On Tuesday evening in the Student Union Theater and on a Zoom livestream, San José State’s Division of Student Affairs invited Janelle James for its Spartan Speaker Series.
According to SJSU Student Involvement’s Feb. 14 Instagram post, James stars as Ava in the currently airing ABC series, “Abbott Elementary”. Her latest stand-up special is featured in Netflix’s "The Stand Ups".
Previously, James has served as both a writer and actor for Showtime’s "Black Monday", and Apple’s animated series, "Central Park," according to the post.
Department manager of the César E. Chávez Community Action Center, Diana Victa moderated the Q&A portion of the event.
“The purpose of it is to bring speakers of different industries. Students can learn about them, and hopefully find inspiration in the type of work that they do,” Victa said.
She said she appreciated James’ emphasis on networking.
“I think that networking is so important when it comes to career advancement,” Victa said.
She also said that she watched “Abbott Elementary”, and loves how James’ character developed over time.
Victa said the speaker series will bring actress Stephanie Hsu in April.
Child and adolescent development alum and program coordinator at the Black Leadership and Opportunity Center MyShaundriss Watkins moderated the entire conversation with Janelle James.
“I had to be the person who actually asked the tough questions and deal with the response, whether it's something that we wanted to hear or not and be able to navigate that in real time,” Watkins said. “which is something that you don't prepare for.”
She said she asked James questions about her life and her career as an actress and comedian.
“Hearing her perspective firsthand and being able to articulate that for our students who were here was my role,” Watkins said.
Watkins said putting this event together was so much fun but stressful at the same time because this is her first time dealing with real celebrities and their team.
“Making sure everything gets approved,” she said. “You also have to be mindful about questions that could go in a different direction, and being able to steer the audience or the interviewee in one way that's beneficial for everyone.”
She said she learned from James being real, authentic and honest during the talk.
“She (James) mentioned, she's the most honest when she talks to college students,” Watkins said. “I think that resonates with me and the role that I played, because this is my first job where I've been able to show my most authentic self because I serve college students.”
She said even though James is not an educator, Watkins relates to James’ character Ava on “Abbott Elementary” who is an educator.
“(College students are) at that age where you don't have to sugarcoat things, you don't have to beat around the bush. You can just be direct and say what needs to be said,” Watkins said.
Watkins also said she would love to moderate for Issa Rae if she speaks at SJSU.
African American studies and psychology senior Aniyah Nichols was the student speaker who introduced James.
Nichols was recommended for the role because of her previous work at the Black Leadership and Opportunity Center.
“I've done a lot of speaking roles within the past year and a half … I've done a couple of open mics. I'm also in a sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, and I've hosted the Meet the Greeks events,” Nichols said. “I speak so much and people start to realize, ‘Oh, you're always the one speaking’ I guess that just so happened to lead me to this specific event.”
Nichols said she really likes James’ character on “Abbott Elementary” because she’s also really into fashion, and she enjoys James’ demeanor and the way she talks. She also said she appreciated how James was very real and honest.
“She really emphasized networking, especially with the right people,” Nichols said. “That really spoke to me because a lot of times people are just like, ‘Oh, you have to work hard,’ but it's really about who you know, not necessarily what you know.”
Nichols said she would like to see a lot more speaker series events, especially with people who are in different industries and not just on the educational pathway.
“I would like to see a lot more actors, writers, people who would kind of pick the non-conventional ways that we see ourselves in society,” Nichols said.
She also said that she would like to see her role as a student speaker be opened up to more students because it is a unique and interesting opportunity she has experienced.
Biology sophomore Nasrin Indris said she had a great time at the event.
“It was so funny and I learned a lot of really interesting things,” Indris said.
Indris said she is interested in the entertainment industry, but more as a viewer and consumer. She also said she liked what James said about going with the flow.
“You never really know how something (that happens) right now is gonna affect you in the future. I think I’ll take that to heart,” Indris said.
