Eunice Nyanchama Michieka

Born on July 3, 1998, in Nairobi, Kenya, Eunice spent most of her childhood in West Lafayette, Indiana, and Johnson City, Tennessee, graduating from Science Hill High School with high honors as a Presidential Scholars candidate before following her two sisters to Harvard College.

At Harvard, Eunice concentrated in Sociology and African and African American Studies (AAAS) and was heavily involved on campus. She chaired An Evening with Champions and the Harvard Black Arts Festival (BAF), served as a junior editor of The Harvard Crimson and on the publicity board of the Identities Fashion Show, and was social chair of the Association of Black Harvard Women as well as president of La Vie Club.

After graduating magna cum laude in 2019, she moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where she worked in supply chain management and operations and earned her MBA from Emory University.

Eunice was decisive and brilliant, a combination that made almost anything she set her mind to seem possible. Her ability to get it done extended beyond the classroom to every aspect of her life. As a preschooler, she ran a 5k race at the International Pathfinder Camporee, completing the race as the youngest participant. In elementary school, she went from watching gymnastics videos to enrolling in a gymnastics class within the year. One time, she decided she wanted a particular pair of Heelys that weren't available locally. Before long, the whole family was driving to a store in the next state after she had tracked down a pair herself and made sure she had saved enough money to make the purchase. In college, she would tell you she planned to meet an artist after their concert and the next day, as expected, she would have selfies with the artist and a story. Without a reservation, she would tell you she was going to a certain Michelin star restaurant in another country, and without fail she would manage to find a reservation and send photos and reviews. Even while juggling school and work, she would tell you she was coming to visit, offer a range of dates that worked best for you, and then be there. She was consistently making time to see friends and family around the world on their schedules, not her own.

A brilliant mind with a sensitive but also outgoing nature, Eunice always tried to experience life as fully as she could. She navigated the world as an enthusiastic foodie, a loyal friend to many, a devoted daughter and sister and a caring pet mom to her beloved cat, the late Patricia Denise. Though she was the youngest sibling in her own family, she possessed an incredibly sensitive and empathetic heart that drove her to seek out opportunities to act as an older sibling and mentor to others. She gave without reservation, selflessly sharing her home, her connections, her knowledge, and her time with anyone who needed guidance or a place to belong. What a loss to this world to not have experienced more of Eunice. Known for her beautiful smiles, she will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and all those who interacted with her. Sleep well until we see you when the Lord comes again.