Global community motivates Thunderbird grad to make lasting impact

Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable fall 2022 graduates.

What inspires DaMaurya Seymore most? “The people around me, their stories, their experiences.”

As Seymore graduates this fall from Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University with a Master of Global Management with a concentration in global affairs, he reflects on his own story and journey — and how far he has come.

Originally from California, Seymore moved to Arizona at a young age and remains grateful to his mother for making this move for his family. 

“The neighborhood and city we lived in (in California) were unsafe or suitable for anyone,” the Thunderbird Alumni Scholarship recipient said. “There were hardly any kids that had the same interests as me. Had we stayed there, I couldn’t even imagine what my life would have been like.”

Seymore went on to obtain his Bachelor of Arts in Italian from ASU. A few years after graduating, he began to consider a pivot in his career path. That’s when he found Thunderbird. 

“I was talking to my friends on numerous occasions about my future career, and they recommended Thunderbird,” he said. “They let me know that I would get the proper education, experience and connections to achieve my goals. So, I took the chance and enrolled as soon as possible.”

The leap of faith paid off; as he prepares to graduate this fall, Seymore is more driven than ever to use his appreciation for languages and international relations to make a true impact.

He takes with him experiences that he will never forget, like “rappelling down a waterfall” during his Global Challenge Lab trip to Bucaramanga, Colombia, and connecting with fellow T-birds who are ready to change the world, just like him.

“For a long time in my life, I felt so stuck in one place. What's the point in having the chance to do so much, but choosing to do absolutely nothing? There’s always something new to see and experience, and I love being around people who also think this way.”

Question: What advice would you give to a student just starting a program at Thunderbird?

Answer: If there was one piece of advice that I could give, it would be to take advantage of the opportunities at Thunderbird. Every event and activity will be a learning experience. It is also the greatest way to make connections and put yourself out there. 

Q: What do you love about being a T-bird? 

A: I love being around so many like-minded and globally aware people. Too often, we can be surrounded by people who are complacent with living their entire lives in one or two states, and don't want to travel nationally or internationally. We all know and understand that the world is enormous, but the world is truly ENORMOUS, and I have yet to meet a T-bird that is not trying to see the world.

Q: What motivates you?

A: Being able to travel and meet new people motivates me. I love hearing about other T-birds’ professional or personal experiences and the opportunities they receive. 

Seymore and his Global Challenge Lab group pose in the Thunderbird Global Headquarters before traveling to Bucaramanga, Colombia, to work with Pretecor, a company that provides innovative infrastructure solutions.