Lillian Dinkins, Tuskegee University- c/o 2020, Agriculture
Name : Lillian Dinkins
HBCU : Tuskegee University
Graduation Year : 2020
Major : Agriculture
Email : ldinkins6603@tuskegee.edu
Where are you from? Who introduced you to HBCUs?*
I’m Lillian Dinkins, from Atlanta, Georgia. I’ve always had a love for HBCU’s.
My mother went to Spelman and father went to Savannah State and hearing about their college experience and seeing the connections they made with people and going to homecomings with them made me want to have an experience like them.
Summer of 2018, I had my first internship in Miles City, Montana working as a range aid at the Eastern Montana/ Dakatos District for the Bureau of Land Management
Why did you choose an HBCU over a pwi?*
I felt like it was important for me to go to an HBCU for my undergraduate years because of the molding I knew I would gain. Being an environmental science/ wildlife major I know I won’t have many times in my future career where I see people who look like me so being able to be surrounded by these people now is what’s really pushing me to gain more diversity in areas of agriculture and environmental sciences.
I also believe the history that HBCU’s have is what drove me knowing that my past ancestors built the places where I walk daily gives me the motivation to carry on the legacy they started.
What is the story of your "experience" at Your HBCU given its heralded status as a stellar and prestigious institution?*
The Tuskegee family is like no other! I meet Tuskegee graduates and students all the time and the love is so real!
While being at Tuskegee I of course have had my ups and downs but because of the environment I’m in along with the support of peers and alumni who’ve been through the same struggles as me there is always continuous support. Tuskegee has taught me how to network, how to get things done when it seems like it’s no one to help, and most importantly how to be confident in a crowd.
These skills that I’ve gained I keep near and dear to me because I really believe I couldn’t have gained this confidence anywhere else.
"First time" experiences at your HBCU?*
The first time I drove through the gates of Tuskegee it was like the world lit up and the sun was shining down. I knew Tuskegee is where I wanted to go after attending the Vet Step II program during high school.
I also went to an open house and that sealed the deal! Tuskegee was my number one school and also the first school I got accepted to.
Once I finally got on campus I remember hearing the SGA President at the time giving a speech about our class “keeping the 20/20 vision” and that’s stayed with me ever since.
Summer 2019, I had my second internship with National Oceanic and Atlantic Administration in Seattle, Washington working as the Hydrographic Survey Intern
Who are the professors that have impacted your life in and out of the classroom? How did they do that?*
I would first say Rodney Stone who is our 1890 USDA Liason, he is the one who talked to me about environmental science as a major and I’ve never looked back! My advisor Ron Smith who has been an advisor, mentor, teacher, and friend has been at Tuskegee for so many years and does so much for our small program by taking us on trips even driving long hours so that way we can connect and be familiar with other places to further our education in the future.
My favorite teacher has also been Dr. Gregory Bernard! His Botany class was definitely one of the hardest classes I’ve had, but it pushed me, made me think deeper into the purpose of plants and also sparked a major interest into Botany.
What is your major? and Why did you choose it?
Originally I wanted to be an Animal Science Major. I took some time to think and knew I did not want to go to vet school but still wanted a major where I could deal with animals but on a larger scale while also making a bigger impact on the world.
I talked with some people on campus (Rodney Stone) and he told me about the 1890 scholarship along with degrees we offer for environmental science. I was soon hooked and applied for the scholarship as well. I wasn’t selected but in return I gained a small family. Myself, 2 other wildlife majors, and 2 forestry majors.
Our program has 5 individuals total but all together we have done so much job wise and work wise to get our department a lot of attention. Because of this broad major I’ve been able to work in places I never thought I would have been.
My first internship being in Montana working with the Bureau of Land Management as a Range Aid and my most recent working on Seattle working with The National Oceanic and Atlantic Administration under the Greening Youth Foundation as a Hydrographic Survey Intern.
I would not have been able to have these opportunities without getting out of my comfort zone, changing my major and realizing it’s okay to pursue a career where there are not many black females. My ending goal is to educate more people on the environmental sciences.
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Tuskegee University
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Students: 3,118
- Athletics: Tuskegee University is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II and competes within the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC). Tuskegee University offers Baseball, Basketball, Track and Field, Cross Country, Softball, Tennis, Football, and Volleyball.
- Notable Alumni: William A. Campbell - 1937 - Member of the Tuskegee Airmen who rose to the rank of Colonel** Ralph Ellison - Scholar, author of Invisible Man** The Commodores - 70s R&B band whose members met while attending Tuskegee** Tom Joyner - 1971 - Radio host whose daily program, The Tom Joyner Morning Show, is syndicated across the United States and heard by over 10 million radio listeners.** General Daniel "Chappie" James - 1942 - US Air Force Fighter pilot, in 1975 became the first African American to reach the rank of four-star General** Lonnie Johnson (inventor) - Inventor of the Super Soaker, former NASA aerospace engineer** John A. Lankford - 20th century architect** Danielle Spencer - Television actress best known as Dee from the 1970s TV show What's Happening!!** Dr. Ptolemy A. Reid 1955 - Prime Minister of Guyana (1980–1984)** Rich Boy - Rapper** Lionel Richie - R&B singer, Grammy Award winner** Herman J. Russell - 1953 - Founder and former president and CEO of H. J. Russell Construction Co., the largest minority owned construction company in the US** Betty Shabazz - Wife of Malcolm X** Jake Simmons Jr. - 1919 - Oil broker and civil rights advocate** Keenen Ivory Wayans - Actor, comedian, and television producer** Elizabeth Evelyn Wright - Educator and humanitarian, founder of Voorhees College*
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