In Their Words: Alumni Voices

What does Black Studies mean to the people who experience it? In their own words, our students and alumni share how the program has shaped their learning, strengthened their sense of purpose and community, and prepared them to carry what they have learned into their careers and the wider world. We invite you to meet members of our Black Studies community through their stories.

Trent Aldridge, Class of 1995

As a Portland native and PSU Black Studies graduate, I found that Black Studies gave me something far beyond academic knowledge. It gave me a stronger understanding of who I was, where I came from, and the role I wanted to play in my community. It helped me connect history, culture, and lived experience in ways that continue to shape how I lead and serve others today.

Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to work alongside young people, families, and community leaders who remind me every day of the power and potential within our communities. For students pursuing Black Studies, I encourage you to see your education as a tool for both personal growth and collective impact. The insights you gain can help you become a stronger advocate, a more thoughtful leader, and embrace your responsibility to be a positive force for change in your career, your family, and your community.

Trent is currently CEO of Self Enhancement, Inc.

Chantell Wesley, Class of 2026

My experience in Portland State University's Black Studies department fundamentally shaped the scholar and professional I am today. I entered the program knowing that I wanted to become a professor, but I could not have anticipated how much the faculty would expand my understanding of what it meant to be a scholar, or how much agency I would develop in finding my own voice within that work.

My professors gave me the tools to take the questions I already carried about my community, education, inequality, and the world around me and engage them as a scholar. They did not teach me that academic rigor required distance from the people or issues I cared about. They taught me how to examine those issues more deeply.

Chantell is currently an M.A. student at Clark Atlanta University and serves as Associate to the Dean, Georgia State University.

Kiesha Johnson, Class of 2025
Black Studies and History Majors

Studying Black Studies and History at Portland State University changed everything for me. It gave me the language to name injustice, the tools to dismantle systems, and the courage to imagine something new. I didn’t just study the past—I used it to build a future rooted in justice, education, and healing.

Michaela Loggins, Class of 2024
Communication Studies and Black Studies Majors; Sociology Minor

Earning a Black Studies degree has been and is a personal goal and mission of mine. I understand the importance of this degree not only in terms of my identity but also as a chance for students to explore different facets of Black history and current events regardless of what their personal identity is. I’ve had the privilege of being in classrooms with diverse backgrounds, knowledge, and creativity, which has been a rewarding experience.

My heartfelt appreciation extends to my esteemed professors, with a special acknowledgment to Professor Imarisha, whose inspiration has encouraged me to stay committed to this work and to never stop learning. Thank you to everyone in this department who has provided the tools necessary for letting knowledge truly serve the city.

Elizabeth Richard, Class of 2024
Social Science, Black Studies, and Liberal Studies Majors; Sociology; Certificate: African Studies Minor

I’m grateful to have been under the tutelage of such scholars in the Black Studies Department. It is my honest and humble belief that I have been taught by some of the greatest professors, instructors, and leaders, not only in Portland, Oregon, but internationally. The Black Studies Department is combusting with a wealth of knowledge that I strongly believe should be received and acknowledged globally.

My interest in Black Studies began in 2000 when I had the pleasure of learning about Oregon’s African American history in a course taught by Dr. Darrell Milner. Since that introductory course, I became intrigued while also feeling a compelling sense of urgency to learn more about the African Diaspora—to learn more about my history and lineage. Continuing to learn in the Black Studies Department has given me the opportunity to become more knowledgeable about the shoulders I stand on, the people I represent, and the future scholars I’ll allow and welcome to stand on my shoulders.

Aisha Osman, Class of 2023
Political Science Major; Black Studies and Spanish Minors

It is because of the Black Studies Department that I was able to find an academic space that was safe and welcoming for me and other Black students. I was able to learn more about the continent of Africa as well as the African diaspora as a whole. Pursuing my Black Studies minor has been a humbling experience, and I am so grateful that I did so.

This department is full of highly educated scholars who have an eagerness for our community and for finding ways we can help each other move forward. Programs like this are necessary to help change the narrative. We are now actively seeking opportunities to debunk the myths that were created and form our own history through our own words. The Black Studies Department is doing exactly that, and I am so thankful for each professor I had the privilege of taking a course with—as well as those I didn’t have the chance to learn from.

Brianna Jackson, Class of 2023
Black Studies Major

I decided to join this department because I was deprived of Black history in my early education. I thought I could piece together parts of myself through this program. Restricting and editing history deprives Black people of our shared identities. We cannot begin to understand our legacy and our future if we do not know our history.

This program was challenging because these studies do not allow you to forget the struggle we face as Black and brown folks. However, learning this history reminds us that our ancestors have been up against impossible odds. They had to dream of radical change to envision their kin walking in the world we live in today. I also dream of radical change for our future kin. Graduating from this program is a major step in making this dream a reality.

Your Story belongs here too

If Black Studies has shaped your education, strengthened your sense of community, influenced your goals, or made a difference in your life, we invite you to share your experience with us. Your reflections can help future students understand the lasting value of Black Studies at Portland State.

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