If perseverance is the key to success, then Cecilia Nyamu is the perfect example of the grit it takes to reach one’s goals.
Nyamu, who recently graduated with an LLM from UNH Franklin Pierce’s online International Criminal Law and Justice (ICLJ) program, did not give up in her pursuit of a master’s, despite several obstacles and a degree more than three years in the making.
A native of Kenya, Nyamu graduated from Catholic University of Eastern Africa with an undergraduate law degree and knew she wanted to continue her education. But due to financial limitations at the time, it took at least three years before Nyamu, who lives in Nairobi with her mother and two sisters, was ready to apply for an American LLM program. She submitted applications to several U.S.-based universities, and only one offered her the option to reach her objective.
“I applied to six universities to study my LLM,” Nyamu says. “It was only at UNH that I received the support needed in the application process. If it were not for the support of [Assistant Dean for Graduate Admissions and International Outreach] Sarah Dorner, I probably would have given up.”
With Dorner’s help, the application fee was waived, and Nyamu was eventually awarded an Online Dean’s Scholarship, given to graduate law students who have “achieved excellent academic credentials and demonstrate great potential to be a successful member of the UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law community.”
Still, obstacles continued to delay Nyamu’s enrollment. Throughout the application process, Nyamu encountered a series of difficulties, especially with getting her international transcripts evaluated. Although she was offered admission in 2022, Nyamu initially had to defer due to financial constraints. But Dorner was able to get her scholarship award increased, making it possible for Nyamu to enroll in the online program.
“Given Cecilia’s life circumstances,” Dorner says, “it would never have been possible for her to travel to the U.S. to complete her LLM. The online program afforded her the opportunity to pursue her dream of earning a U.S. law degree.”
Now a graduate of UNH Franklin Pierce, Nyamu has gotten started on pursuing her dream job as a prosecutor for the International Criminal Court. “I know it will come to pass,” she says, “just like my dream to pursue an LLM.”
“Cecilia is a perfect example of what the ICLJ program is about,” says Professor Albert “Buzz” Scherr, chair of the ICLJ program. “She’s persevered to complete a degree that will dramatically expand her opportunities for career development in the world of transnational criminal law. She reflects the international reach of our program, which draws students from around the world.”
Nyamu already has been admitted as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, and recently began a new job at a forensic law firm in Nairobi. The LLM, she says, is a pivotal piece in attaining her career goals, and has boosted her employment options. Nyamu remains grateful to UNH Franklin Pierce, to Dorner, and others who helped her take the next step.
“UNH is special to me because it gave me hope for a better future for me and my sisters at a time when I desperately needed something to hold onto,” Nyamu says. “Whatever I go through, my glass will always be half full, not half empty. I’m forever grateful to UNH and forever a Wildcat.”
The fully online International Criminal Law and Justice program addresses fast-paced developments in the globalization of commerce, terrorism, human rights, and criminal law. To learn more, visit https://law.unh.edu/program/llm/international-criminal-law-justice.
