Class of 2026: Mercy Dwomoh finds her scholarly voice while mentoring Ghanaian students

Name: Mercy Dwomoh

Degree: M.A. History

Plans after graduation: Pursue a Ph.D. in history at Rice University 

Favorite Hokie memory: Finding a sense of belonging in the history department

Pursuing her master's degree 

For Mercy Dwomoh, pursuing a master’s degree in history was about more than earning an advanced credential. It was a way to tell stories that have often been left out of historical narratives.

Her research on Mabel Dove Danquah, a Ghanaian journalist, activist, and intellectual, played a central role in shaping that decision. Through Dove’s work, Dwomoh saw how women’s intellectual contributions have frequently been overlooked and is now committed to giving their voices the recognition they deserve. 

“For me, pursuing this degree has been about more than earning a qualification,” she said. “It has been a journey of recovery, discovery, giving space to histories that matter deeply to me, and inspiring others to pursue their own dreams.”

Choosing Virginia Tech

When selecting a graduate program, Dwomoh said Virginia Tech’s history program stood out early on in the process. The strength of the department’s African history faculty — including Jennifer Hart, Brett Shadle, and Matthew Heaton — aligned closely with her own academic interests in African intellectual history, nationalism, gender, and print culture. Their scholarship and mentorship signaled a place where she could grow intellectually, sharpen her research skills, and develop her voice as a historian.

Looking back, Dwomoh said the decision proved transformative. The mentorship, intellectual rigor, support, and sense of community she found shaped her scholarship and how she sees herself as a historian.

“It is a decision that has truly changed the course of my life,” she said. 

Finding belonging in a new academic world

Coming to the United States for graduate school was both exciting and challenging for Dwomoh, particularly as she navigated a new educational system far from her home in Ghana.

Leaving her family and home behind for a place where she didn’t know anyone was emotionally difficult for Dwomoh. The transition was overwhelming, but over time she came to find that the new environment taught her important lessons in resilience and trusting herself while also uncovering strengths she didn’t know she had. 

The experience proved even more transformative because of the support she found in the Department of History. Faculty and peers challenged her intellectually while also offering encouragement and reassurance that her ideas and perspectives mattered. Over time, the department became more than just a place of study — it became a community.

“As an international student, coming into a new environment felt overwhelming, but the kindness, mentorship, and encouragement I received made Virginia Tech feel like home,” she said. “Taking the leap of faith to leave my country and home has given me so much more than a degree.”

Giving back through mentorship

Alongside her own studies and research, Dwomoh dedicated time to supporting other young Ghanaian students interested in pursuing graduate education in the United States.

Having gone through the challenges of applying to U.S. graduate programs herself, she felt a responsibility to help others understand a system that can feel unfamiliar and intimidating. She supported students throughout the application process by reviewing statements of purpose, refining writing samples, and helping them articulate their research interests.

Beyond application materials, she helped students understand U.S. higher education, including how programs are structured, how to communicate with faculty, and academic and social expectations. 

“This is important to me because I know how much a little guidance and encouragement can change someone’s path,” she said. “I see it as a way of giving back to others who have big dreams but may not always have access to the information needed to pursue them and showing that these opportunities are possible. Helping them succeed gives me a deep sense of purpose because their success feels like a shared victory for all of us.” 

Developing skills for her future

Through her master’s program, Dwomoh strengthened a wide range of skills that she will carry forward into doctoral study and beyond. Her training emphasized critical engagement with sources, sustained argumentation, and historiographical analysis while strengthening her academic writing.

As a graduate teaching assistant, she also gained experience communicating complex ideas to students, building confidence in the classroom, and mentoring others, all skills that are central to her long‑term goal of becoming an educator.

She also credits working with professors Jennifer Hart and Brett Shadle as one of the most impactful aspects of her time in the program. 

“Their mentorship helped me grow into my voice as a historian and played an important role in guiding me toward the next stage of my academic career,” she said. 

Dwomoh believes that the rigor of the program and faculty support prepared her for the demands of Ph.D. level work. It also contributed to her success in the application process. She was accepted to five of the eight Ph.D. programs to which she applied.

Looking ahead

After graduation, Dwomoh will begin a Ph.D. program in history at Rice University in Houston, where she will build on the research foundation she established during her master’s program. In the long term, she hopes to work in academia as a historian, researcher, and educator, while also engaging in public scholarship that makes African history more accessible to broader audiences.

At the heart of Dwomoh’s long‑term vision is a commitment to mentorship. As a first‑generation student, she has experienced firsthand the transformative power of education and has seen how her own academic journey has inspired younger students. That experience has inspired her to one day establish a non‑governmental organization dedicated to supporting students from disadvantaged backgrounds who want to pursue education. Through that work, she hopes to create pathways for other young scholars. 

“I want to create opportunities that allow others to dream beyond their circumstances and pursue a future they may not have thought possible,” she said. 

As she reflects on her time at Virginia Tech, Dwomoh said what she will miss most is the people who made her journey meaningful.

“The history department gave me more than an education — it gave me a sense of home,” she said.