When Jefferey Hood Jr. was in seventh grade, his teacher, Peggy Davenport, asked him to write down what
he wanted to major in once he got to college. Hood knew he wanted to pursue a career
in sports, but he didn’t know the exact path to take. With Davenport’s guidance and
motivation, he began mapping out a plan — a plan that would require sacrifices and
relentless determination to fulfill.
Today, Davenport would be proud. On Dec. 12, Hood graduated summa cum laude, the highest
honors given to students, from Florida A&M University’s School of Journalism & Graphic
Communication (FAMU SJGC) with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
Soon he will walk through the doors of ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut,
as a full-time production assistant — putting him one step closer to fulfilling his
ultimate goals: becoming an ESPN show producer, producing live sporting events at
major networks, and developing content for professional sports organizations like
the NBA and NFL.
“We had some high goals that we wanted to achieve. We did it. We beat the odds and
made the sacrifices that people didn’t understand to get to this point today,” Hood
said when asked what he would tell his seventh-grade self.
The odds and sacrifices he speaks of include overcoming self-esteem issues and trading his
nights as a college student for long hours in sound booths, production bays, and writing
labs to perfect his skills and build his confidence.
From Transfer Student to Transformational Leader
Hood, a White Plains, Maryland native by way of Fayetteville, Georgia, transferred from the University of Alabama and battled imposter syndrome when he first
arrived at FAMU.
“I came into SJGC alongside so many talented journalists already making an impact.
It made me question myself and my abilities,” he said. “What helped me overcome it
was reminding myself of my purpose, trusting my work ethic, and leaning on my support
system. It taught me resilience.”
Despite initial doubts, including wondering if he was in the right program, Hood decided
to take a leap of faith, leaning on his belief in the Lord’s ability to help him in
his time of need and trusting in SJGC’s promise of hands-on opportunities that would
prepare him to succeed, lead, and impact others.
“When I met (SJGC) Dean Mira Lowe and shared my goals, she told me confidently that I could accomplish all of them
right here,” he said. “I felt that family energy and knew SJGC was where I needed
to be.”
Jefferey Hood Jr. stuck to the path, which led him to ESPN. (Photo by Christian Whitaker/FAMU)
Hood set ambitious goals for his academic path and wrote a list of to-do items to accomplish.
He achieved them all. After only about a year as an SJGC student, he had the opportunity
to intern with HBCU GO, a destination for Black college sports and culture. He went
on to serve as sports director for campus radio station WANM-FM 90.5, as an associate
producer for FAMU TV-20, and as sports editor for the student newspaper, The FAMUAN.
He also served as producer for one of FAMU’s most popular on-campus radio shows and
podcasts, “The Playmakers,” where he and his colleagues interviewed and discussed
high-profile athletes and personalities, as well as FAMU athletes and coaches, and
transformed the platform’s social media presence into a sports hub.
“Learning media leadership mattered to me because I wanted to sharpen skills that
transfer directly into the industry. Managing multiple roles taught me time management
and discipline,” he said about wearing so many hats.
When Big Dreams Become Big Doors
Those experiences opened doors to coveted opportunities. Hood was selected as a production
intern at ESPN for the spring of 2024 and served as a 2025 NBA-HBCU Fellow with the
Sacramento Kings social media team this past summer. He was one of only 73 HBCU students selected
by the NBA Foundation from 8,000 applicants.
“Before these opportunities, I wanted to be a beat writer,” Hood said. “But working
at ESPN and with the Kings opened my eyes to visual storytelling. I realized my passion
lies in telling stories visually and creatively.”
Jefferey Hood Jr., could not contain his enthusiasm for snagging his 2025 NBA-HBCU
Fellowship. (Photo special to FAMU)
Now that the plan he and Davenport designed is coming to life, Hood is committed to
paying it forward, encouraging others to see the possibilities of their own futures,
just like she did for him.
“Mentorship played a huge part in my development. My dad always told me it’s not about
what you know, it’s about who you know,” said Hood, whose own mentorship duties include
leading by example for his sister, Logan Hood, a third-year political science major here at FAMU. “I plan to be an accessible resource for future SJGC students, helping them reach their
goals the same way others helped me.”
It is important to Hood to ensure that the next generation of SJGC scholars and sports
media dreamers understand that some of the people who will help them realize their potential are
not just those they aspire to be like, but the people they see and connect with every
day: family, classmates, and instructors.
Although he credits NBA star LeBron James; the late sideline reporter Craig Sager; sportswriter D. Orlando Ledbetter; commentator Jay Walker; and SJGC alumni Ahmad Kebe (NBA x HBCU stream host) and Malik Burgess (producer of promotional content for NBA broadcast partners) among his inspirations,
he also points to his father, a former NFL agent; classmates such as Terrill Smith, a senior graphic design student, and Jalen Scott, a junior journalism student (who helped him make projects like “The Playmakers”
a success); as well as the mentors he found in his SJGC professors.
Jefferey Hood Jr., (r) counts his dad among his inspirations for pusuing a career
in professional sports. (Photo by Christian Whitaker/FAMU)
“Jeff was one of the first students I taught at FAMU, and he immediately set a high
standard. He was a leader in the classroom, raising the bar and encouraging other
students to do the same,” Professor Arionne Nettles said. “Now, as his adviser at The FAMUAN newspaper, I’ve also seen him grow as an editor, leading the paper’s sports coverage
and being a shining example to reporters. I’m so ecstatic for this next chapter for
him because I know that not only will he grow as a journalist, but he will also truly
get to make new connections and reach new career heights. I can’t wait to see him
in a year.”
As Hood prepares to start his ESPN career, he reflects his path with gratitude.
“Thank you to my family for supporting me on this non-linear journey, to my friends
who stood by me, and to FAMU SJGC for giving me a chance. I needed FAMU more than
FAMU needed me,” he said.
From a seventh-grade classroom to the global stage of sports media, Hood’s story is
one of perseverance, purpose, and passion, a blueprint for aspiring storytellers of
all ages.
Media Contact
Rachel James-Terry
Senior Director of Strategic Communications
rachel.jamesterry@famu.edu