Throughout the last century, Xavier University of Louisiana has prepared its students to go above and beyond not only in their academic journeys but in their communities and society at large. Approaching a historic centennial, Xavier, one of the nation’s top producers of Black students who go on to complete medical school, continues to do just that, as exemplified by the great achievements of its students. One such Xavierite, Christian Davis, is carrying on this tradition of excellence Xavier has come to be known for through her selection as one of AT&T’s 2023 Rising Future Makers in the Dream in Black Program.

AT&T’s Dream in Black Rising Future Makers Program is an initiative that recognizes and showcases students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) who are making a difference and having a positive impact on their campuses and their communities and will strive to do so in their passions and careers. Launched in 2021, the program selects 25 HBCU students from across the country who demonstrate their impact in their communities and offers them resources and support for their visions of their futures. Each student chosen receives a $5000 grant and a 5G-enabled tablet presented by AT&T. Winners also get the opportunity to meet with each other and network with other AT&T executives at the AT&T headquarters in Dallas, Texas and will get paired with a mentor that best suits their career path.

“I was more blessed than anything that I created something that I was really passionate about and was able to just talk about how much healthcare and the importance of diversity of healthcare means to me,” said Davis about her acceptance into the program. “AT&T really took a chance on me to express this not only to my Xavier community but the world.”

 

Davis is a junior Chemistry pre-dental major and Biology minor. After considering a career in oncology, she decided to pursue dentistry to encourage more diversity in dental healthcare, form long-lasting connections with her patients, and positively influence others’ lives.

“I knew I wanted to change lives and elevate people's smiles and confidence, watch people grow from adolescence to adulthood, and just see how much I could be influential in their lives as a doctor. I also wanted to inspire other young African Americans, both male and female, to pursue healthcare so that there is an accurate representation of us in this important field.”

On campus, Davis serves as the president of the Pre-Dental Club, the community service chair in the Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre-Professional Health Society, parliamentarian in the Gamma Alpha chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., a student scientist in Xavier’s Mobile Outreach for Laboratory Enrichment (MOLE), and the visual media director in the Student Government Association. Davis was recently awarded the University of Alabama (UAB) Dental School Early Assurance Scholarship, which ensures her enrollment into UAB’s dental school after she graduates from Xavier. She was also one of four Xavier students who participated in the Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) at UAB over the summer.  

After researching some opportunities specifically for HBCU students at the encouragement of Xavier’s Pre-Medical Office, Davis came across the AT&T Dream in Black Rising Future Maker Program and decided to apply. Using some of the pictures from the experiences she had in SHPEP, Davis made a video as part of her application showing her passion for dentistry, her pursuit for diversity in healthcare, and how Xavier has empowered her to pursue not only that career path but also to be an agent for change in her community. Acknowledging that the expectations for the applicants were very high, Davis was elated to get the notification that she had been chosen as one of the winners. Her experiences in the program have been very beneficial for her, and she considers them invaluable to achieving her career aspirations.

“I feel as though this program provided me with the platform to excel in my career and aspiration in dentistry. It provided me with the resources to fund my undergraduate education at Xavier, and the opportunity to meet the people that will help launch me and help me reach my goals.”

Davis is following in the footsteps of another Xavier student, Nina Giddens, who served as the 87^th Miss Xavier and was selected as an AT&T Dream in Black Rising Future Maker in 2022. Giddens was the first Xavier student chosen for the program, which is now in its third year. Like Giddens, Davis credits Xavier with pushing her beyond her limits academically, socially, and mentally and creating an avenue and spirit of excellence within her. Without Xavier, Davis says she would not be the person she has grown to be today.

“I’m really honored to attend a school that places such a big emphasis on medicine, dentistry, and healthcare and has gotten me to the point that I’m at today. I am able to advocate for Black people and other people of color in dentistry and share how Xavier really shaped me into the person I am today.”