Source: Alabama A&M University
Edited for SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
HUNTSVILLE — Alabama A&M University alumni returned to The Hill Sept. 11 to help Bulldogs turn NBA HBCU Fellowship opportunities into careers in professional sports.
The second annual fellowship panel gave students guidance on applications, interviews, networking and workplace expectations. Alumni discussed experiences with the Brooklyn Nets, Cavaliers, Mavericks and other professional organizations.
Established in 2022, the NBA HBCU Fellowship Program offers undergraduate and graduate students from historically Black colleges and universities paid, 10-week internships with NBA and WNBA teams and the league office. Fellows gain experience in marketing, communications, finance, partnerships and social impact.
AAMU has produced 10 fellows, including two members of the 2026 cohort, and ranks 11th among HBCUs nationwide in fellowships awarded through the program, university officials reported.
Panelists encouraged students to begin projects, ask questions and build relationships. Breakout sessions explored marketing, partnerships, accounting, finance and community relations.
May 2026 graduate Nacala Williams shared how persistence led to a Brooklyn Nets community relations internship after she was not selected the previous year. Applications for the next fellowship cohort open in November.