ECU Elects Cameroonian Scholar, Precious Esong Sone as First African VP of Graduate Student Senate

By Tosin Clegg

His trailblazing election at a U.S. research university signals Africa’s growing influence in higher education leadership.
When Precious Esong stepped up to take his oath of office as Vice President of the Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) at East Carolina University (ECU), history was made. His story transcended the walls of academia and became a moment of continental pride. For the first time in ECU’s century-old history, an African international student born and raised in rural Cameroon has been elected to one of the university’s highest graduate leadership offices.
ECU, located in North Carolina, is a Predominantly White Institution (PWI) serving more than 5,500 graduate and professional students across multiple colleges. The G.P.S.S recognized as the official governing body for graduate and professional students plays a decisive role in shaping policy and institutional advocacy.
As Vice President, Precious Esong Sone occupies one of the GPSS’s most powerful executive seats, charged with representing the graduate student body before the Chancellor, Provost Graduate School and Student Government Association etc,. He oversees outreach and communication across the university, serves on the Graduate Curriculum Committee that approves new academic programs, and, when necessary, assumes the duties of President. This makes him a key figure in ECU’s graduate policy direction and student engagement—a constitutional office that blends academic governance, leadership, and strategic communication at the highest level of the institution
A Journey from Margins to Leadership
Standing before his peers during his swearing-in, Sone made sure to remind the audience who he was and where he came from.
“I am an international student from the English-speaking Southwest Region of Cameroon,” he said, his voice steady but full of emotion. “I grew up in a rural community where opportunities were reserved only for the privileged. Many of my friends never had the chance to dream beyond survival.”
He spoke candidly about the Anglophone conflict, a civil war that has and continues to displace thousands in Cameroon’s Northwest and Southwest regions. “That war forced me to leave,” he said quietly. “While some of my brothers and sisters have picked up arms in the struggle, I chose the path of education—to fight ignorance and inequality with knowledge.”
Sone’s story from the dusty roads of his hometown in Cameroon to the executive leadership of a major U.S. research university mirrors that of many young Africans who rise above hardship to redefine leadership. His victory at ECU is not just personal; it symbolizes the resilience of an African youth in diaspora leadership striving for global influence despite structural odds. “Representation is powerful,” he says, “but responsibility is greater. I stand not just for myself or my country, but for a new image of Africa—innovative, compassionate, and capable of leading at the highest levels.”
Scholar, Innovator, and Global Health Visionary
Long before stepping into leadership at East Carolina University, Precious Esong Sone had already distinguished himself as one of Cameroon and Africa’s most promising young scholars in public health and healthcare management. His journey reflects a rare blend of intellectual rigor, practical innovation, and servant leadership that continues to define his professional identity today.
After earning dual bachelor’s degrees in public health as well as environmental Sustainability & Agricultural Science from the Pan African Institute for Development–West Africa (PAID-WA) in Buea, Cameroon, Sone devoted himself to community-driven health and sustainability initiatives that empowered underserved populations. It was through this grassroots work that he discovered his passion for connecting technology, health systems, and social equity—a purpose that would later shape his graduate studies and research career.
At East Carolina University (ECU), Sone is currently pursuing an MBA in Healthcare Management and Marketing. He currently serves as a volunteer at ECU Health Medical Center, where he supports patient experience across multiple units such as the cancer center, infusion clinic, emergency department and family medicine assisting patients and their families, helping with documentation and navigation, and collaborating with nurses and clinical staff to ensure patients receive timely and compassionate care. Colleagues often describe him as “a leader who thinks like an innovator but acts like a healer.”
A prolific researcher, Sone has authored several peer-reviewed publications spanning artificial intelligence, hospital administration, and public health. His widely cited paper, “The ROI of AI in Hospital Administration and Patient Care,” published in the Scholars Journal of Applied Medical Sciences, introduced a human-centered framework for evaluating AI’s impact in hospitals—measuring patient safety, staff engagement, and service efficiency rather than mere financial gains.
Leading at a Distinguished Institution
At ECU, Sone quickly distinguished himself as a scholar and advocate. Before his election, he served as an executive member within the international student association (ISA), known for his focus on student well-being, mentorship, diversity, and sustainability. His peers saw a leader who listened, built consensus, and turned ideas into action.
His election as Vice President marks a turning point, not only for international students but for ECU’s culture of leadership. “This position is a great opportunity for every student to have their voice heard,” Sone said after his victory. “I am overwhelmed with gratitude to represent everyone—international, domestic, rich or poor—because everyone’s opinions count in making ECU a safe, welcoming, and sustainable university for future and upcoming students.”
Since assuming office, Sone has strengthened collaboration between graduate leaders and administrators, expanded research visibility, and advocated for inclusion across all levels of campus life.
Gratitude and Vision
At his swearing-in, Sone publicly thanked ECU’s Chancellor, Provost, Graduate School, Interim Dean Cathy Cox, faculty, staff, and students “for trusting me without discrimination of my background.”
He sees his victory as symbolic of something greater: that diversity and leadership can thrive together. “ECU has shown that inclusion is not a slogan—it’s a practice,” he said. “I stand here as proof that no matter where you come from, your voice matters.”
Looking ahead, Sone plans to use his platform to expand opportunities for international collaboration, student mentorship, and sustainable innovation. His dream, he says, is simple but profound: “to become a hospital CEO who leads with empathy and evidence, and to keep inspiring others to turn adversity into purpose.”