UW-Madison student named to magazine’s “Top 10 College Women” list

Pictured in the glamorous setting of Manhattan, one of a select few who have a special wardrobe from Ralph Lauren and graced the set of the national “Mo’nique” television talk show as a guest performer, in person Jasmine Mans is disarmingly humble and grounded.

The University of Wisconsin–Madison junior, tired from juggling end-of-semester academic demands, sips a Red Bull while chatting with First Wave friends about fall classes and graduating on time.

The difference for Mans at this moment is juggling calls and interviews about her new status as one of Glamour Magazine’s “Top 10 College Women 2012.” At the same time, she’s hoping her college peers are proud of how she represents their collective talent, achievements and dreams for their collective future.

It’s an honor to be a role model, says Mans, who competed for the Glamour Magazine “Inspired” section title and now is an international tweeter under Glamour’s #FollowFriday as Jasmine Nicole Mans (@KingJasmineMans). In cyber space, where a video of Mans’ take on pop/hip-hop diva Nicki Minaj went viral in 2010, she has more than 900,000 followers.

“I will be representing the University of Wisconsin–Madison, First Wave, and young black girls across the country who have hopes of becoming scholars,” Mans says.

A native of Newark, N.J. and first-generation college student, Mans chose to study in the Midwest when she won a highly competitive scholarship berth in the nation’s most unique spoken word and performance program, UW–Madison’s First Wave Theater Ensemble.

Location has not kept her off the national stage, nor from the company of young talented scholars and professional mentors who are using the pedagogy of poetry as a college-level framework to succeed in a wide array of majors at the internationally top-ranked university.

Mans is a contemporary and modern writer/poet, an accredited professional actress and public speaker who has risen through the ranks of national spoken word venues including Urban Word-NYC, HBO’s Brave New Voices, the Kennedy Center and the New York Knicks Off-Broadway Poetry Slam. She’s a Russell Simmons Poet, A Sundance Film Festival performer, and endorsed as a Ralph Lauren’s Next Great Poet.

And of course, she’s a third cohort First Wave scholar.

“Jasmine Mans’ scholarship in the FW program represents an honest individual voice that captures the collective youth consciousness of her communities,’ says First Wave Creative Director Chris Walker, a UW–Madison assistant professor and internationally-known instructor. “It is a sociology paper in the form of a poem reminding us to consider ‘What causes? What is? and What next?'”

Students like Mans are why innovative academic programs are taking root and thriving at UW–Madison, says Vice Provost for Diversity Damon Williams, who heads the division that includes First Wave and several other strategic initiatives that are national models for attracting and developing broad talent bases at the college level.

“It’s a very deserved honor for Jasmine,” Williams says. “As one of our First Wave Scholars, I have come to know her well and was excited to write a letter in support of her candidacy. She is one of our most creative and outstanding student leaders. This honor is just another testament to her abilities and how the Wisconsin Experience can help all of our students to reach new heights of leadership and possibility.”

Mans emphasizes that the academic component is more important than the glitz, the stage time and temporary fame, although all these things come with a huge personal commitment of work, dedication and sacrifice. She also serves as Boys and Girls Club of Dane County director of fine arts and volunteers as a mentor, tutor and with youth services such as the Girls Scouts for America.