Howling Success: Shaniya Woolridge

Throughout Shaniya Woolridge’s four years at NC State, the majority of their work and activities have centered around building human connections and culture.

As a former student programming assistant and symposium mentor for the LGBTQ Pride Center, a symposium mentor for Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) and an AYA Ambassador for the African American Cultural Center (AACC), human connection is at the center of Woolridge’s college experience.

That dovetails perfectly with their major, as Woolridge is studying anthropology with minors in women and gender studies, psychology and social work. However, upon first arriving at NC State, Woolridge thought their future lay in a much different field of study: animal science.

“When I got here, I realized that animals aren’t my passion. Humans are,” Woolridge said.

Woolridge, who grew up in Laurinburg, North Carolina, found that they were able to easily add minors into their field of study that served their interests and passions.

“I’m a part of the LGBTQ community, and growing up in such a small town, we didn’t really have much education or exposure to that,” Woolridge said. “On top of that, I was raised in a family that didn’t acknowledge the LGBTQ community, so I felt like pursuing this minor would help me gain a deeper understanding – not just of the LGBTQ experience, but of myself, too.

Since it’s women and gender studies, and I identify as a woman, I thought it would also give me a better sense of who I am and what feminism really means. I added social work because it complements anthropology – it’s about understanding how people connect and grow within communities. And then psychology ties into all of that, because I’ve always been interested in how the mind works and how behavior shapes our experiences. It’s really the mental and emotional side of things that I wanted to explore more deeply.”

Building Community with the Pride Center

Woolridge spent about a year and a half working with the Pride Center, serving as both a student programming assistant and symposium mentor.

Woolridge helped plan and host events such as Threads of Identity, Sex in the Dark and a monthly small group discussion known as Queer Quorum.

Working at the Pride Center felt like having a second home.

All of these programs center on helping all NC State students find community in a setting where people of all identities are welcomed, accepted and respected.

“Working at the Pride Center felt like having a second home outside my residence hall,” Woolridge said. “I was able to support all communities, including LGBTQ and Black students, which means a lot – especially because it can be hard to find a space that embraces both identities. I helped create a place where people could feel seen and comfortable.”

One of Woolridge’s other pivotal roles with the Pride Center was supporting the library.

Woolridge recommended books to bring to the library, checked out books for students, labeled books in sections, highlighted authors featured in the library and hosted short story book clubs.

“Knowledge is one of the most powerful tools we have – it’s something no one can take from us,” Woolridge said. “Access to books and literacy should be a priority, especially in our community. It’s about learning our history, understanding current issues and finding connections through stories you might not see online. We want students to have the freedom to explore that knowledge and the simple opportunity to pick up a book and read.”

Leaving a Legacy

This semester, Woolridge has moved on from the Pride Center and now works for both MSA and the AACC.

Their reasoning for moving on was simple: it was time to pass the torch and leave the center in good hands while exploring other opportunities.

“I saw first-year students who had a very strong passion for the community, working for the community, volunteering and doing all of these things,” Woolridge said. “I personally felt like I had been there for a year and a half, and it was time for someone else to get the experience and joy of creating these spaces for the community, and being able to do these events, making a difference within the community at NC State.”

There is no doubt that Woolridge is leaving behind a strong legacy with the Pride Center.

Jae Edwards, an assistant director for the center, said that he will always remember Woolridge’s ability to ensure all students felt welcome in the center.

“I think for people of all identities, coming to the center means wanting to know you’ll be accepted for who you are,” Edwards said. “And that goes for everyone – we’re here for all students. People often ask if the center is only for LGBTQ individuals, and the answer is no, not at all. We want everyone to feel welcome, and I believe Shaniya did an amazing job promoting that inclusive spirit.”

As a symposium mentor, Woolridge helped with the Pride Center’s annual orientation-style event.

Pride Symposium helps students find their community immediately upon arriving to campus, and educates them about various campus events, programs and resources.

