West Virginia University Potomac State College

Telina is a well-rounded volunteer, service member, and leader. Driven by the love for her family, she takes pride in providing the best guidance possible. As a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion assistant, her goals include peer guidance, creating a more accessible environment, and hosting entertaining campus events. Additionally, Telina has been recognized by Phi Theta Kappa for her commitment to continuous education. Email at tab00041@mix.wvu.edu.

Talladega College

Jewel is an optimistic and committed student at Talladega College. She is currently pursuing a degree in Psychology and intends to seek a masters in Child Psychology. Jewel has a passion for advocating for mental health and Civil Rights. She is skilled in collaboration, communication and creativity. She is known for her athletic abilities on the track, singing talent for the praise team, and performing spoken word at her college. She also enjoys reading books in her spare time. Jewel shows interest in setting a new standard for comprehensive health and care for children and overlooked social classes. Email at Jewel.cross@talladega.edu.

Spelman College

Journey is an first-year student at Spelman College in Atlanta, GA, where she is pursuing a degree in Economics and a minor in Organization and Management.She has a passion for social justice and racial equity work, she is apart of Spelman’s NAACP Community Service and has continued to advance her knowledge on the subjects by being apart of Unum’s Academy 2023 Cohort. Journey is excited to grow her experiences and intelligence surrounding the topics, she will be interning this summer for CHICAGO Cred a non-profit specializing in reducing gun violence in her hometown of Chicago. Email at journeydavis@spelman.edu.

University of Arkansas

Ashlyn is currently a student at the University of Arkansas pursuing a bachelor’s degree in History with minors in Gender Studies and Medical Humanities. She is passionate about public education and advocacy, concentrating on advancing racial, gender, and sexual equity in the U.S. South. In her studies, she is focusing on racial and gender inequalities in institutions like the U.S. medical system, working on projects like a mock museum about the racial history of American gynecology. Through projects like this, she has gained experience in research, professional communication, composition, and working with like-minded peers. Ashlyn is part of the Phi Alpha Theta Historical Society which allows her to work with fellow students and faculty on historical or educational projects. She aims to advance her skills in these areas as a docent for the University of Arkansas Museum. Email at foxash05@gmail.com.

Fisk University

Ashley Gordon, a rising senior at Fisk University, is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and is the proud recipient of the Ella Sheperd Moore Provost Scholarship. Over the past summer, Ashley completed an internship at George Washington University, where she served as a facilitator alongside fellow college students. Together, they mentored middle school students in the D.C. area, guiding them in understanding civic engagement. Through interactive workshops, she and her peers empowered these students to develop service projects aimed at addressing community issues. Her dedication to criminal justice stems from her deep concern about the school-to-prison pipeline and mass incarceration. Post-graduation, she aspires to forge a career in criminal justice within the nonprofit sector, where she can affect meaningful change. Email at ashleygordon2024@gmail.com.

Winston-Salem State University

Diamond Green has a passion for serving the community. A recent graduate of Winston-Salem State University, she dedicated a lot of her time to volunteering off-campus and served as a member of the Social Work Club, collaborating with other organizations to build relationships and deepen her understanding of WSSU. Diamond has a strong background in customer service and is excited to transfer these skills into her future career in social work. Email at gdiamond789@gmail.com.

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Roxanne James is a passionate activist in the movement against the systemic oppression of Black youth. A creative in her expression, Roxanne is a rising third-year Business Administration scholar with a concentration in Marketing at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. She believes that everyone has a role to play in their community, so she fills her time with community service and engagement through her organizations SISTUHS, Incorporated and the Jamaican Student Association. She is driven by her calling to serve and encourage Black youth, using her gifts in public speaking and leadership. Roxanne lives by her own statement, “Every day, I want to be better than who I was the day before,” and takes rest in the promises of Psalms 91. Email at roxanne2.james@famu.edu.

