糖心Vlog

Mouhamadou Diallo 鈥�27  | Sports Communication Major, with minors in Africana and Global Studies | Internship: Spring 2025 | Presidential Fund for Equity Recipient 

As someone deeply involved in campus life鈥攕erving as president of the Muslim Student Association and playing on the club soccer team鈥擬ouhamadou Diallo 鈥�27 thrives on connection and community. His dream is to use journalism to spotlight untold stories and advocate for political and social change. 

That passion for storytelling led him to an internship at the Sports Museum of Dutchess County, where he spent the semester diving into local sports history, preparing exhibits, and learning from seasoned professionals.  

鈥淐oming from the city, I didn鈥檛 expect this area to have such big sports figures,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he museum was really humbling鈥攊t showed how even small communities can have hidden gems.鈥� 

Originally from Harlem and now studying Sports Communication with minors in Africana and Global Studies, Mouhamadou initially took on the internship for the experience. It wasn鈥檛 until later that he realized he could apply it toward his for-credit requirement鈥攕omething that increased both the workload and the significance of the role. 

鈥淚 probably put in about 130 hours,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here was always something to do, whether it was staging exhibits, writing biographies, or helping out with social media.鈥� Among his favorite projects was preparing the museum for its opening day and the dedication of the Pat Zerbe Room in Women鈥檚 Sports. The museum honored Zerbe for her role in establishing women鈥檚 tennis and basketball at Dutchess Community College.  

He also conducted research at the Beacon Historical Society and wrote a biography on a renowned local boxer, Melio Bettina. 

But with no paycheck and the need to travel off-campus twice a week, the logistics could have become a barrier. That鈥檚 where the Presidential Equity Fund made a difference. 

鈥淭he Equity Fund really helped with gas money and took a lot of stress off my shoulders,鈥� Mouhamadou said. 鈥淚t let me focus on the internship itself鈥攐n why I was there. I didn鈥檛 have to worry about how I鈥檇 pay to get there every week.鈥� 

The fund, created to remove financial obstacles to meaningful experiential learning, allowed Mouhamadou to fully commit to the opportunity and explore new career paths. 

鈥淎t first, I didn鈥檛 think I鈥檇 ever want to work in a museum, but after this, it鈥檚 actually something I鈥檇 consider,鈥� he said.  

He interned alongside other students鈥攖wo seniors and a junior鈥攁nd was mentored by Marist alumnus Mary Sagar and museum president Bill Ponte. 鈥淲hat stuck with me most was being around people who were older and wiser,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou absorb so much just being in that space. It really broadened my perspective.鈥� 

Reflecting on fund's generous donors, Mouhamadou wants them to know: 鈥淭heir money isn鈥檛 going to waste. It鈥檚 helping people like me who might not have the resources otherwise. I really appreciate it.鈥