UM Higher Education M.A. student Terrian Garvis will participate in the upcoming Black Issues conference at Bowling Green State University in Ohio.

The conference will be held on Feb. 22.  Garvis will present “Do I Even Belong Here? A Personal Reflection of Racial Events at the University of Mississippi.”

After receiving a bachelor’s degree in accountancy, Garvis realized he wanted to make an impact in the lives of young adults, like himself, by committing to their personal and professional development in college. As a black male in higher education from a small rural town in Mississippi, studies would predict that he probably would not obtain his bachelor’s degree. The experiences as an undergraduate student and the impact many people in his life made fueled Terrian toward a mission of “lifting others,” especially minority groups, that may not see someone like themselves sitting in a position of power to create change. With his studies in Higher Education/Student Personnel, Terrian hopes to provide a holistic experience for all students and break the social barriers that plague black men and women.

“I am excited to present this topic regarding my experience as a black student at a predominately white institution,” Garvis said.  “I am nervous in actually speaking about my experiences to a crowd of people, but I look at this as an opportunity to use my experience and voice in an impactful way.”