For nearly eight decades, the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) has been a guiding light, offering invaluable support and resources to people of color seeking higher education. From financial assistance to career readiness workshops, UNCF has been a driving force in empowering individuals and preparing them for success. However, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted their annual Student Leadership Conference (SLC) alongside their partner, Wells Fargo. Fortunately, this year marks the triumphant return of the conference, providing a platform for rising college juniors and seniors to enhance their skills, network with professionals, and pave their way toward a successful transition from college to the workforce. In an exclusive interview with Taliah Givens, the Director of Student Professional Development at UNCF, we delve into the organization’s remarkable work and its focus on developing minority students.
FEMI MAGAZINE: NATASHIA BOBBITT: Can you tell us more about the Student Leadership Conference and what students can expect to gain from participating in this year’s event?
This year marks our 14th Annual UNCF Student Leadership Conference developed through the work of the UNCF Department of Student Professional Development Programs under the leadership of Senior Director, Taliah Givens. It is an event designed to provide a framework and forum for equipping diverse students with the skills needed to be successful interns and early career professionals. Our theme is “We Got the Keys: Unlocking the Leader Within”. Wells Fargo has served as our host partner for the last 8years. The students who attend have achieved a summer internship through one of our participating partner’s companies and programs. This year we will welcome nearly 120 diverse undergraduate students across 19 participating SPDP programs. Students can look forward to a full 3 days of immersion in professional development including basic Microsoft software training, effective networking, business writing and communication, mental health and stress management, financial literacy, and how to be a standout intern. In addition, students will be engaging in hands-on business simulation training to exercise the skills they will learn during their conference sessions and training. Our program will open on May 31, 2023,with welcomes from UNCF’s Chief Operating Officer, Early Reese and Senior Vice President of Programs and Student Services, Larry Griffith, along with WellsFargo’s Senior Vice President, External Engagements, Shantae Joseph followed by a dynamic panel discussion with recent graduates who leveraged their former internship through UNCF to achieve full-time positions either with their host companies or in their degree field. Our conference will close on June 2, 2023, with a special pinning ceremony and a keynote address from a prominent, young executive leader, Mr. Barry Pearson, HBCU alum, who is now the Vice President, Financial Planning & Analysis, for Paramount Media Networks & Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios at Paramount Global in New York, NY. We have recruited and developed these students over the academic year and know it is essential to provide this conference just before the students go off to their internships to ensure they have the confidence to make the most of their summer experience to become competitive candidates for full-time conversion.
FEMI MAGAZINE: NATASHIA BOBBITT: How has the pandemic affected UNCF’s efforts to support people of color with funding for higher education and career readiness?
In many ways, the pandemic has made UNCF stronger and more determined than ever to support historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and the students they serve. COVID-19 and the police murder of George Floyd brought out the worst and best in people. Fortunately for UNCF, it resulted in the largest fundraising dollars we have ever raised in our nearly 80-year history—more than $800 million over the last three years—for scholarships to help underrepresented students go to and through college. We were blessed and fortunate through the generosity of our individual and corporate donors, as well as the federal government, to stay the course and remain successful in fulfilling our mission. We annually award more than $80 million through 7,000 scholarships. We help more than 8,000 students attending UNCF’s 37-member colleges and universities to graduate. Overall, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at over 1,100 colleges and universities across the country.
FEMI MAGAZINE: NATASHIA BOBBITT: What steps is UNCF taking to ensure that students attending HBCUs are receiving the necessary support to succeed in college and beyond?
UNCF is more than just scholarships. We are the nation’s leading minority education organization, and our goal is to help students get to and through college. This Student Leadership Conference is a perfect example of how UNCF supports students to successfully complete college and enter the marketplace as employees, entrepreneurs, and business owners. Yes, awarding scholarships remains our no. 1 priority. UNCF provides 7,000 scholarships annually to help students meet their financial needs to earn their college degrees. And we provide emergency financial aid to help students cross the finish line and walk the stage to graduate. We administer more than 400 programs, including internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs to help our students have a rewarding college experience.
FEMI MAGAZINE: NATASHIA BOBBITT: Could you provide some advice for students who are preparing to transition from college to entering the workforce?
The advice I would give to students is to embrace change. Do not be afraid of it. Run to it. Thrive on it. It is called commencement for a reason, you are just starting, not ending. And never stop learning. Knowledge is increasing so rapidly that whatever you have learned to date is a framework, and new knowledge will need to be added to it. There is a vast array of careers that you can grow and branch towards in the years to come. So, stay open to new opportunities, do not burn bridges, and continue to intentionally build your network. Finally, never forget the values you have been taught. Stay true to them. Be prepared to compromise from time to time, but stay true to your core values of truth, honesty, integrity, and respect for yourself and others.
FEMI MAGAZINE: NATASHIA BOBBITT: What role do you see UNCF playing in developing and promoting diversity in the workplace?
