As a distinguished alumna, she extended her passion for community engagement as a panelist at this year’s Black Alumni Weekend at Tulane, held February 22 to 24, 2024.

Authorlee said she was enthusiastic about the event, which celebrated the accomplishments and contributions of the university’s Black alumni and students. 

“No matter your age or where you are in life, this is a unique opportunity to better understand yourself and those around you — to delve deeper into opportunities for networking and for inspiration.”

She spoke on a panel for past and present student leaders. Being a student leader was an important part of Authorlee’s life at Tulane. A finance major and legal studies in business minor, Authorlee founded the Alliance of Black Business Students after recognizing the isolation Black students may feel when starting out in business school. “I wanted to make a space for myself and people like me so that we can have a sense of community.”

While establishing the Alliance of Black Business Students, Authorlee played a pivotal role in establishing the Black Queer Collective, a group dedicated to supporting Black students who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Authorlee noted that the supportive environment found within the Black Queer Collective helped members navigate difficult personal experiences, such as coming out to their parents. “It was necessary to know that there were other people going through the same thing you were going through,” she said.

Authorlee also held the position of treasurer for both the Black Student Union and the Undergraduate Student Government. She further contributed as an ambassador to the Carolyn Barber-Pierre Center for Intercultural Life and participated in Newcomb Institute’s Town Mom Program. She received numerous recognitions, including the Daniel P. Nadler Crest Award, the 2022 Dorothy Young Memorial Award and the Freeman School’s Dean’s Service Award, among many others. Post-graduation, Newcomb Institute invited Authorlee back to New Orleans to be honored as part of the Newcomb 30 Under 30.

In addition to being a student leader at Tulane, Authorlee always juggled between two to four jobs, such as being a resident advisor, serving as a tutor and a TIDES Peer Mentor, and working at the Newcomb Children’s Center. 

After graduating from Tulane, Authorlee moved back to her hometown of Houston and embarked on a career as a senior consulting analyst at Accenture. Almost immediately, she became an active member of the Tulane Club of Houston. She quickly ascended to a leadership position on the board, where she now co-chairs the philanthropy committee, demonstrating that same commitment to community engagement that she exhibited at Tulane.