Redefining Legacy: The Remarkable Journey of a Mother-Daughter Duo at PVAMU

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (May 16, 2023) – Families have forged a tradition of earning their degrees at Prairie View A&M University, with legacies of Panthers stretching back over decades. The University is a second home, nurturing parents, their children and grandchildren for generations. However, only some can say they embarked upon the chapter of higher education together.

Mother and daughter Kaysa and Karras (’20) Mayes are unique in that way. As a recent PVAMU alum and graduating senior, they’ve forged an unbreakable bond through the triumphs and challenges of university life.

Pursuing Passion and Purpose

When Kaysa started working at PVAMU 11 years ago, she couldn’t predict she would one day walk the campus as a student with her daughter. Karras was only in the eighth grade, and Kaysa was leaving corporate America for a more purpose-driven career. “When I pass away, I want that dash between my birthdate and death date to mean something. I want it to say how many lives I’ve impacted, what I’ve done in my life and the impact I’ve made on people,” said Kaysa.

A friend who started working at PVAMU adamantly recruited Kaysa. “My friend kept telling me to think of the lives we would change by working at a historically Black university.”

It wasn’t long before Kaysa accepted a job in the financial aid department. She took a pay cut but gained what she lost in income in the community. “PVAMU is built on family, on the tradition of you taking care of your family first,” said Kaysa.

Her mother’s career at PVAMU was transformative for Karras, who attended a majority-white school district. It exposed her to the culture, community and rhythm of the University. So, when it came time to select a college in her senior year of high school, PVAMU was at the top of her list. “If my mom didn’t work at Prairie View, I probably would’ve never heard of or enrolled in the school.”

Karras joined the Panther family in the fall of 2016, a decision that advanced her personal and professional development and inspired her number one cheerleader, Kaysa, to follow in her footsteps.

“A Dream Deferred is Not a Dream Denied.”

Kaysa’s kids were her world. Entering motherhood with the birth of Karras at 19, the duo grew up together. But things haven’t always been easy.

“I’m okay with learning the hard lessons so they don’t have to,” Kaysa said. “After having Karras, I completed an Associate of Science degree. But I want them to do better. If I get a bachelor’s degree, I want them to earn a master’s. I want them to get to that next level.”

Kaysa has always been candid about her struggles as a young mother so her daughters wouldn’t go down the same road. She didn’t want them to juggle motherhood while pursuing their goals.

“My mom told me since I was little to travel the world, live, then have kids. She told me not to follow in her footsteps but go in a different direction. So, when I sit down, I’m like, wow, I graduated three years ago and am already a program director. And it’s because I followed the path she laid for me,” said Karras.

When Kaysa considers what her daughters accomplished at such a young age, she knows that all the prayers, sweat and tears she put into being a mother have paid off.

“I can’t give my kids everything they want, but the gifts I give will hopefully stay with them for a lifetime. Those are things that they will pass down to their children.”

Kaysa sacrificed a lot to put her girls through school and set them up for a better future. But her kids were growing up, and Kaysa knew it was time to take care of herself.

Out of the Mouth of Babes

Kaysa was surprised at how much had changed since she last sat in a classroom. She had to lean on her daughter’s tech-savvy and new-age thinking to complete her coursework. “I mothered her coming in, but she mothered me when I started the school process,” said Kaysa.

With the pandemic, the Mayes women faced unexpected challenges. The most significant was the loss of Kaysa’s father, the patriarch of their family. “My dad was my biggest bragger. When I told him I got hired at PV, it was like I won the lottery. He told everyone his daughter worked in financial aid at Prairie View. It was the same thing when Karras started attending school and working here. He carried our business cards in his wallet,” said Kaysa.

Losing him was a devastating blow that no one saw coming, and Kaysa was left heartbroken and unsure of what to do next. “Learning how to navigate the world without him was hard. But my dad used to say, ‘You have to finish what you start.’ That was the driving point for me to get my degree. I kept hearing those words in my mind.” Karras gave her mother time to grieve and heal but didn’t want her to lose sight of her goal.

