As she approached her 30th birthday, Naima Blakely found herself confronting a familiar milestone question: Where do I want to go from here?
Blakely spent most of her 20s working as a fast-food manager and bartender, building connections and sharing stories with customers. But as she neared a new decade, she felt a growing pull toward a more stable, “corporate” career path. “I had this feeling that I needed growth and new opportunities,” she says. That realization set her on a journey that would eventually bring her to UNC Greensboro.
This spring, Blakely will graduate with a double major in Liberal & Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in humanities and philosophy with a concentration in pre-law. Her story reflects the experience of many adult learners balancing work, caregiving, motherhood, and coursework while rediscovering their voice and long-term goals.
A Return to UNCG Rooted in Prayer, Purpose, and Family Legacy
Two pivotal life events pushed Blakely to return to school. The first came during an international trip to celebrate her 30th birthday. Just one day into her vacation in Tulum, Mexico, she broke her knee.
“That was a life-changing experience for me,” she says. “I had to sit down. And that’s where patience comes in. You pray for patience, and you don’t realize those prayers would come through as hard as they do. When you’re praying for something, just know it’s going to come as a challenge. You have to learn it first to understand it.”
Recovering from her injury gave her the space to realize it was time to continue her education. Once she made the decision, UNCG felt like a natural fit. The Liberal & Professional Studies major offered a flexible, online option that fit into Blakely’s busy schedule. She already felt connected to campus through her aunt, Mildred Jordan Ricks, who worked in Dining Services for over 25 years. Jordan Ricks was often the first person to welcome students into the dining hall, and Blakely visited her regularly over the years.
Her aunt passed away the summer before she began taking classes on campus. The loss shocked Blakely, but it also strengthened her resolve.
“I was excited to come back to campus and see her,” Blakely says. “Knowing she wasn’t going to be there was shocking for me.” But she pushed on. “Whatever is going on, I’m going to finish [my degree], because I want to move on to the next level. Since then, she’s been with me, guiding me. It took a while to learn that spirituality is its own journey and not just religious—and I learned that through my Humanities major.”
Balancing Motherhood, Caregiving, and a Leadership Role at Cone Health
When Blakely began her studies at UNCG, she was raising three boys — now 11, 7, and 6 — while serving as a part-time caregiver for her father, working full‑time, and managing her aunt’s estate. She had been with Cone Health for more than three years and had recently stepped into a leadership role as an Information Technology Supervisor.
Today, she manages a 24‑hour switchboard operation across five hospitals and leads a team of 30 employees.
Blakely credits her husband and support system — at home, at work, and at UNCG — with making it possible to pursue her degree while balancing so many responsibilities. “Yes, you can have all the power and all the strength to get things done, but if you don’t have that support system, it’s really, really difficult,” she says.
Her supervisor offered flexibility so she could take classes and participate in campus opportunities. Her cohort taught her the importance of meeting people where they are. These experiences aligned with the cornerstones of her leadership philosophy: connection, community, and intentionality.
Finding Purpose Through Humanities and Philosophy
Blakely initially chose the Humanities major because it aligned with her interests and her busy life. “People are what make the world go round,” she says. But the coursework quickly became more meaningful than she expected.
Some of her early classes helped her process her aunt’s passing. “It was serendipitous,” she says. “I didn’t know that I needed this information.” When she realized she needed additional credits to graduate, she decided to pursue a second major in Philosophy (Pre‑Law). The decision challenged and changed her. “When I got to philosophy, it got a little rough,” she laughs. “But it forces you to think — what ‘facts’ are you giving? Is this perception or emotion?”
Those critical thinking skills strengthened her leadership at Cone Health, especially as she manages a multigenerational team. “People can always learn the work,” she says. “But connecting with people, understanding their language, building relationships — that can take you further.”
Humanities at Work: Applying Classroom Learning to Community Impact
One of the most transformative parts of Blakely’s UNCG experience has been her internship through Humanities at Work (H@W), a year-long program that places students in community organizations and helps them apply humanities skills in real-world settings.
Blakely interned with The Fisher Projects, a nonprofit based in High Point that supports and connects women and girls from all walks of life. She worked with their Strong Girls program, mentoring fourth–sixth graders on topics like body positivity, affirmations, and time management. In her early 20s, Blakely wanted to work with young girls and have her own nonprofit, so this felt like a dream being realized.
“We’re here to empower them and show them you have a voice,” she says. “Everything that you need is in you already. It’s just an honor to experience that.”
Blakely now serves as a board member of The Fisher Projects.
She’s also grateful for the classroom component of H@W. She notes that students don’t get a playbook of what work will be like or what to expect. Being able to meet with fellow students, speak with mentors, and listen to visiting speakers from the community offered her spaces to ask questions and gain information that supplemented the internship experience. She learned not to expect every day to be perfect but to approach challenges that may arise from a mindset of “this isn’t a bad thing. I learned from this experience.”
Prepared for What Comes Next
As she prepares to graduate, Blakely sees her academic journey as a powerful blend of personal growth, intellectual challenge, and community engagement. UNCG, she says, helped her connect the dots between her lived experience and her future aspirations.
Her long-term plans include continuing her leadership work at Cone Health, expanding her community involvement, and eventually pursuing opportunities that combine her interests in law, advocacy, and youth empowerment.
“I learned through this journey that everything is in the community,” Blakely says. “You have to get out there; you have to uplift those that are around you. I hope to do more in my community.”
Story by Amanda Kennison, College of Arts & Sciences
Photography by Sean Norona, University Communications; and courtesy of Naima Blakely, College of Arts & Sciences
CELEBRATE OUR GRADS!
Graduates and their families are encouraged to share their accomplishments on social media by tagging the University accounts and using the hashtag #UNCGGrad. Visit UNCG’s digital swag page for Commencement-themed graphics and templates.
Mention @UNCG in celebratory posts on Instagram and X and @uncgreensboro on TikTok.
