Da’Tarvia Parrish, Director of The Honors Program, Livingstone College

Invest: spoke with Da’Tarvia Parrish, director of The Honors Program at Livingstone College, about attracting high-performing students, expanding visibility, and what makes Livingstone special. “We believe our students should never have to choose between being celebrated for their intellect or their talents; they deserve recognition for both,” Parrish said.

How does The Honors Program help attract high-performing students while strengthening Livingstone’s overall academic profile?

The Livingstone College Honors Program attracts high-performing students because we intentionally develop and prepare scholars to excel when opportunity presents itself. Academic talent alone is not enough; students must also possess the confidence, leadership, discipline, and practical experiences necessary to distinguish themselves on regional, national, and international stages. That is exactly what we cultivate.

Our mission is to challenge academically gifted students through an interdisciplinary curriculum that prepares them to grow, serve, and lead while promoting superior academic performance, ethical leadership, community engagement, and lifelong learning. 

Perhaps our greatest recruiting tool is the success of our students themselves. At Livingstone College, we celebrate “firsts.” Whether it is presenting original undergraduate research, earning prestigious fellowships, competing in national academic competitions, publishing scholarly work, or representing the College across the country, our students consistently demonstrate what is possible through a Livingstone education. Their accomplishments become our most compelling story.

Moreover, The Honors Program strengthens the College’s academic profile because it creates a visible culture of intellectual excellence. Students engage in honors coursework, undergraduate research, scholarly seminars, community service, internships, national competitions, and senior thesis projects that prepare them not simply to graduate, but to become leaders in their professions and communities. 

Livingstone has continued to expand its academic visibility and program representation. What strategies have been most effective in increasing awareness?

One of our most effective strategies has been making academics highly visible. Across higher education, some institutions often spotlight athletics, marching bands, or student activities, and rightly so. At Livingstone College, however, academics stand on the same stage.

We intentionally market and celebrate the life of the mind. 

Our academic organizations, honor societies, undergraduate research initiatives, debate program, Honda Campus All-Star Challenge team, oratorical competitions, and scholarly conferences are prominently featured throughout the institution because they represent the heartbeat of our academic mission. At Livingstone, a Quiz Bowl champion receives the same institutional celebration as a football champion. A student-athlete is recognized not only for athletic excellence but also for academic distinction. We believe our students should never have to choose between being celebrated for their intellect or their talents; they deserve recognition for both.

Our approach is intentionally hands-on and student-centered. Learning extends well beyond the classroom. Throughout the day, throughout the week, and throughout the academic year, students have opportunities to participate in scholarly programming, leadership development, research experiences, honor societies, community engagement, and academic competitions. That constant rhythm of intellectual engagement has transformed academics into one of Livingstone’s defining strengths.

As competition for students intensifies, what differentiates Livingstone’s educational experience from other institutions in the region?

Livingstone College offers students something increasingly valuable: access, opportunity, and intentional preparation.

Our students are known personally by faculty who invest in their academic growth, leadership development, and career aspirations. We create an environment where relationships matter, expectations remain high, and support is always available.

More importantly, we prepare students to perform when opportunities arise. Whether students are interviewing for internships, presenting research, leading organizations, competing nationally, or entering graduate and professional schools, they have already developed the confidence and experiences necessary to succeed. Excellence is not something we simply encourage. It is something we practice daily, and we’ve been truly blessed to have a community buy-in regarding this approach. For example, residents of Trinity Oaks Adult Living Community have undergone a review of student presentations prior to students’ conference presentations for feedback. Alumni share in the mock-interview experiences for scholars who are preparing for internship/employment opportunities.  

Our Honors students experience a curriculum enriched with research, community service, professional development, interdisciplinary learning, and national engagement. These experiences cultivate graduates who are intellectually curious, globally aware, ethically grounded, and prepared to lead in an increasingly competitive world. 

Looking ahead, what are your priorities for continuing to grow Livingstone’s academic reputation and attracting the next generation of students?

The future of Livingstone College is exceptionally bright because we are continuing to invest in academic excellence as a defining characteristic of the institution.

Our priorities include expanding partnerships in undergraduate research opportunities, increasing participation in national academic competitions, strengthening honors education, enhancing interdisciplinary collaboration, developing additional pathways to graduate and professional schools, and creating even greater opportunities for students to showcase their scholarship nationally and internationally.

Equally important is continuing to tell our story. Prospective students want to see possibility. They want to know where they can thrive, where they will be challenged, and where they will be celebrated. Livingstone College provides that environment. Every student presentation, every fellowship recipient, every honor society induction, every academic competition, every research publication, and every graduate school acceptance reinforces that Livingstone is a place where scholars flourish.

We are not simply preparing students to earn degrees. We are cultivating thinkers, innovators, researchers, entrepreneurs, servant-leaders, and global citizens who embody our institutional commitment to being Resilient, Relevant, and Ready. As Livingstone College continues its remarkable ascent, academics will remain at the center of that story; visible, celebrated, and transformative. Excellence lives here.