Giving back to the community has been a part of Chelsia Douglas’ life for as long as she can remember. Her grandfather made history as one of the first Black school board members in Clarke County Schools, Alabama. Her mother was a fierce advocate for community planning, and her father currently serves on the county school board — her dad even signed her high school diploma.

“Public service has always been a passion of mine,” Douglas said. “I’ve always been intrigued with understanding the perspectives and lived experiences of others.”

Community building came naturally to the University of Delaware doctoral student, whose path began as a dual history and political science major at the University of South Alabama. As an undergraduate, she was president of the African American Student Association and Committee Chair of Student Government Association, often recalling her grandfather’s advice: Don’t try, just do it.

“It means harnessing the power as an individual to do things right the first time,” Douglas said.

And she did. In the summer of 2019, she studied abroad in Poland, Ukraine and Prague, exploring Jewish studies and civil revolutions. Back in Alabama, she worked alongside other students at the state capital to coordinate higher education advocacy initiatives. After earning her bachelor’s degree, Douglas went on to complete her master’s in public administration in 2021. As a graduate research assistant, Douglas worked for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Frontier Set initiative, which explores student success strategies and institutional policies at six Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), including Delaware State University. She quickly learned that two of DSU’s lead administrators were graduates of UD’s Urban Affairs and Public Policy program, piquing her interest in the possibilities offered by Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration. She was especially inspired by the Delaware Model — an approach that integrates teaching, research and real-world experience — and decided to apply.

With two degrees and the support of her family, Douglas made the move from Alabama to Delaware. As a fellow at the Biden Institute, she assisted with programmatic planning — bringing in leaders, politicians and practitioners to engage students on the policies that matter most to them. She also coordinated student voting and civic engagement initiatives, providing election information and political literacy resources to help foster meaningful campus involvement.

She quickly immersed herself in the UD community, serving as president of the Black Graduate Student Association, as well as a program representative and parliamentarian for the Graduate Student Government.

Douglas’ UD journey also brought a major life milestone: She gave birth to her son Calvin during the first year of her doctorate program.

Motherhood brought challenges, but it also deepened Douglas’ sense of purpose.

“It was such an enriching experience to develop my identity as a Blue Hen while being able to assist others and build a sense of community and purpose so far from home,” she said.

Now in her fourth year as a doctoral candidate, Douglas is focused on her dissertation, which examines paternalistic policies and administrative practices in higher education. She’s interested in the multidimensional structures that support college students’ holistic development.

“I want to assist students with an important transitional stage in their life — making sure they are grounded in academics, family and community, ensuring the institutions provide opportunities for students to flourish by capitalizing on community collaborations and community-based networks,” she said.

After graduation, Douglas envisions a future where she can help shape institutions that truly serve their students — whether in Delaware or back home in Alabama. She’s driven to be a changemaker in higher education, guiding students through one of the most important transitions of their lives, while also sharing her passion for policy, advocacy and community-driven change.