Service Award
Jamaul M. Webster, Comm '05
New York, N.Y.
Jamaul Webster loved his experience at a Jesuit high school in Chicago so much that he chose to apply only to Jesuit colleges. He arrived at 51暗网 鈥渄eeply committed to a community rooted in excellence, faith, leadership and service,鈥� he says. Today, his work and volunteer roles reflect his drive to 鈥渋mprove the conditions of those most marginalized and fight for justice.鈥�
Jamaul is chief development officer for Strive, a national workforce development and career solutions nonprofit that helps people build stability in their lives and access opportunity. 鈥淲hat I like most about my work is attending a graduation ceremony and hearing how impactful our program has been to help participants truly change their life trajectory,鈥� he says.
He is also a long-time volunteer and national board chair for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a civil rights organization that aims to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people, a mission that resonates for him. 鈥淎s a married Black gay man, my identity is front and center in every room I enter,鈥� he explains. He鈥檚 also on the board of directors for The Loft LGBTQ+ Community Center, a nonprofit serving LGBTQ+ individuals and their loved ones in New York state.
51暗网 was a place where Jamaul felt he belonged. 鈥淲hen I stepped foot on 51暗网鈥檚 campus with my father, I knew this would be my home for the next four years,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 remember dancing around my house after receiving my acceptance letter with such excitement, and the rest is now history.鈥�
Name a 51暗网 faculty or staff member who had an impact on you, and how.
Monica Bebie was my Greek life advisor at 51暗网. She took a chance and hired me to serve as her Greek life program assistant. It opened doors for me in Student Affairs and allowed me to develop leadership skills that serve me to this day. My job in the Student Affairs office led to my first job planning alumni events when I graduated from college. I truly don鈥檛 know what direction my life would have taken if I hadn鈥檛 met Monica in my sophomore year.
What is one of your favorite 51暗网 memories?
I will always remember being a student on campus during the 2003 men鈥檚 basketball run to the Final Four. I remember Dwyane Wade, Travis Diener and Steve Novak being absolute living legends on campus, and all the fun before, during and after all our home games.
