Transfer Student on Finding Her Voice on The Hill

When Amirah Ali transferred to Alabama A&M University after her sophomore year, she was looking for something different – something more. What she found was a home, a community, and ultimately, a launching pad.

Now a graduating senior with a degree in marketing, Ali has accepted a full-time position with PepsiCo as a Sales Management Associate. She’ll begin her role this July in Daytona Beach, Florida.

“I’ll be working on the accounts under PepsiCo, marketing the products in stores and things like that,” Ali explained. “I’m looking forward to growing my people skills and learning more about the best-selling strategies. I feel that this role will push me to break out of my shell more and improve upon building relationships with others from a business standpoint.”

Originally from Chicago but most recently based in Alexandria, Virginia, Ali said that her decision to transfer to Alabama A&M was deeply personal – and deeply rooted.

“A&M has a very special place in my heart; it’s always been a part of my family and I was fortunate to be exposed to The Hill from a young age,” she said. “My dad is an alumnus of this institution and growing up visiting the campus has allowed for this full-circle experience to become whole. After my first two years of college, I wanted a change and to be a bit closer to family. The opportunity presented itself for me to attend, and I just went for it.”

Ali arrived at AAMU on a Presidential Scholarship and quickly found her stride, immersing herself in academics and co-curriculars while building lasting connections.

“As a transfer student, it was difficult for me to come out of my shell when I first arrived on The Hill,” she admitted. “However, everyone I met was so welcoming and treated me as if I it was my freshman year. I’ve been fortunate enough to meet some of the most selfless, dedicated, caring and down-to-earth people at this institution, and I’ll always cherish those relationships.”

Throughout her time on The Hill, Ali embraced both challenges and opportunities. She was selected to participate in Major League Baseball’s inaugural Marketing Bootcamp, where she helped promote the league’s first-ever tribute game to the Negro Leagues at Birmingham’s historic Rickwood Field. She was also a key member of the AAMU marketing team that earned first place in the American Advertising Federation’s HBCUs for Advertising competition, which led to an exclusive media tour in New York City.

But it’s not just the big moments she’ll miss.

“I’ll miss the walks from my car to the New School of Business for class, the football fields that I paced up and down during football games as an athletics intern, and of course seeing all of the geese roam across campus. These ‘small’ elements of The Hill aren’t so small to me. I know they’ll be some of the moments I’ll miss the most after my time at A&M is done.”

Ali says she’s especially grateful for the faculty members who supported her journey, singling out one in particular.

“So many of my professors have gone above and beyond not just for me, but for my fellow Bulldogs as well,” she said. “Of all the moments with my professors, I’ll miss the conversations that were held after classes were dismissed, when they took a genuine interest in my well-being as a college student and also when they tried to assist me on my professional journey. In particular, I’ll miss Dr. Cooper, one of the best professors I’ve ever had. Dr. Cooper’s commitment to the growth and development of her students is unparalleled, and outside of the classroom, she truly cares about her students and wants to see them succeed.”

And while she’s stepping into a new chapter, Ali knows the bonds she’s built at AAMU will remain strong.

“Although my classes with them are ending, the relationship and network doesn’t have to,” she said. “I look forward to keeping in touch with my classmates and professors through my future endeavors.”

As for what comes next? Ali has plenty of dreams – big ones – and she’s not afraid to chase them.

“I have several career goals. I would like to work within the professional sports industry. I can also see myself working within advertising agencies to assist other companies market their products or services. I’ve even considered law at one point, as well as journalism or communications. It’s safe to say that I’m still figuring it out. But overall, I’d like to continue my work in marketing while making an impact in my community and bringing innovative perspectives to how people do business.”

The greatest lesson she’s taking with her from AAMU is one she plans to live by.

“I’ve learned to take the risk – to go for it and put yourself out there,” shared Ali. “Many of the opportunities I’ve had here came from being willing to bet on myself. That mindset shouldn’t stop after graduation. I want to keep pushing myself, growing professionally and personally, and stepping outside my comfort zone. That’s what Alabama A&M taught me.”