Howling Success: Danielle Moody

The word “AYA” represents a symbol from Ghanaian culture called an Adinkra symbol. This symbol looks like a fern, and represents endurance and resourcefulness. 

Those are two qualities that Danielle Moody, a second-year student studying fashion and textiles management, brings to her many roles building community among NC State students, particularly as a leader in the African American Cultural Center (AACC)’s AYA Ambassadors program. 

“My role is to be the bridge between the center and the student population,” Moody said. “I’m a peer, but also someone who can communicate about the events, market  for the center, and curate   the events themselves.” 

Building a Community 

The stated mission and goal of the AACC’s AYA Ambassadors program is to maximize the leadership potential of all students, and acknowledge, appreciate and exemplify African diasporic culture by actively engaging with the community and using innovative approaches to analyze African American culture through a non-traditional, scholarly lens.

For Moody, joining the program stemmed from a desire to find a community after her first year on campus. 

“Your first year in college, you’re learning a lot, whether that be through roommate troubles, or learning a new college campus,” Moody said. “Trying to explore college classes can be challenging, and it was for me. One thing I found hard was the social aspect. I didn’t feel super involved in the Black population on campus. I wanted to really throw myself into it, to gain  a home away from home community that I felt I was missing.”

As an ambassador in the AYA program, Moody has not only found her own community, but has  helped incoming students find theirs as well. 

She prides herself on being a welcoming face for students, and giving them a safe space  to come and discuss the challenges of navigating campus. 

“Being a resource for others who may feel the same way I felt is super important to me and it feels like it’s a part of my purpose to communicate events, network with others, and to really just make everyone feel at home and accepted for who they are,” Moody said. 

One of the principal events that Moody hosts in her role as an AYA Ambassador is the AACC’s What’s on the Table series. 

Every Friday during the school year, all NC State students are invited to the African American Cultural Center to discuss conversations that are important to the community. Moody explained that, with students often attending multiple lecture-hall classes of over 100 students, these conversations are an opportunity to have their voices heard in a smaller setting. 

“I feel like having a space to come and talk at What’s on the Table events is where students can be a little bit more vulnerable and be in a more intimate, close-knit setting, where they know that whatever they say, regardless of whether people agree with it or not, they’re valued and accepted for their opinion,” Moody said. 

Danielle’s leadership has shined in this role.

For the AACC’s leaders, including Associate Director Quashon Bunch, student leaders such as Moody serve as a bridge between the center and the student population, allowing for greater promotion of its important services and events. 

“Having someone like Danielle is very important, especially as we are looking to foster community, foster a sense of belonging and invite everyone, the entire campus community into the space and just be in community with one another,” Bunch said. “Danielle’s leadership has shined in this role. She knows how to motivate and develop others in this space and beyond this space. Even when she’s across campus in various settings and serving in multiple leadership roles, she’s able to foster that. She’s able to help others grow and see themselves in the work that they’re doing.” 

In her role as an ambassador, Moody strives to embody the AYA principles of resourcefulness and endurance as a leader for the community. 

“I’ve seen her take the initiative from the beginning,” Bunch said. “She’ll come to me and say can we do this, I want to do this. Or she’ll say I will do this. She’ll step up to the plate and get things done. That’s just who she is as a person. She doesn’t mind giving herself and her work and her energy to achieving certain things. So that’s the part that sets her apart.” 

Choosing a Path

Coming into college, Moody was torn between two different potential majors: communication and the world of fashion. 

At NC State, she found an ideal solution her first year: going through the Exploratory Studies program to help her find her path. 

“I wanted to go somewhere that invested in their undecided students just as much as their decided students and the Exploratory Studies program was just that. The program  really helped me decide which major to go into,” Moody said. 

Moody was interested in fashion from a young age, but also felt a draw to the realm of communication and public speaking. 

However, after an interview with an alumna from the Wilson College of Textiles, and learning how her experience at NC State helped her form her own fashion business,  Moody solidified her decision to study fashion. 

“That really sold the deal for me, having someone who went through the program, loved the program and was able to make their degree work for them, really impacted me ,” Moody said. 

Moody’s concentration is in brand management and marketing, and studying how products are styled to draw in consumers. 

“With fashion, I was able to get a specific major that felt catered to my interests and strengths , in addition to  a minor in business. It all tied together,” she said. 

Code Red 

Since the age of 11, Moody has been a cheerleader. She called cheering in both middle and high school a discovery experience for her, as she found that she loved the style of stomp and shake cheer, a high-energy style of cheerleading that features sharp arm movements, powerful body shakes and rhythmic stomping.

“Cheerleading has not only been a great sport, but it’s taught me so many things. It has allowed me to realize my gift for leadership and my desire to be creative ,” Moody said. 

When she came to NC State, Moody knew she wanted to continue cheering, and discovered the Code Red stomp and shake cheering club. 

While Moody has taken a break this year from the actual cheering to serve as a club manager, Code Red has continued to be a foundational part of her NC State experience. 

“Code Red has been an integral part of who I am as an NC State student,” Moody said. “Code Red has continued to grow. Being a part of that growth and being able to be a leader on that team has helped me continue to seek out community. It’s made me feel like it’s a little piece of cake from home. Cheerleading has played a large role in my feeling accepted, loved and valued here on NC State’s campus.”

Moving Forward

In addition to the AACC AYA Ambassadors program and Code Red, Moody has also worked with the Black Students Board, including helping coordinate the organization’s Back to School Jam event and various volunteering activities. 

In her free time, Moody enjoys studying the Bible with her friends, finding outdoor spaces to study her school work and attending parties. 

“My newest hobby has been to go to a new coffee shop every Sunday,” Moody said “It’s been super rewarding after church to go and find a new coffee shop to hang out in. I really love going and exploring Raleigh. I could see myself living in Raleigh post college.” 

After finishing her undergraduate program, Moody hopes to pursue an accelerated masters program in fashion and textiles management. 

In addition to the possibility of living in Raleigh, in her post-graduate career, Moody hopes to work as a public relations executive for a major fashion brand such as Nike, Chanel, Dior or Gucci. 

“I would love to be a source of change and a source of communication between the end user and the board of directors of a fashion company,” Moody said. “I think that’s where I could excel with my love for communication. Through  my love for fashion, clothes and retail, I want to encourage  consumers to fully understand the ins and outs of the  fashion brands they love. That’s an area I think I could really  make significant positive impact.”