Colleges

Leadership Highlight: Delaware State University’s SGA President Usman Tijani

In an effort to highlight the people who are leading graduate universities across the nation, we at Watch The Yard reached out to Delaware State University and did an interview with Usman Tijani the Student Government Association president.

The position of SGA president of a is a highly respected role and there is a special pride that one takes. Tijani, who is majoring in Marketing, is a current senior and a Spring 2019 initiate of Omega Psi Phi.

We interviewed Tijani, and talked to him about his position, goals, future and what it means to hold this type of leadership position in 2020.

Read the full interview below.

What is the biggest thing you’ve learned as an SGA president so far?

Being the SGA President I have learned the process of change. Change can not happen in one day, but the foundation to that change can be initiated and built on everyday. During my time as president there were so many issues to try to solve in a one year term. Instead of trying to solve everything at once, my board and I started building the foundations to build those solutions. This thought process has transitioned to my life and has been used to help towards my growth.

What made you decide to attend Delaware State University for undergrad?

I attend a open house at Delaware State University and was amazed by the energy and culture of the school. After the open house I knew that this was a place I could home for the next 4 years.

How has Delaware State University molded you into the person you are today?

Delaware State University molded me to a entrepreneur, brand ambassador, Omega Man, student leader, and future JPMC Analyst. To think that this was the same University I started my clothing brand, S.L.U.M. LLC in the fall semester of my freshman year is just amazing. This illustrious university has done nothing but molded me into a better black man.

What specific initiatives have you headed up this year and how do you think they will improve the school and surrounding community?

Their are a few initiatives my team led this year. Creation of a events portal for students to check out all the daily events happening on campus at the touch of a finger. This was big because a lot of students did not have social media accounts where most events were promoted, the app was available on all platforms it was small success being the first year it was established but I believe it will be of a great use later. We also collaborated with career services and created Linkedin Headshot day, which was LinkedIn headshots done by our student photographers the last Monday of every month. With COVID-19, we had some spring semester initiatives that we were going to implement but we plan on passing it down to the next SGA.

How is your school currently responding to the coronavirus and what is your SGA administration doing to help students?

Our university has transitioned to everything being remote. SGA has been focused on providing tips on how to transition to online learning, answering questions regarding refunds and their personal belongings still at school, but also creating a month of virtual events that would be available to students to keep the Hornet Country Spirit Alive!!

How is the coronavirus affecting SGA elections for next year?

Our elections have transitioned to social media based. The energy of a in-person campaign week is one like no other but we have to make do with the current situations we are in and not dwell on it but adapt.

All of our campaigning will be done on our SGA instagram page @thelegacyadministration_sga.

What does leadership mean to you?

Leadership means to me have the ability or eagerness to work everyday to reach your maximum potential so you can help others do the same. If a leader is not looking to succeed, lead, unify or motivate individuals everyday then they are far from a leader.

We now live in a digital world, what do you think schools need to do to represent themselves online in 2020?

Utilize student leaders to help increase the school exposure. We have so many talented individuals curating in our Universities why utilize them while they are still attending instead of trying to reach after they graduate and become hard to contact. I have literally witnessed incoming freshman say they came to Delaware State University because a student that they seen on social media.

Why do you think Watch The Yard is important to Black students and college culture?

I believe it is great platform to help show that there are young, hungry, humble black students that are seeking to become powerhouse individuals in today’s society.

What do you plan on doing after graduation?

I have received a job offer with JP Morgan Chase & Co. in Plano, Texas and plan to focus on my clothing brand S.L.U.M. LLC. S.L.U.M. stands for succeed, lead, unify, motivate. Our website is slumapparel.com, Instagram @slum_co, and we are focused on expansion and our looking for potential investors.