Stacey St. Holder (McCallum)

I went to A. Philip Randolph Campus High School and did my first two years at Tulane University in New Orleans. I got into a situation where I didn't have a full scholarship, so money was running out. I was the oldest of three, and I didn't want to eat up all the funds that my parents had available. I then decided to transfer back to New York and finish up at the City College of New York to save money. I was fortunate enough to be there when Nelson Mandela visited in 1990. Also another game changer was when I took a class with James Small. The premise of the course was divine wisdom; it opened my eyes and set me on a path as a seeker of the truth. I lived at home, and just walked back and forth to school. It was a very good experience because I spent the first two years away in a predominantly white college and being able to come back home in a community that looked more like me. I felt I had a full experience. I've worked for the Department of Veteran Affairs and I'm the chief of staff for acquisition logistics and construction. I've been mentoring and serving as a coach in development programs for years now. I just have a lot of pride in CCNY. They had such high standards and I think some really great and amazing people have come through that campus and had a great impact.