Aaliyah Wilson is a senior majoring in social work who founded the group Black Girls in Social Science (BGSS): a community that uplifts, empowers, and connects Black women pursuing careers in social work, psychology, sociology, and beyond.
BGSS serves as a hub where students share resources, build professional networks, and engage in meaningful conversations about navigating academia and the career field as a Black woman.
“For Black women, it is really hard for us to set the tone for ourselves when it's predetermined how we should act and be seen,” said Wilson. Despite Black women accounting for the largest percentage of Black college students across the nation, according to experts, “we're not seen that much and we're just kind of underestimated,” Wilson continued. “BGSS is used for us to motivate ourselves more, and also empower us more, to show there is a space for us and there is a future for us.”
As a social work student, Wilson has an innate passion for representation and advocacy, which fueled her to form this group. During her sophomore year, Wilson noticed that there weren’t many organizations for Black women across the College of Social Science. “I wanted to make a space for everyone in social science because we're really spread throughout this whole college,” she explained.
Wilson soon put together an E-board consisting of 11 Black women across the college, including social work senior Kayla McMichael.
McMichael serves as the fundraising chair for BGSS and is also a part of the Students for Social Work Student Advisory Board (SFSW) at the MSU School of Social Work.
As a transfer student, McMichael initially felt lost at MSU. “It took me five major changes before I finally found my passion in social work, and that’s when my personal journey truly began,” she explained. But along the way, she realized how much she needed a sense of community, as she often felt like she didn’t see many people who looked like her on campus. That changed when she met Wilson.
“Seeing events created specifically for women who look like me and share similar struggles was inspiring,” said McMichael. “I knew right then that I wanted to be more than just a member—I wanted to take on a leadership role and help sustain this space for others.”
Through mentorship, advocacy, and peer support, BGSS is not only fostering belonging but also laying the groundwork for future leaders in social justice and community work. Wilson’s passion for representation and empowerment fuels her vision for a more inclusive and supportive academic environment at MSU—one that ensures Black women in social science feel seen, heard, and valued.
