Educator and advocate Barrel Gueye, EdD '06, knows that a lack of drinking water or sanitation can make education out of reach, especially for girls in developing regions in Africa.
You can't go to class if you're sick, after all. Being unable to wash up can keep menstruating girls at home. Other barriers to academic success include cultural beliefs about gender, financial constraints and the use of French as a lingua franca instead of Senegal's local languages.
"One of my core beliefs is that education is not just about academic knowledge; it is a powerful tool for social change," explains Gueye, who earned her doctorate in education from what is now the College of Community and Public Affairs. "Educating women leads to stronger families, healthier communities and more prosperous societies."
Gueye has spent her career promoting women's literacy and education across Africa, combining academic research and hands-on initiatives in partnership with organizations, governments and community leaders. These initiatives focus on removing barriers such as early marriage, gender-based violence and financial constraints, which disproportionately affect women's ability to pursue education.
Her trajectory was shaped by her doctoral studies at Binghamton. She completed her undergraduate and graduate degrees in English and education at Cheikh Anta Diop University and a teaching certificate at what is now the Faculté des Sciences et Technologies de l'Education et de la Formation (FASTEF).
In graduate school, she served as assistant director of study abroad programs with the West African Research Center. That's how she met former Dean of the School of Education and Human Development (a precursor to CCPA), Linda Biemer, who encouraged Gueye to pursue her doctorate at Binghamton. When Biemer retired, Gueye took over the University's study abroad programs to Senegal while working on her degree.
"The warm and supportive academic environment, combined with the encouragement and mentorship I received from Dean Biemer, made Binghamton the ideal place to nurture my intellectual ambitions and further my academic aspirations," she says.
Binghamton and beyond
The diversity of perspectives within Binghamton's academic community enhanced Gueye's learning, along with a supportive network of students and professors dedicated to fostering success. One of the highlights was a group of graduate students who helped each other refine their dissertations and stay on track to graduate.
Biemer became an "adoptive mother" of sorts, offering not only professional guidance but personal support. Another "American mother" was her first advisor, Anita Vogely, who helped Gueye adjust academically and culturally to Binghamton. Gueye stays in touch with many Binghamton connections, from peers to professors.
I consider Binghamton my second home. I rarely visit the U.S. without making a trip to Binghamton to reconnect with my American family there.
After earning her doctorate, Gueye taught courses at D'Youville College in Buffalo and East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania. Her path led her to postdoctoral fellowships at the Forum of African Women Educationalists based in Nairobi, Kenya, and later on with other international organizations, such as Water and Sanitation in Africa, a think tank in Burkina Faso, and the African Population and Health Research Center, based in Dakar and Nairobi.
Returning to Senegal, Gueye realized there were limited opportunities to contribute directly to the country's academic and educational landscape. As a result, she co-founded the Dakar Institute of African Studies (DIAS) with others, all of whom hold doctorates from the U.S.
DIAS offers undergraduate and graduate students the chance to immerse themselves in African culture while gaining hands-on experience through internships and experiential learning. The institute also operates a summer study abroad program that enables students and scholars to deepen their knowledge of Africa through direct engagement with local communities while researching relevant socio-cultural and development issues.
In addition, Gueye serves as a technical advisor to the prime minister of Senegal. She advises on strategies to improve women's participation in economic, political and social life and ensures that gender considerations are integrated into national development policies. In that role, she works closely with government ministries, international organizations and local communities.
As a researcher, she is working on multiple projects that address educational opportunities, reproductive health and the impact of climate change on women's access to education and livelihoods. She is also focused on making educational systems more inclusive and equitable, ensuring that everyone - regardless of gender, disability or socio-economic class - can succeed.
Gueye points out that meaningful and sustainable change requires dedication and persistence that goes beyond a particular project or policy. That means staying the course when the path seems daunting and using hope and optimism to inspire others. In the end, even small changes can have a profound impact on communities, creating a ripple effect of positivity and progress.
"By fostering empowerment, positivity and commitment to change, we can create opportunities for growth and transformation, both for individuals and entire communities," she says.
