Homecoming queen reflects on her accomplishments a Jaguar

Je’Bria Fullwood is a daughter, student-athlete, team leader, homecoming queen and soon-to-be published researcher.

Soon, she’ll be able to add one more title to her resume: graduate.

The North Carolina native is set to participate in the spring commencement, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Health, Society, and Policy degree from the Katherine Reese Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.

While she was being recruited out of high school, Fullwood was enamored with the campus on her visits, and, at the time, Augusta University offered the degree she wanted to study. She went to dinner with her coaches and teammates and was sold on being a Jaguar.

From the time Fullwood arrived in Augusta, she has found herself constantly evolving while participating in multiple avenues.

“If you were to have told me that I would be graduating with my degree and as a homecoming queen and diving into research, I would have said no way,” Fuller said. “And I think that’s an awesome part about being a Jaguar. You don’t have to tie yourself to one anchor.”

The student

Candace Griffith, PhD, first met Fullwood when Fullwood enrolled in Griffith’s Methods in Social Science class. Fullwood’s natural curiosity made Griffith excited to have her in the class. During that class, the two started working together on food insecurity issues.

“I have her in an independent research class, and I always look forward to how she views the topic we are discussing and the ideas she puts forth,” said Griffith, an associate professor of criminal justice. “I have learned a lot about collegiate athletics from Je’Bria and working with her on this project. I never thought I would focus on collegiate athletics as any part of my research agenda, and it is because of her drive to want to learn more that I have pivoted part of this research project toward athletics.”

“I feel like I wouldn’t be the person I am today if I didn’t have those struggles and setbacks.”

Je’Bria Fullwood

Fullwood was presented with the Gerald Daise Leadership Award last year, awarded to student-athletes who exemplify excellent guidance on and off the playing field. Her research on food insecurity with her fellow student-athletes and learning what resources are available for them has spanned over two years and will conclude with the publication of her paper in May.

“This started off as an assignment in class. Dr. Griffith said, ‘Find something that you’re interested in,’ and I love food,” Fullwood said. “I love eating out with my friends and trying different restaurants. So, I was like, I could do it on food insecurity.

“It was just broad at first, but she said, ‘This is really good, and I think you should take it further,’” Fullwood continued. “Once I started interviewing my teammates and my fellow student-athletes, I’m like, this is a problem. We have to eat, and how else are we supposed to do our jobs here? We’re not eating enough, or we’re not eating at all. That’s kind of how it became a passion for me.”

The student-athlete

Third-year head women’s basketball coach Celeste Stewart was part of the coaching staff that recruited Fullwood, and the two share a commonality of being from North Carolina. Stewart said Fuller’s competitiveness is what stood out to her first, noting her participation in multiple sports, and she was the caliber of player they were looking for.

“As a person, she has a great personality and is able to connect with others very easily. We could tell that she was a natural leader, and her values, morals and goals really aligned with what we envisioned for the program,” said Stewart, who has seen Fullwood grow during her time at AU and notes she hasn’t been afraid of a challenge she has encountered.

“She is a person who manages her time well, and I truly believe she succeeded in being a student-athlete while being active in the community and playing a major role in AU’s student engagement on campus,” Stewart said. “She showed and proved that she was able to do it all.”

Fullwood, who wants to play professionally overseas, played in all 29 games her senior season, averaging almost 19 minutes per game while contributing as one of the top rebounders on the team. Stewart said she’s a person who gives everything she has on the court.

“I never questioned her commitment to our program. Her effort is relentless; she is truly a team player and is a person that I can count on to serve. She is a servant leader,” Stewart said.

Proud of her evolution

Griffith has watched as Fullwood thrived as a student-athlete, using her platform to engage with other students through her research and serving as homecoming queen, saying it’s been a privilege to watch her grow and flourish.

“The exposure she received and her wit to discuss herself as more than just a student-athlete is a key feature of how she sees herself and her role at the university,” Griffith said. “I was able to take her to a professional sociological conference so she could present her research. She speaks clearly about the need for additional research and how food insecurity affects college student-athletes. She thinks about the broader ramifications of being a student-athlete and how her roles can impact other students and community members.”

Fullwood thanks her professors and coaches for their support and loves those teachers who are engaged, care about their students and genuinely enjoy their job. But she credits her mom, who has been a big inspiration to her.

“I just love my mom so much,” Fullwood said. “She’s always supporting me and has always been so strong. We have a unique bond. She always keeps me going.”

Fullwood said being a Jaguar has been rewarding because it hasn’t always been easy. She struggled in the beginning and was academically ineligible at the end of her freshman year. She said it was mind-blowing because she’s always taken pride in her academia.

She was sad because she couldn’t play basketball. It was a wake-up call, and she buckled down and turned her grades around to get back on the court.

“I feel like I wouldn’t be the person I am today if I didn’t have those struggles and setbacks.”