In Episode 2 of the HBCU4U Podcast, I sit down with Will C. Pugh, Jr.—proud Jackson State University alum, CPA, and President of Mentoring Brother 2 Brother (MB2B)—for a real conversation about HBCUs, confidence, and community impact.

Will breaks down one of the biggest myths out there: that an HBCU degree can’t compete. He shares how JSU prepared him to land internships and opportunities alongside grads from major PWIs—and why he never felt “less than” in corporate America. We also talk about what shaped him growing up in Marks, Mississippi, what made him choose Jackson State, and the power of finding a campus where you truly belong.

Then we get into purpose. Will shares how MB2B is helping young men in the Dallas–Fort Worth area with life skills, college prep, mentorship, and even therapy support—because sometimes what a kid nee ...