Degree: Bachelor of Science, Political Science
Profession: Communications Manager, Sentara Healthcare; President, Occasio Gee Group
Board tenure: First year on the board
Why I joined the Alumni Association: Giving back is part of my DNA. Old Dominion University was an important part of my life, and I want to ensure that future generations have the same great experience.
What’s a favorite memory from your time as a student that still makes you smile?
One of my strongest memories was the sleepout for the homeless. It was an event that we held each year to bring awareness to the unhoused population in our area. This event started really humble with a few Phi Beta Sigma brothers sleeping overnight on Kaufman Mall. Spending 24 hours without the luxuries of our dorms and the cafe was an eye-opening experience. While there, we partnered with The Union Mission Ministries so that individuals could   donations. Even after our graduation, the event grew, and generations of Sigma men continued the project. To this day, the issues of the unhoused hold a special place in my heart.
How did Old Dominion University help shape who you are today?
My ¾«¶« journey was not the storybook adventure you think of when attending college. I entered as an enthusiastic computer science major, ¾«¶« cheerleader and pledged Phi Beta Sigma all in my first year. My grades and finances struggled. I learned quickly how time management and fiscal responsibility were critical to not just success as a student, but as an adult.
What is something you learned inside or outside the classroom, that you still carry with you?
You never know who the person is walking next to you in the halls. Always be the best you can be even when you don’t know people are looking. People will be put in your atmosphere, and you only have one chance to show them who you truly are.
Which student-alumni engagement opportunities have you enjoyed most and why?
The National Pan-Hellenic Council Homecoming reunions are something I look forward to every year. It started very grassroots on Brick Field (at the corner of Hampton Boulevard and Bolling Avenue). From day one, this event brought so many different generations of Monarchs together who would not normally meet. It reminded me of a multigenerational version of the community that I loved while an undergraduate.
What message do you hope to convey as an ambassador for ¾«¶«?
Our University today is much different than what it was yesterday, and tomorrow it will be even greater because of those of us who crossed the seal and choose to come back and give back.