Snailey Dol, an information technology student, holds several leadership positions and has earned multiple internships during his time at Florida State University.

Dol is a first-generation student within FSU’s Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE). The community and support he found in CARE inspired him to pursue many rewarding experiences and recognitions.

Dol is the incoming Black Student Union (BSU) president, social and events chair of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., a Sean Pittman Award Winner, a 2025 Torchbearer 100 inductee and a Garnet and Gold Key honor society initiate.

In 2024, Dol led his fraternity to create a toy drive for the Boys Town nonprofit. He coordinated publicity and gathered donations for the holiday event. He collected two carloads of toys, making a difference in his local community for children in need of holiday spirit.

Through the BSU, Dol helps raise funds for and administers the Bobby E. Leach Scholarship to three students who make significant contributions to the local community.

Dol has worked his way through many internships in the data and software engineering fields, interning at FSU and with companies such as Wells Fargo, Capital One and Nordstrom.

Why did you choose Florida State University?

I chose to attend FSU because of the CARE program and the people I met through it. As a first-generation student, I always feared that college was not meant for me; I thought I would not fit in or even be accepted anywhere. I did not have many people in my life who had made it to FSU or even to college.

However, I met a faculty member from CARE who told me about the department and how it was designed to help first-generation students like me, who are unsure about college and need a strong support system. After that conversation, I started researching different schools I might be interested in, but none of them offered the sense of community that FSU did. FSU made me feel like I belonged.

What academic achievements have you accomplished at FSU?

My most significant academic accomplishment while at FSU is landing an internship at Wells Fargo as a software engineering intern. One of my biggest goals during my time at FSU was to take full advantage of every resource and opportunity available to me. I made sure not only to attend class and learn, but also to seek out ways to grow and develop outside of the classroom.

That meant going to the Career Center every semester, consistently applying for tech roles through InternFSU, using free tutoring services and attending every networking mixer I could.

Through that mindset and effort, I was able to land roles in software engineering and data analysis at companies like Discover and Nordstrom. Most recently, I interned at Wells Fargo for the summer of 2025. I know that everything I have learned at FSU has helped me succeed in this role.

How do you serve the community?

Within my fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha, one of my biggest goals is to make a direct impact on our community. This includes a wide range of service initiatives and events, such as volunteering at homeless shelters, senior living homes, Boys Town and more. One of the main ways we give back is by visiting schools around the Tallahassee area. At these schools, we engage with students through various activities like playing games, reading books or performing dances.

My most significant community service experience within my fraternity would be the toy drive I helped spearhead for the nonprofit Boys Town, a foster home for children in need. This experience was especially meaningful to me because, years ago, I was one of those kids attending toy drives hoping to receive a free toy. I remember how much it meant to me, and I hope this effort brought that same joy to those children.

While being involved in the BSU, I have had the opportunity to help organize multiple events, but one of my favorites is definitely the Afro Funk Fest. During the festival, we invite up-and-coming artists from FSU and the Tallahassee area to perform and showcase their talent. We also feature small businesses, giving them a platform to present their products and gain exposure within the FSU community. It is fulfilling to create a space that not only entertains but also uplifts and supports local talent and entrepreneurship.

Through the BSU, the most significant leadership experience I worked on as a previous director was the Bobby E. Leach Scholarship. This project is important to me because awarding a scholarship that can genuinely change someone’s life is deeply fulfilling, especially after hearing the powerful, often unheard stories of the recipients’ contributions. It is a project I give my all to every year because I truly believe efforts like this can make a real difference in someone’s life.

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