Orubba, ’09, was named salutatorian of her class at the City College of New York-CUNY, where she earned double BA degrees in English and history.  At her graduation ceremony, Orubba delivered a speech expressing her gratitude for her father’s encouragement to pursue an education and to break free from the “girls don’t go to college” tradition in her Yemeni family. She so impressed fellow graduates and guests– including First Lady Michelle Obama– that she received an invitation to the White House’s United State of Women Summit. Orubba is now an advocate for other young women in her culture to stand up for their rights to an education.  She plans to earn a master’s degree in near eastern studies at New York University and pursue her PhD at the University of Michigan.