Story by Dorian Martin ’06. Photos by Olivia Garza ’23

Howard Anderson III ’24 felt alone during his first year at Texas A&M University. Even though he was surrounded by more than 71,000 students, he found it difficult to find community on a campus that was significantly different from the predominantly Black and Hispanic neighborhood where he grew up.  

The COVID-19 pandemic made matters worse. Anderson and his roommate were forced to remain sequestered in their apartment and Anderson began to flounder academically, putting his dream of earning a Texas A&M degree into jeopardy. 

But thanks to a variety of programs offered through student organizations and programs affiliated with Texas A&M Division of Student Affairs’ Department of Multicultural Services (DMS), Anderson’s trajectory changed—and now he is thriving and stepping into top campus leadership roles. “The department is one of the best experiences for students like me,” he noted. “Through the DMS, I have found a sense of family that is second only to my immediate family.” 

Putting Down Roots 

During that difficult first year, Anderson found a lifeline through Excellence uniting Culture, Education, and Leadership (ExCEL), a first-year student organization designed to help new students find academic, social, and personal balance.  

He can still pinpoint the exact moment that he felt a sense of connection to Aggieland through ExCEL. “We had a luncheon outside in late October, and that was the first time I got to meet people and feel a sense of community,” he said. “Ever since then, college has been a different experience and I’m very grateful for ExCEL.” 

Anderson’s ExCEL mentor also helped him connect to other DMS resources. “He kept telling me about the DMS and the things that it offered,” he said. “I didn’t know where DMS was until my sophomore year, because it wasn’t completely open because of COVID.” 

Anderson eventually visited DMS’s office space, located in the Memorial Student Center, during his sophomore year and found a home. “It was one of the best experiences I have had since I’ve been here,” he noted. “The DMS is a welcoming environment where people come in to do homework or hang out in between classes. The upper-class students are always willing to help. The DMS staff care about academics and always ask us about our grades.” 

That committed academic focus rubbed off on the impressionable student. “I saw other students talking about their academics and the pride they were taking in them, as well as the steps they were taking to study outside of class,” Anderson said. “It inspired me to do the same. Being around them encouraged me to pick up my grades and take more pride in school.” 

He also connected with Aggie Black Male Connection (ABMC), which furthered his sense of community and belonging. “My ExCEL mentor told me that ABMC was a place where I could go and talk about things that I would like,” Anderson recalled. “It just felt like I was in a barbershop talking about day-to-day life for a Black Aggie on campus.” 

He noted that ABMC also encourages its members to share their achievements. “We have a little mental check-in every week about what’s been good that week—and what we can do to capitalize on it or just build upon it,” he said.  

Moving Forward 

With that bumpy first year now firmly in his rearview mirror, Anderson continues to thrive. “My ExCEL family as well as my ABMC family helped me regain my confidence and desire to be a better student,” he explained. “This led me to want to join XL Academy, which was one of the best decisions I made in my life.” 

XL Academy, which is the ExCEL advanced experience, provided Anderson with a chance to take a deeper dive into developmental education, experiential learning opportunities, critical reflection and theoretical knowledge. “XL Academy taught me things about identity and culture that I never knew about myself,” Anderson noted.  

 Passionate about ensuring that other Aggies have similar life-changing opportunities, Anderson has served as ExCEL’s co-director of mentors, ABMC’s chief administrative office, and XL Academy administrator. “I decided to become involved with these organizations, because of the support I received as a mentee during my freshman year,” said Anderson, who is earning a degree in Environmental Design Architecture Studies with a minor in Leadership. “ExCEL and ABMC showed the importance of mentorship and the impact it can have on others.” 

Based on this wealth of experience, he will step into the role of ExCEL’s co-executive director during the 2023-24 academic year. “I am very excited about it,” he said. “I’ll be having a hand in everything, which puts a little more pressure on me—but I think I needed this pressure for my advancement in life and to be prepared for the world outside of school.” 

Planning A Homecoming 

Looking back, the second-generation Aggie of parents Howard II '92 and Erica '93 is thankful that he made the decision to enroll in Texas A&M. “I had A&M ingrained into me since I was a kid, but my parents never pressured me to come here,” Anderson explained. “My first choice was actually Prairie View A&M, but after visiting the campus and talking to my friends, I felt that Texas A&M was probably going to be the best school for me, based on my goals.” 

Graduate school is starting to loom on the horizon; Anderson is considering studying architecture or leadership and education. But one thing is for certain—he plans to return home to the South Oak Cliff area of Dallas so he can serve his community. “Whatever I decide to do with those degrees, I plan on going back to Dallas and either build my own architecture firm eventually or become an educator so I can give back to kids and show them there are other routes to be successful,” he said. 

And going forward, he knows he will be drawing on the lessons he has learned from DMS and its programs. “I don't think my experience is that different from other Black Aggies,” he said. “I was just blessed to be a part of great organizations such as ExCEL, ABMC, and XL Academy that helped keep me grounded and on the right path.” 

Learn more about the Department of Multicultural Services here!