Student looks to empower others after finding support at SCSU

When considering universities, St. Cloud State University student Javelia Morrison-Galimore knew she wanted to find an institution that was welcoming to nontraditional students as well as international and first-generation college students.

“I definitely wanted to find a school that supports adult learners. In addition to that, I was looking for a large international community and I loved the fact that St. Cloud was multiethnic and multicultural,” she said. “That's pretty much what I was looking for, as well as smaller class sizes. I had been out of the classroom for a while, and I did not want to get lost in the crowd.”

Now a sophomore at St. Cloud State, Morrison-Galimore is flourishing in #OurSCSU community. She’s involved in a number of ways across campus, including but not limited to Students United, Student Government Association, Huskies Events, SCSU Women's Center and Campus Recreation. She founded and is the current president of the Caribbean Student Association as well as Navigate N.E.X.T. (Network for Educational eXcellence and Transformation). Morrison-Galimore is also a certified sexual violence advocate with the Central Minnesota Sexual Assault Center.

Majoring in computer science with a double minor in honors and cyber security, Morrison-Galimore is looking to find a way to integrate her interest in technology with her passion for government affairs and advocacy.

“I aspire to work at the nexus of technology, cyber security policies, social equity and technology accessibility. I want to continue my work in advocacy. Being in those spaces, I feel so empowered. I feel like this is where I belong, but my love for technology won't allow me to give that up, either. I’ll find a way to bring them both together,” she said. “I want to see the responsible use of technology. Post-graduation, I envision myself advocating for policy reforms that support higher education. I want to make sure technology is not just used for corporate gain, but that it serves marginalized communities that are often left behind in technological progress and advancements beyond that.”

Originally from Jamaica, Morrison-Galimore feels it’s important to utilize any opportunity available to her.

“A lot of people coming from where I was raised, they can't imagine a life beyond survival. It makes me so emotional at times, because I wish they had the opportunity I have right now,” she said. “It may not seem like much to most. It may seem like, ‘OK, you're just in a new country. What's so special about that?’ Everything; especially a country of opportunities like this. I'm just incredibly grateful that St. Cloud State has provided me with that.”

Morrison-Galimore said she would like to establish her own technology firm that would be dedicated to safeguarding vulnerable sectors like nonprofits, educational institutions, mission-driven entities and social organizations from cybercrimes, while still ensuring the responsible use of tech. She looks to pay it forward in the future as well, and hopes to establish a fellowship for students to get hands-on experience in cyber security advocacy and policy advocacy. It’s paramount to Morrison-Galimore that she be able to support others in their goals.

“These are not just a series of tasks for me because I like to keep busy, but an opportunity to really define what success looks like for nontraditional students like myself, and to create ways for understanding and success for students in general — especially those who are still trying to figure it out. I was so adamant that there were certain things that I knew were in me, but just coming here and having the resources, having the support and the platforms and just positioning myself,” she said. “I like to say, ‘If you didn't stop me before, you won't stop me again.’ I've been so empowered to just keep going. Knowing that my family is proud and I have a lot of people who are relying on me, and I owe it to myself, too. It's my personal commitment to collective responsibility and stewardship. I have not taken for granted the personal investments that have been made in me.”

Part of Morrison-Galimore’s drive to support others is inspired by the support she’s received in her own educational pursuits. She believes the power of philanthropy is that it unlocks more than financial barriers alone.

“It is more than just financial relief. It reaffirms the work that I've already started and the potential that is yet to be discovered. It gives me immense joy to know that my hard work in these spaces — the value that I add, the impact that I make — is recognized. It's appreciated and it's rewarded. The financial relief, of course, is amazing, but for me it's more than that,” she said. “It's empowering to carry on with the work I have already started and to know that I have the support from this institution and even external entities. It is amazing. It feels like a second chance. I certainly do not take that for granted. It gives me a lot of hope for what is to come, and that is one of the most rewarding parts of my journey so far. It is definitely a validation of my efforts and my personal commitment to dismantling barriers and challenging the status quo and bridging those gaps.”