“This is Who We Are” – Black History Month

A special “Thank You” goes out to all of the bright, talented, and engaged SUNY Broome students who allowed us to spotlight their voices, unique perspectives, and personal stories throughout Black History Month as part of our “This is Who We Are” series. 

Thank you to: 

• Ebony “Elo” Smith
• Nadia Amoako
• Michel-Ange Townsend
• Ira Josephs
• Sade Saunders

Meet Sade Saunders (EVNT ’17)

Program: Radiologic Technology: A.A.S.

Hometown: Endicott, NY

Why did you pick SUNY Broome?: “This is my second time as a SUNY Broome student. I graduated from SUNY Broome’s Event and Sports Entertainment Management: A.O.S. program in 2017. An illness exposed me to the world of medical imaging. I returned to SUNY Broome to complete my prerequisite courses for Radiologic Technology: A.A.S. one at a time to ensure that I was a competitive applicant. I was accepted into the program and am almost done with my first year.” 

What are your passions?: “I’m very passionate about clean, healthy living, especially in respect to my personal nutrition. We can only control our health in so many ways, and nutrition is one of them. I am also very passionate about my spirituality.” 

How can SUNY Broome give our students more inclusive and diverse learning experiences?: “I think that we can always do a better job of exposing students to careers in healthcare beyond being a doctor or a nurse. I didn’t know what a Radiologic Technologist was when I was in high school, and I wish that I did.” 

How can we celebrate Black History Month?: “We need to have more representation in the world of healthcare. I go on TikTok looking for Black women in Radiologic Technology, looking for guidance. Representation is critical for us all.” 

Meet Ira Josephs

Program: Computer Information Systems: A.A.S.

Hometown: “I was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and moved to the U.S. in 2019.” 

Why did you pick SUNY Broome?: “I moved from Florida to Binghamton, NY to be near my sister and her family. She drove me around the campus and encouraged me to apply.”

What are your passions?: “I’m passionate about education and its ability to act as a vehicle to create changes in your life. I also have a reinvigorated passion for art. I used to draw all the time, but stopped years ago. I am taking an art class this semester, and it has awakened my interest in harnessing this skill.” 

How can SUNY Broome give our students more inclusive and diverse learning experiences?: “We need to have more events and activities that encourage students from all programs to integrate with one another and connect. It’s very easy to stay isolated in your program and not get to know other students.” 

How can we celebrate Black History Month?: “We need to authentically celebrate Black culture through art exhibitions, concerts, and lectures about culture. We have a good start, but there is always room to do more.” 

Meet Ebony “Elo” Smith

Program: Music Recording and Production: A.S.

Hometown: Manhattan, NY 

Why did you pick SUNY Broome?: “I love the scenery in Upstate New York and was excited to work in the recording studio on campus.”

What are your passions?: “I love music from all different genres. My dad used to sing to me when I was little, and I’ve loved music ever since. On campus, I sing in the choir and take voice lessons. My goal is to enter the music industry to make and produce music. 

How can SUNY Broome give our students more inclusive and diverse learning experiences?: “Offer more experiences outside of the classroom.” 

How can we celebrate Black History Month?: “We can encourage everyone to listen and learn from Black musicians.”

Meet Nadia Amoako

Program: Health Studies: A.S.

Hometown: “I was born in Ghana and moved to the Bronx (NY) in 2016.” 

Why did you pick SUNY Broome?: “A friend encouraged me to look at two-year programs in Upstate New York.” 

What are your passions?: “I am very passionate about fashion. My inspiration comes from my mother who was a very fashionable woman. She loved to dress and style me when I was a little girl. I would love to enter the fashion industry to represent African women.” 

How can SUNY Broome give our students more inclusive and diverse learning experiences?: “I’d love to see SUNY Broome offer more opportunities to learn different languages and about different cultures. I’d love to take a French or Japanese class.” 

How can we celebrate Black History Month?: “We should encourage our students to be true to themselves, to express themselves, and to be comfortable in their own skin.”

 

Meet Michel-Ange Townsend

Program: Liberal Arts and Sciences: Science: A.S. and Engineering Science: A.S.

Hometown: “I was born in Saint Andrew, Jamaica and moved to Cortland, NY in 2018.” 

Why did you pick SUNY Broome?: “I came to SUNY Broome to develop a strong foundation in science and engineering and to participate in the B2B transfer program to study biochemistry at Binghamton University.” 

What are your passions?: “I am very passionate about being able to discover who I am as an individual and how I can change things about the world. I want to make meaningful impacts on issues that I care about, which are mostly related to science.” 

How can SUNY Broome give our students more inclusive and diverse learning experiences?: “No matter where you are, there’s always room for improvement. It would be great to have more activities like our recent trip to Brooklyn, NY to see “The Book of Hov” exhibit. Activities like this one spark meaningful conversations between students of diverse backgrounds. It’s most important to be able to interact and engage with people who represent minority groups on campus, and to ask them about their personal experiences, and what they would like to see reflected in the campus to make them feel more at home and able to do more meaningful work.” 

How can we celebrate Black History Month?: “We need to show up authentically as ourselves and be able to acknowledge where we are from and where we are now. This needs to be incorporated in our daily lives, and extend beyond the month of February.”  

Tags: Black History Month, Profile