Alumni Spotlight: Weruché Uzoka (’20MA, Human Rights Studies)

What is your current role?
I wear many hats—sometimes all at once! I’m the Founder and CEO of Weruché Living and Weruché Inspires, where I lead initiatives at the intersection of arts, culture, media, and human rights advocacy. In addition to my work as a published author and playwright, I have a hand-made candle brand known as Oud-Aku. I also freelance as a journalist, writing on politics, migration, and identity—always with a storyteller’s heart and an advocate’s lens.

What are you working on now? 
I’m in full production mode for my debut stage play, FESTAC Baby – a birth story, set in Lagos, Nigeria during the iconic 1977 arts and culture festival. It premieres at a Los Angeles theater this spring. I’m also developing my Princess Naku children’s book series into an animated TV show, bringing her adventures to screens around the world. And because one hat just isn’t enough, I’m working on my first screenplay that is based on a true story.

What drew you to your field?
My personal journey as an immigrant woman navigating multiple cultural identities inspired me to create spaces for underrepresented stories. I’ve always been passionate about storytelling, social justice, and helping people reconnect with their roots.

What lessons from graduate school have you found useful in your professional life?
Graduate school honed my ability to think critically, communicate with purpose, and approach complex issues with creativity and clarity. It taught me to anchor my work in ethical principles, whether I’m writing, speaking, or creating. Most of all, it empowered me to show up with confidence and lead with intention.

What skill has unexpectedly helped you in your career?
Creative writing and poetry, which began as personal outlets, have become foundational to my public speaking, and advocacy work. These skills have allowed me to lead with vulnerability and connect across cultures with authenticity.

What is your favorite memory from your graduate years?
One of my most profound experiences was working on my autoethnography titled “Politics, Migration, and Human Rights,” a reflexive and evocative exploration of my journey as an asylum seeker in America. Writing it was both cathartic and transformative. It allowed me to merge personal narrative with cultural critique, and it became a blueprint for my ongoing work in human rights storytelling.

What are your passions outside of your work? 
I absolutely love music—it's my personal sanctuary—and I enjoy attending concerts whenever I can. I’m also developing my poetry series into a broader multimedia experience that blends spoken word, visuals, and performance, allowing me to explore storytelling in new and expressive ways.

What is your advice for current GSAS students?
Own your story, even the parts that feel fragmented or unfinished. Academia is only one chapter. Your voice, vision, and lived experience are your most valuable tools in shaping the world you want to see.

What is next for you, professionally or otherwise? 
I’m considering pursuing a PhD in cultural anthropology or public policy to ground my work and research, with the ultimate goal of teaching and diving deeper into the intersection of culture, migration, and social justice. Of course, walking such a unique path means tuning into my intuition for guidance—so for now, I’m patiently waiting to hear what the next chapter will be (and hoping it involves less coffee and more clarity).

What motivates you to give to Columbia?
Giving to Columbia is my way of investing in the next generation of thinkers and changemakers. I believe in empowering students—especially immigrants, creatives, and underrepresented voices—to lead boldly and authentically.