Student Profile: Casey De’Brian Gerald MC ’09

As the first in his neighborhood to attend an Ivy League school, Casey De’Brian Gerald ’09 came to Yale as much for the people of his community as he did for himself. “Yale has been a great opportunity for me, but it’s meant a lot to my neighborhood too,” Casey said. “I think they feel like I have represented them well.” Indeed, after four years of study, football, and community service, Casey has more than lived up to the expectations of the people of South Oak Cliff in Dallas, Texas.

A senior in Morse College majoring in political science, Casey is the starting cornerback for Bulldogs varsity football, a position he has held since his sophomore year. In recognition of his accomplishments both on and off the field, he received the 2008 Levi Jackson Scholarship for character, intellect, achievement, and leadership and was named a 2008 National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete. Casey was also a finalist for a 2009 Rhodes Scholarship.

Graduating this spring, Casey is still considering his options. He is thinking about working on Capitol Hill for a few years, and he was accepted to Harvard Business School as a member of the class of 2013. Always a committed Bulldog, Casey justifies his possible future among the Crimson with a smile: “Even though we despise them, I’ll think of it as a necessary evil.”

Financial aid has played a key role in Casey’s success, bringing him to Yale at no cost to him or his family. “It’s been a miracle,” he says. As a student ambassador for the Yale admissions office, Casey says he enjoys visiting prospective students and talking about Yale’s financial aid program.

Below, Casey shares his thoughts on his Yale experience so far and his plans for the future.

I chose to attend Yale because:

I didn’t know too much about Yale in the beginning, but then a coach from Yale football came to see me. No one from my high school had ever gone to Yale, so everyone was really excited.

Best class this semester:

Oratory in Statecraft with Charles Hill

The professor who has taught me the most:

There are two: Andrew Ehrgood in the Department of English—his class was my first introduction to critical thinking at the Yale level, and I was able to really improve my writing; and Flemming Norcott in the Department of African American Studies. He took me to the next level, and said, ‘Okay, these are the problems in the world, and here is how you can help fix them.’

The greatest book I’ve read at Yale:

A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr. It was interesting to see that Dr. King’s legacy isn't just one speech, but a whole volume of work.

My favorite place to study:

Bass Library

My preferred extracurricular activity:

I play varsity football, and I am also the co-founder and president of the Black Men’s Union. One of the wonderful things about Yale is that it gives you the perspective to be a leader—and provides the resources to do it as well. We started the Black Men’s Union to support and empower young black men at Yale and in the community. We cultivate inclusion and unity on campus and mentor students in the CT Scholars Program with Wilbur Cross High School. We want to help them to understand that they are supposed to be great leaders, and it’s been really nice to see young kids change their attitude and walk with confidence.

After graduation, I plan to:

It depends on how things go from here. I am considering going down to Capitol Hill for a few years, and I was accepted at Harvard Business School.

Last year, I started to think about a plan for my career for the next thirty years. Then I spent the summer working at Lehman Brothers, and it made me realize that I’m not so sure about investment banking and that you really can’t plan thirty years ahead. No matter what happens though, I know that I will take the opportunities and blessings I’ve had and use them to be an agent for change.

Something I learned at Yale that I will always remember:

That we all have more in common than we can imagine. When I came to Yale, I didn’t think anyone would understand where I came from or share the experiences I had. But I realized that regardless of who you are and who you are talking to, you each have more in common than you expect, and it’s a rewarding experience to discover those connections.

(Dec. 12, 2008)