10/30/2026
We'd like to highlight our undergraduate alumna and Tampa District 5 Councilwoman Naya Young! Young graduated from our department with her BA degree in Culture and Media Communication and went on to earn her master’s in political science from Howard University, before being elected to Tampa City Council in October 2025. We recently spoke with Young about her experiences as a Communication major and City Council member.
Young's career with the city council has been shaped by her family values and dedication to service, with a focus on youth opportunities, neighborhood investment, transportation, and housing. She notes both her grandmothers as particularly influential on her commitment to serving her community and civic engagement. "I enjoy being out in the community and meeting the people I serve, listening to them and their ideas." Most recently, Young advocated to increase funding for Tampa's Rising Explorers internship program by an additional $175,000, allocated funding toward improvements in the Sulphur Springs neighborhood, and worked as a board member on the Transportation Planning Organization to continue to improve transportation in the city.
Councilwoman Young originally went to school for nursing, but after exploring other majors, started studying Communication at her mother's suggestion. "I loved it!" remarked Young. "It was all so interesting to me and the skills I learned I still use to this day. I truly believe that my communication degree has been invaluable in both my professional and personal life. As a City Councilwoman, communication is at the center of everything I do. From listening to residents and working with colleagues to advocating for my community and sharing information clearly and concisely. It's also taught me the importance of listening, understanding different perspectives, building connections with people and how to ask the right questions."
