Lincoln Alumna Elle Michelle '16 Welcomes Class of 2030 at New Student Convocation

Lincoln University of Missouri alumna Gabrielle "Elle Michelle" Williams Bland '16 returned to her alma mater to welcome the incoming Class of 2030 during the University's 2026 New Student Convocation, encouraging students to recognize the lasting impact of the relationships they build during their time at Lincoln.

"Legacy moves at the speed of relationships," Elle Michelle told the audience. "Not the speed of your GPA, not the speed of your resume, the speed of your relationships."

Elle Michelle opened the evening with "Endless Reign," an original call-and-response affirmation that invited members of the incoming class to participate before her keynote address. She encouraged students with the words, "You got it, king. You got it, queen. Do not think twice. You were made for this," before welcoming them to their "endless reign."

Drawing on her own experiences as a Lincoln student, Elle Michelle shared stories of challenges she faced and the people who supported her along the way. She reflected on the relationships she built with Lincoln faculty and staff members, a coach, a choir director and fellow students, describing those connections as the foundation of her message.

Elle Michelle also spoke about the importance of accountability and community, sharing how fellow students supported her during a difficult period in her life.

"I wasn't being bullied," she said. "I was being held accountable."

She credited the relationships she formed at Lincoln with helping her and her family through challenging circumstances and reinforcing the value of community.

Elle Michelle said those experiences later influenced her work after graduation, including the founding of Queens United Leadership Academy on Feb. 7, 2015. The organization drew 88 members in its first year and, according to Elle Michelle, remains active 11 years later both on Lincoln's campus and in Florida.

"It's not because I built it alone," she said, "but because I built it in relationship, and that is the only reason it outlasted my time on campus."

During the latter part of her address, Elle Michelle encouraged students to make the most of their time at Lincoln by preparing for their futures and building professional and personal connections. She encouraged them to explore financial planning, pursue additional credentials and establish a professional presence early.

"A degree or a certification is just a piece of paper," she said, "until a person in that room remembers your name."

Elle Michelle also reflected on her path since graduating from Lincoln, including earning two master's degrees through employers who invested in her, publishing her 2024 book, Bonds Beyond Scars, and traveling to speak to and empower young professionals.

"My legacy did not move at the speed of my talent," she said. "It moved at the speed of relationships, and Lincoln is where that started."

She closed her address by encouraging members of the Class of 2030 to "be a bonfire in a cold world" and repeating the message that opened the evening: "Welcome to your endless reign."

The following evening, Elle Michelle facilitated the Lincoln Woman Workshop, a program she began 10 years ago to help new students process their emotions and questions about starting college.

Through her return to campus, Elle Michelle encouraged the Class of 2030 to build meaningful relationships, embrace every opportunity and use their time at Lincoln to create a legacy of their own.