Designing her future

How K-State helped Brunealla Ishimwe discover her purpose in community planning

WD

hen Brunealla Ishimwe first heard about Kansas State University’s College of Architecture, Planning & Design, or APDesign, she was sitting in a high school classroom in Fort Worth, Texas.

A presentation from an APDesign student introduced her to the world of architecture through urban design — and unknowingly, to the place where she would find her purpose.

Born in Portland, Maine, Ishimwe's story began long before that presentation. Her parents are from Rwanda, where her mother worked for the U.S. Embassy and earned the opportunity to study abroad. After years of service, her mother was granted an immigrant visa and relocated to the United States, bringing Ishimwe and her two sisters to Texas in 2019.

In K-State's College of Architecture, Planning & Design, Burenalla Ishimwe discovered a passion and a purpose to change the world as a regional and community planner.

“It was a big change for all of us,” Ishimwe recalled. “We were adjusting to a new culture, a new school system and a whole new way of life.”

She completed high school in Fort Worth in fall of 2022 and began at K-State in summer of 2023, considering her next steps.

“I wanted to do something meaningful,” she said. “When I remembered the K-State presentation from my high school, I decided to learn more about the program — and that’s where everything started to connect.”

Finding her spot on campus through Kompass and BSU

Before her first semester, Ishimwe joined the K-State Kompass program, a free three-day summer orientation designed to help incoming freshmen — including first-generation, Pell-eligible and other students at K-State's Manhattan campus — get acclimated to campus life and set up for academic success.

“Kompass changed my perspective on college,” she said. “It gave me a sense of belonging before classes even started. I met mentors, made meaningful friendships and learned about campus resources that allowed me to be prepared to begin my college career.”

That early experience inspired her to later become a Kompass mentor the following year, helping new students navigate their own college transitions.

“Because I know firsthand how much that support meant to me, I wanted to be that same person for others,” she explained.

As Ishimwe continued settling into campus life, she found another community where she felt understood and supported: the Black Student Union, or BSU — a student group that is open to all and promotes academic excellence and leadership of black students, while promoting Black culture across all aspects of life.

Through K-State's various student organizations, Brunealla Ishimwe found her voice and developed her skills as a student leader.

“BSU gave me a space where I didn’t have to explain who I was or where I came from, a home away from home” she says. “It is such a welcoming organization.”

Through weekly meetings, cultural events and leadership opportunities, she formed connections with students who shared not only her background, but her values and hopes for the future.

Allowing her to step into leadership roles even as a freshman, BSU helped her build confidence and a sense of presence on campus to advocate, lead, and collaborate.

“Being part of BSU reminded me that my identity is a strength,” she said. “It encouraged me to take up space and use my voice in meaningful ways.”

The community she found there continues to inspire her commitment to representation and belonging, both within APDesign and across the university.

Changing course — and finding her purpose

Initially, Ishimwe enrolled in APDesign's architecture program. But as her first year unfolded, she began to sense that her skills and passions — especially her desire to solve problems and engage directly with communities — might find a better home elsewhere in APDesign.

“Architecture was fascinating,” she says, “but I realized I wanted to make a broader social impact, not just design buildings.”

Her turning point came after conversations with Associate Dean Katie Kingery-Page, who encouraged her to explore the college's Regional and Community Planning, or RCP, program.

“Dean Kingery-Page really listened to me,” Ishimwe said. “She told me about internship opportunities, the community impact aspect of planning, and how it could align with my goals.”

With guidance from Mitzi Farmer, APDesign’s director of student and academic services, Ishimwe officially changed her major to RCP — an academic home that “fit perfectly.”

Through the MAPS Summer Bridge Program, she deepened her understanding of planning’s connection to equity, sustainability and community engagement.

A voice for connection and change

Now a third-year RCP student, Ishimwe reflected on how far she’s come — from a self-described introvert uncertain of her path to a confident leader and mentor within APDesign.

She’s especially proud of the relationships she’s built through Kompass and the MAPS program, as well as her leadership involvement in the Black Student Union.

“They gave me the courage to speak up, lead by example, share ideas and realize that my voice matters,” she said.

Ishimwe's story is one of resilience, adaptation and purpose. From her family’s journey from Rwanda to Maine to Texas, and now to Manhattan, she has woven each chapter into a narrative of growth and service.

“Planning allows me to connect people to their communities,” she said. “That’s what I’ve always wanted — to make a real difference where it’s needed most.”

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