Meet Quincy—Our New Graduate Student Ambassador!

Sep 26, 2019 | Uncategorized

  1. Why did you choose the University of Arkansas and where are you from? I was born in Anchorage Alaska, and grew up in Hampton Virginia. I chose the University of Arkansas after attending the Attracting Intelligent Minds (AIM) Conference in the Fall of 2018. I developed relationships with graduate faculty and staff and they were more than willing to help me reach my goals here at Arkansas. I knew right after the conference that I would be coming back for my Master’s degree.
  2. What other schools did you consider? Ohio University for their Master’s in Sports Administration program. They put in a lot of effort to recruit me, but the AIM conference at the University of Arkansas was the deal breaker for me.
  3. How long you have been at the University of Arkansas? I have been at the University of Arkansas for 4 moths total so far.
  4. How did you find the application process? What would you have changed about it? I found the application process simple and to the point. I would not change anything about it.
  5. Please describe your opinion of “belonging” at the University of Arkansas! At the University of Arkansas, people are here to help you. Personally, I reached out and maintained relationships with faculty and staff. This has led to me being put in numerous, prestigious positions on campus because the faculty and staff feel that I belong in these positions. I knew I belonged here the moment I left the AIM conference. I have already established professional connections that will last a lifetime and I plan to give back to the graduate school in the future. There is also a family dynamic in the Black Graduate Student Association that I joined, and, ever since I became a member, I have represented them to the fullest.
  6. How would you describe your relationship with professors? Are they helpful, caring, etc.? My relationships with my professors in my graduate program have led me to become the Student Ambassador for the Master’s Program in The Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation. I started my Master’s program this summer and was able to connect with all of the faculty in my program. They became very impressed with my drive and my leadership skills, so I was admitted slightly before the fall semester had started. My professors are very experienced and are more than willing to help if you reach out. You have to show them you are dedicated and willing to go the extra mile if you want success in and out of the classroom.
  7. What things about the University of Arkansas would make you want to recommend it to other students? The first thing that makes me want to recommend the University Arkansas is the opportunity that the campus provides. In the graduate program, there are always opportunities for fellowships, assistantships, employment, and leadership opportunities. Our graduate programs look out for the students and ensures that they will be taken care of.  The second reason I have for recommending the U of A is the location. This is a beautiful place to live as well as work after graduation. Fayetteville has many opportunities for graduates of all majors and is growing every day. The third thing that I would recommend is the faculty and staff. I felt right at home the moment I met the graduate staff and they had their best interests for me at heart. They understand that when you make the decision to come to graduate school, you are making a decision that impacts years of your life, and they want to make this transition as smooth as possible for you.
  8. What do you do for fun in Fayetteville? How does Fayetteville compare to your hometown? Fayetteville has a lot to offer in entertainment. My favorite things are skating, bowling and the Northwest Arkansas Mall down here in Fayetteville. Fayetteville is smaller than my hometown in Virginia and much cheaper. There is also significantly less crime down here than in Hampton, Virginia. The biggest thing I miss is being on the coast and by the beach back home in Virginia when it gets muggy here in Fayetteville as it can sometimes be very humid and sticky. There is not much you can do about the heat in Northwest Arkansas!
  9. What will you miss the most when you leave Fayetteville? I will miss the college town atmosphere as well as constantly seeing the people who helped get here and start my journey. The college town atmosphere is amazing here because the entire state of Arkansas roots for us to do well in everything. The alumni are serious about how the college is doing and we represent the entire state, so we hold a responsibility to achieve high standard in academics. The second thing I will miss is graduate staff and faculty; I am thankful for everything that they do for me and I can’t thank them enough for showing me the ins and outs of grad school and how to be successful. I can always go to the graduate staff for anything that I need or to get advice about what I should do in a particular situation. Their help has led me to the success that I see today and in the future.