Name: Jocelyn Jones
Job Title: Seasonal Media Relations Assistant
How long have you been with the Cardinals? Two seasons
Did you attend an HBCU? Yes
Can you share the name of the HBCU you attended and its founding date? North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University was founded on March 9, 1891 in the basement of Shaw University as a part of the Second Morrill Land Grant Act and was originally called the Agricultural and Mechanical College for the Colored Race before being renamed in 1957.
What motivated your decision to choose your particular HBCU? I knew when I was applying for colleges that I wanted to go to an HBCU. My older sister actually graduated from A&T in 2010, three years before I graduated from high school. While I had been to A&T many time before to visit her, I decided to go on an official visit. The moment I stepped on campus it just felt like home.
If you could go back to your first day at your alma mater, what advice would you give to your younger self? To not be so afraid to shine. It's okay to branch out and have new experiences because those are going to shape you into the person you're supposed to be.
What piece of advice would you offer to individuals considering attending an HBCU? To take the chance on yourself because it'll be four of the best years of your life. From the culture, to the people and most importantly the things you'll learn. Not only about yourself, but about your people and where you come from.
How did your experience at your HBCU play a role in your journey to get you where you are today? I went through adversity, and tough times during school, and especially after graduation but if it wasn't for the community of my HBCU I wouldn't be where I am. I was unsure about my path after graduation, but I knew I wanted to work in sports. The Sports Information Director at NC A&T, Brian Holloway, brought me on as a post graduate intern and I fell in love with the team side of Communications and PR. From there, I quickly figured out that I wanted to transition to the NFL. I'm so thankful that he saw something in me and decided to take a chance on me because my time there as well as my experiences throughout college as a student helped mold me into the professional career woman that I am today.
