Student Affairs Monthly Spotlight

February is Black History Month

February is Black History Month. This month we proudly feature 3 Black student leaders who have been recognized for their service by both African American Student Services and Africana Studies this year.

Nakia Jackson

Nakia is a Senior majoring in Africana Studies and Signed Language Interpreting at the University of New Mexico. She is a 2020 African American Student Services Summer Bridge Academy Scholar, a 2022 African American Student Services Award recipient and has served in various executive roles including UNM's student government ASUNM, the Black Student Union, the NM Black Student Alliance Youth Council, the Multicultural Greek Council and the Tau Phi chapter Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

 The leadership of Nakia Jackson has been exhibited in both virtual and physical spaces. She was a member of the virtual cohort of the African American Student Services Summer Bridge Academy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Upon completion of the Summer Bridge Academy Nakia became a mentee for the Black Over Student Success (B.O.S.S.) Program where she took advantage of various opportunities to grow as a student leader. She then dove into the executive leadership roles within the Black Student Union where she assisted in holding space for Black students to connect during the pandemic and supported the organization's transition back to in person operations. Her dedication to both building community and achieving academic excellence while at UNM have set an example of what it means to be a dynamic student leader at the University of New Mexico.   

Kaelyn Moon

Kaelyn Moon is a junior majoring in Africana Studies and Sociology. She is a 2021 Summer Bridge Academy Scholar, 2022 Association for Black Cultural Centers Undergraduate of the Year, former UNM Student government ASUNM senator, 2023 Summer Bridge Academy Counselor and Student Success Leader in African American Student Services. She currently serves as the President of the Powerful Movement of Educated Sistas and Vice President of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated - Nu Tau Chapter. 

 To be a productive student leader you have to be able to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. Kaelyn Moon has shown how you can do that and more with her involvement in African American Student Services. She has exhibited an interest in providing a positive experience for Black students at UNM and done so via her leadership in the Powerful Movement of Educated Sistas. She took the initiative to get on the executive board of PMES and nearly tripled the organization's membership and budget. She has also established signature and collaborative programs for the organization that center safe social experiences for Black students at UNM and centering the voice of Black students. Her work does not go unnoticed as she is called upon by administration for various special projects and initiatives. 

Kristian Thomas

Kristian is a junior majoring in Architecture. She is an active member of the Black Student Union, Powerful Movement of Educated Sistas, National Society of Black Engineers, 2023 Summer Bridge Academy Counselor and serves as the Vice President of the Eta Iota Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. 

 Student leaders have been the catalyst in the improvement of the Black student experience at the University of New Mexico. Kristian Thomas embodies this spirit as an active student leader in various organizations in African American Student Services. She has supported various events and found unique ways to contribute to Black student organizations. Kristian does not shy away from a challenge and has been instrumental in rebuilding relationships amongst various organizations. She has taken the initiative to inform AASS on re-inventing various elements of Afro programming to meet the changing needs of students. Kristian's involvement extends beyond the university as she is actively involved in the larger Albuquerque community, she has previously volunteered at the Roadrunner Foodbank and participated in Teach-Ins on various Albuquerque Public School campuses.