Passport to Passion and Purpose: Deidre Mathis Breaks Barriers in Hospitality

It’s no surprise that Deidre Mathis ‘13, is the only Black woman in the U.S. to own a hostel, which is a European-style budget accommodation that emphasizes community through shared spaces such as kitchens and a living room.

The Florida native has an unshakable curiosity about people and places, and to date, she has welcomed more than 15,000 guests from 30 countries at her Wanderstay Hostel in Houston, TX.

“I’ve visited 51 countries across all seven continents, so I understand how important it is to have a safe place to stay while traveling.”

Mathis earned a Master of Arts in Organizational Communications at Bowie State, building on her undergraduate degree in broadcast journalism at Florida A&M. She considers travel part of her education, continually expanding her world view by taking every chance she gets to see the world. After earning her undergraduate degree, she lived in Australia for a year and has spent significant time in Costa Rica and South Korea.

“People have always questioned my decisions. I’ve heard over the years, ‘you have all these degrees, so why do you keep living abroad?’ It’s because that’s what excites me! My sophomore year I applied for a passport to go to the Dominican Republic, and I came back a different person.”

With many miles already logged by her early 20s, a friend suggested Mathis explore Bowie State for graduate studies.

“Once I saw the campus, I discovered that this is one of the most beautiful HBCUs, and choosing to come here was one of the best decisions I ever made.”

While Mathis was at Bowie State for only two years, she says she packed a lot in.

“Before I even began, former dean of Communications Pamela O’Brien noticed on my resume that I’d already been to Asia and Central America. She told me about a new BSU program that year that was sending ten exchange students to India. I jumped at the chance and spent my first four months at Bowie in Jaipur.”

Back on campus in Maryland, one of her strongest memories is receiving a C on a paper and marching to Dr. Adrian Krishnasamy’s office in frustration. The organizational communications professor told her gently but firmly that his job was to prepare her for the real world.

“In that moment I was upset, but the memory stuck with me. He told me I had to make sure I did things a little better. The involvement of faculty is what I love about Bowie State. They were absolutely amazing because they’re like family. I didn’t experience the typical graduate school disconnection from professors and peers. Bowie is very intimate and personal.”

Her Bulldog experience was capped by hearing First Lady Michelle Obama’s uplifting 2013 commencement speech.

“She talked about following your dreams. I was really motivated after hearing her speak, so after graduation I moved to Australia and wrote a book about my travel experiences. I also had my Oprah-inspired ‘a-ha’ moment while there. As a solo woman staying in hostels, I realized I wanted to one day by host travelers from across the world in the U.S.”

Although it seems that Mathis is succeeding in an industry outside of her educational pursuits, she disagrees and draws a straight line between communications and hospitality.

“My passion for storytelling aligns with my enthusiasm for travel. Communication is such a transferable skill that is useful in every industry. I know how to connect with guests from all parts of the world, and how to best get my message across on behalf my business, whether it’s writing emails, marketing content or proposals.”

She has the track record to prove it. Her business acumen combined with her ability to crisply communicate helped Wanderstay Hospitality earn support from Houston's own world superstar, Beyoncé, through a small business grant from the entertainer’s foundation.

Today, Mathis also owns a full-service hotel ten minutes away from the hostel, the 10-room Wanderstay Boutique Hotel. Through both ventures, she’s sharing her excitement back with every traveler who walks through her doors.