“I became her mother,” said Karras. Kaysa instilled in her daughters the importance of having a plan, and Karras held her to it. One day while completing chores, Karras had a heart-to-heart with her mother about her progress toward her degree. “She asked me, ‘What’s the plan? Where are you going? What are we trying to accomplish?’ I was like, ‘I don’t know. I’m just taking some classes to get this degree,’” Kaysa admitted. Initially, she pushed back, “I was thinking, you’re not the mama. I’m the mama.” Karras didn’t let up until her mother set a graduation date and increased her course load from two to three classes a semester.

They began planning Kaysa’s next steps, including researching potential graduate programs. “I ‘mommied’ her into a plan; I was her academic advisor on the side, and it worked,” said Karras proudly. Kaysa appreciated the push. “An older lady told me that you can learn anything from anybody. You can learn from a babe if you take the time to listen. So, it’s funny how the roles have reversed. My child is the one that guided and helped me through the process of going back to school.”

“If You Want to Make God Laugh, Tell Him Your Plans.”

When Karras graduated at the height of COVID-19 in May 2020 with her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and a minor in legal studies, the world was at a standstill. She was in the first graduating class during the pandemic, and there was much uncertainty about what to expect for her future. Karras remained eager to put her degree to work but returned home to find her footing.

Her patience prevailed, and in six months, Karras had a job as the 4-H Youth Development Extension Associate at PVAMU. Within a year, she moved into another role as a program coordinator, driving major giving programs and events to create a positive impact and pathways for students. Residing as the youngest coordinator, Karras was excited for a role that allowed her to give back to the University that gave so much to her.

Karras’s job on campus marked a new adventure for the Mayes women. They’d gone from being mother and daughter to peers in academia and, finally, co-workers. “Sharing this experience is like no other. How many people could say they went to school and worked with their daughter?”

After two years, Karras was ready for her next big move. Despite her doubts about embarking on a new role and a reluctance to leave the family she’d formed on campus, Karras had done what she needed to do at PVAMU. It was her season to move on. She discussed the decision with her mom and considered multiple job offers before she accepted a program director opportunity with the University of Houston.

“I feel good because I left something behind that will live beyond me. It may not explicitly say my name, but people know those were my ideas, and I built it.”

Initiatives such as the 25^th Reunion Silver Sweater worn by hundreds of alums, including actress and comedian Loni Love, are a testament to Karras’s hard work and passion for her alma mater. “I made an impact on people who will make an impact on other people. There’s nothing wrong with leaving. But you leave with dignity and respect.”

Karras battled imposter syndrome during her transition. Could she make the same impact at another university? A school that she had no connection with, that was much larger than PVAMU.

“The stereotype is that HBCUs don’t prepare you to work in the corporate world with the ‘majority.’ But people respect me because they know my credentials and experience. I’m young and came from a small school, but they listen and trust me as the expert, which is confirmation. My co-workers and team are amazing, and I love being here. What I envisioned for my life is different from where I am now. It’s beyond anything I could’ve imagined. And none of it would’ve been possible without Prairie View and my mommy,” said Karras.

Kaysa knows Karras may return to “The Hill” one day but is thrilled about her daughter’s next chapter. She’s in awe of all her daughter has achieved at only 25 years old and enjoys learning from her firstborn. “Karras is my role model. She’s not afraid to push herself. When you’re older, you can get comfortable and complacent. But complacent won’t get you to the next level. You have to be able to say, ‘My job is complete here. I’ve done what I’m supposed to and move on.’”

Embracing the Tradition of Panther Pride

Kaysa and Karras were frequently mistaken for sisters on campus, but their time marked different transition periods.

“Prairie View is always near and dear to my heart because it gave me once-in-a-lifetime experiences, a skill set and these amazing people. And I got the chance to do it with my mom. She was there the entire step of the way,” Karras exclaimed.

The oldest of the four and a true mother’s girl at heart, it took Karras some time to adjust on campus. At her mother’s advice, Karras minimized the number of activities she joined in her first semester to avoid stretching herself too thin. By the second semester, she’d found her tribe. Karras became a Student Athletic Trainer and joined the pre-law society, eventually serving on the executive board. She also started the pre-law fraternity.

