Darius Sudayi, ’18, ’19

Embodying the global experience

"My time at Columbus State University has afforded me an opportunity to learn with people from different walks of life: professors, army captains, restaurant managers and so forth. I've gotten to learn and network with people from nearly every continent."

That says a great deal coming from Darius Sudayi, who came to CSU by way of his native Tanzania. Now with two CSU degrees under his belt - a bachelor's in sociology he completed in 2018 and a master's in organizational leadership he earned in a year's time in 2019 - he's currently pursuing a second graduate degree in our new cybersecurity management master's program.

His favorite class so far? His master's-level "Negotiations and Conflict Resolution" class, which relies on role play and mock negotiations to help him hone basic and advanced techniques in the subject.

"My program has offered me an in-depth knowledge in the areas of servant, strategic and organizational leadership, as well as employee development and management," he notes. "This knowledge has improved my problem-solving skills."

Along with his academic studies, Sudayi has continued his work as an Anglican minister, while branching out as an art archives assistant with the university's Bo Bartlett Center and assisting the CSU Foundation with administrative and financial operations.

His tenacity has paid off through academic honors that include CSU's John Townsend Achievement Award, and membership in both the National Society of Leadership and Success and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Despite his active co-curricular and extra-curricular schedule, his primary focus remains on his coursework - and Sudayi advises his peers to place their focus there as well to remain successful.

"Try to stick to deadlines and develop the discipline to start assignments early. This discipline will prove invaluable when you get that dream job!"