A Conversation with Shaylan Wilson
Recently, GlobalMindED featured Shaylan “Shay” Wilson, as part of their First Gen class. CSU Pueblo is republishing this interview with edits for length and context.
Shaylan “Shay” Wilson adjusts the bright flower tucked behind her ear, a ritual that has become part of her signature look on the CSU Pueblo campus. Her afro frames her face as she settles and gets closer to the microphone. The 22-year-old is a transplant to Pueblo, but her roots run deep in the industrial heartland of Gary, Indiana. At a recent Colorado Board of Governors meeting, she thanked CSU Pueblo students for giving her the chance to be their voice, adding with a smile, “If I get a little rough, just know it’s in my nature.”
Wilson graduated this past school year with a psychology degree and minors in Media Entertainment and Cannabis Studies. She’s already been accepted into CSU Pueblo’s Master of Social Work program. Her work sits at the intersection of community psychology, public policy, and media.
Tell us about your journey.
My journey is rooted in resilience, representation, and service. I was raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana. My education at CSU Pueblo is as a first-generation college student from a low-income household. Navigating under-resourced schools and underrepresented spaces taught me to advocate not only for myself, but for others who felt overlooked.
Over the years, I’ve embraced leadership roles as President of the Associated Students’ Government (ASG), President of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and a Colorado Board of Governors Student Representative. I’ve also been honored with several awards, including the ASG Award of Excellence, Champion for Diversity Award, and AKA’s Emerging Leader Award and Academic Excellence Award.
These roles and the people ground me in my purpose. I’m passionate about dismantling stigma against marginalized voices while advancing equity for BIPOC and underserved communities. My graduate goals focus on how investments in opportunity and education can promote better mental health and prevent incarceration among Black and Brown youth.
What pivotal experiences shaped your current path?
Three transformative experiences shaped my direction. The first was being the acting ASG president during a leadership transition. It wasn’t about a title but about showing up and making changes related to equity and representation.
The second was my shift from exercise science to psychology, social work and media. I realized I was meant to help others in broader, systemic ways.
The third defining moment was becoming a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Knowing that I am a sister or soror to women I deeply admire, like former Vice President Kamala Harris, means the world to me. AKA has helped me grow as a leader and shown me the importance of acollective uplift.
What motivates your passions, purpose, or the work you do?
My passion is people. My purpose is rooted in service, healing, and justice. I’m especially committed to dismantling stigma around mental health and creating safe, informed spaces for communities of color. I also love blending media and advocacy using storytelling and public speaking as tools to educate, inspire, and transform.
What fuels me daily is the belief that we can build better systems. Systems where health, safety, education, and equity are not privileges, but guarantees. I want my life’s work to amplify marginalized voices, challenge norms, and bridge gaps between people and power.
What drives your desire to contribute and make a difference?
I am driven by experience. I’ve witnessed how systems overlook or harm the very people they claim to serve, especially BIPOC and low-income communities. I’ve also seen how just one advocate can change a life.
It’s the younger version of me that keeps me going. The one who didn’t know if she’d make it through college or ever truly feel seen as a contributing to society. I know how powerful it is to be heard, validated, and supported, which is the experience I want to give to others.
Beyond your journey, what are your hopes for your community, generation, or people?
I hope to see a generation of leaders who are smart and strategic but also empathetic, inclusive, and deeply community-rooted. I want to see Black and Brown women in positions of power and in environments where they feel celebrated, protected, and heard.
For my community, I dream of more access to mental health care, education, economic mobility, and platforms where we can tell our stories unapologetically. Our generation has the power to shift an entire culture and policy by leading with truth, compassion, and collaboration.
What role has GlobalMindED played in your journey?
The GlobalMindED conferences in Denver are transformative. It gave me the chance to connect with other student leaders who shared similar challenges and ambitions. Those connections have lasted beyond the conference. GlobalMindED gave me the confidence to know that I belong in these high-impact spaces. Being part of GlobalMindED has fueled my drive to continue advocating for access and equity on campus and beyond.