She cherishes the friends she met and the leader she’s evolved into and attributes her time at PVAMU to a period of personal and professional growth. “You truly feel like you’re in a family—professors who look out for you and classmates and staff members that create a community. Somebody is always taking care of you.”

From two of her best friends to her co-workers, who she affectionately refers to as her work parents, Karras says the relationship she formed at PVAMU is unmatched. “I’m grateful to have had excellent mentors who helped shape me. They gave me free rein to show my creativity and do what I’m good at.”

The Mayes women salute PVAMU faculty and staff members like Professors Michael D. Royster and Nathan Mitchell, Head Athletic Trainer and Assistant Athletic Director C.J. Potter and Associate Director of the Texas Juvenile Crime Prevention Center Grady Paris for going above what’s required of them, to empower and support students.

For Kaysa, PVAMU has become a place that holds her heart. “When you first come to a job, you know you want to do the job to the best of your ability. But then you get here, feel the environment, get to know the students and the culture and learn the history; it changes you.”

She loves wearing her PVAMU t-shirt and representing the campus throughout Texas. Some have even given her the nickname “The Financial Aid Lady.” But for most students, she’s more than that. Kaysa’s office has been the place of solution and clarity for students needing advice on changing their majors, navigating a relationship crisis, dropping out of school, or just wanting a listening ear.

“You gain a different perspective at HBCUs. We have a different type of love for these students. Their success is our success. We want to see everybody who enters succeed in all areas. We want to see them become productive Panthers, go into the world, return and give to their University. We want to see them change the world.”

Witnessing students enter her office as youth and leave on the brink of adulthood has made Kaysa believe in the power of the purple and gold.

“It does my heart well when I see students on TV, working for NASA or serving as judges. I believe in our mission and where we’re going. We don’t want to be the top HBCU. We want to be the top University. We want to be students’ first choice. And I’ve done my part if I can help somebody navigate this complicated system.”

PVAMU will soon welcome another member of the Mayes family—Amara, Karras’s younger sister, who is already ahead of the game. Next spring, when she graduates from high school, she’ll also receive an associate’s degree from Lone Star College. She plans to enroll in PVAMU’s nursing program.

“I began taking her on college tours in the eighth grade. We went to about seven different campuses. She’d seen the main campus but never visited the College of Nursing until we took a tour. When she saw the pediatric department, her whole being lit up, it was pivotal because it dawned on her that this is where she’s supposed to be,” Karras said.

A Mother’s Day to Remember

With Kaysa’s graduation only months away, Karras starting a new job, and the promise of another Panther in the family, the Mayes women had much to celebrate this Mother’s Day. Kaysa couldn’t be happier.

“My proudest achievement was my daughter enrolling in school here, graduating, becoming an employee and leaving for another job. It’s seeing her spread her wings and learning that our journeys are different but the same because she is within me. And my daughter, Amara, will be enrolling in the University. We’re embedding our legacy right here at Prairie View.”

While still a reverent of PVAMU tradition, Karras plans to bend the rules for the special moment she’s been anticipating, “I’m looking forward to giving my mom her alumni lapel pin.”

The Mayes women don’t have the traditional legacy story, and Kaysa believes that’s how it’s supposed to be. “Karras received her degree first, and now I’ll receive mine, and then Amara will receive hers. Karras started the legacy. I’m in the middle, holding it together. And my other children will continue the legacy. I love that it didn’t start with me, but we’re on this journey as a family. It may not look like other people’s journeys, but our journey is unique. Our journey is different, and our journey is ours.”

Their story is one of resilience, determination and an unwavering commitment to creating a legacy of excellence. “My dream for each of my kids is that their journey be what they want it to be but also lays a foundation for the generation that will come behind them. That’s the legacy we leave behind as the Mayes, and Prince, women, that we come from greatness.”

Kaysa hopes to encourage other non-traditional students to pursue their dreams and see the process through. “Even if you have to put things on the back burner, it doesn’t mean you can’t pick them up again. Whatever you want to accomplish, you can reach that goal.” She says her degree won’t be solely for her but for her children, father and mother. “It takes a village to raise a child and help you through something. My village was my children and my support system.”

By Whitney Stovall

-PVAMU-