In Memory of Ibrahim Diallo '23

The following message was recently shared with the campus community.

 

Dear Faculty, Staff, Students, and the Class of 2023,

I’m writing this afternoon with devastating news to share with our campus community.

Just one day after Sunday’s Commencement ceremony, new University of Hartford graduate Ibrahim Diallo ’23 passed away unexpectedly after suffering a medical episode. Ibrahim earned his degree in finance from the Barney School of Business and was a beloved member of our STRIDE program (Success Team for Readiness, Improvement, Diversity and Excellence). I was honored to shake his hand on Sunday and know how hard he worked to earn his UHart degree, as he graduated magna cum laude.

We understand this news is incredibly difficult to hear, especially after celebrating his accomplishments and educational journey last weekend. We are holding his friends and family, as well as his fellow members of the Class of 2023, in our thoughts and prayers.

Ibrahim, who was originally from New York, arrived at UHart and quickly found a tight-knit group of friends within STRIDE where he later became a peer mentor, and also forged close relationships with staff members in the Division of Student Success.

“Ibrahim was an enthusiastic member of the STRIDE Program, BETA Class. With STRIDE as part of his foundation, he aspired to be excellent and to gain the most of his education and journey at UHart. He is the model of what it is to overcome challenges and arrive victorious and accomplished,” says Ja Hannah, first-year student advisor and success coach, and a co-coordinator and instructor of STRIDE.

As a first-generation college student, Ibrahim didn’t shy away from a challenge and continued looking out for his family, always making decisions with them in mind. Ibrahim was known for his kind and generous nature, and his loss is a heartbreaking shock to his family in New York and at UHart.

The Dean of Students office and CAPS will be available to offer resources for anyone in need. Services for Ibrahim were private. We know the University community joins us in expressing our sincere condolences to Ibrahim’s family and friends, and we will continue offering support to those who were close to him.

Ibrahim's work ethic and compassion for others were emblematic of what STRIDE and the entire UHart community represent, and we will together remember and honor the legacy he created.

Sincerely,

Aaron Isaacs
Dean of Students