Francis Marion University

Gabriel is a native of Winnsboro, South Carolina and a junior at Francis Marion University where he is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Finance and is a member of the Accounting and Finance Club. He recently received his Green Credit, marking the completion of his specialized studies around conservation and sustainability. As a volunteer at Red Cross and the American Conservation Coalition, he is able to both serve his community and gain a better understanding of how to run a nonprofit. Gabriel aims to one day open a financial literacy organization. Email at gabrielmosley234@gmail.com.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Kayla is currently a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill studying public policy. Her interest lies in understanding the intentions and outcomes of public systems. Much of her work focuses on the criminal justice system and how urban planning and public transportation projects can increase economic mobility within communities. Through hands-on advocacy, research, and work in the finance industry, she hopes to delve into how personal experience informs our understanding of whether these systems achieve their goals and how we can tailor them for the communities they aim to serve. Beyond her professional ambitions, you can find her baking, watching this week’s grand prix, or trying new restaurants with her sister. While she now resides in North Carolina, Los Angeles, California is and always will be her hometown. Email at kayladnguyenn@gmail.com.

Transylvania University

Janiah Noel, a first-year student at Transylvania University from Louisville, Kentucky. Through her studies she hopes to gain knowledge and skills around increasing racial awareness, diversity, and equity. She is studious and goal oriented and thrives in collaborative environments. Janiah is experienced in customer service and has served as a volunteer with the Louisville Public Library and the Women’s Rehabilitation Center. She aims to use these experiences, along with the abilities she has developed through her participation in the Unum Academy, to continue to serve the community in new ways on her academic and professional journeys. Email at janiahnoel2005@gmail.com.

Xavier University

A Baton Rouge native, Aarinii is a researcher, activist, educator, and writer in the making. Driven by her passion for social justice, she strives to increase racial, economic, educational, and health resources and opportunities for the Black community. Aarinii is a sophomore majoring in Political Science, Psychology, and History. Her goals are to address income inequality by eradicating the education gap and to implement policy to promote the health of Black communities and youth. She currently serves as a Xavier Exponential Honors Research Assistant and is also a Black Student Leadership Network Fellow and a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow. Email at aparmsgr@xula.edu.

Wesleyan College

Based in Macon Georgia, Simone is best known for her contributions to community involvement and service. Simone is currently SGA President of Community Engagement, and Servant Leader. When she isn’t busy running around campus and planning community projects at Wesleyan College, you can find her crocheting, playing guitar, or planning activities with friends. Email at Srussell161@wesleyancollege.edu.

Prairie View and A&M University

Based in Houston, Texas, Sedrick Thomas is best known for his contributions to his community and university. His interests include volunteer work, participating in sports, and working with horses. In addition to pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Business and Marketing at Prairie View A&M University, Sedrick is an entrepreneur working hard to build a clothing brand. A past recipient of the Delta Sigma Theta Leadership Award, Sedrick is dedicated to building his leadership skills to help him better serve his community. Sedrickthomasjr@yahoo.com.

Jackson State University

Genea Washington is a third-year psychology major at Jackson State University. She is passionate about helping children and has dedicated much of her collegiate career to volunteering at after-school programs and working with children in the custody of Child Protective Services. After completing her undergraduate degree, she plans to pursue further education to acquire more skills that will help her fulfill her dreams of enhancing the lives of children. Email at geneawashington267@gmail.com.

Washington and Lee University

Ava Wilkes is a third-year student at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. She is passionate about understanding and addressing equity and poverty-related issues through her course work as a Poverty and Human Capabilities minor and also through her leadership role in her campus’s community service groups, including Campus Kitchen and the Nabors Service League. Ava has also participated as a summer intern through Campus Kitchen, running the food preparation and delivery services with a team of three other interns. As a pre-dental student, she is passionate about the interplay between healthcare and equity issues. Born and raised in New Orleans, LA, with the history of Hurricane Katrina and confederate statue removals, Ava is especially cognizant of the disparities in access and privilege due to systemic and historical inequalities. She hopes to use her role as a future healthcare provider and her experiences with the EPU Unum Academy to contribute to positive and permanent solutions in her hometown community and beyond. Email at avarenee2003@gmail.com.