Maiya Sabree, Arts ’23, planned to pursue a pre-medicine program when she came to Marquette as an undergraduate. Now in her second year in the Master of Education in Student Affairs in Higher Education program, Sabree is still focused on health — albeit in a different way than she once envisioned.
Sabree, a Milwaukee native, has become one of the university’s leading advocates for addressing the impact of mental health on the collegiate experience for students of color. As an undergraduate, she co-led Black Mindz, an organization that supports students of color in learning about and discussing mental health issues and concerns.
Realizing how much she loved supporting her peers, Sabree sought deeper engagement with mental health advocacy and student wellness. As a graduate assistant for cultural engagement and services in the Center for Engagement and Inclusion, part of the Office of Inclusion and Belonging, Sabree uses her work-study position to continue connecting with students through cultural programming, mentoring and leadership development.
“I knew I wanted to help people, but I realized there were a lot of ways to do that,” says Sabree, who earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
Creating a welcoming environment
Sabree chose the Student Affairs in Higher Education program to gain a broader perspective on higher education and learn the best ways colleges and universities can meet the full spectrum of student needs. Through her work in the Center for Engagement and Inclusion, Sabree says, she’s learned that the physical space in which schools welcome students is just as important as the interaction. She’s worked to find creative ways of connecting with students, such as offering a question of the day and song of the day to get students visiting the center engaged in conversation. Sabree also played a significant role in organizing and staging Marquette’s Unity Graduation to honor first-generation graduates and graduates of color.
“She has been instrumental in creating community and amplifying mental wellness for underserved populations at Marquette and beyond.”
Joya Crear
“Our work very much centers around providing transformative experiences for students at Marquette, and Maiya has done great work in always thinking about how we can provide them with that,” said Sarah Piñón, director of inclusion and belonging. “She takes the time to listen and engage with students, and helps make our space feel like home — a place where they can ‘just be.’”
Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Joya Crear first met Sabree as an undergraduate and was excited when Sabree returned to Marquette for her master’s degree and joined the center.
“Maiya is a dynamic person, alum and graduate student,” Crear says. “As a founding member of Black Mindz, Maiya utilized her keen observations about the gaps in mental health awareness and service usage for students of color and decided to take action to change this narrative. She has been instrumental in creating community and amplifying mental wellness for underserved populations at Marquette and beyond.”
Black Mindz — a bridge for students of color and mental health resources
As a past co-president of Black Mindz, Sabree worked with others to lead a rebranding process that included a more active social media presence and collaborative events with other campus groups. Sessions took place once or twice a month and included discussions on imposter syndrome, managing self-doubt, and having difficult conversations with family and friends when returning home on break. Close to 20 students attended each session last year, Sabree says. Black Mindz also works with mental health professionals in the Counseling Center and Center for Student Wellness and Health Promotion.
“There continues to be a stigma around mental health within many communities of color, and Black Mindz may be the first time many have a space to discuss these topics,” says Sabree. “Our mission is to be a bridge between mental health professionals and Black undergraduate students while educating them on mental health.”
Black Mindz leaders thought their model could work at other schools and entered their idea in the Brewed Ideas Challenge, Marquette’s annual pitch competition through the 707 Hub. Their plan won first place in the social impact category, netting $7,500. At the ceremony, Sabree accepted the award along with fellow Black Mindz leaders Jasmine Scott, India Lock and Gabby Shoulders. Sabree says plans are now in the works to launch a chapter at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee this fall.
“I hope to take what I’ve learned in my master’s program about the higher education system and use my psychology background to guide my work within Black Mindz,” Sabree says. “As we continue to work on expanding to other universities and colleges, it is important to understand the existing systems in place and the best ways to navigate them.”
