Howard University, where Vice President Kamala Harris spent significant years of her life, will host her on what could be the most pivotal night of her career: election night. This week, her campaign announced that she will be at her alma mater in Washington, D.C., for the occasion.

“I am proud to be the first HBCU vice president of the United States. I intend to be the first HBCU president of the United States,” Harris stated in a recent interview with Charlamagne tha God.

Harris graduated from Howard University with a bachelor’s degree in 1986. While there, she also joined Alpha Kappa Alpha, the first Black sorority in the U.S. Founded in 1869, Howard is often referred to as “The Mecca” for its rich history of producing influential Black leaders, including Stokely Carmichael and Thurgood Marshall.

If elected, Harris would make history as the first Black woman president, having already broken ground as the first Black woman to secure a major party nomination. Despite the historic significance of her identity, she rarely discusses it on the campaign trail.

While she may not frequently highlight her race, Harris has emphasized Howard’s influence on her life throughout her political career. Most recently, the university was a site for her debate preparation against former President Trump and was also where she launched her unsuccessful 2020 presidential campaign.

Harris’s campaign has actively engaged with HBCUs, reaching out to young voters and alumni through the “HBCU Homecoming Tour.” Trey Baker, a senior advisor to Harris, explained that the tour is about connecting with voters where they are. According to the Pew Research Center, nearly 290,000 students are enrolled at HBCUs nationwide, and homecoming celebrations resemble family reunions for students and alumni alike.

Although many homecoming tour stops have occurred in battleground states, the campaign prioritized visiting Howard’s homecoming, which took place in late October. They organized a rally just blocks from the campus, offering free food, drinks, merchandise, and yard signs to those who committed to vote.

Harris chose to forgo Howard’s homecoming this year to campaign in battleground states, but she expressed in a letter to her alma mater, “At Howard, we learn that we have the capacity to be great and the responsibility to work hard to live up to that potential each day.”

Cameron Trimble, a Howard graduate who organized the HBCU tour, expressed his pride in voting for a fellow Bison. “This is a chance for America to fulfill the promise of equality stated at the founding of this country,” Trimble said.

Mississippi state Rep. Justis Gibbs, a 2018 Howard graduate who returned for homecoming, spoke about how Harris inspired him to engage in politics. “I remember being in third grade and thinking I wouldn’t see an African-American president in my lifetime. Now we’ve had President Obama, and we’re about to have President Harris.”

Despite the support for Harris, there remains a sense of anxiety among some voters. A recent CBS News poll indicated an even split in support for Harris and Trump in battleground states, highlighting the competitiveness of the election.

“There’s a lot on the line in this election,” said Virgil Parker, another Howard graduate. “I’m very anxious about former President Trump winning because of the divisiveness he has already shown.”

Regardless of the election’s outcome, Parker believes Harris’s achievements demonstrate that anyone can reach their goals, regardless of their background. “As a person of color and an HBCU graduate, I see myself in VP Harris,” he said.