May 2024 Newsletter: Hilltop Highlight
Howard student Jay Jones is the new 64th Howard University Student Association (HUSA) president-elect and the first ever trans woman to hold the position. She will serve for the 2024-2025 academic year. Celebrating the historic occasion, Beyond the Yard reached out to the rising senior and political science major about her new role, experiences that shaped who she is today, why she chose to attend Howard and how to support partnerships between students and alumni.
Share one engaging experience that has shaped who you are today.
I am a rising senior, political science major, strategic communications minor from Fort Worth, Texas, by way of Greensboro, North Carolina. One experience that has made me into the woman that I am today has been the historic chapel. The chapel gave me insight and experience to one of my main mentors (Andreya Davis), and to meaningful programming such as Alternative Spring Break, where I had the opportunity to serve as a site coordinator for the first ever LGBTQIA site.
Why did you choose to go to an HBCU and why Howard?
Howard University has always held a special place in my heart. Coming from a family of HBCU-educated people, I was always taught the importance of the HBCU experience. I knew I had wanted to attend Howard University since eighth grade, after I learned of the historic trailblazers that had walked the campus. When I received my acceptance letter into Howard University, I was the only member of my district in Burleson, Texas, who was attending the illustrious Howard University. I wore my pin with pride and have kept that same dignity into any room that I have walked into.
What are top priorities in your new role with HUSA?
There are main initiatives that I have for the upcoming year that are seen in the ONWARD platform. Our platform was more than a slogan but was a strategic plan to “cultivate new experiences on campus, with no regrets.” Amongst those experiences, we wanted to focus on these five areas—Housing, Academics, Safety, Legacy and Community. Whether reimagining new ways for our student association to communicate with key stakeholders during emergencies, proposing new and fresh departments to address student concerns or executing ideas such as the Howard University “freshman walk,” the 64th administration is excited to move the University onward in a time of much prosperity and transition.
How can alumni support Howard students?
I am very excited to be working with the alumni on our various special projects that we will be planning. The main area that we will be calling on alumni support will be for our annual spirit busses that we take in support of our Howard University sports teams. After our historic trip to Atlanta [in 2023] to support our MEAC champions, one of the 64th administration’s priorities will be ensuring committed support to our athletic department. We also will want to work with Howard University [alumni] on creating more pathways and opportunities for undergraduate and graduate mentorship and acclimation into the professional world.
What can students do to move Howard forward?
This is a historic time in our University’s history and comes just about as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies are under attack nationwide. From the firing of the first Black president of Harvard University to the book bans and curriculum changes that state legislatures are implementing in Texas, Mississippi, Florida, etc., it is important to highlight and recognize the importance of having diverse thoughts, minds and solutions in places of leadership. While I may serve as the first ever trans woman to hold the elected of office of president of the Howard University Student Association, I will not be the last. I want to thank the Howard University student body for trusting my leadership and vision for this University and remain confident that our Howard community is united amidst a historic year on the Hilltop.