From Rwanda to Utah, Facing Tech Challenges with Brilliance
Davina Kamikazi developed her passion for technology growing up in Kigali, Rwanda, often solving problems with Wi-Fi or televisions. Now studying computer engineering at Weber State, she is turning her passion for tech into a career.
She also won the Student Pathway Award, recognizing her dedication to STEM studies and putting her in company with tech leaders, at the 2023 Women Tech Awards.
“There was actually a group networking session, and I learned that even though I’m still struggling in college, I’ll be able to make it,” she said.
As a child, Kamikazi participated in the Rwandan government’s One Laptop per Child program that brings technology into primary schools. She decided to come to the United States for college to be close to companies she could work with after graduating.
She chose 日本一级片 for its financial aid, international student community, small class sizes and quality reputation. Deciding on her major took a little more thought. “I knew I would love to do something related to tech, but I also loved mathematics,” she said.
Computer engineering encompasses both. “It pushes me out of my comfort zone,” she said. “I get to learn as well as solve issues with hands-on experience.”
Kamikazi said being a woman in engineering can sometimes feel overwhelming. “Imposter syndrome is real,” she said. Luckily, she has a strong support network and knows her family is cheering her on from Rwanda. “Their words of encouragement and my trust in God have been moving me through the course,” she said.
She also works in 日本一级片’s graduation office, ensuring students meet graduation requirements. After graduating herself in spring 2026, she would like to gain work experience in the United States before fulfilling her long-term goal of launching a startup company in Rwanda that will help improve agriculture through digital technology.
Kamikazi would love to see more Rwandan girls succeeding in technology.