Supportive community was central to UTSA grad Chukwuemeka Alumanah’s college experience

MAY 26, 2023 — After spending most of his life living overseas as a military kid, Chukwuemeka Alumanah ’23 was brand new to San Antonio when he first stepped foot on UTSA’s campus as a freshman. Although transitioning to college and life in a new state simultaneously can be challenging, Alumanah’s move became easier once he got involved in extracurricular activities.

Alumanah joined the African Student Association (ASA) his first semester on campus, where he found an opportunity to expand his social circle and get out of his comfort zone. Fast forward four years later, and the new multidisciplinary studies graduate can look back fondly on the supportive community he built. It was a pivotal part of his time as a Roadrunner.  

“When I started my freshman year, I was kind of quiet,” Alumanah said. “But once I got into ASA, I started meeting a lot of new people. They actually feel like family at this point.”

“My most memorable moments come from being in clubs and the people I met. I can look back and thank a lot of the people I met for where I am today.”

Alumanah made new friends through his club involvement, and he also credits the people he met outside of the classroom for sparking his interest in new hobbies like photography, fitness and health, with the latter eventually becoming a core component of what he studied as an undergraduate.

Though he began his college career studying engineering, Alumanah opted to change his major once he heard about the multidisciplinary studies program in UTSA’s University College. He was drawn to the flexibility that the degree offered, allowing him to combine multiple academic areas to create a program tailored to his unique interests.

“I started off as an engineering student, but it didn’t last too long,” he joked. “I realized that wasn’t for me. I heard about the multidisciplinary studies degree, and then I went with that. I focused on business, kinesiology—since I’m into fitness and things of that sort—and health to create my own degree plan.”

Alumanah, who was also a cadet in UTSA’s Air Force ROTC program, crossed the Commencement stage this month. Next, he will commission into the Air Force and move to Mississippi, where he will begin his new role as a public affairs officer.

No stranger to moving, Alumanah has words of advice for incoming students who may be in the same position that he was as a freshman when he first moved to San Antonio.

“My advice for anyone their freshman year is to join a club or organization. Whether it’s ASA, or Greek life, or even at the library, I met a lot of people,” Alumanah said. “My most memorable moments come from being in clubs and the people I met. I can look back and thank a lot of the people I met for where I am today.”

— Chloe Johnson