The Power of a Howard University Education
Choosing a college can have a big impact on your future, from your career path to your identity, your confidence, and your connection to community. For Linda Talton and her son Jacob Duncan, Howard University did all of that and more. We sat down with this mother-son duo to talk about why Howard mattered, how it shaped their worldview, and why they both believe in the power of an HBCU education.
By https://www.howard.edu/secretary/documents/HU_IDENTITY2016.pdf, Fair use
Choosing a college can have a big impact on your future, from your career path to your identity, your confidence, and your connection to community. For Linda Talton and her son Jacob Duncan, Howard University did all of that and more. We sat down with this mother-son duo to talk about why Howard mattered, how it shaped their worldview, and why they both believe in the power of an HBCU education. At the time of this interview, Jacob was in his final semester at Howard.
Why Attend Howard University? An Interview with Alumni Linda Talton and Jacob Duncan
What made you choose Howard University?
Jacob Duncan: Honestly, I didn’t want to go at first. I was being a typical teenager — kind of resistant to anything my mom suggested, and of course, she’s a proud Howard alum. But during the George Floyd protests and the resurgence of Black Lives Matter, I started thinking more about where I wanted to be. I knew I wanted to work with underserved communities, and Howard had one of the few nutritional science programs that focused on that. Once I visited, it just felt right.
Linda Talton: I get emotional just thinking about it. I didn’t push him — I tried to play it cool. But when he called me from the airport after getting his acceptance, I started crying. Then I told his dad before Jacob even had a chance. It’s a family thing now — my brother works there, two of Jacob’s cousins attend, and we all go to homecoming. It’s our reunion.
How did Howard influence your career path?
Jacob: I’ve shaped my academic focus around the Black community. Whether it’s GMOs in sub-Saharan Africa or health disparities in U.S. cities, almost every research project I’ve done touches on underserved populations. That perspective is something I wouldn’t have gotten at a PWI.
Linda: I started as a communications major but shifted to human development. Being surrounded by mostly professors of color — many of them women — shaped the kind of educator I became. There’s a certain pride and confidence that comes from attending an HBCU, especially one like Howard. It gives you an inner knowing: I belong, and I’m excellent.
What was the academic experience like?
Jacob: It's intense, especially in a science major. But it also gives you tools for understanding systems of inequality. You learn to read research critically and recognize that much of it is based on populations that don’t reflect your own. That nuance makes a difference.
Linda: I had always attended predominantly white schools, and Howard was the first place where I could really relax. I didn’t have to worry about how I was perceived. But the rigor was real — my professors were tough because they knew the world would be tougher. That tough love helped me succeed.
Did Howard shape your worldview?
Linda: I was raised in a very pro-Black household — my books, my dolls, the art on the walls. Howard was an extension of that. It gave me community, connections, and an appreciation for the Black diaspora. It reminded me we’re not a monolith, and that was powerful.
Jacob: I think I always had the foundation, but Howard helped me refine it. It also gave me freedom to be my full self. I didn’t feel like I had to carry the weight of representing the Black experience alone. I could just be Jacob — a skateboarder, a nutrition nerd, someone figuring it all out.
What’s the Howard community like?
Linda: Unmatched. I still go to homecoming every year — and it’s not just alumni, it’s people who never even went to Howard. It’s that strong. The alumni network has opened doors for me professionally and personally. I tell people all the time: it’s the gift that keeps on giving.
Jacob: The support system is real. My professors know me by name. My advisor is also one of my teachers. I see the dean regularly. When I hear friends at other schools say they’ve never even met their advisor, I realize how different my experience is.
Was it worth the investment?
Linda: A hundred percent. It’s the best decision I ever made — well, second-best after having Jacob. I’m grateful every day that my dad convinced me to visit.
Jacob: Absolutely. Facilities aren’t always perfect, but the people, the support, the friends I’ve made? That’s what makes the difference. It’s why I’ve made it through these four years.
What advice do you have for prospective students?
Jacob: Keep an open mind. Howard is amazing, but it’s not the only great HBCU. Don’t write them off just because they’re not Ivy League. You can get an education here that’s just as good — if not better — especially if you're Black.
Linda: I always tell students: put at least two or three HBCUs on your list. Take a tour. See what it feels like to be the majority for once. You’ve got your whole life to be “one of a few.” These four years? They can be a time to breathe.
Interviewee Bio
Linda Talton is the Founding President of School First and leading educational consultant specializing in placement from nursery school through college. Linda takes a student-first approach to school placement, grounded in the belief that a school must align with a student’s learning style and interests. With extensive experience in student recruitment and retention, Linda works closely with families to evaluate each school’s unique qualities and determine the best fit. She understands that finding the right match - academically and socially - is essential to a student’s long-term success.
Jacob Duncan is a recent graduate of Howard University, and soon to be graduate student at Columbia University. At the time of this interview he was keeping his graduate school decision hush-hush - we’re excited to be able to share his impressive next step!
