Briana Burton '26 Champions Change for Those Following in Her Footsteps

When Briana “Bri” Burton was sketching treehouses in crayon as a child in Charlotte, North Carolina, she couldn't have imagined the path that would eventually lead her to the University of San Diego (USD). But looking back, those childhood drawings were the first signs of an architectural passion that would help guide her journey from military service to academic excellence.

Growing up in Charlotte's private schools, Burton inhabited what she calls a "bubble" of acceptance, where she was often the only Black student but felt welcomed and supported. Outside that bubble, however, lay a different reality. "In other areas of North Carolina, they're stuck in the '60s," says Burton, describing encounters with racial prejudice that left her constantly vigilant. "I always felt like I was walking on eggshells."

That experience helped shape her decision to join the Navy at 18 years old as a Seabee – a member of the Naval Construction Force. The role provided her with an opportunity to leave the South. "I wanted to move to California, but not completely on my own," Burton explains. "The military was the best route."

Her military career took her from Port Hueneme at Naval Base Ventura County in California, to deployments in South Korea and Japan. While her second deployment to Japan during COVID-19 proved to be more fun than expected – with outdoor movie nights and cookouts bringing the base community together – her time in South Korea was much different. There, she encountered a noose hanging outside her military barracks and covert hostility from fellow service members, which in turn escalated to overt racism.

But Burton refused to stay silent. She documented everything and reported it up the chain of command. Her actions led to an investigation and the implementation of "Foundation Fridays" – monthly training sessions on appropriate conduct implemented across her command.

Now at USD, Burton has emerged as a voice for both student-veterans and aspiring architects. She has spoken before the San Diego City Council about university housing projects, she is looking for ways to improve the architecture studio on campus for students who follow in her footsteps and she is serving as a scholastic assistant by mentoring new students and ensuring they feel welcomed and supported.

Burton brings a unique perspective to her roles on campus, informed by both her military experience and her Nigerian-American heritage. As the daughter of a Nigerian immigrant father, she describes growing up in a household that emphasized education and professional achievement, similar to what she has observed in other first-generation immigrant families.

Burton was also recently accepted into the McNair Scholars program and plans to pursue a PhD in architecture after graduating in 2026. Her sights are set on Ivy League programs at Harvard, Yale, MIT, or Columbia. But true to her commitment to community, she intends on returning to San Diego to build upon the connections she’s already formed with local architecture firms through her work on campus.

For Burton, it’s funny to think about the opportunities she’s had at USD, considering she could’ve had a completely different life.

She originally planned to re-enlist or join the reserves after her contract with the Navy was up, but instead, she applied to USD after a brief stint at Southwestern College in Chula Vista.

"Rejection is redirection," Burton says.

Creating connection and building inclusive spaces has become Burton’s hallmark at USD. "If there's anything that you want to achieve here, you really can," she tells incoming students. "If I could give [USD] a percentage higher than 100, I would. The opportunities have been endless."

— Kelsey Grey ’15 (BA)