Deborah Karny Gonkpah began her studies at Bucknell University in the fall of 2022. Since then, she has held various impactful roles on campus, including Strategic Philanthropist Intern for Bucknell University Advancement and Public Safety Community Service Assistant. Deborah also serves as Vice President of The National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS), Bucknell University Chapter, where she fosters leadership and community engagement. As an International Relations major with a double minor in Management and Biology, she brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her work, combining global awareness, organizational expertise, and a passion for health and science.
In the summer of 2023, Deborah returned to Liberia to implement critical community projects. She installed three new latrines—building upon her earlier work of installing one—and led a Community-Led Sanitation Project. This initiative was funded by SHE-CAN’s Make A Change Program ($2K) and the Davis for Peace Grant ($10K). Additionally, she worked as a Program Management Intern for Mercy Corps, gaining valuable experience in organizational development and community resilience.
Deborah is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of We Can Liberia, a non-profit youth organization dedicated to empowering Liberia through cleanliness, education, and business initiatives. Her efforts have included hosting radio shows on sex education and sanitation awareness, raising funds for the Moduc Orphanage Home, the Buchanan Jail Complex, and the Buchanan Government Hospital. She has also provided school supplies to 155 girls and 43 boys in Bong, Grand Bassa, and rural Montserrado counties. Her We Can Liberia scholarship program currently supports ten disadvantaged students, with a long-term goal of educating fifty girls by 2030.
Her achievements and contributions have inspired her ambitions in the public sector and the medical field. Deborah graduated among the top three students in her high school class and was one of the top scorers on the WASSCE, Liberia’s national exam. She was awarded the George Weah Learn Project Scholarship and the Nyonblee Care Foundation Scholarship in recognition of her academic excellence.
Highlights of Deborah’s past work experience include:
- Strategic Philanthropist Intern, Bucknell University Advancement
- Program Management Intern, Mercy Corps (2023)
- Public Safety Community Service Assistant, Bucknell University
- Buchanan National Port Intern, Grand Bassa
- Radio Gbehzohn Intern, Liberia
Deborah’s academic achievements include being on the Dean’s List with a GPA of 3.75. She is fluent in English, Kolloqua, and Spanish.
Deborah firmly believes that education is a powerful tool for women to realize their full potential. Through her leadership, advocacy, and dedication to progress, she continues to inspire transformative change in Liberia and beyond.
