Favour Noya
Graduation year: 2026
High school: Rock Island High School
Hometown: Rock Island, Ill.
Majors: Data analytics; business administration–business intelligence
Minor: Nonprofit leadership development
Activities: Black Student Union, Beta Upsilon Sigma Business Fraternity, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, PACE mentor
Internships: Nonprofit Leadership Fellow at YouthHope (summer 2024); marketing and data analytics intern at Augustana's EDGE Center (summer 2025)
Post-grad plans: If I’m being honest, graduation doesn’t feel like an ending so much as a pivot into a deeper level of learning. After Augustana, I plan to complete a 13-month Post Baccalaureate Program in Health Informatics at the University of Illinois Chicago to build out my technical and analytical toolkit within the health care space. From there, I hope to transition into their residential Master of Healthcare Administration program in the heart of Chicago. I’ve always been drawn to the intersection of people, systems and impact, and health care feels like the place where all three meet in the most tangible way. Augie gave me the foundation to think critically and lead with both data and empathy, and I’m excited to keep building on that in spaces where the work directly shapes people’s lives.
Why Augustana?
I chose Augustana for a lot of reasons, but one of the biggest was proximity in ways I didn’t fully realize at first. It’s on the same street I grew up on, but more than that, it pushed me to see my community differently. It introduced me to people, stories and experiences that added depth to a place I thought I already knew. It wasn’t just choosing a college, it was choosing to grow where I was planted.
Are you where you thought you'd be when you first came to campus?
Not at all, and in the best way. I came in on the pre-physician assistant track, thinking I’d be on the provider side of health care. But classes with professors like Rachel Horner Brackett and Michael Downey allowed me to see how public health and data could create impact on the administrative side, too.
Augie helped me turn uncertainty into direction, and that feels more meaningful than sticking to a plan I made at 18. So no, I’m not where I thought I’d be. I’m somewhere better.
Who helped you get to where you are now?
If I tried to list everyone, we’d be here all day. But truly, my journey at Augie has been shaped by people who saw something in me before I fully saw it in myself. From professors who challenged me to think deeper, to supervisors who trusted me with real responsibility, to friends who made even the hardest weeks feel lighter.
Changing my major was honestly scary (a bit of a canon event for a lot of us), but once I did, my advisors Mamata Marmé and Mindy Mahon made it feel possible. Their offices became a safe space to ask questions and process things out loud with someone other than myself and the many tabs constantly open in my mind.
And of course, my family. Being a first-generation student and the oldest daughter comes with pressure, but also purpose. Everything I do is rooted in their sacrifices. It really does take a village, and I’ve been incredibly blessed by mine.
Peak experience?
Attending the National Character and Leadership Symposium in Colorado Springs was definitely a high (especially the breathtaking mountains, a nice change from the Mississippi River). It reminded me how big the world is, beyond California to New York.
From casual meetups in the Brew to late night “did I pick the wrong major?” talks, it showed me leadership isn’t about perfect, polished moments, but about showing up authentically, being real and growing alongside others.
What surprised you?
Learning from both professors in academia and working professionals was honestly the most surprising, and I absorbed as much as I could like a sponge. A lot of that growth came in the in-between moments, like conversations after class or exam-day nerves. They taught beyond the book and made things feel real, and for me, that real world application is where real learning is.
How did you use your Augie Choice?
I used my Augie Choice to support internships with YouthHope and the EDGE Center, where I connected nonprofit leadership with analytics. Working closely with community, I saw the people behind the numbers. It reminded me that behind every dataset is a story, and that’s the work I want to keep doing.
What will you miss the most?
I’ll miss the family I found through the Office of Student Cultural Connection. The familiar faces, the check-ins from Letty Martinez and Ashley Allen that felt like my parents checking on me, and the unplanned moments with friends that meant the most. There’s something special about being surrounded by people learning and growing alongside each other for the first time, too. It’s the kind of community that’s hard to replicate.
Advice for the Class of 2030?
There’s already a world ready to dismiss you, don’t do it to yourself. Don’t wait until you feel ready to show up. You don’t need everything figured out to start. Say yes, try new things and talk to people. Sometimes, you just have to do it for the plot.
"When I think of Favour as a student, the first words that come to my mind are excitement and total immersion. She brings such an overt element of excitement to the learning process, whether it be as a learner in the classroom or when she is being asked to solve a problem. She listens, she thinks and then she reinterprets the information in her own terms, often associated with a very excited "Wait," and then she dives in headfirst to solve whatever she is asked to do. This level of curiosity and excitement is what makes her stand out."