James Wairagu

2024 Mike Ilitch School of Business 25 Under 25 winner 

James Wairagu has maintained a 4.0 GPA while pursuing his M.B.A. He earned his bachelor's of science in Neuroscience from Wayne State University.

Wairagu currently works as an Ophthalmic Technician and Scribe at the Kresge Eye Institute, providing comprehensive vision care, and serves as a site coordinator for Black Male Educators Alliance, managing the daily operations of their after-school programs designed to support black males in elementary school and high school.

Through his work at the Kresge Eye Institute,  Wairagu founded the Kresge Vision Volunteers, the undergraduate volunteer organization of the Kresge Eye Institute, which provides crucial eye care services to vulnerable populations in Detroit. He is also the Co-founder and Chair of Finance for the Detroit Youth Health Expo, an annual event that exposes local Detroit high school students to diverse healthcare career options.

Wairagu has received the Warrior Scholars Conference Award in 2022, and the Winter-Spring/Summer Undergraduate Research Award in 2022 and 2021.