Cheick Oumar Tangara graduated from Michigan State University (MSU), school of Agricultural Food and Resources Economics (AFRE) in 2014, in Agricultural Business Management with Specialization in Economics Policy. Before going to the US, Tangara studied Economics at the Lycee technique de Bamako and received a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the Faculty of Science Economics and Management.
During his time at MSU, he worked as a student assistant on many grants with the research group named (Food Security Group) which aims is to strengthen economic development in developing countries principally in Mali through food security, Agricultural development, sustainability and economics empowerment of vulnerable population.
Tangara founded the African Student Leadership Association (ASLA) and presided for two-term one-year renewable once. This association was composed of 60 African students from 20 different countries with a $30,000 yearly budget. Under his leadership, over 60 students received training in diplomacy, leadership, and African economic development policy with most international institutions in Washington DC.
After graduating, he spent a year as Bambara tutor for 15 graduate students (PhD and Master). Then with the food bank for New York City, he started in 2016 as a specialist in poverty and 6 months later was promoted as coordinator of financial empowerment for the areas of Queens. At the end of 2017, he decided to come back home (Mali) to invest his knowledge and experience to serve his beloved country. Then, he was hired as a Financial and Administrative Coordinator with the University Clinical Research center (UCRC).