Arthur Ashe Profile: RaShad Oliver

Introducing RaShad Oliver, a Memphis, Tennessee native who’s currently a senior majoring in finance at Howard University. RaShad has been involved with the school’s ELITE Models, serving as the organization’s Vice President, Treasurer, and Head of Photography; according to their mission statement, the group of aspiring models promotes “self-expression, confidence, and inner beauty.”

Shortly after the launch of the Arthur Ashe brand, RaShad reached out to us, and he and the rest of the ELITE Models have since put together a new Arthur Ashe lookbook. Keep reading to see the lookbook and learn more about RaShad.

Arthur Ashe: What does the name “Arthur Ashe” mean to you?

RaShad Oliver: When hearing “Arthur Ashe”, the first thing I think of is legacy. I have an innate desire to be remembered, and to feel like my life, work and passions will be valued by others regardless of my mortality. Arthur Ashe, to me, means doing work that so positively impacts my world that I will be remembered for generations.

AA: Tell us about your future.

RO: Very soon, I’ll be graduating from the illustrious Howard University with a degree in finance. I hope to use all of my internship experiences to have a successful career working in business development or project management. I’ve had an itch to start some type of entrepreneurship endeavor centered around a lifestyle brand, but that’s still in the brainstorming phase. I would love to move to New York or Atlanta after graduation and work in tech.

AA: What are some personal achievements you’re most proud of?

RO: As an 18 year-old, the first thing I’d ever won was a social justice award from Princeton University that included a fully-paid trip to their campus in New Jersey for a symposium. As a high school senior who’d never won an award in school, having that experience was extremely special for me. As a 19 year-old, in spite of the effects of COVID-19, I created an NBA internship program exclusively for Howard University students. It’s probably the coolest thing I’ve ever done, and after creating the program, I was even offered a corporate finance internship with the Utah Jazz. On top of that, I’ve been able to create a bit of a legacy there by helping one of my younger friends get a position with the team. And finally, as a 21 year-old, I was able to intern for one of the biggest tech companies in the world.

AA: Which pieces from the collection speak to you the most?

RO: The Arthur Ashe Championship Warm-Up Bottoms [in Soweto] are my favorite piece in the collection. I don't wear green or yellow very often, but in this silhouette it's so hot. If I had a pair, I'd be in them all fall and winter. The runner up is the Ashe Sport Logo Hoodie. The orange, black, and white is nasty.

Click here to shop the styles from the collection at arthurashe.com.