Mastercard Foundation Scholar ready to become a leader in AI

After graduating from the University of Rwanda in 2023 with her bachelor's degree in computer engineering, Clemence Ingabire (MS EAI '25) wanted to move from theory to practice. That idea is what drew her to studying AI, a field where she could combine her love for mathematics with her desire to use technology to solve real world problems.

"We are always wondering, 'Why are we learning math?' But now you can see how it's being applied," says Ingabire, who has been a tech enthusiast since her childhood.

After learning about its Master of Science in Engineering Artificial Intelligence (MS EAI) program, Ingabire enrolled at Carnegie Mellon University Africa.

She was also selected for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, which has not only provided the financial support for Ingabire's studies at CMU-Africa, but has also given her opportunities to develop the skills needed to become a leader in tech.

As part of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, Ingabire participated in leadership sessions that she then translated into real leadership and public speaking experiences. She was invited to give a public talk on women in AI hosted by Co-Creation Hub Africa and CMU-Africa's Data Science Club, a student organization for which she was a committee member. She also presented at the Mastercard Foundation Scholars' outreach give-back project at the Mahama refugee camp and served as the head teaching assistant for CMU-Africa’s bridge program, which helps prepare students for graduate school and beyond. She was excited to see the students in the bridge program learning to present, too.

"I think that's where people really need to push into," she says. "We are always studying, so we forget the soft skills. So, it was good to see people go in front and learn speaking."

Through CMU-Africa's student exchange program, Ingabire is now on an exchange semester on CMU's Pittsburgh campus, where she’s taking courses like Interactive Data Science, Product Management Essentials, and Responsible AI. She’s also working as a research assistant under Adam Perer at the Human-Computer Interaction Institute, studying how to use AI to optimize risk assessment and clinical decision making for pulmonary arterial hypertension patients.

After graduating from the MS EAI program, Ingabire is thinking of moving back to Rwanda and applying what she’s learned in her community. In her exchange semester classes, she’s learning more about the fundamentals of data science, business, and best practices for responsible AI systems, which will prepare her for a potential career as a data scientist or machine learning engineer.

"I want to make sure I know how to use AI properly if I'm going to apply it in the health industry, as I'm interested in healthcare," she says.

But it's not all professional development and no play for Ingabire. At CMU-Africa, as the head of event planning for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars committee, she organized an outdoor recreational event, a graduation party for Mastercard Foundation Scholars, and a get-together at a gaming center. She helped plan similar gatherings as a member of the social affairs committee for CMU-Africa graduate students. Preparing these events gave Ingabire the chance to get to know not only her fellow students, but the staff and broader CMU-Africa community, something she describes as an unexpected but welcome opportunity.

"It was a nice thing to do because in Rwanda, the way we have it, if you are a student, you're a student," says Ingabire. "So, I think it helped me come out of my comfort zone."