Oftentimes mainstream authors such as JK Rowling and Dr. Seuss are idolized for bringing alive a child’s inner imagination and introducing vivid colors never thought to be possible. At the same time, we tend to forget that these authors all started out as normal everyday people. We are, in fact, surrounded by them. One of those rising superstars is YaAdam Fye, an African born University of Hartford graduate. Fye, along with her mother and two sisters, have together created Fyen.

This agency facilitates their ability to write and publish stories in their own unique way. They work to inspire young girls from developing countries by creating characters that the girls can actually relate to. Fye has published three book series’ including The Royal Adventures of Princess Halima, The Samba and Batch Series, and The Bakary on Safari Series, with more to come. Her success has been well rewarded. In 2013, she was granted the Hillyer College Outstanding Young Alumnus Award for her work with international affairs.

In 2018, Fye was selected to attend Obama’s Leaders Conference. She was also among a select few recognized as a Quartz Africa Innovator of 2018, which was awarded to her by Bill Gates. Fye reflects on her college experience at the University of Hartford as one that empowered her and sparked her desire to contribute to her community. She was able to find her voice at the University with the help of professors such as Bilal Sekou, who inspired Fye to chase her passion.

Hartford became her second home and encouraged her to stand out and chase her dreams and become her own superhero. That same motivation that Fye received from The University of Hartford is what she wishes to spread to young girls in developing countries because after all everyone deserves to be their own superhero.