When entering college, I was pretty set on what I wanted to accomplish during my four years at HWS. From an early age, architecture was something I loved but after my first semester I began to question if love was enough. I switched my major from math to Africana studies to environmental studies, all while playing basketball for William Smith. One of the reasons I chose HWS was the ability we have to seek other passions through our interdisciplinary curriculum.
My sophomore year, I really had to do some soul searching and figure out what it was I wanted to do. That summer, I interned with Eric Cohler Design after meeting the company owner, Hobart alum and renowned interior designer Eric Cohler '81, during a talk on campus. Through Career Services I was able to get an interview and eventually the internship and from there it was a breath of fresh air. My passion for architecture was there all along, I just had to let it develop. So for the final time I switched my major back to architecture with minors in art history and Africana studies.
I currently work for an engineering company as an architectural designer in my hometown of Syracuse, NY. Relentless emails with Career Services, advisers and coaches for recommendations and connections were the key to finding a dream job right after college. My GPA was average so I knew the relationships and connections I could make would be crucial to getting my foot in the door. The field I am in is very small and competitive, and taking into consideration that I am an African American female in this field of work was monumental in finding the right fit for me. I wanted something similar to my college experience, small, organized and interdisciplinary. After much consideration, I was able to find C&S Engineering, a company that has values and core beliefs that mirrored what I had grown accustomed to at HWS.
I am in the process of meeting my requirements to become a licensed architect within the coming years. I aspire to have my own firm that focuses on interior renovation and design. I am currently working on projects to revamp several local schools. A core value instilled at HWS was giving back, which really came full circle being able to now give back to the community I grew up in. I am continuing to contribute to many local minority design projects in the area of Syracuse.
