As a youth growing up in the Fifth Ward of Houston, TX, Roc was exposed to many negative influences within a community characterized by drug dealers, pimps and addiction and a household common to domestic abuse between her parents. Growing up in an unstable, low-income household with four other siblings, Roc was determined and motivated by the idea of having more than what the hood had to offer and refused to become a product of the environment.

Roc found an outlet as a teenager in basketball and throwing the shot put as a member of the track and field team which promoted her to receive a full track scholarship to Tarleton State University in Stephenville, TX. “Most people don’t have a clue where Tarleton State is, neither did I at the time, however they were willing to pay my tuition and fees just for doing something I love to do” she staid in a statement. At Tarleton State, she thrived as an athlete and qualified to go to the National Track Meet for outstanding performance throwing the shot put which was a qualification rarely seen in freshman athletes. Roc soon refocused her attention on excelling academically in Computer Programming, which she now enjoys as her current career. She was recognized as a member of the Association for International Technology Professionals (AITP) where she placed 3rd in the overall COBOL programming competitions. Once graduating from Tarleton State University in December 1999 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Information Systems, she successfully started her career at Lowe’s Companies, Inc. as a Computer Programmer where she quickly moved up the ranks due to her outstanding performance in developing new systems for the supply chain and became an employee owner, after only two years of service, by being awarded 2,000 shares of Lowe’s Stock. During her career at Lowe’s, she was material in saving the company millions of dollars by proactively recognizing the needs of the organization. She has continued her career development as member of Sam Houston State University’s IT team where she plans to proceed in becoming a Project Manager for the institution.

Currently, Frat RocAfellA remains active in the community through participation in the Southern Region of Alpha Lambda Zeta Fraternity, Inc.’ s partnership with in Interfaith Ministries Food for Seniors Program which delivers food boxes to Houston’s fixed-income elderly population, monthly participation with Volunteers for America where, through her past experiences growing up in the Fifth Ward, she is able to share with the women the importance of getting and staying drug free, and Sam Houston State University’s safe HAVEN program where faculty and staff act as a safe HAVEN for the GLBT students on campus. Her political outreach involvement includes active participation with the GLBT Political Caucus where she assists local politicians’ in lobbying to get support from Houston’s GLBT community.

“The main reason why I joined ALZ was that I saw a group of womyn who were like me. They had the same interests that I had and were doing something positive. When I first met several members of the fraternity, I did not know that such organizations existed for the GLBT community. Most people look at studs in a negative way. They make the assumption that we are uneducated and lack the ability to persevere. This fraternity is really changing the image of what studs represent and replacing that image with something positive and uplifting. After being around several of the members, I was convinced that I wanted to be a member” she said.

Professionally, Frat RocAfellA plans to obtain her Masters Degree in Computer Science and further her successful career as an IT professional. With a current focus on growing spiritually, emotionally, socially, and professionally, she seeks to better herself and will continue to “cultivate her walk with GOD and experience life abundantly.”