When a student thinks of success, s/he may become overwhelmed by the many paths that can lead to success. But for Huston-Tillotson University alumna, Dr. Alicia Moore, a clearer path to success may be at one's fingertips with a little mixing of "this and that" of some important ingredients in a "Recipe for Success."
Huston-Tillotson University is one of the black colleges supported by the Black College Fund which provides financial support to maintain solid, challenging academic programs; strong faculties; and well-equipped facilities.
Dr. Moore spends her days professionally as an endowed professor of education at Southwestern University (SWU) in Georgetown and has been in such role for the last 17 years. Her areas of expertise include early childhood and special education, multiculturalism, social justice, and theories related to racial bias and its impact on students of color.
"My big push here is to advocate for students of color," Dr. Moore said.
There at SWU, Dr. Moore advises three service student organizations, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., EMPIRE, and WE RISE.
For the 2017-18 school year, Dr. Moore earned the coveted title, "Student Organization Advisor of the Year." Dr. Moore knows more than "a thing or two" about student organizations, as she too was a member of student organizations while at Huston-Tillotson University.
Years after graduating from Huston-Tillotson in 1988, she penned a "Recipe for Success" for a 2007 publication co-edited by fellow alums Wilhelmina E. Perry and August N. Swain.
Over 10 years later, Dr. Moore says that her Recipe is still good for success today.
For student life, Dr. Moore encourages students to be active on campus.
"Find ways to work in areas that fuel a passion for your major and future career. You also should find a mentor on campus who will keep you grounded and will serve in a capacity to honor your strengths and push you to be committed to excellence;" Dr. Moore did. She credits her campus mentor, Dr. Gloria Black, and professors for her career success.
"I have thrived in my career based upon my interactions and relationships with my role models in academia at HT. My professors were the wind beneath my wings.
At HT, Dr. Moore was serious about her academic success. She was on the dean's list every semester. But, more than that, Dr. Moore was engaged actively in gleaning everything she could from her professors.
"They were knowledgeable, great role models and provided students with a great liberal arts education," Dr. Moore said.
Actually, Dr. Moore started out at then-Southwest Texas (now, Texas State). She later transferred to HT where her first cousin, Alvin Moore, coached baseball.
"He told my dad that HT would be a great school for me. Was he ever right!!" Dr. Moore emphasized. "HT changed my life . . . for the better.
Dr. Moore said the same could happen to current and future HT students if they use the Recipe for Success on their HT journey.
"I am tremendously thankful for my experiences there at HT. My success is HT's success."
Huston-Tillotson University website
One of seven apportioned giving opportunities of The United Methodist Church, the Black College Fund provides financial support to maintain solid, challenging academic programs; strong faculties; and well-equipped facilities at 11 United Methodist-related historically black colleges and universities. Please encourage your leaders and congregations to support the Black College Fund apportionment at 100 percent.
