Ambassador Mathilde Mukantabana highlighted the importance of the ongoing partnership between Rwanda and California State University Sacramento (CSUS), as the university launched the nation’s first Black Honors College on August 8, 2024.

An alumna of Sac State, Ambassador Mukantabana reflected on the university’s significant contributions to the Rwandan diaspora, particularly in the Sacramento area, and its ongoing collaboration with Rwanda.

 She also spotlighted the upcoming International Conference on Genocide by California State University Sacramento, scheduled for November 14-16, 2024, under the theme “Dimensions of Genocide: Persistence, Denial, Resistance, and Justice.”

Ambassador Mukantabana emphasized that the collaboration between Rwanda and California State University Sacramento has enriched the academic and cultural experiences of students and institutions in both countries, fostering a deep understanding and cooperation that will endure for generations.

She underscored the importance of this ongoing partnership, particularly through the newly launched Black Honors College, which she believes will open up further opportunities for educational exchanges, research collaborations, and community projects that benefit both nations.

“I am particularly excited about the opportunities that lie ahead as we continue to strengthen this partnership through the Black Honors College. Together, we can foster educational exchanges, research collaborations, and community projects that will benefit both our students and our societies” said Ambassador Mukantabana.

The opening ceremony of this groundbreaking college featured notable speakers, including Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Barack Obama, California State University Chancellor Mildred Garcia, Senior Advisor to President Biden Stephen K. Benjamin, Dr. Luke Wood, President of CSUS and Dr. Boatamo Ati Mosupyoe, Dean of Students and Black Honors College. Other guests included Sacramento's Mayor Darrell Steinberg, and other state officials, Board of Trustees members, donors, and the college’s inaugural cohort.

It is noteworthy that Ambassador Mukantabana’s late husband, Professor Alexandre Kimenyi, a distinguished professor of Pan African Studies at California State University Sacramento, played a pivotal role in laying the groundwork for the establishment of the Black Honors College.

According to California State University Sacramento, the Black Honors College will offer a comprehensive curriculum focusing on the Black and African American experience to students of all races, cultures, and majors. The college will feature specialized general education courses with smaller class sizes and faculty members who have a proven track record of success in serving Black students.

Ambassador Mathilde is honored on the Black Honors College Timeline of Black Excellence at California State University Sacramento. Additionally, in recognition of her global activism, career as an educator, and dedicated service as a diplomat, the Board of Trustees of the California State University and Sacramento State conferred upon her the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters last year.