Home › Social Science › Geeks on a Mission: In Their Own Words

Geeks on a Mission: In Their Own Words

by Alex Hills

Student consultants working beyond the classroom

Regular price $17.85 USD
Regular price $27.90 USD Sale price $17.85 USD
Save 36%

Paperback New

Delivery to your door
In stock·Dispatches in 1–2 business days
Standard shipping* from $4.35
Standard shipping transit* 5–8 business days after dispatch

Faster options are available.

Rates and delivery estimates depend on your destination and item quantity. Estimates are informational only; the final shipping method and rate are selected at checkout.

Secure checkout
American Express Apple Pay DiscoverGoogle Pay Mastercard PayPalVisa
30-day eligible returns Returns & refunds policy

AlbakiReads Editorial

Student consultants working beyond the classroom

Through accounts from participants, *Geeks on a Mission: In Their Own Words* documents young professionals who spend summer vacations consulting for organizations in developing nations. The contributions describe professional work alongside reflections on confidence, personal growth, and the responsibilities of people with educational and economic advantages. Locations named in the accounts include Peru, Ghana, Palau, and Rwanda. Alex Hills’s description also places the project within his work advising and mentoring students as they address problems related to poverty, health, and other social challenges.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Readers interested in student volunteer work and international service.
  • Those curious about consulting projects in developing nations.
  • Readers interested in participants’ reflections on personal growth and civic responsibility.

Themes

Volunteer workInternational developmentProfessional servicePersonal growthSocial responsibility

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

Lucrative employment beckons, but they donate their summer vacations to work in developing nations around the world. They work as professional consultants, peers to the top executives in their client organizations, and, for these organizations, the work is critical. The clients receive top-notch professional assistance, and the students have an experience not available in any classroom. They are a new breed of young professional.

I was the same five-foot five-inch girl that arrived on June 5, barring a tan, a birthday, and maybe a few pounds. But I had grown. So tall.
- Hermona Tamrat, Peru 2012

"Do you believe you really made a difference ..." a radio interviewer ... asked me. I responded, "Yes, I do ... but I believe it made more of an impact in my life. It gave me confidence and helped me believe in myself. It helped me believe that I could do something big."
- Adrienne White, Ghana 2008

The volunteering experience has made me realize that, while I may not be able to completely change the world with my actions, I am able to do small things that make a difference. I hope to change the world - one step at a time.
- Yixin Liu, Palau 2009

I think I'll be volunteering for the rest of my life. I guess you can take the girl out of Peace Corps, but you can't take the Peace Corps out of the girl!
- Kathryn (Kayt) Dickens, Ghana 2008

I don't take for granted the opportunities I've had in life. I consider myself very fortunate. I benefited from my family, and I am very grateful for the values and culture they passed on to me. So I think that someone like me, privileged to attend some of the best schools in the United States, has an obligation to contribute to the political, social and economic improvement of developing countries in Africa.
- Alimou Bah, Rwanda 2011

Alex Hills is Distinguished Service Professor at Carnegie Mellon University. He has found ways to teach and encourage a new generation of young professionals to help solve problems of poverty, health and other ills that face the world. Working with his colleague, Professor Joseph Mertz, he advises and mentors students serving as consultants in developing nations. Dr. Hills has also written about the early days of Wi-Fi technology in his book Wi-Fi and the Bad Boys of Radio.
Shipping & returnsShipping options, delivery timing, and our return policy.

In-stock items normally dispatch within 1–2 business days. The ZIP-code estimator on this page is informational only; the final shipping method, price, and availability are confirmed at checkout for your full order.

For the initial delivery estimate we use these transit windows after dispatch: Standard 5–8 business days, Expedited 2–4 business days, and Priority 1–2 business days. Holiday delays are not included.

Eligible items can be returned within 30 days in accordance with our return policy.

Customer reviews