Christiana Ahulu is an international student from Ghana in West Africa, where she received her undergraduate degree in Accounting at the University College of Management Studies before transferring to University of Tulsa to pursue her Master of Business Administration. Now, at TU, Christiana majors in finance and is a graduate assistant at the Collins College of Business and she interns in the Gilcrease Museum’s Development Department.
In the Development department, Christiana assists with a variety of tasks, such as researching fundraising opportunities for the museum, reviewing surveys to help adapt future events, and assisting with membership and fundraising mailing. Whichever task she is given, Christiana approaches it methodically and thoroughly before moving on to her next project.
When asked what she considers to be the most important aspect of her work, Christiana stated that she believes membership is a critical component that, when properly managed and invested in, will set Gilcrease apart from other institutions.
Christiana cherishes Gilcrease Museum because it allows her to contribute meaningfully to her community, a personal value she holds dear. She believes that because she shares similar values as Gilcrease’s mission, this provides her with a unique opportunity to not only improve her skills but also showcases her greatest work to the world.
As an international student, Christiana values the sense of community that helps her feel grounded and settled in the United States. At TU, she feels cared for by both the school and its staff, and she appreciates the warm welcome from the Tulsa community. Christiana says she “does not feel lost” living in the United States. Her advice to peers, especially fellow international students navigating different cultures, is to be adaptable and versatile. She suggests not focusing solely on one aspect of what you’re doing, but instead, being flexible so you can fit into any environment you find yourself in.