Alumni Spotlight: Eunique Avery

While at UC, I not only had the ability to learn new things from an academic standpoint, but also the ability to learn new things about myself on a personal level. As a first-generation college student, I struggled with imposter syndrome for the majority of my time at UC. Growing up, I very seldomly received positive affirmations or words of encouragement from my teachers. Luckily, I had some really great professors like Dr. Dana Harley, Amy McMahon and Xan Boone who really went the extra mile to support their students. Throughout my experiences at UC, I began to gain the self-confidence I needed to become the best version of myself. As a social work student, I was able to enhance my cultural competency skills, attend national conferences and gain exposure in various fields within social work. These experiences shaped my decision to go on to pursue my Master's degree in Public Administration. 

What I love most about my career is the ability to work in various spaces. Education has always been my passion. Every day, I get to wake up and work with students! In my current role, I help assist underrepresented students within the College of Engineering & Applied Science to ensure they feel empowered, encouraged and receive an equitable education. I also serve on the Equity & Inclusion council where I assist with developing new strategies to make our college a safe space for all students. I appreciate that all aspects of my career are designed with intentionality at the forefront. I am excited to see what the future holds as I seek opportunities to engage in education policy work. 

I would encourage fellow professionals in my field to feel empowered to cause "good trouble." A lot of the work we do to advocate for underrepresented communities can be a heavy load for one person. When we work together, support and encourage each other, we have the ability to make great strides! 

I wrote and self-published my first children's book "Miracle Lee's Not So Normal Family" and a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated.

I'm also looking forward to working on my non-profit, the U.P.C Project which aims to support the educational development of black/brown students through collaboration with families, communities, and public schools. I also look forward to applying to Doctoral programs in the future.