22- Year Old Kelsey Becomes First Black Valedictorian at NYU's College of Art and Science in 22 Years
The 22-year-old Africana Studies major, who graduated with a remarkable 3.90 grade point average, made history as the first-ever black valedictorian of the college since its inception.
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Kelsey Moore has shattered a 22-year-old record at New York University, becoming the first black valedictorian of the College of Art and Science.
The 22-year-old Africana Studies major, who graduated with a remarkable 3.90 grade point average, made history as the first-ever black valedictorian of the college since its inception. Moore, who hails from South Carolina, told New York Local that she was unaware of the valedictorian position at the university until her junior year.
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"When I first came to NYU, I was already in an area that was predominantly white. So I already knew I had extra weight on my shoulder as a black woman and so that propelled me to continue doing my best, being the best that I could be. I knew that I would have a lot of naysayers," Moore said.
Despite these doubts, Moore persevered, driven by her determination to succeed. She was awarded the Presidential Honor Scholarship and went on to specialize in African-American women's history in the 20th century, with a thesis focused on the role of gossip for black women during the Great Migration.
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Moore credits her grandmother and mother for inspiring her success, saying, "She's always instilled that every generation is supposed to be better than the last." She also acknowledged the importance of black representation in academia and mentorship from black professors, which motivated her to pursue a career as a professor.
"I'm not afraid of being in academia. I know that there are going to be challenges, especially as a black woman, a dark-skinned black woman at that, I can hear the criticism as I speak," she said.
Looking forward, Moore plans to pursue Doctorate studies at Johns Hopkins University. Her advice to black girls of the future is to "truly be unapologetic about who you are, and what you want. Demand what you want. You dictate your path."
