By Alexis Clark
NASHVILLE, TN (TSU News Service) — The experience, success and or job stability are just a few of many reasons behind attending college. At TSU, many of the undergraduates did just that by successfully landing employment in their industry before walking across the stage. From Microsoft to Bank of America, here are four Spring 2022 graduates who landed top-paying jobs with fortune 500 companies.
Davarious Thompson accepted a full-time job offer last fall as a project engineer assistant with one of the largest domestic contractors in the United States, Turner Construction Company. Thompson of Memphis, Tennessee, received a Bachelor of Science degree in architectural engineering from the College of engineering. When he first enrolled at TSU, he was unsure of what career path he wanted to take. That’s when he decided to utilize his resources on campus.
“The career development center gave me that extra push,” Thompson said. Upon arrival, an employee from the career development center told Thompson to close his eyes and envision the person he wanted to become and a career path he truly wanted to follow.
“The first thing I said was … build a building or designing.” That’s when Thompson got on track with the engineering program. “I fell in love with it.” Thompson will start his new position located in his hometown on June 16, earning around $80,000. Thompson said his 2019 internship at General Motors, his senior capstone project, and overall TSU experience is what led him to the amazing opportunity.
As for Aliyah Muhammad, she is still in shock about the job offered she accepted as a software developer for Bank of America.
Muhammad of Mount Juliet, Tennessee, received a degree in computer science and is moving to Dallas, Texas, for her new career in June. She will be earning $88,000. “It’s been a long time,” Muhammad said, noting that she was initially a biology major.
“But it was definitely worth it.”
The first-generation college graduate accepted the job in December and said that the Tennessee Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (TLSAMP) program, is what assisted her on the journey. “It’s so surreal,” she said. “I am really excited to start the next chapter of my life. TSU was awesome and I am very grateful.” As Muhammad is in disbelief of her outstanding accomplishments, Shaun Anderson of Lexington, Kentucky, said his graduation experience was bittersweet.
Anderson is a recent graduate who received a degree in marketing. During his time at TSU, Anderson became a United Negro College Fund scholar and traveled to D.C. for a leadership seminar, an event that set him up for success, he said.
“Being in that room … and being an African American male at a HBCU is unheard of,” Anderson said. “Being in that setting is great.” Anderson interned with Spectrum in 2021 and the rest was history. “Once I did a good job the first summer … they invited me for a full-time position.”
Starting July 6, Anderson will be taking his talents to Charlotte, North Carolina, working for Spectrum/ Charter Communications as their marketing analytics specialist, earning $85,000.
In just a few weeks, Amiya Ingram will be a part of the 5.7% of African American employees representing Microsoft within the United States.
Ingram of Huntsville, Alabama, will be moving to Seattle, Washington, to start her new position as a program manager. She will be working under Microsoft’s marketing and advertising artificial intelligence team.
“It was only God,” the recent TSU graduate said when she applied for the position and received the offer after four rounds of hour-long interviews.
Ingram, who was the president of the National Society of Black Engineers at TSU, now holds a bachelor’s degree from the college of engineering in computer science. She noted that her contribution towards the organization and members, along with support from the computer science department, has shown her what she is capable of. “That organization (NSBE) creates some of the best talent that the university produces,” she said. “It showed me my own power within myself.”
She stated that helping others keeps her motivated. “It is something so fulfilling about seeing people really thrive in whatever they want to do.”
Ingram landed a six-figure salary and will start her new position on June 20.
