Gwendolyn McAfee chose to attend Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) because of the profound impact it has made on her family.
“Prairie View is very special to my family — my father, grandmother, two aunts, and several cousins are all panthers,” she said. “I really wanted to continue my family legacy and become an alum.”
This summer, McAfee continues her family legacy of PVAMU alums by graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management Information Systems.
“Not only is Prairie View important in my family, but it’s also important in my community,” McAfee said. “Being from Houston’s Third Ward, I’ve met many alums who are making an impact in the world. There are many people who have so much love for Prairie View, which only bolsters my PVAMU pride.”
After graduation, McAfee has accepted a developer role at NTT DATA, a global IT innovator, and eventually aspires to be a C-level executive for a Fortune 500 company that is making a positive impact in the world.
“I’m grateful for the internship opportunities I gained at PVAMU,” McAfee said. “They helped me narrow down and identify the types of positions that I wanted to pursue post-graduation, and they prepared me for the real world. From learning about how to present in front of top leaders to communicating with colleagues, every experience helped me get closer to achieving my career goals.”
While in school, McAfee interned at McAfee, a computer security software company, and subsequently turned the role into a year-long job opportunity. She was also featured on the company’s blog for National Intern Day.
“I have no relation to the company despite my last name,” she said. “I used the lessons I learned from my professional development course and approached the McAfee booth at the career fair. It was a funny coincidence, and I did get a lot of McAfee swag!”
During her time at PVAMU, McAfee was heavily involved in campus activities, including serving as a Campus Activities board member, Panther Ambassador, Panther Advisory Leader, member of the Student Government Association, and a senator for the College of Business and the vice president of Student Affairs. She was also in the student organization for PV-U KNO Radio and the Prairie View Chapter of the Association of Information Technology Professionals.
McAfee believes the opportunities available to PVAMU students are unparalleled.
“From travel, scholarships, internships, and full-time job opportunities, there is always an opportunity for students to succeed at Prairie View,” she said. “I also think that the faculty and staff go the extra mile. I know that I benefited from the professors and staff who went out of their way to help me like Dr. Mahfouz, Professor Holloway, Dr. Khan, Ms. Gordon, and Ms. Kesee. I am very thankful for their contribution to my success.”
As McAfee’s time on campus comes to an end, she urges incoming students never to give up.
“It will be difficult at times, but do not give up on yourself, your dreams, or your goals,” she said. “Networking is key. The people you meet today can change your life tomorrow. Don’t be afraid to attend events, meet people, and try new things.”
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By Kendall Hebert