Alexia "Lexi" Anthony, a first-year Xavierite, was granted the honor of serving on the National Humanities Center National Humanities Leadership Council.

Xavier University of Louisiana freshman Alexia “Lexi” Anthony has been selected to serve on the National Humanities Center National Humanities Leadership Council, a prestigious national program that brings together undergraduate students from across the country to advocate for the value and impact of the humanities.

“I see the humanities as the ‘key’ to presenting ourselves to the world,” Anthony said. “Mastery of or at least an appreciation for the humanities is essential when writing essays for scholarships and applications, recording family history, preparing for interviews, and expressing ourselves in many other ways.”

A native of Jackson, Mississippi, Anthony is a double major in English and African American and African Diaspora Studies and a first-year member of Xavier’s Exponential Honors Program. Her selection places her among a cohort of emerging student leaders who will work together to promote humanities education, research, and public engagement at their institutions and across the nation.

“Without my love for English, creative writing, and African and African American Diaspora Studies (AADS), I never would have been able to tell my own story in applications, meetings, or interviews,” Anthony continued. “Through English and creative writing, I learned how to express myself as a young woman, and through my communities in Jackson and New Orleans, along with my studies in AADS, I grew to appreciate the intricacies and gifts that come with being a young Black woman. Because of these disciplines, I’ve also been able to help others like me who want to learn how to show the world who they are as eloquently as possible. This work is especially meaningful in communities like Jackson and New Orleans, where culture, history, and storytelling shape everyday life. Being at Xavier, which is a very STEM-centered school, I feel honored to represent the storytellers and creatives here who are working just as hard as the pre-med and science majors we are so proud of.”

As a member of the council, Anthony will collaborate with fellow students from universities across the United States to explore how the humanities can shape public dialogue, support civic engagement, and strengthen communities. Participants serve as ambassadors for the humanities on their campuses while engaging in leadership development and national conversations about the future of humanities scholarship.

“Xavier has a long, strong tradition of cultivating creative and scholarly voices in the humanities, and Lexi is immersing herself in this Xavier legacy,” said Shearon Roberts, Associate Dean for the Exponential Honors Program. “Through being selected for this council, she will champion humanities education on our campus along with her fellow cohort members.”

Anthony has already begun building a strong record of scholarly and creative engagement. A published poet, she writes for the Black Press and has worked with historical Black archives, connecting literary practice with historical research. Her work reflects a deep commitment to preserving and amplifying Black cultural and intellectual traditions. She is also an aspiring novelist and an advocate for literacy and community engagement. She has led reading and literacy initiatives in her hometown of Jackson and actively supports Black-owned bookstores in New Orleans, helping strengthen community access to literature and storytelling.

Adding to her growing list of accomplishments, Anthony has also been awarded a summer fellowship at Columbia University, where she will continue to develop her academic interests and engage with scholars and students from across the country.

Anthony’s selection highlights Xavier’s continued commitment to fostering intellectual curiosity, cultural scholarship, and student leadership in the humanities. Through opportunities such as the National Humanities Leadership Council, Xavier students are helping to shape conversations about literature, history, culture, and the role of the humanities in addressing the challenges of our time.