Inspired by Mentorship:
Ambassador Manali Ghurye’s Path to Leadership

One moment with Manali Ghurye (’27) and you’ll recognize her as a confident, effervescent and capable spokesperson for the University of Houston Advancement. However, that wasn’t always the case; not long ago, she would have described herself as quite timid. That all changed due to the influence of powerful role models and mentorship.

Ghurye is a sophomore Honors Mechanical Engineering student at UH as well as the vice chair of the Advancement Ambassadors. Additionally, she is a Bonner Leader, a teaching assistant and an Engineering Recruitment Ambassador. On any given day, she actively engages in class discussions and extracurricular activities, always ready to extend a helping hand with a smile, provide information and even offer tissues to someone having a tough day.

The role modeling she received from her parents significantly contributed to her desire to help and mentor others. Her family moved to Houston from India in 1991 as part of her father’s pursuit of a master’s degree and doctorate at UH. He ended up assisting other Indian graduate students in transitioning to life in America while they pursued their education. Many of them became like extended family to the Ghuryes.

As the years went by, it was only natural for Manali and her sister to follow in their father’s footsteps and enroll at UH. They had grown up hearing his stories about graduate student life and their mother’s reflections on how welcoming everyone was when she secured a position at the UH Cullen College of Engineering. The graduate students her father had helped shared many aspects of Cougar life, making the decision an easy one.

Once enrolled as a freshman, Ghurye immersed herself in both activities and academics, earning a place on the Dean’s List and receiving the Academic Excellence Scholarship, the C. V. Kirkpatrick Engineering Scholarship and the Jane and Ronald Lerner Scholarship.

“The Advancement Ambassadors organization has provided me with so much,” Ghurye said. “A community, courage and a belief in myself and my abilities that I have never had before. The two cohorts of Ambassadors that I have gotten to know since joining have been filled with people so unlike myself that have endless charisma and character. It has been such a treat to call them my friends.

“The Ambassadors also did a fantastic job of making me feel like a valued member of their team. Even though I only completed one semester with them, many Ambassadors nominated me to run for a leadership position. As timid as I used to be, they believed in me so much that I began to believe in myself as well. Now, I serve as the vice chair of the Advancement Ambassadors, and I cannot thank these Ambassadors enough for what they have done to make me become a stronger leader, friend and student.”

Ghurye is quick to express her gratitude as a student who benefits from multiple scholarships. She appreciates the staff at the University of Houston for their assistance in gathering resources for students, as well as the community of donors who provide direct support.

“The Ambassadors organization has provided me with more opportunities to interact with both groups and thank them for their work. I can now begin repaying them for the peace of mind they have given to me and my family.”