Emmanuel Okeke CC’26 majored in neuroscience and behavior. He is being recognized for his commitment to empowering students from underrepresented backgrounds and fostering diasporic unity across Columbia. As a Black History Month Committee Member and Advocacy Committee member at the Intercultural Resource Center, Okeke organized the University’s first Black Culture Connect, successfully securing grant funding to create a vibrant space for cross-cultural dialogue across graduate and undergraduate communities. He has also dedicated years of leadership to the African Student Association as VP and senior advisor, organizing events like Afropolitan and African Thanksgiving to celebrate African heritage. Okeke also founded the Columbia undergraduate chapter of the Student National Dental Association to build vital mentorship and funding pipelines for underrepresented pre-dental students. He has actively bridged gaps between student organizations and academic departments to create more inclusive, educational spaces and experiences for all Columbia students.