CHASS Student of the Month – November 2010

Demi Olubanwo

• Home Town: Lagos, Nigeria
• Class: Senior
• Major(s):
  • Communication Media
• Sample Courses:
  • Critical Analysis of the Media
  • Media and Family
  • Screenwriting
• Activities:
  • Nubian Message, Editor-in-chief
  • President, Eta Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity
  • African-American Symposium Counselor
  • Member of Black Students Board, Multicultural Student Affairs Office Peer Mentor Program, and African Student Union
  • CSLEPS Emerging Leaders program and LeaderShape
  • Sophomore Class Council
• Honors:
  • Ebony Harlem Award for Art Excellence (3-time winner)
• Postgraduate Plans: Work full-time. Will consider law school or graduate school in Higher Education Administration.
• Career Goals: I am open to many different areas at this time.

What do you enjoy most about CHASS?

I like that the coursework is applicable to so many areas of life; it is readily usable outside the classroom. I see how what I learn impacts my activities, and I bring up my extracurriculars in classes. I am being prepared for the real world. In my News Article Writing course, for example, we discussed how to write for media outlets that are being impacted by the economy.

Have there been any individuals who have been especially helpful to you?

Felicia Jackson, Associate Director of Multicultural Student Affairs and Toni Thorpe, African American Cultural Center Program Coordinator. I don’t even see them as administrators. I have a relationship with them, and they know me well. They are like family.

What advice would you give incoming students?

Get involved, even your freshman year, but be sure to strike a balance between school, activities, and maintaining your family relationships. I thought college would be just about academics, but it has been about people and experiences, such as Alternative Spring Break and working on school publications. College is full of opportunities – you just need to reach out and take advantage of them.

Nominate a student for CHASS Student of the Month.