Jamal Myrick, director of UC Riverside’s African Student Programs, or ASP, is being recognized by his alma mater Virginia’s George Mason University, or GMU, as one of their best and brightest Black alumni of 2023. 

Myrick is among 40 other GMU Black alumni under the age of 40 who were celebrated for their “professional and community achievements, in addition to contributions to Mason through time, talent, and treasure” as noted in the congratulatory message sent by the selection committee. 

“It's a true honor to receive such an award understanding those who came before me in the inaugural class. My time at George Mason was what I needed at the time to begin my journey in higher ed and to embark on a life-changing experience,” Myrick said. 

“Dr. J,” as he is known by his colleagues and students, joined UCR’s staff in 2014 as a resident director before transitioning to interim director of ASP in 2019, obtaining the official title in 2020.  

In this leadership role, he has increased the visibility of the student resource center and engaged the campus’ Black audience and its allies. Among his accomplishments, Myrick received recognition from the Riverside Black Chamber of Commerce, established an endowment fund in collaboration with UCR’s Black Alumni Chapter in 2022, and was nominated for the Adweek Experiential Award for the 2020 Statewide Black Grad celebration with Hambra Group in the categories of Best Virtual Event Pivot, Best Use of Influencers in an Experiential Activation, and Best Use of Partnership in an Experiential Activation. 

Myrick’s most recent contribution to elevating the Black student experience is working with UCR’s Education Abroad to organize 2023’s No Boundaries Alternative Break Experience, a weeklong, cross-border educational program that aims to provide Black UCR scholars with the academic opportunity to immerse themselves in the culture of Georgetown, Guyana, through community service, courses, and culturally relevant dialogue to develop. 

Myrick received a master’s in higher education administration from GMU in 2014, where he also served as a graduate resident director. He has a bachelor’s in international affairs from Florida State University and a doctorate in education from Azusa Pacific University.