As assistant director of the Holmes Cultural Diversity Center, Ra'Sheda Forbes focuses on the retention of first-year and transfer students.
"A lot of times, I see freshmen who come in and do well academically, but not socially. Or, it can be the other way around," she said.
Forbes oversees several programs that aid in balancing out both areas of a student's life, including the Peers Assisting with Students, or PAWS, program, which consists of 40 upperclassmen who help first-year and transfer students ease through the transition to MSU.
She also started the Intelligent, Dignified, Elegant, Ambitious, Leader, or I.D.E.A.L., Woman program to equip women with the skills needed for successful lives. The organization encourages confidence, integrity, self-respect and self-esteem, by way of providing positive role models and networking.
Along with PAWS and I.D.E.A.L., Forbes advises three other student organizations so she can help students feel that MSU is the best place for them. And because of this close involvement with students, she makes sure she is someone they can look up to.
"My mentor once told me to model the way. I try to do that in all ways of my life," she said.
Forbes makes sure she starts her day off right by preparing herself mentally, physically and spiritually so she can be a better role model to her students. And as her mentor advised, she really does model the way in all areas of her life, including her marriage.
Originally from Meridian, Forbes graduated from MSU with a degree in biological science in 2008. She met her husband during her freshman year at the university and they became best friends. It wasn't until after they both graduated that they started dating.
"We didn't date until after we got our degrees, because I believe in order to be successful in relationships, you need to really know yourself and who you are," she said.