Combining the best of extracurricular activities and academics, sophomore LeLoni Deandra Smith spends her time gaining real-world application to the skills she learns in the classroom.
“I want to be the next Oprah Winfrey. I don’t want to work a day in my life because I want to do what I love and therefore not really putting in tedious work. It’s my passion. It’s my love.”
Smith is a broadcast journalism major from Snellville, Georgia. After graduation, she hopes to work for a professional news organization. She dreams of hosting her own talk show, later in life.
 “I want to help people by telling people what’s going on in the world and talking about the various issues,” Smith Said.
Leloni submerses herself in several journalistic clubs to gain as much experience as possible. She volunteers at Grady’s Newsource, a student run and produced newscast and occasionally freelances for the Red & Black.
She also serves as an executive member on the university’s Caribbean Student Association (CaribSA). Smith recently directed and planned CaribSA’s third annual Miss International Pageant.
“It was a challenge for me to deal with so many people but it was a great learning experience in terms of communication, management, and overall self improvement,” Smith said.