Before launching his career in international education, Lewis Cardenas (above, center), EducationUSA Regional Manager for South Asia, was inspired by his college professor, Dr. Emanuel Yewah, who led a course, Africa: Myth and Reality. To kick start our Embracing Connections series, Cardenas shares how a college course transformed his world view and instilled an appreciation for education abroad.
One person who had a profound impact on my life was Dr. Emanuel Yewah, Professor of French and Comparative Cultural Studies at Albion College. A native of Cameroon, Dr. Yewah specialized in the literatures and cultures of French-speaking communities, with a focus on Africa and the Caribbean. He earned his Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the University of Michigan.
As a first-year student, I enrolled in his seminar, Africa: Myth and Reality. Early in the semester, Dr. Yewah wrote the word “Africa” on the board and asked us to list everything we knew about the continent. We offered the usual stereotypes. He paused, looked at us, and asked, “Do you know when I saw my first lion?” We leaned forward, expecting a story from the savannah. With a smile, he said, “At the San Diego Zoo.” That moment shattered many assumptions and opened our minds.
Inspired by the course, I asked if we could take the class to Africa, like the France trip led by his colleague, which I took part in during my first semester. He doubted Albion was ready, but encouraged me to draft a proposal. I spent the summer between my first year and sophomore year researching flights, mapping itineraries, and modeling the plan after the France trip. By fall 1999, I presented it to him. Based on his expression, I think he assumed I wouldn’t follow through, but to my surprise, he not only read the proposal carefully, but he also brought it forward for board approval.
In the spring of 2000, I served as a teaching assistant for Dr. Yewah’s class, and that summer, we traveled with sixteen students to Cameroon. One of the most memorable experiences was visiting his home village of Batchingou, where we were welcomed by the village king, Chief Andre Flaubert Nana. In a remarkable gesture, the king broke centuries of tradition by personally serving each of us a traditional meal. In his culture, this act was considered taboo, making it an extraordinary sign of respect for our group. One of the dishes served was tripe, which I knew I could not eat. Not wanting to offend the king, I quietly passed my bowl under the table to my classmate Drew, who accepted it without hesitation. The switch went unnoticed, and the visit continued with meaningful conversation and a deep sense of cultural appreciation.
What struck me even more than the meal was witnessing Dr. Yewah’s deep reverence for the king and the customs of his home. Even though he had spent many years away from the village, he maintained the tradition of not standing taller than the king, honoring the values that shaped him. It was a profound lesson in humility, cultural respect, and the enduring strength of heritage.
Over the years, Dr. Yewah led ten student groups to Cameroon, offering experiences that included dinners with Chief Nana, visits with local schoolchildren, tours of cultural landmarks, and explorations of the Cameroonian coast and countryside. These trips inspired the creation of Albion’s Nwagni Project, which raised funds to rebuild and support an elementary school in Batchingou.
Dr. Yewah retired in the summer of 2025 as Albion’s most senior faculty member, having opened generations of students to new ways of seeing the world. His legacy is a testament to the impact he had on the minds and hearts of his students.
Is there someone who changed your perspective? Share your stories at Embracing Connections: One Story at a Time.