Advocacy team member
Tamam Waritu, is a nationally acclaimed public speaker and trainer. His work has impacted the lives of thousands of students across hundreds of college/university campuses, particularly the first generation student. Born in a small village called Ande, in Oromia into a family with no educational background, his academic achievements are a testament to his hard work and resilience. He moved to the United States at the age of sixteen where he learned his first words in English. Once labeled as an “at-risk” student, he now holds a bachelor of Arts (BA) degree from Portland State University and a Masters of Education (ED. M.) from Harvard University. As an undergraduate student, he was a student senator, Student Ambassador, and a McNair Scholar, a program designed to prepare undergraduate students for doctoral studies through involvement in research and other scholarly activities. As Graduate student at Harvard, he was a graduate student ambassador and a student advisory board member. His mission now is to help those whom he once resembled, first generation students, defy statistics through his phenomenal motivational and inspirational training.