While most college students across the country are busy partying and sleeping through their early morning classes, Howard University student Vanessa Rozier is making a name for herself as a student trailblazer to be reckoned with. Known throughout the world as the “Mecca” of historically Black colleges and universities, Howard University is a distinguished setting of African American academia, and Vanessa, a senior at the university, is only adding to the legend of the historic campus.

In addition to serving as Editor in Chief of Howard’s Hilltop Newspaper (big shoes to fill at a paper co-founded by author extraordinaire Zora Neale Hurston, where legendary activist Stokely Carmichael once served as writer, and ranked third among college newspapers this year by Princeton Review), Vanessa has also organized and planned a number of groundbreaking events at the school. Along with fellow student Nicholas Owen (the 2008-2009 President of the Howard University Student Association), Vanessa was recently recognized at the Campus Progress National Conference for efforts to organize meaningful events at the university for its students.

In 2008, Vanessa and Nicholas organized a stirring event at the university, entitled, “My Black Is Beautiful,” which examined the role of skin color among members of the African diaspora, particularly among those in America. The event brought together renowned scholars and leaders in the African American community, allowing students at the university to ponder questions and issues related to their own experience of “skin color preference” within the race. Long an issue within the Black community, the event allowed for a thought-provoking and intelligent examination of skin color biases that still impact the African American culture to this day.

The event was a major success at the university, bringing together over 300 students who were able to pose questions to the panel of experts, as well as contemplate and redefine their own ideas of beauty. The event also showcased a moving film presentation on the subject.

We at FWO salute Vanessa and Nick for their efforts, not only for bringing important issues to light, but also for setting positive examples for all the students following in their footsteps. We’re sure we’ll here lots more from these two bright stars in the future!

PS- HAPPY HOMECOMING TO OUR BISON EVERYWHERE!!!

FWO- ForWomenOnline.com!