Former class president at Queens elected Elon University Youth Trustee

A recent graduate of Queens University of Charlotte has been elected to serve as a youth trustee for Elon University, bringing to the role his record of student leadership on campus with a commitment to service across the community.

Emmanuel Omari ’26 will serve a three-year term as Youth Trustee, joining Elizabeth “Liz” Kwon L’23 and Rafi Dahdal ’24 G’24 in youth leadership roles for the university’s governing body.

The Board of Trustees has ultimate corporate and fiduciary responsibility for Elon University. It oversees Elon’s long-term health and strategic direction, educational policy, finances and operations, and overall advancement of the university’s mission.

As a Presidential Fellow in the Office of the President at Queens, Omari supported executive leadership through institutional research, governance analysis for the Board of Trustees, strategic benchmarking of peer institutions, coordinated executive-level events, and board communications.

Omari, who described his youth trustee appointment as “truly an honor,” also served as senior class president, a four-term international representative in the Student Government Association, president of the iBelong Mentoring Program and co-president of the Health Equity Alliance.

Additional leadership roles include service on the Student Alumni Council, the Data Analytics Student Association executive board and as an admissions ambassador. In recognition of his achievements, Omari was recognized in May with the 2026 Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, the most prestigious undergraduate award bestowed at Queens.

Originally from Accra, Ghana, Omari attended Ghana National College before coming to the United States in 2021 through the AFS Intercultural YES exchange program and spending a year at Charlotte Country Day School. He later enrolled at Queens University of Charlotte as an international student and Presidential Scholar, graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in data analytics and minors in finance and mathematics. He begins working in September as an AI & Data Associate Consultant with Ernst & Young in New York City.

With experience spanning data, artificial intelligence, institutional governance and student leadership, Omari said he looks forward to joining the Elon University Board of Trustees as a youth trustee and contributing his recent student perspective informed by academic achievement, public service and cross-campus leadership.

“My role as a youth trustee presents an opportunity to help shape a historic moment for both institutions,” Omari said. “I’m excited to contribute a recent student perspective to conversations about how the traditions of both institutions might be honored while creating a stronger future together.”