-As She Dismisses Allegations of Grade Discrepancies
By Jerromie S. Walters
MONROVIA — The University of Liberia has confirmed that Izetta Jones Howe is the legitimate Valedictorian of the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law for the 105th graduating class, following an internal investigation prompted by exiled Liberian Martin K. N. Kollie’s concerns. The acknowledgment comes as Howe dismisses allegations of discrepancies in her grade, by Kollie.
Martin K. N. Kollie had taken to social media to question the legitimacy of her status as the graduating class’s top student. Kollie alleged that leaked documents showed discrepancies in her grade in Human Rights Law, a course taught by Cllr. Tiawan Gongloe. However, Howe told WomenVoices on Tuesday that the A+ notation in question appeared on her personal ledger, not on any official record. “He has no justification but to lie. Firstly, where I wrote A+ is on my personal ledger and not the office ledger. Let him show my official ledger where I altered my grade,” she clarified.
Howe further noted: “Let him show my official ledger where I altered my grade,” she stated. Regarding the performance of fellow student Abraham Zaqi, whose score in the Human Rights Law course Kollie highlighted in his posts, Howe questioned whether the focus on a single grade was relevant to the overall determination of the Dux.
She noted that even if her score in that course was 96 and Mr. Zaqi’s was 98, both would fall within the A+ range and would not alone determine cumulative class ranking. “How can he now deviate from his actual allegation of me failing and/or repeating three courses and now running with one course that we both got an A+ which doesn’t quantify our total accumulated grades?” Howe asked. “How does it make sense to use one grade to suggest that Zaqi is the dux?”
Howe further suggested that Mr. Zaqi may not have been the second- or third-highest-ranking student in the class, challenging the premise that he was the rightful Dux. She called on Kollie to release Mr. Zaqi’s complete academic ledger for public review. “Let him bring Zaqi’s ledger to the public for scrutiny,” she said. “Moreover, it’s alleged that Zaqi is not even the 2nd or 3rd on the high honors list.” Howe reiterated her pride in her academic achievements and stood by the official record from the law school.
UL Affirms Howe’s Valedictorian Status
In a letter dated February 23, 2026, addressed to Martin K. N. Kollie, Lead Campaigner of the Campaigners for Academic Crimes Court (CACC), UL President Dr. Layli Maparyan explained the university’s valedictorian selection process and addressed the concerns raised regarding Howe’s academic standing.
Kollie had transmitted documents via WhatsApp and email on February 21 expressing concerns about Howe’s Dux (Valedictorian) status. President Maparyan noted that she had already begun investigating the matter internally after receiving an anonymous letter raising similar concerns days earlier.
According to the President’s letter, UL valedictorians are officially decided by the Faculty Senate based on recommendations from the Registrar, under the authorization of the Vice President for Academic Affairs. “The Faculty Senate votes on these recommendations, and once they are voted upon, they are considered official,” Maparyan wrote.
The investigation included consultations with the Dean of the Law School, the Registrar, the Vice President for Academic Affairs, and the Vice President for Legal Affairs. President Maparyan personally reviewed Howe’s academic records and compared them with those of other top-performing law students.
The President also clarified the distinction between various academic honors at UL. Special Honors—including Cum Laude (GPA 3.250-3.499), Magna Cum Laude (GPA 3.500-3.749), and Summa Cum Laude (GPA 3.750-4.000)—are granted solely based on cumulative GPA. Notably, neither “Valedictorian” nor “Dux” appears in the Student Handbook, affording the administration some latitude in selection based on highest academic achievement.
Maparyan emphasized that a Valedictorian is defined as the student with the highest academic achievements who delivers the valedictory speech, while “Dux” refers to the top pupil in a school or class.
While appreciating Kollie’s commitment to academic integrity, the President urged him to reconsider his methods, suggesting that public posts causing embarrassment to individuals and impacting UL’s reputation might be inconsistent with ethical conduct.
“It is good to make people accountable, but it is best to do so in ways that are dignified, law-abiding, and kind,” she wrote. In a postscript, Maparyan noted that when Kollie had previously vetted her credentials in early 2025, he made an error based on an outdated website regarding her tenure as Chair of Africana Studies at Wellesley College.
Since the allegations against Howe surfaced in the media, dozens of prominent Liberians including Cllr. Tiawan Gongloe and ordinary citizens have sided with her and admitted to her academic strength.
Referencing Howe’s Feat:
Izetta Jones Howe arrived at the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law as an already accomplished scholar. She graduated from Coventry University in the United Kingdom in 2019-2020 with a Master’s degree in Project Management, earning a Distinction that placed her in the top tier of her class.
Howe also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Management and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Cuttington University in Liberia, where she graduated Cum Laude in both disciplines. She has further distinguished herself through continuous learning, earning professional certificates from institutions in England, the United States, and Liberia.
At the law school, Howe currently serves as President of the Law Students Association (LAWSA), a position that demands balancing rigorous advocacy for her peers with her own academic workload. But her leadership extends well beyond the campus.
Howe made history as the first female President of the Federation of African Law Students, a pan-African organization representing law students across the continent. Her leadership trajectory was already clear early in her academic career: in 2011, she simultaneously served as president of the graduating class (Golden Jubilee) at Cuttington University and as President of the Cuttington University Students Union.
