Why did you choose Stockton University?

I received a merit scholarship, so Stockton was the most financially sound choice for me while also being close to home.

Why did you choose your major?

In the Hospitality, Tourism and Event Management program I can use my natural skills, including organizing, planning and eye for detail. In addition, the faculty members’ industry experience makes Stockton's HTMS program one of the most attractive in the country. I aspire to own and manage an event and meeting planning company.

What opportunities have you had at Stockton?

I received the Board of Trustees' Fellowship for Distinguished Students Award which I used to create “See Us: The African-American Experience,” an exhibit dedicated to helping the Stockton community learn more about African-American history and culture. I have also participated in writing and presenting the paper “Event Design: Student Perspectives of Transformation using #EventCanvas” at the Global Conference on Services and Retail Management (GLOSERV 2021), which is soon to be published in trade journals.

How is Stockton preparing you for the next chapter of your life?

Stockton is giving me opportunities to expand myself not only as a student and a worker but as a person. I have learned new and deepened previous interests and can truly say that I am a more well-rounded person because of it. I also have learned how to market myself and network among professionals every step of the way at Stockton.

What organization and activities are you involved with at Stockton?

I have been involved in the Transition Activity Leaders of New Students (T.A.L.O.N.S.) under the Office of Student Transition Programs, am Chapter President of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Pi Chi Chapter, and serve as a Themed Living Communities (TLC) Resident Assistant and House Parent of both House of Mosaic and House of T.R.U.S.T. for the Office of Residential Life. I enjoy helping guide new students and making them feel they belong. We all started from the same place. 

Tell us about your experience as a Social Justice Intern.

As a Social Justice Intern with the Office of Academic Achievement Programs, I was tasked with the job of bridging equity gaps among students of color in higher education. The main way I did that was helping to educate the Stockton community through the “Black Lives Matter: What Matters?” series and the “Community Conversations & Collective Action” series. Both allowed me to start conversations about the actions people can take in their everyday lives to become more conscious of barriers to people of color (POC) and inspire change in our communities. I was able to explore my interest in social justice issues and make a difference in the lives of hundreds of attendees, whether it was through helping those students of color feel understood and fostering real-world change for them or through helping those non-POC community members become more educated and aware of changes necessary for their POC peers to achieve equity.