Regine Peters was born in Windhoek, Namibia, a country off the south west coast of Africa. In 2009, her family moved to the U.S. for her mother to begin doctoral studies at Iowa State University. Regine’s family moved back to Namibia in 2015 and she returned in 2016, starting a new journey by herself. She has now lived in the U.S. for 12 years. Four of those years were spent studying at Iowa State University, leading to the completion of her bachelor’s degree in Statistics and minor in Psychology.

The bamboo plant grows under the surface for three years, establishing roots. After three years, the bamboo grows up to four feet per day. 

Regine describes her third year in college as a “bamboo season”, starting with the 2019-2020 NCORE-ISCORE Project. Suddenly, she was immersed into the world of race and ethnicity in the U.S., a world she was ignorant to thus far as a foreigner. As a part of her research, she spoke with and presented to various staff and administrators an idea for a “dream center” on campus, a hub resourcing undocumented and immigrant students with information, support, and face-to-face assistance. This project served as a catalyst in her desire to serve underrepresented people with whatever knowledge, resources, or privilege she had. In addition, she served as the vice-president of the Womxn of Colour Network, initiating the “Interrupt the Space’ Exhibition, an opportunity for womxn of color to detail and express their beauty and frustration through artistic means, alongside Helen Barton.

After graduating in Fall 2020, Regine continues to use her knowledge, skills, and deep love for humans, to work with and encourage anyone who needs resources, expertise or compassion. She serves on the board of directors of the Latina Leadership Initiative, a non-profit organization dedicated to uplifting, empowering, and equipping Latina leaders in the Greater Des Moines area. Coming back to Iowa State in Fall 2021, Regine has an opportunity to work with underrepresented scholars to give from what she has, to encourage, empower, and prepare them to pursue the Ph.D., through her role in the Ronald E. McNair Program.