Tia Anderson, a sophomore at Millsaps, is making waves both on the court and in the classroom. Hailing from Brusly, Louisiana, Tia was initially drawn to Millsaps for athletics, where she’s quickly made a name for herself as a key player on the women’s basketball team.
Athletics and Academics
However, it was more than basketball that brought Anderson to campus. “The athletics drew me in, but the academics here have really impacted me,” she said. “I feel challenged and supported in my classes.” Her parents always emphasized the importance of education and Millsaps offered her the best of both worlds: the chance to play collegiate basketball and receive a world-class education.
Last year, she helped the Majors claim the 2023-2024 SAA regular-season and postseason titles, appearing in all 29 games. The team even made it to last year’s NCAA tournament.
This season, Anderson is working hard to help her team surpass last year’s achievements.
Anderson’s athletic excellence began long before Millsaps. She brought a record of over 2,000 career points and 1,500 rebounds to Millsaps as the captain of her high school basketball team.
Finding Success
Balancing basketball and academics can be difficult, but she’s found success in both. For Anderson, a psychology and health & exercise science double major, the human mind has always been a fixture of fascination. “Psychology has always interested me, but my classes at Millsaps have deepened that passion,” she explained. “Learning what makes people tick, why someone is the way they are, is so interesting.”
Her psychology classes have challenged her to think critically and consider new perspectives. “Millsaps is definitely different from high school,” she said. “The classes are challenging in a way that makes you think more deeply. They really make you stretch your mind.”
With that challenge comes an equal level of support. With resources dedicated to writing assistance, career and internship guidance, academic success and counseling services, Millsaps ensures every student gets the help they need to succeed.
Anderson finds the intellectual rigor refreshing. It’s instilled confidence in her for the future. “I joke with my friends that graduate school will be a breeze,” she said. “Millsaps prepares you for anything the world could possibly throw at you.”
A Major Future
After Millsaps, Anderson plans to combine her love for the mind and body by becoming an occupational therapist, helping people develop, recover, improve and maintain the skills needed for daily life. “I’m not even halfway done at Millsaps, and I know I’ll be prepared for graduate school,” she said. “I’ve also learned to care for people here. Everyone knows everyone and it’s such a nice place to be. That kindness is something I want to bring into my career.”
The community and the friendships at Millsaps are something Anderson noticed in high school on her first visit to campus. “My tour guide knew every single person we walked past by name,” she said. “That’s something I didn’t see at the other schools I visited.”
For students like Anderson, Millsaps is a home away from home. A place where everyone knows your name. A place where you can be fully student and fully athlete. “Success for me isn’t confined to the classroom or the basketball court. It’s both,” she said. “Millsaps students really can thrive in any environment, and I think that’s a real superpower.”