There was a time when Alisha Koulen pursued her education without one of the most basic necessities many students take for granted—electricity. Growing up in Sophia, one of Guyana’s most underserved communities, she faced hardships that could easily have limited her ambitions. Instead, they became the foundation of a remarkable journey that has now earned her a place at Columbia University, one of the world’s most prestigious universities and the alma mater of former United States President Barack Obama.
For the past four years, Koulen has helped shape the futures of thousands of Guyanese children as Operations Manager of STEMGuyana. Now, as she prepares to leave for New York to pursue another master’s degree, her story stands as a powerful reminder that talent is not confined by geography or circumstance—it flourishes when determination meets opportunity.
Koulen’s departure was marked with an emotional tribute from Dr. Karen Abrams, Founder and Executive Director of STEMGuyana, who credited her with helping transform a fledgling organisation into a national movement with an expanding international footprint.
“For the past four years, Alisha Koulen has served as Operations Manager of STEMGuyana. In that role, she managed the complex machinery that keeps a national organization moving,” Abrams wrote.
She said Koulen coordinated STEM clubs, Learning Pods, camps, workshops, volunteers and partnerships, while mastering the relationship-building that enabled the organisation to grow.
“She built relationships. She organised events. She welcomed visitors and supporters. She helped transform a small organisation with ambitious dreams into a vast and growing global community of supporters, partners, donors, volunteers, and friends.”
Founded in 2016 by Abrams, STEMGuyana is a non-profit organisation dedicated to equipping young people with skills in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Through robotics, coding, artificial intelligence, Learning Pods and community STEM clubs, the organisation has reached tens of thousands of children across Guyana, helping prepare them for careers in an increasingly technology-driven world.
Koulen’s own life reflects that mission.
She attended North Georgetown Primary and later Brickdam Secondary before earning an undergraduate degree in Biology, a Postgraduate Diploma in Education and a Master’s degree in Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development from the University of the West Indies. She went on to become a teacher, climate advocate and one of Guyana’s youth delegates to the COP28 Climate Change Conference, emerging as a respected voice on education, technology and environmental sustainability.
Yet Abrams believes the roots of Koulen’s success extend beyond academic achievement.
Recalling a conversation they once shared, Abrams wrote: “I remember saying to Alisha one day, ‘You have the talent to achieve great things. I bet your mom is proud of you.’ Without hesitation she smiled and replied: ‘My mom is so proud of me. She believes I can do anything.‘”
“I have never forgotten those words,” Abrams continued. “What a gift it is for a child to move through the world carrying the unshakable belief that someone sees greatness within them.”
Abrams said Koulen’s story embodies the reason STEMGuyana exists.
“Our young people are trying to overcome difficult odds,” she wrote. “And yet, every once in a while, someone like Alisha emerges. A young woman from humble beginnings who refused to let circumstances define her future. A young woman who prepared herself relentlessly. A young woman who proved that talent exists everywhere and that excellence can emerge from every village, every neighborhood, and every circumstance.”
She added that STEMGuyana’s mission extends far beyond teaching science and technology.
“This is precisely why STEMGuyana exists. This is why we prepare young people for every eventuality. This is why we teach communication, collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving, and technological fluency.”
As she prepares for her next chapter, Koulen has reflected on the partnerships that helped shape her journey. In a recent social media post following a United States Independence Day reception, she highlighted STEMGuyana’s collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in Georgetown.
“Events like these are a reminder that meaningful partnerships are built through shared commitment and sustained collaboration,” she wrote.
“Over the past few years, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside the U.S. Embassy through STEMGuyana, supporting STEM Clubs and educational initiatives that continue to create opportunities for young people across Guyana.”
While expressing gratitude for the relationships she has built, Koulen said collaboration has “always been at the heart of creating lasting impact.”
Watching Koulen embark on the next stage of her journey is bittersweet, Abrams said, but it also affirms that STEMGuyana’s mission is succeeding
“At STEMGuyana, we often say that our mission is to prepare globally competitive young people,” she wrote. “Today, one of our own is stepping onto the global stage.”
Her final words captured the significance of Koulen’s journey—not only for STEMGuyana, but for every young Guyanese growing up under difficult circumstances.
“We are sad to see you leave our daily work, but we are deeply happy to watch you go out into the world. Go boldly. Learn generously. Dream without limits.”
Alisha’s acceptance to Columbia University marks the beginning of another remarkable chapter. From a childhood marked by hardship in Sophia to the halls of one of the world’s most prestigious universities, Koulen has demonstrated that determination, education and service can overcome even the most difficult beginnings. The thousands of young people she inspired through STEMGuyana are part of her enduring legacy, while her own journey now serves as a beacon of hope for every child who believes that humble beginnings need not define their future.
