PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (July 31, 2025) – Some leaders are built, and some are born. Rising junior and political science major Raniyah Edwards has always felt confident championing new ideas and using her voice to advocate for what’s right. She is not only a student leader but a first-generation trailblazer who understands the power of being her complete and authentic self.
Raniyah Edwards
Grounded in a deep belief that her journey is divinely ordered, Raniyah has turned every challenge into an opportunity to become a better version of herself. From studying abroad to being involved in the Student Government Association, dancing in the Classic Dance Ensemble, leading communications efforts as the social media director for the Honors Program, and giving back through her involvement with Level Up, the University’s first-generation student organization, her story is proof that every milestone has been a part of a greater plan.
Passing the Baton
Raniyah’s origin story, like that of every great leader, began at home. Growing up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, she was a naturally curious and observant child. By simply stepping outside the front door, Raniyah entered a burst of color and vibrancy. Everywhere she looked, someone was “hustling”. They held multiple jobs and creative side businesses, yet still found time to show up and serve the community. This energy shaped Raniyah, nurturing a work ethic and sense of belonging.
Her mother made it her number one priority to expose her to a world that went beyond their city block. Raniyah regularly attended church and competed in and won the Miss Juneteenth Pageant. Each experience reinforced that whatever she decided to do in life, the goal was to leave a tangible impact.
“She [my mother] never told me what to become; she always said she’d support whatever I chose, but she made it clear that her sacrifices were about me going further than she ever could,” said Raniyah. While she had a choice in what she studied and her career, there was one nonnegotiable: she had to attend an out-of-state college.
After her father passed when Raniyah was two months old, her mother raised her as a single parent, and in their home, hard work was the standard.
Raniyah’s mother wanted the best for her daughter, and she began by setting the example. She earned her associate’s degree and later completed her bachelor’s degree when Raniyah was 12 years old. In that moment, she realized what her mother was doing; she was silently handing her the baton, and the message was clear: “Run your race and keep going.” It was her turn to continue the legacy, as a testament to her mother’s sacrifices and to the father she never knew.
She began setting the groundwork, excelling in competitive dance, founding her hair braiding brand, Experience Enjoli, LLC, and serving as President of the Black Student Union at her predominantly white Catholic High School.
When it came time to apply to college, Raniyah knew she wanted to attend an academically challenging school that would help her advance professionally and provide a community of like-minded peers; she found all three at Prairie View A&M University.
Home is on ‘The Hill’
Most PVAMU Panther alumni remember the moment they fell in love with The Hill. For Raniyah, it was the homecoming week of her senior year in high school. She’d come on a college visit and instantly knew she had found her place. Through the drums of the Marching Storm and the warmth that poured from the alums, everything about the campus felt like home, like family. “I knew I needed a community, not just a school. Collaboration and connection have always been a part of how I lead and learn, and Prairie View gave me that space.” The thought of moving over 1,000 miles away from her hometown was daunting, but she was up to the challenge.
Still, Raniyah faced her first hurdle before she even moved into her dorms. Her financial aid package fell short of her expectations, and feelings of defeat threatened to creep in, but only for a second. She began diligently applying for scholarships every week, ultimately securing enough money to cover all of her college expenses, including an award from the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), which has invested more than $60,000 in her education.
This accomplishment remains one of her proudest moments. Without a blueprint, it would’ve been easy to make excuses, but Raniyah did just the opposite, embodying the affirmation, “excellence is the standard and eminence is the goal.”
“What I achieved was the product of my faith and hard work; nobody taught me how to do that.”
Although Raniyah has had to walk parts of her path independently, she says you can’t earn a degree alone. For her, the beauty of the journey lies in the collective effort of everyone in her village who has been a catalyst for her professional and academic growth.
With the support of faculty members, in particular, she has been nominated for programs, received recommendation letters, and gained access to professional development opportunities, including an internship in the Wisconsin State Legislature, studying at the Texas A&M Bush School as a Public Policy Scholar, and working in the U.S. House of Representatives. Most recently, as a 2025 ATI Scholar, Raniyah completed a seven-week public service immersion with the AUC Center for Excellence. In the Spring 2025 semester, she also served as a member of the inaugural cohort of the Texas A&M Systems Public Policy Scholars Program in Washington, DC. As the only Prairie View A&M student in a cohort of nine, she worked in a congressional office, contributing to a 16-week policy proposal aimed at closing the funding-to-performance gap in K-12 education in Texas.
This December, she was selected as 1 of 10 scholars nationwide to participate in the 2025 Future Nobel Laureates Scholarship Program, hosted by The Forum on Education Abroad and EF Education First. She’ll be engaging in online coursework and traveling to Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Sweden to the Nobel Week Dialogue and related academic programming. The experience also includes university credit through Colorado State University.
“College is your intro to networking—people are always watching how you show up. Excellence isn’t about perfection; it’s about consistently being your best. Introduce yourself. Put yourself out there. Build your community before you need it. Your name should be in the room before you even walk in, be intentional about what you want them to say.”
Representation Matters
When most children are asked what they want to be when they grow up, common responses are a teacher, doctor, lawyer, or even astronaut, but very few say president. Raniyah was different in that way. She’d never known anyone who shared the same dream of one day governing the Oval Office, but it didn’t matter to her. She’d witnessed firsthand how public policy impacted the lives of real people, both positively and negatively, and she wanted to create meaningful change.
“I’ve always been surrounded by leaders and found myself encouraging others to think differently, build together, and believe in themselves.”
After a conversation with a mentor and client who’d majored in political science in college, studied abroad, worked in local and state politics, and community organizing, Raniyah became even more interested in a career in public office. She not only had a passion for advocacy and connecting with others, but the qualities she saw as her weaknesses—which included being admittedly talkative—could be her gifts in a public office role.
Raniyah is already studying the LSAT and plans to earn her J.D. to work in public policy while continuing to nurture her creativity as a professional dancer and instructor. She also intends to give back through time and money, investing in passion projects and leading community initiatives. Raniyah believes each of these appointments will give her the insights to make a promising run for office. “Representation matters, and I want to be living proof that young Black girls from Milwaukee can make it to the decision-making table and change lives.”
Raniyah is reminded of this every time she visits Milwaukee. For her family and friends back home, she is an example and representation of what it means to rise above limitations and turn dreams into reality.
“Every time I come home, I see the ripple effect of my choice, not just in younger kids, but in my peers and even older relatives. I’ve learned that when you stretch your capacity, you inspire others to do the same,” said Raniyah. Seeing the seeds she has planted take on a new life in her village has been unexpectedly fulfilling, validating that the risk she took was worth it. “Even if they don’t choose college or public service, they’re dreaming bigger, working harder, and reaching further because they’ve seen me do it first.”
Although she is far away from home, she’s comforted in knowing that her whole city is behind her.
Walking in the Season of Esther
As she nears graduation, Raniyah’s list of accolades continues to grow, but no matter where she goes in life, she will never lose sight of her unwavering faith. Through every season—uncertainty, lack, transition, and triumph—her foundation has remained rooted in her belief that her steps are guided by something greater.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord… “plans to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11) has been more than a verse; it has been a lifeline in moments when Raniyah’s path felt unclear or lonely. Now, standing in what she calls her “Esther season,” Raniyah sees the divine alignment of every opportunity and obstacle, allowing her to move with intention, anchored by the truth that she was created for such a time as this.
By Whitney Stovall
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