Alumna of the Month: Uyanga E. Uka - Mongolia
By Leo Harten, Director of Alumni, August 8, 2017
Uyanga E. Uka is Green River alumna from Mongolia. She attended Green River College from 2008-2010.
"It seems like yesterday I was featured as the Student of the Month - July at Green River, but it has been seven years! As Rich Rutkowski, then-President of Green River forewarned us at the commencement: the years after college will fly by – and it certainly has.
"In 2010, I received my Associate’s degree in Business and transferred to University of Washington’s Foster School of Business majoring in Accounting. I owe my special gratitude to the unrivalled International Programs advising team.
"College is about discovery – whether you’re discovering yourself, a new knowledge, place or passion. I certainly have discovered all of these at Green River. Apart from the beautiful evergreen campus, the college is truly international! The campus life is entirely diverse. It’s large enough to offer something for everyone, but small enough to feel like home. At Green River, I became so eager to understand different cultures, be inspired by them and make friends all over. I got my first job ever in the International Programs front office (I still have my nametag). There I assisted new student orientations and was ready to communicate, guide and help international students at any time. Students arrived from around the globe and from myriad backgrounds, renewing and revitalizing the student body, stimulating ideas and innovation that enhanced all of our learning experiences. Later on, at UW business school, the interpersonal skills I acquired at Green River became fundamental in succeeding both in and out of the classroom.
"Over time this passion for multicultural communication I developed at Green River gradually translated into a professional career in cross-border taxation. I obtained a Master’s degree specializing in international taxation from University of Finance and Economics of Mongolia. Currently, I am working as a tax professional for a global mining firm – Oyu Tolgoi which became the №1 taxpayer in the country for the last two years. Together with our team of over 3,000 engineers and professionals we are building a globally competitive copper business that has become the major contributor to the Mongolian economy. The career path that I have taken on was largely shaped by my experience at Green River, and wherever life takes me from here Green River College will always have a special place in my heart."
