This remarkable young woman identifies with multiple cultures.
What is your name, major and year?
My name is Camille Bethune-Brown, a senior who is double-majoring in Africana studies and secondary education.
Where are you from (city, county)?
I am from Lansthul, Germany, where I lived for many years because of my father being stationed there in the military. I spent a good portion of my life in Odenton [near Fort Meade] in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. I identify as African-American.
Who do you admire and why?
I admire my older sister; she and I are very close. She has a strong work ethic and a commitment to progress and strive for success. She has always been ambitious as far back as I can remember and I believe that that is a missing quality in a lot of people nowadays.
Describe something about you that uniquely stands out.
I am known for my hair, always dreadlocked and dyed. Most people who know me on campus may never get a chance to see my real hair, but that is the way I express my individuality.
What do you like most about UMBC?
I love the welcoming environment of the campus. I enjoy the professors in my department who are always willing to extend themselves when needed. Not a week goes by that I do not see them about my academic concerns.
What activities do you participate in on campus?
I am the official president and yoga instructor for UMBC, so I teach all of the classes in the RAC as well for various sports teams. I also served as secretary for the African Studies Council of Majors.
Who is the celebrity you would like to meet; what would you with him/her?
I have a slight obsession with Janet Jackson. Everyone says she is washed up, but I just love her classic music and her soulful style. Also, I have always felt that her music sent positive messages especially in the 1990s, making this classic music that never gets old.
What is/are your favorite pastime(s) to do outside of UMBC?
Anyone who knows me knows that yoga is my life. But outside of yoga, I love to read and visit museums, especially anything dealing with history.
Where do you want to spend your next vacation?
I want to go to Venice, Calif. It is a huge yoga city. I would love to relax on the beach and take a bunch of yoga classes with some of my favorite instructors.
What kind of music do you like?
I enjoy jazz and neo-soul, especially from Jill Scott. I enjoy classic rhythm and blues from artists from the 1980s and 1990s. They carried themselves with dignity in contrast to modern artists.
If you met Dr. Hrabowski, what would you say to him?
I would ask him if and when he is free to come join me in a yoga class and work up a sweat.
Photo: Courtesy of Camille Bethune-Brown
