Global Ambassador: Robert Nyaga
Robert Nyaga, from Embu, Kenya, graduated from Purdue with a PhD in Health Communication. His research topic was the Application of The Theory of Planned Behavior To Predict Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine Acceptance Among College Students.
Read more about Robert's experience in graduate school below. Please note: Robert provided these answers while he was still a graduate student at Purdue.
Ambassador Q & A (Questions and Answers)
Why did you choose Purdue?
I chose Purdue because of its large population of international students and a fantastic program in health communication. From the start, I knew Purdue would definitely meet my academic interests. In general, I chose Purdue because of its endeavors to change the world, both in small and big ways.
What is your favorite fact about Purdue?
Purdue university is the alma mater of renowned astronaut, Neil Armstrong, African Development Bank’s CEO, Akinwunmi, and many others.
Career goal?
After graduating, I hope to work with international organizations dealing with health and development.
Where do you spend most of your time on campus?
At Purdue Memorial Hall. PMU has great reading spaces, restaurants, and coffee shops. Technically, once inside the building you can get all that you might need in the spaces housed there.
What apps, software, or tools can’t you live without?
I love WhatsApp and LinkedIn. They keep me connected to the world, with friends, and family in Kenya.
What’s your workspace setup?
I share office with 4 other graduate students, and it is fun. Generally, I am motivated to work when I can see people around me. It makes me appreciate that I am not the only person trying to work hard in school.
What do you listen to while you work?
I mostly listen to classical, RnBs, and African music.
What are you currently reading, or what is the last thing you read?
I am finishing C.S. Lewis’s “The problem of pain”, then start reading John Maxwell’s “Sometimes You Win, Sometimes You Learn”. I love reading inspirational books when not too busy with journal articles.
What person, living or dead, would you most like to meet, and why?
I would love to meet Thomas Edison. I would love to understand what was going through his head when he tried those many times to light the bulb. This is a very inspiring story of our time.
What's the best advice you've ever received?
In high school, my school principal advised me that sometimes it is best to keep quiet. It is advice I value to date and it keeps me guarded when tempted to speak without much thought.
