This year, the Bentley African Student Association (ASA) conference drew a record number of attendees from both Bentley University and beyond. The event was led by Danquah and nine other undergraduate students from ASA, who were responsible for planning and executing the conference.
The speaker lineup expanded to ten this year, compared to just three speakers in the previous year. The keynote address delivered by Jean-Paul Adam covered topics such as policy making, international collaboration, and unity among African nations. Kristen Barth, a Tufts University student who attended the conference, expressed her appreciation for the keynote address and commended the ASA team for organizing such a successful event. She noted that the conference facilitated learning and networking among students while also inspiring a renewed commitment to contributing to the development of her home country, Ghana, and the African continent as a whole.
The impact of the conference can be attributed to the hard work and dedication of the ASA student teams. These teams handled important aspects of the conference, such as budgeting, securing speakers and sponsors, organizing facilities, and promoting the event. Early in the planning process, they met with Bentley President E. LaBrent Chrite, who provided support and encouragement for the event. Danquah expressed gratitude for this support, noting that it gave them confidence to aim for even greater growth in future events.
With President Chrite’s backing, Danquah is optimistic about the conference’s potential to expand and continue making a positive impact on campus and beyond.