Emani Green

Written By: Rachel Putman

At the Black Student Alliance Kickback, Emani Green is everywhere at once — welcoming new students at the check in tables, directing food servers huddled around the giant iron grill, and jumping into the middle of the dance floor when No Scrubs comes through the speakers.

It’s her first Kickback as president, and she’s leading the evening in a way she never imagined she could.

“When I first started, my goal was to keep to myself, focus on school, and get my degree,” Emani said. “I was super shy, and the transition to college was honestly overwhelming at first.”

But in smaller classrooms, professors learned her name. Around campus, staff members took the time to know her. Organizations gave her places to get involved, and mentors began encouraging her to step into opportunities she once have avoided.

“People will recognize you, take the time to get to know you, engage with you, and push you to become the best version of yourself,” the Kansas City native said. “UAFS gives you the opportunity to grow not only as a student, but also as a person.”

In a place no one goes unnoticed, Emani started saying “yes.”

She joined Delta Gamma and found a sisterhood. She became a Cub Camp staff member, helping welcome a new class of students to campus. She stepped into leadership with BSA.

“Holding a president role in an organization is something I never imagined for myself when I first came to college,” she said with a smile.

She credits BSA advisors Lynette Thrower and Jeanetta Henry with helping her get there. They became important mentors throughout her college experience, encouraging her to take chances and trust abilities she had spent years questioning.

“They have encouraged me, pushed me to step outside of my comfort zone, and believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself,” Emani said. “I would not be the woman I am today if they hadn’t seen something in me that I tried to keep suppressed because of my own insecurities.”

That confidence has opened doors beyond campus, too.

“I have been able to connect with my community in ways I never thought I would,” she said. “I’ve met amazing business owners, people in leadership positions who can help me grow in my future career, and mentors who genuinely support and encourage me.”

This year, Emani is focused on being one of the people who create the community she’s felt so supported by.  “UAFS is a tight-knit community where there truly is a place for everyone,” Emani said. “Our differences are what bring us together and make our campus so unique.”

Whether she’s holding a sign that says, “Welcome Home” and cheering for every new freshman as they arrive at the dorms, helping them study when they hit their first academic roadblock, or leading them onto the dance floor when they’re too shy to step out alone, she knows now that leadership isn’t meant for someone else. It’s who she is.

“At UAFS,” she says proudly, “I am becoming the woman I always had the potential to be.”

• Tags:
• Black Student Alliance