Breaking Barriers: Mika Mayo’s Journey from First-Generation College Student to Aspiring Professor

Mika Mayo is preparing to cross the stage at the University of South Carolina Aiken's December Commencement on Thursday, December 12, at 6 p.m., alongside over 300 graduates.

Hailing from the Town of Jackson in Aiken County, Mayo attended the Aiken Scholars Academy, one of the top academically performing schools in the state. While still a dual-enrollment student at Aiken Scholars Academy, she became a full-time student at USCA in the fall of 2023.

Raised by her grandparents, Mayo is the first in her family to attend college. “My mom passed away just as I started high school,” she shared. “That loss motivated me to accomplish something no one in my family has done before.”

Mayo will graduate with a degree in Communication, focusing on cultural studies. Her passion for communication began while enrolled in her media and cultures course at Aiken Scholars Academy.  For a final project, she and her classmates decided to create a sequel to the movie Don’t Worry Darling, which sparked her deeper interest in the subject.

In November, Mayo presented research at the Carolina Communications Association Conference at Furman University. The research, conducted during her research methods course, analyzed the Barbie movie. “I performed a narrative analysis of how the film constructs feminist identity. I broke down the movie script, over 100 pages long, to examine how it critiques patriarchy and how the characters undergo internal growth,” Mayo explained.

She’s always been fascinated by how feminist ideologies evolve over time, and the Barbie film seemed like the perfect case study.

Mayo credits USCA’s Department of Communication and Emerging Media for providing the tools she needed to thrive academically. She’s also conducting two additional research projects: one on the religious motivations behind book banning in the South and another on corporate environmental responsibility, both of which she’s pursuing in preparation for graduate school.

Unlike many of her peers in communication, who aspire to careers in marketing, broadcast journalism, or public relations, Mayo has her sights set on academia. “I know my beliefs differ from those of many people I’ve grown up with,” she said. “Communication gives me the platform to challenge and deconstruct deeply held beliefs across various systems. It’s about more than just talking—it’s about how messages are conveyed and interpreted, including non-verbal communication, government policies, and so much more.”

After crossing the Commencement stage, Mayo plans to continue her academic journey in graduate school. “I want to pursue a doctorate. That’s my goal after earning my master’s degree,” she said. “I want to be the first in my family to achieve that, and I’m determined to make it happen.”

Mayo, along with her graduating classmates, will participate in the Commencement Ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 12 at 6 p.m. at the USCA Convocation Center located at 2049 Champion Way, Graniteville, SC 29829.

For more information, contact USCA Marketing & Communication at news@usca.edu.