Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q) is hosting two junior-year students this semester from leading Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the United States. Lorin Williams, an Information Systems major from Prairie View A&M University, and Indya Griffin, a Computer Science major from North Carolina A&T State University, are studying at CMU-Q through an exchange program organized by the Embassy of Qatar and Qatar Foundation.

While both students sought an international experience during college, neither had considered coming to the Middle East until they were nominated by their universities.

Both students at first dismissed the idea of Qatar as an option for study abroad. “I don’t think I had heard of Qatar when they first approached me,” said Griffin.

Williams only knew of Qatar through the media, which at first gave her pause. “But then I thought, the media gets lots of things wrong. I can’t rely on what other people say, I want to learn for myself.” The students arrived for the beginning of semester in August 2025, and both were struck by the welcoming campus environment. 

“You have to be here to really understand the hospitality of Arab culture,” said Williams. “I think we came here with preconceived notions of what we would find, and they were dispelled immediately.” 

For Griffin, religious tolerance was a concern. “I am a Christian woman, and I didn’t know if people would accept me,” she said. Within her first week in Doha, she found connection at a local Christian church, and she has come to realize that her Muslim classmates are deeply respectful of people of different faiths. 

The academic experience has been equally impactful. Williams is taking specialized courses not available at her home university. For Griffin, the rigorous coursework served as an important validation of her education.

“It really built confidence in the education I’m getting at my HBCU,” Griffin said. She notes that the classes she is taking in computer science are very rigorous, but she is well prepared academically for the challenge.

The presence of students from the HBCU system—a cornerstone of American higher education—brings new and valuable perspectives to the classrooms in Education City. This exchange enriches classroom discussions, fosters cross-cultural understanding, and provides the CMU-Q community with a direct connection to a different, dynamic academic culture.

The semester at CMU-Q is proving to be a formative experience for both Williams and Griffin, extending far beyond academic credits. It is a lesson in challenging assumptions, the importance of firsthand experience, and the ability to find a welcoming community thousands of miles from home.