After graduating this summer with a Bachelor of Arts in History and a minor in African-American studies, Jessmine Cornelius is heading right back to higher education — and joining Morris Brown College (MBC) as a senior registrar specialist.
“I am excited to begin my professional career at Morris Brown College, Georgia’s only historically black college and university (HBCU) founded by Black people, for Black people,” Cornelius said. “I found out about the job through a connection with [MBC] President Kevin James. I inquired about registrar opportunities, sent in my resume, and a few months later, I learned I got the job!”
Cornelius is looking forward to being a part of MBC’s restoration after the institution lost its accreditation in 2002.
“Amazingly enough, MBC’s doors never closed after losing accreditation,” she said. “Students continued to attend school even though they couldn’t receive financial aid. The love for the school from alumni, faculty, staff, and students who continued to show up each day is what made me want to be a part of its restoration.”
Cornelius’ time at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) inspired her to become president of an HBCU one day.
“The love I have for the consistent advancement of these beloved institutions conjures a desire to represent them, fight for them, and do whatever it takes to preserve them,” she said.
Cornelius transferred to PVAMU in the fall of 2017, because she wanted to be a part of a family-like environment.
“At PVAMU, we’re a band of people who will ride for our institution no matter what,” she said. “While my dad received his bachelor’s degree in 2010, it wasn’t the traditional college experience. It has been rewarding to be the first person in my family to go through this experience, and I want the same for my younger siblings.”
Throughout her time at PVAMU, Cornelius served as vice president of the PVAMU Sounds of Faith Chapel Choir, vice president and founding member of PVAMU GO TEAM, vice president of student affairs and historian of the Student Government Association, treasurer of the Walter Prescott Webb Historical Society, and president of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority’s Eta Beta chapter.
Cornelius also dedicated herself to internship opportunities at PVAMU and served as a S.T.E.P. intern for the Division of Enrollment Management and Office of the Registrar for three years.
“I would not be where I am today without that internship opportunity,” she said. “My internship allowed me to network with alumni and visitors and meet many of my fellow panthers. I gained valuable knowledge on enrollment management — from admissions and financial aid to the registrar and recruiting.”
While Cornelius is grateful for all of the amazing opportunities that she received at PVAMU, she says her most significant achievement is landing a job for post-graduation.
“At the end of the day, that is what it’s all about,” she said. “The organizations I was a part of and the connections I made at PVAMU shaped and prepared me to go out into the world and be successful. Experiences come and go, but they get much better once you successfully complete your degree and tap into your full potential.”
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By Kendall Hebert