Diversity Week Spotlight: Zabathembu Mthembu

Central Piedmont is excited to recognize and celebrate our international students, faculty, and staff who represent more than 152 countries. Read on to learn more about Zabathembu Mthembu, an international student at Central Piedmont.

photo of student Zabathembu MthembuWhat is your major/program of study at Central Piedmont?

Information Technology – Digital Forensics & Information Assurance

How long have you been at Central Piedmont?

2 years

What is your favorite part of Central Piedmont?

The students and staff.

What country are you originally from or your home country?

South Africa

Please share anything you would like others to know about your native country or your experience living there. 

Living and studying in America has been a dream come true. I’ve met amazing people here and I wouldn’t change a thing about my life here. I am grateful to be here and would love to stay longer and study more and make even more friends.

How long have you been in the United States?

4 years

What is your favorite experience or memory since being in the United States?

Traveling to different states, my favorite memory being going to Chicago and having deep dish pizza!!! Tasted and reminded me of the Triple decker pizza at Home.

How do you like to spend your free time? What are your hobbies? What is a fun fact about you?

I like to listen to music, go for long walks or drives. I’m a foodie so I love brunch and spending time with my friends and loved ones. Fun fact: I used to be a TV presenter and my big brother is a very famous Actor in South Africa.

What else would you like others to know about you or about your life experiences?

I am a lover of life, I’m a child of God Almighty! I’m a work in progress and I believe I will soon change the world! Watch the space

Diversity Week Spotlight: Camelia Taheri

Central Piedmont is excited to recognize and celebrate our international students, faculty, and staff who represent more than 152 countries. Read on to learn more about Camelia Taheri, a dedicated faculty member at Central Piedmont.

In what area of the college do you work?
International Business

How long have you been at Central Piedmont? 
5 years

What is your favorite part of Central Piedmont? 
I love the camaraderie and joyful environment we all work at Central Piedmont (especially at Central campus), as well as I love the connection and working hand-on-hand with our students in the classroom (virtual & traditional)

What country are you originally from or your home country? 
Venezuela

Please share anything you would like others to know about your native country or your experience living there.
Venezuela has the happiest people I have known – with a combination of music, our pretty Caribbean beaches, the Andean mountains, the Amazonian forest, the sand dunes of Coro, and our amazing rivers throughout the country. Despite the last 20 years of political and economic struggles, when you meet a Venezuelan, you can feel the energy and happiness inside and outside the country. You can now find us everywhere around the world and you will always see us working hard for our families, friends and community.

How long have you been in the United States? 
15 years

What is your favorite experience or memory since being in the United States? *
I love how here in Charlotte many people are so curious about my accent. With my name, the majority cannot assume I am come from Latin America, and when I say that ‘I am from Venezuela’, people hear that ‘I am from Minnesota’. If you ask any Venezuelan, they have all encounter the same curious misunderstanding.

How do you like to spend your free time? What are your hobbies? What is a fun fact about you? 
I spend most of my time with my family. We surely enjoy the beach (as I grew up very close to the beach) and try to go every time we have a break. I love running and even more running on the beach.