Hoda (Hidy) Lowea Akila ’21 is from Cary, North Carolina. For Hidy, joining the Kenan Scholars Program seemed like the perfect way to be exposed to the intersectionality of the private and public sectors. She was also drawn to the educational opportunities offered by the program to combine her interest in business and research.

Hidy has spent a significant amount of time developing her research skills as an intern for Professor Maryann Feldman and developed her business acumen as a student consultant for Global Brigades. Beyond that, Hidy has travelled to Honduras to aid under-resourced entrepreneurial communities implement sustainable business practices. She is also on the board of UNC’s Residence Hall Association’s programming committee and is the captain of a Palestinian dance team on campus. Hidy has merged her academic and personal interests by becoming a member of the Delta Sigma Pi professional business fraternity.