Lathes Towns is a Director of Student Involvement, Traditions, Spirit & Family Relations at Tarleton State University. In 2002 when my daughters were 14 and 12 years old, and I was 40 years old, I enrolled at Tarleton State University determined to not merely speak about opportunity to my daughters, but live it out. I graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sports Studies with the notion to become a Physical Educator in the community in which we lived. However, an opportunity presented itself in the form of a GA position with the Tarleton State University Women’s Basketball program thus encouraging me to continue on with my education and pursue a Master’s degree. In 2007 I graduated with a Master’s in Exercise and Sports Studies. Oddly enough, in 2007 I accepted a position not associated with my degree but one that really spoke to me as Coordinator of Parent Relations at Tarleton State University. This was a new position thus giving me the task of building a parent program from the ground up as a woman of color at a predominantly white university. Between 2007 and 2011 I developed a Tarleton Parent Association, orchestrated Family Weekend, Parent Orientations, Summer Send-off Events, Parent Educational Sessions, Campus Preview Days and served as an Advisor for Minority Student Leaders. In 2011 I received a promotion and was the Director of Transition & Family Relations at Tarleton State University. During that time, I overhauled our orientation programs to be more inclusive and welcoming for all students and parents, especially students of color by featuring more minority representation at orientations. Additionally, I restructured Duck Camp, making it more inclusive and available to all by starting a scholarship program covering expenses for students that couldn’t otherwise afford to attend this wonderfully engaging opportunity. Moreover, I developed Transition Week, Tarleton Transition Mentor (TTM) Program, TTM Leadership Classes, served as Homecoming Co-Chair, Student Organization Advisor, and Advisor of Minority Student Leaders/Black Excellence Association. In 2011 my career expanded yet again. To present, I am the Director of Lance Zimmerman Department of Student Involvement, Tradition, Spirit & Family Relations. In addition to the aforementioned programs I have created the Tarleton Activities Board in which students are the brainchild behind campus activities, while my office executes the logistics of the activities, giving the students a voice and ownership in their college experience. Additionally, I collaborated and created a Howdy Week calendar and hosted the Zeta Sorority Leadership Program. My office continues to live out diversity and equality by hiring a diverse, bilingual staff and equally diverse student employees that work collectively to assist families and students alike in their transition to Tarleton State University. In my time at Tarleton I have received the Quality Service Award; Purple Award, and entered the Purple Blazer Society. My greatest accomplishment is the title of “Momma T” on the Tarleton campus. A household name, a public figure that has lived out inclusion, equality, and acceptance EVERY SINGLE DAY. “Accomplishment” is my ability to connect, engage, and mentor countless number of students of color, white students from foreign countries, ALL STUDENTS in ways like securing employment, securing financial aid, providing lunch and a listening ear when they are ready to quit and go home. My “accomplishments” may or may not show up in programs, initiatives, or awards, and that is fine. My hope is that my accomplishments, my example, empowers students, especially students of color to seize opportunity and not allow bias, discrimination, or discouragement to dictate or deviate their path to success.