Beyond the Yard: Jordan Atkins: A Legacy Following in His Grandfathers’ Footsteps

By Tamara Holmes

In Spring 2023, freshman finance major Jordan Atkins experienced a bittersweet moment.

Excited to have been recruited to play basketball at Howard University, Atkins committed to spending the next four years as a student in the School of Business. One of the first people he wanted to tell was his maternal grandfather, Charles Anthony Johnson (BFA, ’73), who had graduated from Howard’s College of Fine Arts in 1973.

The way Atkins saw it, the two would share a special bond. Atkins recalls his grandfather being happy to learn that he would be attending Alma Mater. Johnson’s time at Howard had been fruitful, and he had gone on to have a successful career as a mental health counselor, spending time working at Georgetown University Hospital. The idea of walking the same grounds and entering the same buildings as his grandfather gave Atkins a powerful sense of connection.

While Atkins would have loved to walk those grounds with his grandfather, that was not to be. Johnson passed away shortly after Atkins shared the news. “We had conversations about Howard, and I know he loves that I’m going to where he went to college,” Atkins said. “I think about just trying to uphold his legacy and make him proud.”

Johnson isn't the only one of Atkins’ family members to attend Howard. His paternal grandfather, Floyd Atkins (B.S., ’65), also graduated from Howard with a bachelor of science in chemistry in 1965. Floyd passed away when Atkins was young, so he never had the opportunity to talk to his paternal grandfather about his dreams of attending Howard, “but I know he is definitely in a better place, smiling down, knowing that I’m here as well,” he said.

Both of his grandfathers were top of mind when Atkins attended the University’s Legacy Reception in Blackburn Center in August 2023, which featured remarks from Howard University President Ben Vinson III, PhD, and highlighted the rich history of families with multiple generations that have forged a path of professional success and service at the University. Seeing Bison families celebrating their rich histories of tradition, Atkins couldn’t help but feel like he was a part of something special. “I thought it was a great opportunity just to meet other people who were legacies,” he said.

Atkins was already familiar with Howard because of the family connections, but there were other reasons why the South Orange, New Jersey native chose to become a Bison. “I felt like it was the perfect environment all around—somewhere I could push myself,” he said.

His decision to major in finance seemed a natural since he’d always had an interest in the subject, and he has several mentors who have been successful in the business world. He was impressed by the School of Business’s sphere of influence. “I’m excited about the great network that the School of Business has,” he said.

As a student-athlete, he considers the basketball program to also have been instrumental in his decision to attend Howard. “With Coach [Kenny] Blakeney, I think Howard is a good place where I can develop as a player and develop off the court as well,” he said. “In my opinion Howard is the best HBCU in the world, so it is a good fit all around.”

Atkins arrived on Howard’s campus in June 2023, along with many of the University’s other student-athletes. He was able to meet his teammates, as well as students who participated in other sports. Then during Bison Week, he met more students who were venturing to college for the first time and became even more acclimated to the environment. “Everybody is new and trying to meet people, so everybody’s welcoming, he said.

He’s also received advice from alumni and other mentors. One piece of advice that he’s taking to heart is to make sure he gets off on the right foot academically. “That’s definitely been something that I’ve been focusing on—having a strong start.”

He’s intentional about growing personally and professionally. In the early weeks of his first semester, he participated in a sports challenge on the social network LinkedIn, where he’s introducing himself as a Howard student-athlete and sharing his own insights on professional success. “I am excited to participate in this challenge as I expand my network while learning more about the business world and sports,” he wrote.

As Atkins begins his new journey as a Howard Bison, he can’t help but be inspired by the two men in his family who paved the way.

“It’s definitely great to think about my grandfathers and continue to strive to fulfill their legacy.”