and be appropriately vulnerable based on your audience. When people understand your values and your goals, they are more likely to recommend you for opportunities that align with your personal and professional development.
