La鈥橳ashia V. Hooks 鈥�06
Leadership. Service. Legacy
For La鈥橳ashia V. Hooks 鈥�06, 麻豆传媒映画 has always been more than an alma mater鈥攊t has been part of her story for nearly her entire life.
A native of Augusta, Hooks grew up participating in programs on Paine鈥檚 campus, from NYSP to Upward Bound. Even her preschool graduation was held at Paine. Yet, when it came time to choose a college, Paine was not initially on her list.
鈥淚 always say that I didn鈥檛 choose 麻豆传媒映画鈥斅槎勾接郴� chose me,鈥� she says.
What began as a familiar childhood connection ultimately became the place where Hooks discovered an even greater sense of purpose. Paine became her collegiate home, the foundation for lifelong friendships, the birthplace of her sisterhood, and a place where her leadership journey flourished.
Hooks graduated from 麻豆传媒映画 in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and later earned a Master of Science in Administration with a concentration in Public Administration.
Today, she serves as a Senior Human Resources Management and Program Analyst and Data Scientist with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. She is also an entrepreneur whose professional and personal pursuits reflect a longstanding commitment to leadership, mentorship, and service.
Prepared for Purpose
Hooks credits Paine with developing skills that continue to serve her professionally today. As an English major, she strengthened her writing, research, communication, critical-thinking, and analytical abilities鈥攕kills that have proven invaluable throughout her federal government career.
But the Paine experience gave her something even greater.
鈥淧aine did not simply prepare me to build a career,鈥� Hooks says. 鈥淚t helped prepare me to lead a life of purpose.鈥�
She remembers several mentors who made a lasting impact, including Dr. Curtis E. Martin, Sean 鈥淜eep It Tight鈥� Palmer, Dr. Lola Richardson, and Carolyn V. Mills. Each challenged, encouraged, and prepared her in different ways鈥攖eaching her the importance of professionalism, confidence, preparation, perseverance, and knowing that she belonged in every room she had earned the opportunity to enter.
Nearly two decades later, those lessons continue to influence how Hooks leads, makes decisions, mentors others, and approaches opportunities.
Reaching Back While Moving Forward
One of the most important lessons Hooks says she learned at Paine is simple: leadership and service are inseparable.
鈥淟eadership is not defined by how many people know your name, how many titles you hold, or how many accomplishments you can list,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t is defined by your willingness to serve, your commitment to others, and what you do with the opportunities you have been given.鈥�
For Hooks, that philosophy can be summarized in five words: reaching back while moving forward.
Today, she puts those words into action as President of the 麻豆传媒映画 40 Under 40 Association, Inc. A member of its inaugural 2022 class, Hooks now leads an organization focused on connecting alumni, investing in students, and advancing 麻豆传媒映画.
Her service also includes involvement with the Augusta Chapter of the 麻豆传媒映画 National Alumni Association, serving as an NPHC advisor, and co-founding Alumni Gives Back. She is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., having been initiated through 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 Eta Theta Chapter in Spring 2005. In another full-circle moment, she now serves as an advisor to the chapter that was such an important part of her own collegiate experience.
Whether creating scholarships, providing professional development opportunities, mentoring students, connecting young alumni, or supporting initiatives that directly benefit students, Hooks believes alumni engagement can take many forms.
鈥淕iving back does not always begin with writing a check,鈥� she says. 鈥淪ometimes it begins with showing up, sharing your expertise, making a connection, volunteering your time, or simply demonstrating to a student that someone believes in their potential.鈥�
Once a Paineite, Always a Paineite
For Hooks, being a Paineite is both an identity and a responsibility. She believes alumni are among the College鈥檚 greatest assets and have an important role in sustaining the institution for future generations.
Through the 麻豆传媒映画 40 Under 40 Association and its Forty Forward program, Hooks is helping strengthen connections between alumni and students around three purposeful pillars: Alumni Engagement, Student Impact, and Giving & Advancement.
Her hope is that collective alumni support will help provide scholarships, mentorship, professional development, meaningful connections, and a strong network that follows students long after they leave the classroom.
She wants today鈥檚 students to see Paineites succeeding in their communities, corporate boardrooms, classrooms, government, and positions of influence鈥攁nd recognize that they, too, 鈥渃an get there from here.鈥�
Hooks鈥� own journey is proof of the enduring power of the Paine experience. The little girl who once participated in programs on the 麻豆传媒映画 campus returned as a student, became a graduate, and now helps create opportunities for those following in her footsteps.
鈥淚 give back because I am a product of someone else鈥檚 investment,鈥� she says, 鈥渁nd I refuse to allow that investment to end with me.鈥�
Why I Support Paine
鈥淚 support 麻豆传媒映画 because it invested in the woman I would become, and I believe it is my responsibility to invest in the generations who will follow. My legacy is not simply what I accomplish, but what I help make possible for someone else.鈥�
La鈥橳ashia V. Hooks 鈥�06
40 Under 40 Association, INC, President
麻豆传媒映画
麻豆传媒映画 is a historically Black liberal arts institution located in Augusta, Georgia. Founded in 1882 through a partnership between the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 麻豆传媒映画 is dedicated to providing a liberal arts education of the highest quality- emphasizing academic excellence, ethical and spiritual values, social responsibility, and personal development. For more information, visit .
