For the Love of Fisk – Jeremiah Armstead

By Jada Thompson
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Fisk University

Nothing about Jeremiah Armstead’s path suggested certainty — and then he arrived at Fisk University.

Before Nashville, before the classroom, before the jersey, there were years when the idea of college felt far out of reach. Raised in Long Beach, California, with ties to Philadelphia and Atlanta, Armstead spent part of his childhood experiencing homelessness alongside his mother, brother, and sister where they often slept in cars and, at times, on beaches. Stability was never guaranteed. Higher education felt like a distant concept and never a plan.

Still, Armstead carried a deep sense of faith through it all.

“I took those challenges as God-given opportunities to persevere,” he says. “Because He doesn’t give obstacles that you can’t overcome.”

That perspective, shaped by hardship, belief, and resilience, would eventually place Armstead at the center of a story that resonated far beyond Fisk’s campus. His journey has since been shared nationally, drawing attention from major media outlets like The Associated Press and NBC News, moving audiences across the country. But long before the headlines, the transformation began quietly, through sustained support and community.

Armstead’s mother played a pivotal role in changing the course of his future, reaching out to nonprofit organizations in Long Beach dedicated to helping young men succeed. Through those connections, and after earning a spot on the Fisk Men’s Basketball Team, Armstead found his way to Fisk University. Once on campus, it wasn’t a single moment that changed everything — it was the consistency of support that followed.

Fisk became the place where possibility turned into structure.

“Fisk set me up to be put in positions to be successful,” Armstead says. “If it weren’t for Fisk, I wouldn’t be here.”

That support extended well beyond academics. Throughout his time at Fisk, alumni poured into Armstead’s life, reinforcing a legacy of care that stretches across generations. One of the most impactful relationships has been with former Fisk student Billy Jackson, who also serves as Armstead’s pastor. Over the years, their relationship has grown into a steady presence — attending church together, sharing Sunday dinners, and offering guidance during pivotal moments of Armstead’s college journey.

That kind of connection, Armstead says, made all the difference.

Now, a member of the Eta Psi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi and a kinesiology major set to graduate in May 2026, Armstead is focused on what comes next. He plans to attend graduate school and is exploring opportunities in personal training, as well as a potential role as a sales representative for one of the top third-party logistics companies in the United States. His future feels clear. Although his journey was far from easy, it was one that was supported.

“I am extremely proud of myself,” he says. “I get a sense of joy because this is something I never thought I would do.”

For Jeremiah Armstead, Fisk University is where uncertainty gave way to purpose, and where a community made room for him to become who he always had the potential to be.