Alumni Highlight: Ayrielle LeGrande

“When I entered Cornerstones Freshman year, I embraced the opportunity to learn outside the classroom,” says Ayrielle LeGrande, (BAIN ’13). “I wanted to find a Bachelor’s Degree program that allowed me to expand learning beyond the collegiate environment. As an Integrative Studies major, I concentrated in Legal Studies and was given the flexibility to pursue every one of my passions. I double minored in Leadership and Business. Through my Leadership minor, I was taught to follow before leading. I allowed that philosophy to embody my extracurricular activities at Mason.”

During her time at Mason, Ayrielle was a member of 16 Resident Student Organizations (RSO). Additionally, she co-founded the RSO Chase Dreams Not Boys (CDNB), which is geared towards young minority women and offers after school programs for young girls in area schools, covering important topics like health, relationships, positive self-esteem, and higher education and careers. Chase Dreams Not Boys received the 2012 New Student Organization of the Year Award.  She was the 2011 MMBGMU Scholastic Pageant winner, and, in her final semester, co-Founded and served as President of the Social Entrepreneurship Society. In 2012, she received the Leadership Award through the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Multicultural Education (ODIME). Currently, LeGrande is a consultant manager at The Digital Decision, LLC, whose mission seeks to establish true nationwide interoperable communications for our Nation’s First Responders. Says LeGrande, “I am also working to grow Chase Dreams Not Boys into a non-profit which will broaden our ability to touch the lives of not at-risk but “AT PROMISE” youth.”