From Small-Town Student to Campus Leader

Justin Richardson never imagined being the first in his family to go to college—let alone earning a communication degree from NC State and serving as a campus leader who is now helping other students achieve their dreams.

As Senior Associate Director in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Richardson leads Native American recruitment and student outreach while also serving as program coordinator for the Native Education Forum, Rev Up and Pack Preview.

A proud member of the Haliwa-Saponi tribe from Hollister, North Carolina, Richardson is Vice President of the NC State Indian Alumni Association and President of Expansion for Phi Sigma Nu Fraternity, Inc. He’s also a co-founder of the Miskwa Waya, a Native American drum group in NC—which, he says, “gives me a way to get back in touch with who I am.”

Richardson is a passionate advocate for Native American students and is dedicated to promoting equality on NC State campuses and beyond. Read on to learn more about his journey from small town student to leader for higher education.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What brought you to North Carolina?

I’m from a very small town in a Tier 1 county here in North Carolina. I really didn’t think I could go to a big school like NC State. My high school counselor really encouraged me to check out the university and apply. He thought that the first-year college, which is now called Exploratory Studies, would be…