“Shaniya is the kind of person who never meets a stranger,” Edwards said. “She’s always the first to greet someone with a warm hello and a genuine ‘How are you?’ If you’re shy, that doesn’t last long around Shaniya. For some students, visiting our center can be a vulnerable experience – it might be their first time, that can be intimidating. But being welcomed by someone as kind and affirming as Shaniya helps ease that fear and makes the center feel like a supportive space from the start.”

Building New Communities

Working with MSA and the AACC, building a community for NC State students is still a central focus for Woolridge.

With MSA, Woolridge is a peer mentor and symposium mentor, taking on a similar role she did with the Pride Center in helping incoming students find their way on campus.

“I help them navigate through their first year at NC State,” Woolridge said. “I help them with their academic troubles, their social life and finding ways to take care of their mental health. If things are out of my hands, I point you in the right direction. I’m more of a guiding light, rather than being the light. But I also can support you from the experiences that I’ve had as a fourth year. I also connect students with events that support their career development and mental health, such as resume workshops, financial literacy sessions and campus organizations aligned with their interests.”

As an AYA Ambassador with the AACC, Woolridge serves as a student leader for the center, working as a bridge between the center’s staff and NC State students, promoting events and programming.

Woolridge was one of the ambassadors who hosted weekly What’s on the Table conversations, allowing NC State students to come together to discuss important topics.

“It’s a space where people of different backgrounds and opinions can come together and find a common ground,” Woolridge said.

At the AACC’s recent Ebony Harlem Awards ceremony, Woolridge won the Augustus Witherspoon Distinguished Person Award, which recognizes undergraduate students who show support and advocate for their community through word and deed, and demonstrate excellence in character, leadership skills, scholarship and service. 

Woolridge also brought home the Dramatic Performance Award, which recognizes undergraduate students involved in formal and informal campus art programs with exceptional talent for dramatic performance. 

Woolridge also serves as the treasurer of the Black Artists Coalition, a student organization that provides artists of color with a platform to connect and share their work in a supportive, informal setting. In this role, she helps coordinate events such as fashion shows, artist showcases and other creative initiatives.

“I really treasure that club, because I think uplifting POC voices when it comes to art is very important,” Woolridge said.

A Human-Focused Future

Woolridge is also a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated, and enjoys spending time strolling and dancing with their sorority sisters.

In their free time, Woolridge enjoys watching movies either in theaters or on streaming services, logging the movies they’ve seen on Letterboxd and theorizing about movies.

Woolridge enjoys horror and thriller movies, and their favorite movie is “Coraline.”

Upon completing their undergraduate journey at NC State, Woolridge also participated in and was featured as the student speaker at the Pride Center’s Lavender Celebration of NC State Graduates, a nation-wide event held by colleges and universities in celebration of graduates.

“Lavender Celebration is a space where students and people of the community can celebrate,” Wooldridge said. “There have been many times where people of the LGBTQIA+ community were not able to celebrate. This celebration allows that space for students in the community to say ‘I did it, my way and I am proud. I did all of these things.’ Many people in the community have to be quiet. They have to be quiet about their identity, they have to be quiet about who they are. And being celebrated for your victories while also being celebrated for your identity, there’s something that is beyond empowering about that. So many people in the community have literally died to be where we are right now. They have put their lives on the line just to have the freedom for future generations to be who they are. It’s essential to uplift these voices and be able to celebrate queer people getting those victories that many could not experience.”

Next up for Woolridge is pursuing a graduate degree in NC State’s public administration program. After that, they want to pursue a career that allows them to continue fostering communities.

“I’m not sure exactly what I want to do with it yet, but obviously I have a passion for people, and that has been explored ever since I first came to NC State,” Woolridge said. “I’ve discovered that while working at the Pride Center, while working at MSA, while working at the AACC and everything that I do is people-focused, and people-driven.”