USA: Cameroonian-born Dr. Voufo becomes first Black female to obtain Ph.D. in Neuroscience

By Amina Hilda

Dr. Christiane Voufo joined the list of personalities flying Cameroon’s flag internationally after she successfully obtained a Ph.D. in Neuroscience, becoming the first-ever Black female to do so at the Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute at UC Berkeley.

On Friday, May 19, 2023, Dr. Christiane Voufo graduated from The Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute at UC Berkeley, ranked the first public university in the United States of America.

“I dared myself to dream, I dared myself to act, and I dared myself to rise to the occasion,” she said in a tweet.

Reacting to the achievement, Jean de Dieu Momo, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Justice expressed his gratitude for making Ndop, where she originates from, proud.

“Thank you for hoisting high Ndop, the national heritage of Cameroon on the occasion of this historic moment for you, your family, and all those who love and encourage a job well done,” a social media user said.

They went on: ” On this historic occasion, she was selected as the only student to speak to a plethora of teachers, students, families, and friends from all over the world. It is with a verve worthy of the 237 where she comes from that Dr. Voufo thanked her university for the education she received there.”

Despite the odds and challenges facing Cameroonians at home, many who have moved to the diaspora have been raising the country high through their numerous personal achievements.

It is worthy of note that Monique Mendes, a Jamaican, also achieved a similar feat when she successfully defended her doctoral thesis at the University of Rochester on July 31, 2020, becoming the school’s first Black woman to achieve a Ph.D. in neuroscience from that institution.