Javonte Blackman describes himself with one word: eclectic. It is the word he uses to describe the journey that has been anything but linear, but defined by a relentless drive to educate and lead. A non-traditional student, Blackman earned a Bachelor’s in bio pre-med from Florida A&M University in 2019. Following two years of teaching and a period in medical school, his life took an unexpected turn when he lost his mother. Blackman took some time off to regroup, and that time brought clarity. He knew that his path was to serve others through Pharmacy.
While a full-time student, Blackman’s leadership is extensive. He serves as the Class of 2028 President and Vice President of the Student Council Association. As Vice President, his role is to serve as a liaison, bridging the gap between student leaders, university resources, and alumni eager to mentor the next generation of pharmacists.
Blackman’s commitment to making change within the community is best seen in his contribution to Scripture Futures. The project tasks students with going out into the community to help patients with their medications, thereby helping build health literacy. In his current position, he translates his prior project experience into action by fostering interprofessional partnerships and building healthcare networks for nursing and public health students within the University.
“It was important to me as class president to implement that and have a network of young alumni in different parts of pharmacy”, said Javonte Blackman.
Blackman’s involvement and dedication are truly remarkable, and they are helping the next generation of Rattlers gain not only hands-on experience in the world of pharmacy but also build connections they can use in the future.
Outside of his many responsibilities, Blackman loves sports, music, travel, hanging out with friends and family, and used to podcast. In his free time, he writes books and is a four-time author, currently working on his fifth book. His books are faith-based, with purpose driving the themes and meanings in each literary work. They all tell a story that resonates with him, and he uses writing stories to close out chapters within his life.
Post-graduation, Blackman would like to work directly in his field, being around the change-makers who have access to resources to share with people. While working to make change, he plans to return to school to earn a Master’s in Health Administration. This degree will provide the insight needed to build and maintain sustainable systems that enable lasting change.
