Olecia L. James, a Junior Mass Communications major, has made it her duty to leave a long lasting impression on Alcorn State University’s (ASU) campus. Since beginning her collegiate journey she has maintained a 3.91 cumulative grade point average while actively serving in multiple organizations such as Girl’s Coalition where she serves as the event coordinator co-chair, the Mass Communications Club, Reserve Officer Training Corp (ROTC), and the Impact Community Service Organization. Leadership and success are extremely familiar to James as she has been chosen as the new Miss Alpha Chi Alpha 2020-2021. Throughout the duration of her tenure she will be responsible for representing Alcorn’s Mass Communications Department at various events.
Alpha Chi Alpha is Alcorn’s Chapter of Lambda Pi Eta which is the official Communications Studies Honor Society of the National Communications Association. The Lambda Pi Eta Chapter was chartered at Alcorn on October 3rd, 2016. The organization’s goal is to recognize, foster, and reward outstanding scholastic achievement, stimulate interest in the field of Communications, promote and encourage professional development among Communication majors, provide an opportunity to discuss and exchange ideas about the field, establish and maintain close relationships and understanding between faculty and students and explore options for further graduate studies.
Born and raised in Cleveland, Mississippi, James has thrived on being a scholar. Her hard work continuously paid off for her until her Senior year at Cleveland Central High School. Due to unforeseen circumstances that she was not aware of, she did not receive the distinction of being named the salutatorian of her graduating class. James stated, “Accepting it then was hard, but I appreciate where I am. I won’t worry about where I could’ve and should’ve been, instead I will bloom where I am planted.”
During her Freshman year at Alcorn she obtained the Freshman of the Year award for the 2018-2019 school year and was later named by the Alcorn chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to be the Jennifer Collins Award recipient. Along with her studies and organizations, James has participated in Miss Black and Old Gold Mississippi, been Miss ROTC 2019-2020, been a member of Sigma Chi Iota, and Lambda Pi Eta, where she currently serves as vice-president. By being in this many organizations it keeps James focused and consistent with the legacy that she wants to leave at Alcorn. With her newly elected title, she is ready to begin a new tradition within her Department.
James was elected by the executive board members of the Alpha Chi Alpha Chapter which consists of Destyni Bowie, Heather Almekdad, and Dontraneece Gordon. Current Co-advisor and Assistant Professor of Mass Communications, Larry Sanders, stated, “There was no hesitation in selecting Ms. James to represent our organization. She is a woman with a voice, and I have no doubt she will go the distance to make things happen for our Department.”
James has plans to elevate the chapter. She states, “I hope to make not only Mass Communications majors more aware of our organization, but the entire student body as well. I want to show them who we are and what we do. It’s something new to be apart of and I can’t wait to see what we can accomplish.” Her immediate plans are to host media-seminars, one on one “How to conduct an interview” sessions, adjust improvements to the Departments Annual Media Day and partner with other organizations to host speech competitions.