KAMELYA HINSON

Founder & Executive Director
Communicator. Connector. Dream Keeper.

Kamelya Hinson is the visionary behind Ancestors Dream Initiative and an advocate for preserving and uplifting the Black student experience at the University of Florida. As Founder and Executive Director, she brings a deep understanding of legacy, leadership, and the power of culturally affirming spaces—shaped by decades of personal and professional impact.

Kamelya is a proud second-generation Gator in a three-generation UF legacy. She is a Life Member of the UF Alumni Association, past-president of the Atlanta Gator Club, and currently serves as a Member-at-Large on the UF Black Alumni national board. She also helped re-launch Atlanta’s Black Alumni chapter in 2018. With over 13 years of volunteer service to UF, she has raised thousands of dollars for scholarships, organized student recruitment events, and led impactful alumni engagement initiatives. She also serves on the Advisory Board for UF Digital Worlds Institute. Her dedication earned her multiple honors, including the prestigious UFAA National Leader of the Year award.

She played a pivotal role in securing long-overdue recognition for the 1984 Gators football team, mobilizing university leaders and alumni to honor the team’s rightful place in history. Her work has consistently centered the voices of Black students and alumni—whether organizing high-impact events, advocating for equity on campus, or mentoring communications students who now call her a trusted guide. 

Professionally, Kamelya is an accomplished communications consultant and former senior health communication specialist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where she spent over 16 years leading national initiatives in emergency response, public health campaigns, and media strategy. Her work at CDC positioned her as a trusted voice in moments of crisis and change—skills she now brings to the fight for student advocacy and institutional accountability.

Kamelya founded the Ancestors Dream Initiative to fill the gaps left by changing institutional priorities and continue supporting the groups and experiences we’ve all grown to love during our time at UF. Through alumni and student engagement, grantmaking, and cultural enrichment, she is helping ensure that Black students at UF don’t just survive, but thrive—knowing that they are seen, supported, and surrounded by legacy.

Kamelya is an advocate for autism acceptance, supporting parents navigating the challenges of raising children on the spectrum. She is the proud mother of two daughters: Tierra, a senior at the University of Florida majoring in Digital Arts and Sciences, and Kamaya, an accomplished Architectural Walls Designer.