What makes you a Difference Maker?
My campus involvement and commitment to the next generation is what makes me a Difference Maker. I have been heavily involved on campus since my sophomore year. I am a member of the National Society of Black Engineers and have held an executive board position in the Black Student Union, the Black Business Student Association, the Student Activities Board, the National Pan-Hellenic Council Incorporated, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Planning Committee. Through these positions, I helped students relax, find their passion outside of academics, and bring awareness to social and civic issues. I also empowered the future generation by discussing and informing students about topics that are rarely talked about. These topics include mental health, women’s health, adultification, grief, police brutality, and social activism. I learned that most students respond better to these topics in informal settings. I would create an event in a causal setting and bring professionals to discuss and answer students’ questions. I believe the first step towards changing society is educating those that will eventually oversee it.
Tell us about your leadership experience.
As President of the Black Student Union, I was able to lead my organization into creating and implementing several successful initiatives on campus. These initiatives include advocating for a licensed therapist within the Counseling and Psychological Services department, securing financial support for student programming, serving on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee, ensuring that programs/events are submitted to a student committee for review and approval, and securing a safe place on campus for African American students. I also led the organization into partnering with Henry Ford and The Dearborn Police Station to hold a peaceful protest on Juneteenth. This protest was to show solidarity towards our diverse community and denounce racism and police brutality. The protest was very successful as we received a great deal of support from the student body and surrounding institutions.
What is your dream career or goal?
I want to be a mechanical engineer working in the mental health field. Mental illnesses and brain disorders are one of the world’s largest health issue. Currently, there are only two main options of treatment which are psychotherapy and medication. Although these options are important and very much needed, I believe there should be more options available. Therefore, my dream career consists of building alternative technological devices to help in the treatment of mental illnesses and brain disorders. As of right now, there are not many engineers, let alone black women engineers, in this field, but I hope to change that in the years to come. I also want to operate and own a therapy and rehabilitation center. This center will be designed to improve the physical and mental health of the black community. Being a black woman, I have firsthand experience of the barriers that African Americans face in healthcare. Issues such as socio-economic disparities, negative mental health stigmas, and racial discrimination has an enormous effect on my community. I want to combine my personal experiences along with my education to create innovative and unique solutions to the problems at hand.
What is your most defining moment?
My most defining moment at UM-Dearborn was becoming an executive board member of the Student Activities Board during my sophomore year. Without knowing it, this would be the first stop of my student leadership journey. This position enhanced my interpersonal and professional skills in a fun and welcoming environment. These skills would prove to be critical for my future campus and academic accomplishments. It also introduced me into individuals that would become prominent figures in my life. I ended up meeting and connecting with a staff member who would eventually become my mentor later in my school journey. Accepting that position would become one of the most monumental decision of my school career. It introduced me to some amazing people and gave me the confidence to become more involved on campus. I am grateful that I decided to accept that opportunity as it is one of the reasons why I am a Difference Maker today.