Marlyne Nitunga ’25: Keeping an Eye on Global Financial Markets
As a first-generation international student at Whitman College, Marlyne Nitunga ’25 experienced how transformative access, guidance and encouragement can be when navigating unfamiliar paths. On her way to a career in the finance industry, Whitman helped connect her with internships that opened doors, immersive learning opportunities that gave her hands-on experience, and an empowering community of friends, advisors and mentors.
Now, as a Markets Operations Analyst at Citi, her work is an essential part of keeping global markets moving. And she advocates for students with big educational and career dreams of their own through the nonprofit Light 4 Refugee.
“Whitman shaped my career path in ways I did not initially expect. Through supportive professors and meaningful friendships, I gained both academic and personal guidance
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Marlyne’s Pathway
2021 | Admitted to Whitman
as a Davis United World College Scholar from Karusi, Burundi
2021–2025 | Joined student clubs,
including the Whitman College Economics Club and Whitman Investment Company
2022–2023 | Served as Secretary
for the Whitman African Students Association and Global Whitties
2022–2024 | Served on the Student Life Committee
2022–2025 | Worked student jobs
in the Academic Resource Center, Human Resources, Harper Joy Theatre and Reid Campus Center
2023 | Completed the Goldman Sachs Virtual Insight Series,
a multiweek educational program for undergraduates exploring careers in financial services
2023 | Completed a summer internship as an Operations Consultant Intern
with DIFFvelopment, a nonprofit dedicated to fostering sustainable Black entrepreneurship and wealth-building, supported by a Whitman Internship Grant
2023–2025 | Selected as a Basta Fellow,
a career prep program designed to support first-generation college students
2024 | Worked as an Undergraduate Research Assistant in the Economics Department
on a research project related to heat adaptation
2024 | Completed a summer internship as an Operations Summer Analyst
at Citi
May 2025 | Graduated from Whitman
with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a minor in Finance
2025–Present | Works as a Markets Operations Analyst
at Citi
2025–Present | Serves as Director of Partnerships
for Light 4 Refugee, a nonprofit that empowers refugee youth through academic preparation, career guidance and mentorship
“I relied heavily on the CCEC’s resources to network with alumni working in the field I am now pursuing. Advice from peers in my department about the programs they completed also helped me position myself more confidently in a competitive industry.
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Upward Pathways. Our alumni’s diverse student experiences and career paths showcase the transformative power of a Whitman education. Find other Upward Pathways.