05 February 2025 3 minute read
The first time you meet Solana Escoffery, you might not immediately recognize the whirlwind of passion, purpose, and perseverance she carries. She speaks with the warmth of someone who has navigated the fire of uncertainty and emerged with clarity.
Her words are layered with reflection, gratitude, and the kind of wisdom that comes from forging a path she didn’t even know existed. She’ll tell you she almost didn’t attend Spelman, having been conditioned to believe HBCUs weren’t for her. And yet, here she is — a second year political science major with an English minor, a leader, a mentor and a force with which to be reckoned.
Raised in South Florida — Broward county, to be exact — she grew up in an educational system that suddenly and sometimes explicitly steered students away from HBCUs. The Cambridge Program and other college-prep initiatives often funnel students to predominantly white institutions and state schools. It wasn’t until she stepped on Spelman’s campus that she realized the power of her choice.
In her first year alone, Escoffery wasted no time, immersing herself in Spelman’s culture and leadership opportunities. She served on the Residential Hall Association, representing Manley Hall on the Community Leadership Council. She became part of the Dirty South Regional Step Team and served as the First Attendant for her residence hall. These experiences, however, were just the beginning of her journey to finding her voice, her people and her purpose.
Escoffery isn’t just concerned about titles — she’s about impact. It was during the summer after her first year that she planted the seeds for initiatives that are now thriving: Destination Success and Sister to Sister. She founded Destination Success with a clear mission to help students, particularly those from the South and East coast have access to the same opportunities she was privy to as a Spelman Student. She knew firsthand how difficult it was to navigate the path to an HBCU let alone find the right resources to take that leap of faith. So, Destination Success is her way of giving back, breaking cycles of misinformation, and ensuring that future generations of black scholars are able to drown out the noise of doubt and see HBCUs as not just as an option but as a launching pad.
Then there’s "Sister to Sister" — a project deeply personal that it almost brings Escoferry close to tears when she speaks about it. While "Destination Success" focuses on access, "Sister to Sister" is about belonging. Escoffery vividly remembers her first year — the guidance from upperclasswomen, the friendships that sustained her, and the moments of doubt that were softened by the unwavering support of her Spelman sisters. She wanted to extend that experience to incoming students across the Atlanta University Center including Morris Brown College. The initiative provides mentorship, community and sisterhood — making transitions smoother and dreams more tangible.
Long before she recognized it, Escoffery was a storyteller. Her passion for politics and media converge in a clear vision: political journalism. She sees herself at the intersection of policy and storytelling, amplifying, marginalized voices, and shedding light on issues often overlooked. She seeks to shape narratives with honesty and empowerment, but her ambitions don’t stop there. Political marketing, and public policy — particularly in Florida’s education system — are on her radar, as she sees urgent gaps in education policy that disproportionately affect students of color.
“I want to advocate for everyone,” she says. “The Black community, the LGBTQ+ community, anyone who has been pushed to the margins. And I want to make an impact that lasts.”
Her faith grounds her. Escoffery speaks without hesitation that God has been the guiding force and her journey. In April 2024, she was baptized -- a moment she calls a turning point. That same year, she became a speaker at the DevCon Professional Development Conference, an opportunity that once seemed improbable until it happened. That moment on stage made her realize her voice mattered. It affirmed her that her presence was needed, and that she was stepping into something greater than herself.
Ask Escoffery about legacy and she won’t give you the standard Spelman woman response —although she holds deep respect for it. She wants to be remembered for her character, for her authenticity, and for her ability to balance ambition with joy. She embraces her quirks, her clumsiness, and her whimsical nature because she believes success shouldn’t come at the expense of happiness.
“I don’t want to just be known for my accolades,” she says. “I want to be remembered for how I made people feel, for how I treated people, for how I encouraged others to believe in themselves.”
The best part is Escoffery is far from finished — she’s a story in motion. One that continues to unfold with each opportunity, each challenge and each act of faith. And if there’s one thing that’s certain, it’s that she’s leaving an imprint on Spelman that will be felt long after she walks across the graduation stage.