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Mariah Jameson, a San Diego native and mother of two, secured her position on the Board of Trustees on Election Day, winning by an overwhelming majority over her opponent Andrew Gomez II.
In doing so, Jameson became the first, and youngest, black woman to sit on the board. A feat that she’s still processing.
“I’ve kind of just been sitting on it because it doesn’t feel real,” Jameson said. “Because of everything that I’ve gone through in my life … and then (knowing) that I’m laying a foundation for others, it’s overwhelming.”
Jameson’s journey to her current position was not without its difficulties, as she overcame many hurdles in life to get to where she is now. Having grown up in foster care for most of her life, she found her final foster home at age 13 and was stable in that home until she was 19.
Jameson says that it is because of this unconventional upbringing that she chose a major in social work, despite originally having negative connotations of the profession.
“What’s crazy is, when I chose my major, I was like, ‘no way am I going to be a social worker,’” Jameson said. “‘I don’t want anything to do with that,’ because my connection with social workers was never positive … So I chose social work just because of the social justice part of it.”
After graduating from Lincoln High School, Jameson found herself at City College for a short time before returning in 2016 with a drive to succeed.
City College Transfer Center Coordinator and professor Dr. Erin Charlens was Jameson’s counselor during her time at City College, and spoke highly of her commitment to excelling.
“She was serious about her education,” Charlens said. “She held other people accountable, made sure they showed up to the classroom. She was a leader of service. People have different leadership styles and Mariah’s leadership style was by example and service.”
Jameson’s leadership skills would extend beyond the classroom where she would serve as president of the Umoja club for three years.
English and humanities professor Ebony Tyree served as the Umoja club advisor while Jameson was president and says they’ve remained close ever since.
“I’ve been able to watch Mariah thrive as a leader in the community, as a student, as a mentor and as a mother,” Tyree said. “As many black women do, Mariah wears many hats and she’s pulled in a lot of different directions but she’s been able to hold her own for many years now and I’m really proud of her.”
Following her time at City College, which she described as the best time of her life, Jameson would transfer to Clark Atlanta University to obtain her bachelor’s and master’s in social work.
When she decided to run for her seat on the Board of Trustees, Jameson says it was her community’s support and high praise of her that kept her spirits up throughout the process.
“I’m grateful that so many people are uplifting my name and what I’ve done and what I intend to do with this position,” she said. “It’s just putting me in a great space mentally.”
Jameson was recently on the City College campus to speak for the Umoja club’s Black Excellence Meet and Greet. She left attendees with powerful words of motivation.
“I want you to see yourself in me as I see myself in you,” Jameson said. “Today is about learning. It’s about building a network that celebrates who we are and all the incredible things that we aim to achieve, and will continue to achieve, as black folk.”
