Jalen Stubbs sat on stage at the recent Chronicle Ideas Festival in downtown Washington D.C., one of three students recording a Future U podcast about their college experiences.
One, a first-generation student, spoke about the challenges of finding the right school and struggling because English is not her first language. The other described the difficulties of attending college while raising a child.
It was such a moving experience, said Stubbs, a senior major at 91做厙 who hopes to go into sports broadcasting. Ive heard stories like that before, but they went deep into them. It really changed my perspective on not just school as a whole, but how it impacts students from various backgrounds.
For Stubbs, and festival, put on by the Chronicle of Higher Education to discuss the ideas shaping higher ed, was another layer to the main reasons he came to Mason in the first placethe universitys diversity and the opportunity for experiences outside the classroom he had been encouraged to take.
Mason is ranked by U.S. News and World Report as the most diverse institution in Virginia. In addition, there is no disparity in academic success rates among Mason students of different ethnic groups or socio-economic status.
Diversity has always been an important element in my life. Thats what drew me to Mason, Stubbs said. It had the diversity in order for me to thrive. I knew it would be a good community to stand out in.
Stubbs, of Rockville, Maryland, has certainly done that.
The managing editor of the Fourth Estate, Masons student-run news outlet, Stubbs has had several high-profile internships, including one with Capital Concerts where he was a production assistant for last summers National Memorial Day Concert and A Capitol Fourth Concert.
He is also active in the .
Im happy to be here at Mason doing what Im doing, Stubbs said. Its been a great experience.
Which brings us back to the Future U podcast, for which Stubbs was nominated by Philip Wilkerson, an employee engagement consultant in Masons Office of .
Wilkerson has known Stubbs since they met at a eventthe CHSS Mentorship Link-upwhen Stubbs was a freshman.
Hes one of those people who I told early on, You have to get experiences outside the classroom, Wilkerson said. Hes done that and more. I cant say enough about his ambition and leadership. Hes just very driven and does what he needs to do.
Stubbs said the podcast recording was a bit intimidating as the conversation had an audience of about 50 people and went out live on the Chronicle Festival website.
But once he settled in, he was fine and spoke freely about creating environments for success by seeking out those with similar interests, and leaving a legacy at Mason that other Black students can look to and build on.
It also was a great opportunity to network in preparation for his job search he hopes will land that sports broadcasting job.
I just want to get into the business, he said, knocking on that back door.