Makayla Franklin doesn’t wait for others to take the lead when it comes to supporting fellow students. The UNLV student body president and Harrah College of Hospitality senior has spent much of her student career embracing leadership roles to elevate the university’s Black student population.
In 2022, Franklin began working on a student service project to build a sense of pride, unity, and belonging among Black students at UNLV. Her commitment to this special project has earned her the Community Engagement Student Service Award for 2024. The UNLV Community Engagement awards are administered annually by the Office of Government and Community Engagement.
The project focused on bringing the 20th Annual Afrikan Black Coalition (ABC) Conference to Las Vegas — a goal that became a reality in January 2023 when UNLV served as the official host of the conference. It was the first time the conference had been held at a university outside of California, which meant the stakes were high.
“When the opportunity to bring it [ABC Conference] to UNLV presented itself, I knew it was a sign that I could be a part of something great,” Franklin says. “It was a lot of pressure. But when I came to UNLV, I vowed to make an impact on this campus, and this was exactly what I was looking for.”
More than 500 Black-identifying students and numerous community organizations joined Franklin on campus for the ABC Conference, featuring professional development opportunities, prominent guest speakers, and educational sessions focused on social and political issues facing the Black community.
As the campus committee chair, Franklin’s served both as event organizer and liaison between UNLV and the Afrikan Black Coalition, which holds the conference each year during MLK Day weekend.
“Makayla demonstrated exceptional leadership and organizational skills throughout her tenure, playing a pivotal role in making the event a resounding success,” says Ma ‘Ronda X, executive director of the Afrikan Black Coalition.
In addition to working hand-in-hand with the Afrikan Black Coalition, Franklin’s role required her to collaborate with numerous university entities, such as the Black Student Organization, Office of Student Diversity Programs, UNLV Facilities, and others. Her efforts touched the local community as well, inviting Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs to participate on campus where possible.
Franklin’s service work has also extended to university-wide leadership roles. She currently serves as student body president of Consolidated Students of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (CSUN) – work that has earned her the admiration of faculty, staff, and peers.
“She [Franklin] is an exemplary leader and always aims to foster connections with students and improve the experience of students on the UNLV main campus,” says Daejha Hare, assistant director of student government at UNLV.
As graduation approaches, Franklin is already planning for her future in the hospitality industry. And as you may have guessed, service to the Black community is a top priority.
“I want to be able to lead diversity, equity, and inclusion leadership trainings for executives in the hospitality and tourism realm,” Franklin says. “I want ensure that those who are hiring have an understanding of how to unpack their implicit biases to give all applicants an equitable opportunity.”
The UNLV Office of Government and Community Engagement administers four university-wide awards each academic year to recognize campus individuals for their exceptional community engagement in the areas of service learning, community-based research, faculty/staff community outreach, and student service.
