Belonging and Becoming
UConn’s head of Student Activities Trisha Hawthorne-Noble ’11 (CLAS), ’18 MSW doesn’t have much time to read for pleasure. Since setting records as a track and field student-athlete, Hawthorne-Noble has never slowed down, balancing roles in Athletics, the School of Social Work, and now Student Success with outside work as a motivational speaker, life coach, and leadership consultant; motherhood; doctoral studies; leadership in church ministries and homeless outreach; and Moms4Moms, the affinity group for UConn staff and student mothers she founded in 2020. We let her put a twist on our format to find out what she’s made time to read lately.
Illustration by Kyle Hilton
For Work:
“The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness” by Jonathan Haidt
My staff held a book club around “The Anxious Generation” because we are experiencing students’ increased anxiety levels. We’re really trying to put a handle on where Student Activities stands when we’re talking about sense of belonging and how to ensure that we’re cultivating an environment where students can feel that.
The book deepened my awareness of student mental health. We forget to validate how much our students are going through. We think smartphones make everything easier — but too much information is too much, and they’re not always able to decipher what is real. We’ve paused and asked ourselves what we need to do for students. If social media is our primary communication tool, are we unintentionally forcing students to be on it? Is it up to us to train them on healthy use?
We’re going beyond traditional metrics to evaluate our programs — using tools like focus groups. I like to randomly go up to students to ask how they’re doing and what they want to see at the University. If we give students the time of day, they’ll share their authentic opinions, and we can’t be offended. Students want to connect, to talk, and to be successful.
For the Kids:
“I Like Myself!” by Karen Beaumont
Since my oldest, Jayne, was a little baby, she has said her prayers every night and then her affirmations: “I am kind, I am beautiful, I am smart, I am strong, and I am chosen.” Over time she’s added her own words, and now my daughter Jianna will add things like, “I am cute, I’m a superstar,” and I’m like, “Yes, baby girl!”
I’ll do the same thing for my son, Jamoy, when he gets older. One thing I need my kids to know is that no one should be defining them except themselves. I want to surround them with these messages so they are stuck in their brains. I hope one day when they need it, they’ll say, “I remember when my mom used to force us to do these affirmations,” and call on that.
“I Like Myself!” talks about how I might be quirky, I might be different, but that’s OK. I try to animate that for my kids because I do not want this world to write their narratives for them, especially as little Black children. I need them to be bold and to take up good space, not to cause too much trouble, but to be critical thinkers. I want them to be their own people.
On Deck, for Me:
“Becoming” by Michelle Obama
I really love Michelle Obama. As a Black woman, seeing another Black woman push, persevere, accomplish, and remain true to herself is incredibly inspiring to me. She’s graceful, humble, and says it like it is.
Representation matters — and watching how she has carried herself in the public eye, under constant scrutiny, is a reminder to stand firm in who I am. Her journey and the way she continues “becoming” — evolving, tuning out critics, and staying rooted in her values — inspire me to do the same.
I’ve always lived by the belief that if an opportunity doesn’t align with my values or my purpose, I’m not taking it. Seeing Michelle embody that at the highest level reinforces that conviction.
In my current role, one of my purposes is to encourage, teach, lead, and inspire. At the core, it’s about empowerment — helping students and staff recognize the value and power of their voices. Like Michelle, I want to leave a legacy that shows what’s possible when you stand in your truth.
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