Outstanding Student

Ziblim Abukari searched the world for his ideal graduate program. He found it at DU.

When Ziblim decided on graduate school, he knew exactly what he wanted in a program. He just wasn’t sure where to find it. A native of Ghana in Western Africa and the first in his family to attend college, Ziblim studied social work at the University of Ghana, a topic in which he felt personally invested. “I chose to pursue social work based on my own background,” said Ziblim. “I come from a poor family in Ghana and I quickly developed a passion for working with low-income, underprivileged populations.”

“It’s very expensive to go to school in the United States, so I knew I’d have to receive a scholarship in order to study at DU,” said Ziblim. In fact, he received two scholarships: an award from the Ford Foundation and the Violet V. Casey International Endowed Scholarship from DU. Established in 1984 with a bequest from Violet Casey, BA ’26, the Violet V. Casey International Scholarship supports international students enrolled in GSSW.

After college, Ziblim parlayed this passion into a career. For five years he worked with Opportunities Industrialization Centers International (OICI), a nonprofit organization based in Philadelphia, Pa. with branches in 21 countries. Through OICI, Ziblim helped rural, low-income Ghanaian women establish their own micro businesses thereby gaining financial independence. During this stint with OICI, Ziblim also forged plans to pursue social work at the graduate level. “I researched programs around the world, looking for the one that would meet my career goals,” he said. “Based on my experiences in Ghana, I wanted a curriculum with a community-focus.”

His global search paid off when he learned about DU’s Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW) and discovered the program fit both his interests and his financial situation.

“Enrolling in the program knowing I had financial support made me feel very special and it eased a lot of concern,” said Ziblim. “It has also enabled me to focus solely on my studies since I’m not worrying about how I’m going to pay for school.”

In addition to his studies, Ziblim is also beginning to focus on life after his master’s degree. “I have a Plan A and a Plan B,” said Ziblim with a laugh. “Plan A is to return to Ghana and continue my work in the non-profit sector with low-income populations. Plan B is to continue my studies here at DU on the doctoral level.”

Whichever path he takes, Ziblim promises to change lives along the way.

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