Class of 2026 Associate Degree Scholar – Aisha Dyer
Candidate for Associate of Science in Science
When Aisha Dyer walks across the stage at the Medgar Evers College 2026 Commencement to collect her Associate’s Degree in Science, she’ll be doing it behind a 4.0 GPA and a boatload of accomplishments under her belt. A native of the island of Jamaica, Aisha has firmly kept her eyes on the prize having graduated from the High School for Law, Advocacy & Community Justice in Manhattan, where she dreamt of becoming a district attorney. It was here where she forged her diligent work ethic and shaped her ambitions. With this kind of secondary educational background, it only made sense for Aisha to matriculate at Medgar Evers College, an institution with social justice in its DNA.
A brief stint working at Mount Sinai Hospital made Aisha realize she had the potential to become even more beyond what she had imagined. It was an experience that proved to be inspirational and shaped her purpose to continue her education at Medgar Evers College, whose Crown Heights campus was a stone’s throw from her East Flatbush home. Aisha’s choice was the right one because of resources and both academic and non-academic support she wound up receiving as opposed to what could have happened at a larger school where she admits “I would have probably drowned.”
The strong local presence and community-centered structure of the college brought Aisha here. What kept her in Central Brooklyn was the constant support, meaningful connections, and interactions with people who understood her goals, journey, and the future she was working towards. Through mentorship, perseverance, and focus, she continued to grow both personally and academically. Chemistry, anatomy, physiology and microbiology proved to be some of her favorite classes. Among the many instructors who gave her invaluable support were Professor Shanta Outlaw, Dr. Edward Catapane and Dr. Richard Denton, who Aisha is pursuing research with.
A firm believer in maximizing resources and opportunity while also having a plan, Aisha was also active outside the classroom, serving as SGA Class President and as a science tutor at the Academic Center for Excellence in Student Support (A.C.E.S.S.). In these roles, she learned that serving with excellence was her way of giving back in a way that allowed her to support peers, lead with purpose, and contribute to the same community that helped shape her.
The future is abundant and bright for Aisha Dyer, whose plans range anywhere from one day becoming the CEO of her own technology company to using her Associate of Science degree to continue her journey as a biology major on the pre-med track. With such a rich grab-bag of experience to draw from, Aisha’s advice to future students is simple: stay grounded, remain focused, and be strategic. Success does not happen all at once, but with discipline, purpose, and the right support, every step forward can bring that person closer to who they are looking to become.