Wildcat Women Fund Spotlight: Maia Harrell ’20
November 21, 2024
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- Danielle Strickland
Maia Harrell ’20 with her mom, Janet Stovall ’85, her aunt, Judy Harrell Hooks ’85, and her godmother, Bri Walton ’88, at the 2022 DBAN Reunion
Maia Harrell ’20 was a chemistry major at Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø and opened a small business back home in Atlanta, Lord of the Pies, after graduation. She has now returned to campus and works in the Office of Alumni & Family Engagement as the assistant director for regional engagement, connecting Wildcats all across the country.
Maia followed a strong line of women to Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø, including her mother, Janet Stovall ’85, her aunt, Judy Harrell Hooks ’85, and her godmother, Bri Walton ’88. She is pleased about the opportunity to give through the Wildcat Women Fund and make a difference for those following in her Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø footsteps.
What inspired you to give to Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø through the Wildcat Women Fund?
As a Black woman, I take both of those identities very seriously. My blackness was supported by the Black Student Coalition (BSC) as a student and the Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø Black Alumni Network (DBAN) as an alum, but my woman-ness has not been supported in the same direct way. Giving to the Wildcat Women Fund will ensure direct support to — and with — other women Wildcats like me.
I grew up surrounded by Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø women: my mom, my aunt, my godmother and too many play-aunts to count. I grew up seeing their power and seeing how they embodied what it means to be a Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø woman. I used to hear the saying, "A Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø man needs no introduction," but quickly changed it to “A Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø WOman needs no introduction" once I became one.
This is the first time the college has a fund focused on [primarily] women coming together to support an area of campus. What is exciting to you about this new avenue for giving?
I am most excited to see how this fund will support women at Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø, especially with the current political climate taking rights and services away from women. I hope this fund will mitigate these effects to the women and women-identifying students at Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø.
The current designation for the fund is student health and well-being. What impact do you hope these gifts have on that important area of campus life?
I hope this fund will allow the women and women-identifying students at Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø access to the necessary healthcare they need. I hope we can serve as a model for other institutions to continue to directly support and care for a large part of the student body.
Why is giving back to Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø in general important to you?
I didn't have the best student experience at Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø; some of it personal and some it institutional. I believe giving back will allow me to make real changes to areas of campus I loved when I was a student, and areas I believe need to be improved from when I was here.