UNCF will play a never-ending role in developing and promoting diversity in the workplace. In growing our support of HBCUs, we are helping to make America a better society. HBCUs are among the top educators of Black teachers in the elementary and high school public education systems. HBCUs account for 80% of Black judges, 50% of Black donors, and 50% of Black lawyers in the U.S. Through our UNCF departments of Student Professional Development Programs, STEM Initiative, the Fund II STEM Scholars, and our Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, we are working hand-in-hand with corporate and public sector DEI leaders and to build the bridges of diversity from our HBCUs into the workforce. And, of course, one of the nation’s leading HBCUs, Howard University, produced our nation’s first female vice president. The beat goes on and on and on.
FEMI MAGAZINE: NATASHIA BOBBITT: Can you share any success stories of students who have participated in UNCF programs and have gone on to achieve success in their careers?
There are probably more success stories than we can count because UNCF has been supporting students in internships for over 20 years. There are a few very recent success stories worth lifting up like HBCU alumnus, Malcolm Combs. Malcolm Combs is a native New Yorker and pursued his degree from UNCF member school Oakwood University, in Huntsville, Alabama, and majoring in Communications. He was afforded the privilege to be a UNCF Ambassador, which lead him to the opportunity to work as a social media Intern in Atlanta in the Summer of 2022 in UNCF’s Papa John’s RISE Internship Program for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Currently, Malcolm works at Group M, one of the largest marketing companies in the world, as a Social Media Specialist for the Coca-Cola Hydration Team. Chioma Iheanacho is a 2020 graduate of Howard University, where she received a degree in Strategic, Legal, and Management Communications. Chioma was a 2020UNCF K-12 Education Fellow, a member of the winning 2020 Case Competition team, and has served on the UNCF K-12 Education Fellowship Alumni Council for 2 years. During her time as a 2020 UNCF K-12 Fellow, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chioma interned at the Charter School Growth Fund, working on digital media and supporting partnerships within their portfolio. After her internship, she was offered a full-time position where she remained for 2 years post-graduation. Chioma has expanded her communications career and currently works in public relations and executive communications at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC. Promise Sam was born in Abuja, Nigeria. He began his high school career at the International Community School of Addis, Ababa, Ethiopia. He successfully moved to the United States in 2017, where he graduated high school from Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Virginia. Promise is a recent graduate of Texas Southern University, with a degree in business management. He began his first internship during his junior year in high school with the U.S. State Department in Accra, Ghana. During his years at Texas Southern University, he was a Resident Assistant, the Student Center Supervisor, the African Students Association President & College Ambassador. The promise became a 2021UNCF Walt Disney Scholar along with twenty-two other undergraduates. Upon completion of his summer internship with The Walt Disney Company, he was offered a full-time position as an Associate Human resource business partner. He graduated in 2022 and became this unique role that summer in Orlando, Florida. One of his greatest accomplishments is knowing that he has traveled to 30+ countries and hopes to see more of the world. He lives by the quote “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure”. Amia Combs’ story is one that shows the power of continued internships with the same company and the payoff. She is a native of Davenport, Iowa. She pursued her higher education at Florida A&M University as a Computer Science major with a minor in Business Administration. She achieved three summer internships with Oracle through UNCF during her undergraduate experience as an Oracle Developer Scholar. During her first two summers, Amia worked as a Software Engineer Intern. She successfully worked Erway up to becoming a Product Management Intern by the summer of 2022. She will be graduating this month from FAMU with a full-time position at Oracle to start her post-graduation career journey in computer science.
FEMI MAGAZINE: NATASHIA BOBBITT: How can students who are interested in participating in UNCF programs or attending an HBCU find the resources and support they need to succeed?
I encourage students to visit UNCF.org to learn more about our programs and identify the resources and support they will need to succeed in their college and career journey. Specifically, students can look to https://opportunities.uncf.org and complete a profile in our system to see and search for new programs throughout the year. Their profile should be updated annually to ensure they do not miss an eligible opportunity.
FEMI MAGAZINE: NATASHIA BOBBITT: Can you speak to the importance of investing in education and professional development for people of color, both for individuals and for society as a whole?
The question reminds me of a Wall Street Journal editorial in 2021 that said, “HBCUs developed in an era when discrimination, often government-sanctioned, prevented many Blacks from attending college. But the schools continue to prosper because they deliver a quality education that prepares students of any race to succeed in life. Asa ticket to the middle class, they also help keep the American Dream alive.” In addition, as our nation is becoming more and more diverse it only makes sense that more and more investment in the professional development of people of color will remain an important component to keep our economy and society moving forward. That is why investment in HBCUs is so important. That is why the work of UNCF is so vitally important. That is why we are never going to stitchwork for at least another 80 years.
Follow Us On Social Media!
