A Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) alumnus in the information technology (IT) industry hopes to move up the ladder and uplift historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU) students along the way.
Nicholas Darby, a Grambling State University graduate with a degree in computer information systems, is a three-time Leadership Institute (LI) attendee and scholarship winner at The Pitch 2020. He’s currently working full-time with TMCF partner Medtronic as an IT analyst in its rotation program.
“I often tell students TMCF made my college experience what it was, both for personal and professional development,” Darby said.
Even though his first two times attending LI was virtual, Darby was able to secure two internships and find great mentors through his experience. He said his final LI, an in-person event, was his favorite experience with TMCF.
“The Pitch experience was great, but the Leadership Institute in person is an entirely different experience,” Darby said. “It almost can’t be explained, but experiencing it as my last TMCF LI as an undergrad student was a blessing.”
Darby said his career goals are to continue to move up the ladder in his field. Along the way, he hopes to reach back and uplift HBCU students as it was done for him.
“I want to make sure they know the importance of the opportunities that TMCF offers,” Darby said. “I want them to know not to take college as a joke, but see that those four years are what starts the journey to what your post grad life will look like.”
He’d also like to emphasize that TMCF’s programs and opportunities are for more than professional development.
“A lot of the things I heard from TMCF panelists and speakers helped me grow deeper than how to get a scholarship, but I also received real and authentic life advice,” he said.
His personal development, and the personal development of others, is what he sees as TMCF’s largest impact.
“TMCF changed me as a human,” Darby said. “The experiences and connections that TMCF offers to HBCU students are life changing. They really opened up a new world of professional development for me and for all African American men and women.”
