Henry Musoma 2013 receives Dr. Robert M. Gates Inspiration Award

Henry Musoma, a lecturer in the Undergraduate Special Programs Office at Mays, almost didn’t attend the Regents’ Scholars spring banquet because it was his son’s 2nd birthday, but he went to support his students.

By the end of the night, the event was imprinted in his memory. He was given the Dr. Robert M. Gates Inspiration Award, nominated by his students, who spoke highly of his support and dedication.

When Musoma’s students heard the presenter use their teacher’s catch phrase, “Your network is your net worth,” they erupted in loud cheers and laughter. Afterward, they crowded around him. “No one could even hear a word after that,” Musoma said.

Henry Musoma and Mays Business School Regents’ Scholars

Another emotional aspect of the program for Musoma was that he was honored in the presence of the keynote speaker, Wynn Rosser — the first person he met at Texas A&M and his undergraduate advisor.

Among his many student-oriented activities since his arrival at Mays in Fall 2013, Musoma has worked with a group of about 60 Mays Business School Regents Scholars. Regents Scholars are required to participate in learning communities, and Musoma led his students in a one-hour class that included discussions, field trips and samples at the international food festival. He also asked them to research a world leader.

“I want to open their eyes and increase their awareness of the world around them,” he says. “I have seen a big change in these students’ confidence since I first met them. I am so proud of them.”

Musoma was born and raised in the Southern African nation of Zambia. He completed his high school education in Zambia and Mozambique, respectively. In 1996, Dr. Musoma relocated to the United States to attend college, receiving both his master’s and undergraduate degrees from Texas A&M with a concentration in International Agricultural Development.

He is a recent graduate of the Educational Leadership and Administration Program at TCU. He and his wife of 10 years, Tyra, have three children, Kezia, Joshua and Olivia. Prior to joining TCU, he served on the Texas A&M faculty as lecturer and academic advisor in the College of Agriculture. He also held the lectureship for Texas A&M’s premier multi-disciplinary leadership program, the Academy for Future International Leaders.

Musoma has traveled extensively in Southern Africa, where his parents were posted in the diplomatic corps. His travels have taken him to Great Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa, Botswana and most recently Tunisia, where he and his wife led eight Aggies on a five-week multidisciplinary study abroad sponsored by the Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture.

The Gates Inspiration Award was established in 2007 to honor Gates’ legacy and tenure at Texas A&M. It is given through The Division of Scholarships & Financial Aid at Texas A&M University. Gates, who served as president of the university from 2002 to 2006, routinely challenged the faculty and staff to provide support for Regents’ Scholars through mentoring and advising.

The Regents’ Scholarship is designed to assist first-generation college students in achieving their educational goals at Texas A&M University. Up to 600 recipients receive $5,000 per year for up to four years, with the ability to add other scholarships. Each recipient must be a first-generation college student — meaning neither parent has earned a bachelor’s degree — with a family’s adjusted gross income of less than $40,000 per year.

The Regents’ Scholars Organization provides an opportunity for the scholars to form a close-knit community at Texas A&M. It hosts monthly meetings and participates in community service projects, fund-raising events and social events.

Regents’ Scholars must attend an orientation, participate in an Academic Success Program as designated by their college, live on-campus during their first year and attend the spring banquet at the conclusion of the first year.

About Mays Business School

Texas A&M University’s Mays Business School educates more than 5,000 undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students in accounting, finance, management, management information systems, marketing and supply chain management. Mays consistently ranks among the top public business schools in the country for its undergraduate and MBA programs, and for faculty research. The mission of Mays Business School is creating knowledge and developing ethical leaders for a global society.