Mia Hill, Howard University- c/o 2018, Business Marketing
Name : Mia Hill
HBCU : Howard University
Graduation Year : 2018
Major : Business Marketing
Email : miamohill@gmail.com
Where are you from? Who introduced you to HBCUs?*
I am from Brooklyn, New York.
Growing up, I was surrounded by a few teachers who attended HBCUs. Ironically, the ones who made the strongest impact on me went to a few of the top HBCUs (Howard University and Lincoln University). However, I wouldn’t call that my “introduction” to HBCUs; it was my introduction to black excellence and that’s what an HBCU is, it’s black excellence.
Why did you choose an HBCU over a pwi?*
I had the grades to get into your Ivy Leagues; I was top three in my graduating class, but something about it didn’t feel right. When picking colleges four years ago I wanted to go somewhere I can make a name for myself and not be under the shadow of my schools name.
Granted you can do that anywhere, but only at a HBCU are you surrounded with people who look just like you.
Educated with teachers who look just like you, have been where you are and who want to see you thrive past the four walls of their classroom.
My spirit subconsciously gravitated to an HBCU, It’s like the universe knew that’s where I belonged and that’s where I’d find the black woman that I’ve come to be.
What is the story of your "experience" at Your HBCU given its heralded status as a stellar and prestigious institution?*
Coming to Howard University, I found myself. I learned to love who I am and embrace it.
After my freshman year I cut my hair only to uncover the beauty of my kinks and curls.
Sophomore year, I learned that failure is the path to success.
Junior year, I found brotherhood and professional guidance in the brothers of Alpha Kappa Psi, Psi Tau Chapter. I also found a sisterhood in the National Council of Negro Women, that empowered me to be as great as people like Mary McLeoud Bethune and those beautiful black women behind me.
Senior year, I solidified my purpose after helping dismantle social injustice through youth sustainability and empowerment with Howard University’s Alternative Spring Break in Belle Glade, Florida.
"First time" experiences at your HBCU?*
My first time experience at Howard was my first day of classes walking across the yard, it was a nice day. The diversity that filled the campus.
So much black excellence in suits, kente print, turbans, dashkis, Afros, buzz cuts, braids, twist, smiles and coconut oil. Lol. I felt like I belonged; I felt like I was home.
Who are the professors that have impacted your life in and out of the classroom? How did they do that?*
I would like to give the BIGGEST shoutout to Howard University’s Marketing Department, I’ve found so much of my purpose learning from some of my professors especially Professor Dana Williams-Johnson, Dr. Johnny Graham and Dr. Yuvay Ferguson.
Starting with the lovely chair of the department, Dr. Ferguson, she never stopped believing in the marketing students. She was very proactive in giving us advice on the opportunities to take advantage of outside of the class room. She always forwarded any opportunity that came in her desk to us.
Professor DWJ and Dr. Graham both held it down for me through my latter half at Howard. There’d be times where I’d be stressed because I didn’t think I’d accomplish my dreams or I wasn’t doing enough and both of them would sit me down and walk through my goals with me to tell me “I have time,” lol.
There wasn’t a time that they didn’t motivate me to be a better person or change the world. The knowledge, wisdom, positivity I’ve gained from being their student is unmatched.
Last but not least, because he’s not in the marketing department but I would like to thank Professor Gregory Cutler for challenging me. If it wasn’t for him I would be stuck in being simply mediocre.
Taking Business Law with him challenged me to critically think and to understand the true meaning of learning to build your skills vs learning for a grade. Even though BLaw was/is challenging to many it expanded my way of thinking as well as my work ethic, and I thank Cutler for that.
Comments
Howard University
-
Students: 10,300
- Athletics: Howard University competes in the NCAA's Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and are members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Howard University offers Basketball, Cross Country, Bowling, Football, Soccer, Lacrosse, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Softball, Track and Field, and Volleyball.
- Notable Alumni: Andre Johnson - Actor on TV show Black-ish** Queen Latifah - Actress, was on the hit TV show "Living Single"** Erika Alexander - Actress, was on the hit TV show "Living Single"** Chadwick Boseman, actor** Taraji P. Henson - Oscar and Emmy-Nominated and Golden Globe Winning Actress** Elijah Cummings - United States Representative** Thurgood Marshall - United States Supreme Court Justice** Toni Morrison - Pulitzer Prize and Nobel Prize–winning novelist** Stan Verrett, anchor on the ESPN and ESPNEWS networks in the United States** Tom Joyner Morning Show producer Nikki Woods** United States Ambassador Andrew Young** Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia Kasim Reed** Actress Wendy Raquel Robinson** Book artist Clarissa Sligh** Shauntay Hinton, beauty pageant winner** Gus Johnson, sports broadcaster** Attorney Vernon Jordan** Television personality Ananda Lewis** Former Mayor of the District of Columbia Adrian Fenty** Actor Lance Gross** Kamala Harris, first African-American, and first Asian-American female Attorney General & US Senator from California** Television journalist Lori Stokes** Actor Ossie Davis** Former Malian prime minister and NASA engineer Cheick Modibo Diarra** David Dinkins, the first African-American mayor of New York City** Emmy Award nominated actor and star of the TV Show Black-ish Anthony Anderson** The first Nigerian president Nnamdi Azikiwe** Mayor of Newark, New Jersey Ras J. Baraka** NFL player Antoine Bethea** Civil rights leader Stokely Carmichael** Music Mogul, Sean Combs** Ben Ali, co-founder and owner of Ben's Chili Bowl, the famous restaurant in Washington, D.C.** Choreographer, actress, Producer of "A Different World" and singer Debbie Allen**
- Click here to view on Wikipedia