Brittainy Niccohle Donnell
Hometown: Springfield, Va.
Majors: Business and Communication
Year in School: Senior
Favorite Book: Othello by William Shakespeare
What Brittainy loves about UHC
The honors college has been able to supplement the academic with culture, giving me the opportunity to experience the cultured side of Pittsburgh and the University, not only through symphonies and plays, but also through meaningful interactions and discussions with other intelligent individuals.
About Brittainy
In the four years that I have been at the University of Pittsburgh, I have been a member of several organizations and have developed a genuine love for Pitt. I am a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., the first black sorority established by and for college-educated Black women, and I was initiated into the Iota Chapter in the fall semester of 2004.
Through my sorority, I have also served as the parliamentarian and chair of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee for the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), and was selected to represent the NPHC on a committee to establish policies and procedures for the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life at Pitt. I was a freshman peer counselor for two years, as well as an orientation assistant in 2005, which gave me an opportunity to meet tons of people while introducing them to Pitt and all that it has to offer.
I went on Semester at Sea in the spring semester of 2004 and traveled to nine countries in four months. My favorite countries were Cuba and Vietnam, but I managed to have a blast wherever I went. Semester at Sea was one of the reasons that I chose Pitt, and although the program has since moved to the University of Virginia, Pitt still has some amazing study abroad opportunities and is a university that truly encourages students to “make the world a classroom” in a sense.
In 2005, I was initiated into two prestigious honor societies, Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society and Order of Omega, the Greek honor society. Also, I was a community problem-solving fellow in 2005 for the Coro Center for Civic Leadership in Pittsburgh and spent 10 weeks in the city studying its citizens; its leaders; and various political, economic, and religious aspects of the community. Through that program, I also interned at Dewey and Kaye Nonprofit Consulting firm and was able to work with and learn about the not-for-profit sector while gaining valuable work experience.
Working as a fellow introduced me to more of the city of Pittsburgh, allowing me to realize that Pitt has so much more to offer than just academics. Pittsburgh is rich in culture, and its dynamics are fascinating. From art museums and theater to basketball games and Greek life, the University of Pittsburgh has been amazing. Hail to Pitt!