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PROFILES IN LEADERSHIP MIT Student Body President Makes History as First Black Female Leader

Danielle Geathers

BY MONIQUE HOWARD

Danielle Geathers is the first black female student body president in the 159-year history of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, commonly known as MIT.

ARTS & CULTURE BY JOSIE GULLIKSEN.

Perpetua Phillips’ career path was determined at the tender age of 3. That is when she began dancing while observing the passion with which many of her family members performed.

“I’m the youngest of 39 grandchildren and many of the cousins and siblings around me were dancers, so I followed in their footsteps,” said the 39-year-old who co-founded BE Dance Studios in Miami Gardens 11 years ago with her sister.

Through elementary and middle school, Phillips kept dancing. At Miami Northwestern Senior High School she studied with dance teacher Edwin Holland.

“Mr. Holland was a tapper, so tap was the focus, but we also did ballet, jazz and even acrobatics and tumbling,” Phillips said.

While in high school as a 16-yearold, she got the opportunity of a lifetime and traveled to New York City.

“I knew pretty early on that I wanted to teach dance and then at 16

“I think the biggest thing is being a transparent government,” shared Geathers, who said some of her goals include demonstrating that she is listening to the student body, working to amplify their voices, and working with administrators.

At 19, Geathers is the youngest person to make Legacy magazine’s “Top 40 under 40” recognition list. In her junior year at MIT, she is majoring in mechanical engineering with a concentration in product design. Geathers said she is also interested in black culture and historical research.

During her time in high school at the Miami Country Day School, she created the Black Student Union and supported peers who were involved in student government.

“I was in a predominantly white private school, and there was a very small number of black students,” Geathers said about the club’s origin. “There were a bunch of student groups on campus, but there wasn’t one that catered directly to our needs. One thing I thought was important for building a community was to create a forum in which all of us could get together and talk. I also thought it’d be helpful to have a budget for better community-building efforts. We did that in my sophomore year. Then as the club grew, we started turning more towards advocacy.”

Geathers continues to be actively involved at MIT. “The Black Student Union was something I knew I always wanted to join,” she reflected. “They have five committees and I joined three of them. I really had goals for making the Student Union more visible and supportive of unrepresented communities.”

According to Geathers, MIT is allowing seniors to return for in-person Ultimately, she graduated from Florida International University with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance. The day after receiving her degree, “I took over the Edwin Holland Dance Studio and was there for two years,” she said. But school beckoned once again, so she returned to University. After learning in the fall, but most students are being offered online learning options. Kits will be provided as well as synchronized lectures with professors.

Geathers said the pandemic has affected her educational experience and endeavors as a student body president during the COVID era, but she is not deterred.

“It’s much harder to bond with professors and network when you’re virtually learning,” she said. “As a student organization on campus, it’s hard enough getting to students when they’re all in the same place and when they are all over the world, it’s pretty hard for a government to stay transparent and in touch with their students.”

With so many accomplishments already achieved, Geathers is still on the n

Perpetua Phillips Makes Impact on Dance Community at BE Dance Studios

Dance instructor Perpetua Phillips assists one of her talented students at attend graduate BE Dance Studios, which she co-founded in Miami Gardens. school at Full Sail rise as she plans for future success.

when I went to New York and Alvin receiving her MBA, Ailey Dance Co. it changed my life,” she freelanced as a dancer with several she said. “I knew right away while I companies before opening BE Dance was there this was what Miami’s dance Studios in 2009. community was missing.” In her 11 years at BE Dance, she

She finished high school and has hosted ballerinas of color from began teaching while in undergraduate the Dutch National Ballet, Dance school in 1999. Her undergraduate Theatre of Harlem, and Miami City studies began in Ohio State University. Ballet. She also serves as mentor and role model, empowering her students through the launch of the Brown Ballerina Empowerment Summit, BE Mighty - BDS Virtual Studio, as well as presenting productions of the Nutcracker and other live and recorded events.

Add to that the title of former Miss Black Florida USA and Goodwill Ambassador to the Republic of Gambia, yet she still remains humble.

“I’ve never thought what I was doing was so impactful, it’s just in me,” she said, “but I know I’ve improved the quality of life for my students and my community. I’m extremely happy to provide something a little out of the ordinary.”

Phillips recalls someone once telling her “‘It’s something people didn’t know they needed, and once they do hopefully it has a ripple effect and helps other people.’ It still seems small to me,” she added. “None of it feels on such a grand scale, yet I know this is how we make each other stronger and better and that brings me immense joy.” n