Tiona Dunklin ’27
Hometown: Cleveland, OH
Psychology Major & Entrepreneurship Minor
Hiram is helping me prepare for my future because it is providing me with the valuable tools and knowledge needed to build upon my original passion which is to help people.
Tiona Dunklin has always felt driven to help others and have a positive impact on others in her community. This drive has only become more prominent in her time as a Hiram College student. Through her role as a Resident Assistant on campus, Tiona has a direct line to help make an impact on younger students and help them on their college journey. One of the reasons Tiona loves this job so much is because of the impact her first-year Resident Assistant had on her!
As an entrepreneurship minor, Tiona is learning how to create businesses, market herself, and bring value to her community. Currently, along with all her activities on campus, Tiona also runs a jewelry business called Little Ladies Luxuries which she created in memory of her great grandmother.
Making an Impact
Tiona’s favorite Hiram class was titled “Start Up Communities” which she took within the entrepreneurship minor. “In this class we learned about different spaces around Ohio where small businesses are supported with the spaces and tools they need to grow their businesses and make a impact in their communities with their company,” she said. “My favorite part was when we traveled to North Carolina and explored both the state and the incubator that supported the businesses within its community!”
Coming into her first year at Hiram, Tiona notes how nervous she was to meet new people and create a life on the Hill for herself. However, she took the leap out of her comfort zone and now, as a junior, Tiona is a shining light on campus. As a resident assistant, Eclectic Scholar, and member of Black Student Union and the High Performance Program – Tiona has found a path for herself where she can make an impact on her community and challenge herself in new ways.
“I have learned that my ambition to succeed and create positive change within my life and the lives of others is greater than my fear of change. It took me a while to figure that out but once I did there was absolutely no turning back,” she said.
