Posted on Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Mischale Herod (JHJ '25) and her service dog Jade
At just 19 years old, Mischale Herod isn’t just graduating — she’s redefining what it means to rise. A proud new Business-Marketing graduate of Texas Southern University, Mischale walks the stage with a powerful story of resilience, faith, and transformation. From overcoming instability in her early life to aspirations of becoming an educator, advocate, and inspiration, Mischale is proof that beginnings do not define destinies.
Born to Rise: A Journey of Resilience
Mischale’s accelerated academic path didn’t stem from privilege—it emerged from purpose. As a first-generation college student, she knew her success wasn’t just personal; it was generational.
“I went from being kicked out at 13 to walking the stage at TSU with two degrees by 19,” she shares. “That journey wasn’t easy, but it was fueled by faith, resilience, and the determination to rewrite my story.”
Her refusal to move in “slow motion” propelled her into academic excellence, driven by a promise to herself—and to the little girl she once was—that better days were ahead.
Why TSU? A Home for Healing and Growth
Drawn to the cultural, financial, and spiritual foundation of Texas Southern University, Mischale found more than just a school—she found sanctuary. As a native of Houston, TSU gave her the opportunity to rediscover her own city with fresh eyes, outside the confines of her childhood challenges.
“TSU really grew up with me,” she says. “It was my first real taste of the city, and I’ve been learning, loving, and leveling up ever since.”
Love, Legacy, and Lifelong Connections
Perhaps the most unexpected gift TSU offered was love. In April, Mischale married her best friend, a fellow TSU Tiger from the aviation program.
“TSU brought me love, legacy, and a whole husband.”
Their story is much more than romance. It’s a reflection of how TSU fosters bonds rooted in mutual growth, ambition, and shared purpose.
Mischale’s TSU experience was filled with milestones that shaped both her mind and spirit. From giving her life to Christ and being baptized at City Life Church, to completing a marketing strategy presentation for Lamik Beauty, a black-owned beauty brand, she found power in both academic and personal victories.
Soon, she’ll be teaching 6th-grade Social Studies and Science with HISD, pouring into young minds just as she once needed someone to pour into hers.
“If God brought me this far, He didn’t do it just to leave me,” she says with conviction. “I’m not carrying it all alone—and I never was.”
The Girl Behind the Degrees (and the Dog)
If you saw Mischale at graduation, chances are you also noticed Jade, her beloved service dog. A pit-lab mix trained by Spectrum Pets LLC, Jade has supported Mischale with calm, grounding companionship—though she occasionally stole the show with unexpected mid-lecture moments like passing gas or yawning loudly.
“She’s here to break pit bull stereotypes one wag at a time,” Mischale jokes.
Outside of academics, Mischale keeps life joyful by prioritizing quality time, spontaneity, and self-discovery. Whether it's spending time with her husband, saying yes to quirky adventures, or simply taking a breath, she embraces life as fully as she embraces her purpose.
Mischale’s advice for other young women is as empowering as it is poetic:
“Don’t let your ‘right now’ limit your ‘what’s next.’ Keep pushing, keep praying, and trust God’s plan even when it doesn’t make sense. And yes—wear the crown like you were born for it, because you were.”
Looking ahead, she plans to continue her education and eventually become a marketing professor, with a special focus on nonprofit research—using her story as a bridge to uplift others.
Hot, Humble, and Highly Favored
So how does it feel to be “two degrees hotter”?
“It feels amazing—hot, humble, and highly favored.”
Mischale credits her incredible support system—her husband, praying grandmothers, and the TSU and church communities that never let her fall.
What’s Next for Mischale Herod?
With a passion for education, a heart full of faith, and two degrees by 19, Mischale is just getting started. She is not only walking into classrooms—she’s walking into her calling.
Mischale Herod is the definition of a modern-day trailblazer: faith-filled, purpose-driven, and walking boldly toward a future she once only dreamed of.
Category: Students, News Media, Faculty & Staff, Alumni