Nia Rae Lambert – 2025 Commencement Highlight

Committed to Amplifying Authentic, Untold Stories

As Spelman College celebrates its largest graduating class on record, Nia Rae Lambert, C’2025, a documentary filmmaking major with a photography minor from Chicago, Illinois, reflects on a transformative journey — one that began with quiet uncertainty and blossomed into confident creative expression.

Once a self-described “very shy and anxious” first-year student, Lambert now stands ready to enter one of the most prestigious producing programs in the country, driven by a mission to amplify untold stories and underrepresented voices through film. "The day I learned to use a TV remote was when my love for stories was born," Lambert said. "...If I couldn't act, maybe I could work the camera, but I soon realized that I loved all the elements that go into a film and had the desire to be a producer." Despite her love of filmmaking, Lambert initially came to Spelman with other educational plans in mind before discovering a course of study that seemed more fitting – and discovering herself. 

"I came into Spelman College as an education major, ready to take a safe career path,” she said. “It was joining the film club here that ignited my drive and willingness to pursue my passion. It was that club that allowed me to feel safe as a Queer Black woman.” 

Finding community as a Spelmanite not only sustained Lambert, but it taught her the value of paying it forward as well.

The arts [community] at Spelman may be small, but we are mighty,” she said. “I have learned that when doors are opened for you, you must open doors for the ones behind you. I can proudly say I have done that through my time at Spelman in the arts and I can't wait to see what's next."

Not only has Lambert's time at Spelman grown her as a young woman, but it has helped her hone her skills as a budding filmmaker committed to telling impactful stories that reflect the realities of the multifaceted world around us.

"Stories shape perspectives, and I’m passionate about stories that reflect diverse voices," Lambert said. "I aim to highlight untold narratives, focusing on marginalized communities, while aspiring to open a transformative, profitable production company." 

Lambert credits her time working in Inclusive Content at Lionsgate with her goal of telling stories "Where diversity is present but not the takeaway." 

"I envision films about a heist group or DJ society with marginalized groups as lead characters, where you leave the theater talking about the story, not that the characters were from marginalized groups."

While at Spelman, Lambert balanced her studies with a number of prestigious honors and leadership opportunities as that include being named a 2023 Dreamworks HBCU Fellow, a four-time HBCU in LA Finalist, an HBO Max Campus Brand Manager, a Spelman Ambassador, a Bronzelens Creator Scholar (2024), a Southeast Chapter Student Emmy Nominee (2025), vice president of Spelman Film Fusion and a Fall 2023 initiate of the Mu Pi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. "My proudest Spelman accomplishment would be being a Spelman Ambassador and vice president of Spelman Film Fusion," Lambert said. "Through both organizations, I have been able to inspire future Spelmanites to pursue a film education."

This fall, Lambert will attend the University of Southern California to pursue her MFA in Producing through the prestigious Peter Stark Program. As she prepares to start a new chapter, she bids a bittersweet goodbye to her alma mater that’s made her the woman she is today.

Spelman College, with tears in my eyes, I leave you behind, but I know it’s not goodbye – just a “see you soon” because you are always with me, as you are the reason I am off to change the world.