After graduation, student maintains strong ties to university

For the majority of seniors, graduation means leaving the University of Richmond behind. Most depart with fond memories and perhaps more than a few desperate wishes to return to the comfort of no-rent housing and a pre-paid meal plan. But for some, graduation does not mean the end of a relationship with the university.

For Tamisha "Binky" Williams, a love of dance kept her connected to Richmond. As an undergraduate, Williams danced for Ngoma, the university's African Dance Company. After graduation, Williams found a job in Richmond and wanted to stay involved with the dancers. This semester, she was the dance captain of Ngoma, helping lead the team she was once a member of.

Williams, who graduated in 2006 with a studio arts major and elementary/secondary education minor, also works at the Office of Multicultural Affairs, mentoring and helping with programs it offers and working especially closely with its women's group.

The alumna also offered her help and support to Delta Sigma Theta, the sorority she joined as an undergraduate, the Black Student Alliance, Richmond Rowdies, CIGNA Scholars, the Career Development Center and the Westhampton Deanery. In total, Williams is involved in seven different ventures on campus during her post-graduate career.

Williams said she had chosen to stay so involved with the university because she had wanted to help make sure that other students enjoyed their time at Richmond as much as she had.

"I had a really good time during my years at Richmond," she said. "I want to make sure other people have the same opportunities that I had."

Because she remained close with her friends that were still students, Williams looked for ways to stay involved with them and the activities they had done together when she was still a student.

"I still wanted to be more involved," she said. "I had fun at Richmond, and I wanted to keep up with some of those activities."

One of those friends is junior Koshie France. France met Williams at Richmond Community High School, which they both attended. In high school, Williams had been voted funniest and most popular and was elected prom queen, France said. Everyone loved her, France said, and the two had easily become friends. They would both end up at Richmond and eventually would both join Delta Sigma Theta.

France described Williams as an activist and an inspiration who was always energetic, due in part to the Red Bull she was always drinking.

"She is what I aspire to be," France said. "She is just the best, she does not have one negative bone in her body. She always tells me that when you do something, let it stand for something — let it have meaning. That is exactly what she does on this campus, as well as off."

Along with her work at the university, Williams is a middle school art teacher in Henrico County. Next fall, she will begin a graduate degree in family counseling at the College of William and Mary.