UH's Class of '26 is One for the Record Books

Encore Performance

For Desiree Davis, life is a dance of constant adjustment. At age 47, the former professional dancer is preparing for her encore: a bachelor’s degree in teaching and learning from the University of Houston.

A native Houstonian, Davis spent two decades in the global spotlight, touring with icons such as Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Usher, Missy Elliot and Christina Aguilera.

“It took a lot of dedication,” Davis said. “On top of training, I also had to constantly put myself out there in auditions, sometimes booking the job and sometimes not, but always talking myself into going out and doing it again.”

After retiring from the stage, she followed an enduring passion for science to pursue a geology degree. But when the coronavirus pandemic hit two years later, Davis paused her studies to help her school-age children with their coursework.

In fall 2023, Davis re-enrolled in college to become a middle school science teacher, inspired by her mother’s 40-year teaching career. However, that October, life threw her a devastating curveball: a diagnosis of bilateral breast cancer.

She fought through a double mastectomy, five additional surgeries, a cancer reoccurrence and seven weeks of radiation — all while juggling coursework and teaching in a residency position in Cy-Fair ISD. Through it all, she refused to put her education on hold.

“My educational journey was my saving grace; it was one of the biggest motivators I had to get through cancer twice,” Davis said. “It not only gave me a distraction but drove me to fight even harder.”

Now cancer-free, Davis will soon graduate from UH summa cum laude and begin her career as a sixth-grade science teacher in CFISD. She plans to bring the discipline and empathy she honed on world tours to her new classroom.

“As a dancer, you are never done becoming better; there is always more to learn and to improve,” Davis said. “While I strive to become a better teacher for them, I will never stop lifting my students and helping them to become the best people they can be.”

Three Paths, One Journey

Three siblings. Three distinct paths. One shared milestone.

For triplets Chiamaka, Somto and Anita Anigbogu, the journey to graduation at the University of Houston has been anything but ordinary. Born in New York and raised in Nigeria, they have spent the past four years balancing independence and their unshakable bond.

Each carved out their own academic path — Chiamaka earning a B.S. in economics, Somto graduating with a degree in management information systems and Anita earning a degree in computer information systems.

Their decision to attend UH came from different places but ultimately led them to the same destination. Anita, who initially wanted to go her own way, found something unexpected in staying together.

“They became my anchor and support system, my built-in best friends,” she said. “Having the three of us by each other’s side made the journey a seamless experience.”

For Somto, being a triplet came with expectations, but also perspective.

“People often compared us, expecting us to be on the same level in everything,” he said. “But I’ve learned to stay true to who I am — success looks different for everyone.”

Graduating together is more than a shared achievement — it’s the culmination of years of sacrifice, perseverance and unwavering family love.

“It means everything to us to celebrate this together, but none of it would be possible without our parents,” Chiamaka said. “They sacrificed so much for us to get here, and we wouldn’t be where we are today without their love and support.”

As they step into the next chapter, their paths may take them in different directions, but a bond they share as triplets will remain a constant.

“No matter where life takes us, we’ll always be close,” Somto said. “We’ve grown together, supported each other and pushed each other to be better — and that’s not going to change.”