The new year was just the beginning of a new journey for Dontavius Jarrells ’10. During the November 3 general election, the Hiram College alumnus was elected to represent District 25 of the Ohio House of Representatives. He officially began his first term after taking the oath of office during the opening session of the 134th Ohio General Assembly on January 4.
After graduating from high school, Jarrells, a Cleveland, Ohio native, enrolled at Hiram College to study political science and economics. He quickly learned that his college journey could take him to new and interesting places beyond his hometown. The College’s unique academic schedule gave him the opportunity to travel abroad and pursue his ambitions of serving the community. As a Garfield Scholar, Jarrells was given many opportunities to learn about issues at a local, national, and global level.
Jarrells believes that Hiram provided him with access and exposure to see beyond his own circumstances, and he encourages today’s students to take chances. “Explore every facet of your identity and push yourself to see beyond the four corners of the College,” he said. “Hiram is only a microcosm of the world that you haven’t yet explored.”
During the 129th General Assembly, Jarrells was selected as an Ohio Legislative Service Commission Fellow. Following the completion of his fellowship, he spent the next seven years of his career advocating for Ohioans to have adequate healthcare, working at the Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities, and Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. Most recently, Jarrells served as the chief of communications in the Franklin County Treasurer’s Office.
by Jenelle Bayus
