From Setback to Belonging: A Path Defined by Faith and Perseverance
Meet Noemie TChamba, a sophomore at Cheyney University whose journey from Cameroon to campus is defined by resilience, faith, and ambition. Recently named a Milken Institute HBCU Finance Fellow, she is already charting a path toward Wall Street and beyond.
When Noemie speaks about her path to Cheyney University, the word she uses is “miracle.” Originally denied admission for spring 2024, she refused to let the setback deter her. Determined to pursue her education, she reapplied for fall 2024. After weeks of silence, she picked up the phone and called the admissions office herself. That afternoon, while on the call, she was admitted. For TChamba, who had recently left a difficult home environment, the moment was more than just acceptance; it was the beginning of a new chapter filled with hope, purpose, and possibility.
Born in Cameroon and living in the United States for only two years, TChamba has already found a sense of belonging at Cheyney. “There are so many opportunities here, so much to learn,” she says. “When I came, I had no one, but at Cheyney I found support and family.” A sophomore majoring in Business Administration and Management, she is active on campus as fundraising chair for Big Sister Little Sister and as a co-founder of Next-Gen Believers, a Christian student organization. “My faith is very important to me,” she notes, tying her academic journey to her personal values.
Purpose, Faith, and the Road Ahead
Her determination and drive recently earned her a place in the Milken Institute HBCU Fellowship Program in Finance. Selected as one of just 20 students nationwide from more than 200 applicants, TChamba joined her peers in Washington, D.C., for the kickoff event. There, she met finance professionals and fellow student leaders, many of them immigrants like herself. “We created something that already feels like family,” she reflects.
Looking ahead, TChamba dreams of a career in investment banking with firms such as J.P. Morgan, Goldman Sachs, or Morgan Stanley. She acknowledges that students from “target schools” often have the advantage, but she sees programs like Milken as a way to step into those rooms and prove she belongs there too. After Cheyney, she plans to pursue both an MBA and a PhD in Finance, with Temple University’s Fox School of Business and the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School among her top choices.
Her message to her younger self and to other students following behind her is clear: “Do not be afraid. You belong where you want to go. Step out of your bubble. Give yourself a chance and some grace. God has already prepared a beautiful path for you. At Cheyney, there are people to help you. Believe in yourself. We can do it.”
“FROM THE MOMENT I MET NOEMI, I SAW HER DETERMINATION AND HEART. SHE DOESN’T JUST CHASE OPPORTUNITIES, SHE CREATES THEM, AND I HAVE NO DOUBT SHE’LL INSPIRE COUNTLESS OTHERS ALONG THE WAY.” ~ Vinasia Miles, Director Career Development~