Angel Peterson isn’t just a business student — she’s a businesswoman. This week, after she walks off the stage with a degree in hand, Peterson will be a first-generation college graduate.
For Peterson, graduating from the Culverhouse College of Business isn’t just a personal milestone — it’s a message. For other first-gen students, aspiring entrepreneurs, and anyone who’s ever had to find their own path: it’s possible.
“I’m proud to be a first-gen graduate,” she said. “I’m proud to represent my family, and proud to have laid the foundation for what’s next.”
What is next for Peterson? Short-term, she’s working full-time at Hibbett Sports in Birmingham in human resources. Soon she will start her online MBA at the University of North Alabama with a concentration in human resource management, and possibly earn her SHRM or PHR certification.
Long-term? Her entrepreneurial itch hasn’t gone away. Peterson’s business acumen didn’t begin in a classroom — it began in a kitchen. During her senior year of high school, she launched to bridge the financial gap left by her scholarships. Her sweet treats, baked with care and sold across the Birmingham area, helped her raise the money she needed to attend college. “That’s when I realized I had the business mindset,” she said.
The bakery wasn’t just a side hustle; it was her introduction to entrepreneurship and self-reliance. As her business gained traction, she found herself juggling a storefront off McFarland Boulevard, student leadership positions, and the demands of college coursework. “I had to master time management,” she laughs, remembering late nights baking between classes and events.
Though she paused operations after accepting a full-time HR position at Hibbett, Angel’s Home Bakery remains a proud chapter in her story — and perhaps a sweet sign of what’s still to come. While the bakery is on pause, she’s eyeing real estate investment as her next business venture. “I see myself owning a portfolio one day — building wealth, building community,” she said.
While she’s focused on growing in HR, she doesn’t rule out a return to the kitchen. “Maybe one day, I’ll come back to Angel’s Home Bakery. Who knows?”
Peterson’s academic career is marked by both excellence and trailblazing. As a first-generation college student, she dove headfirst into campus life, serving as treasurer and later vice president of the Black Business Student Association. She was deeply involved in Legacy Scholars and Culverhouse’s student success initiatives, and was student director for the Culverhouse First-Generation Community.
Her dedication paid off in unexpected ways — one being the Fayard First Generation Business Scholars Endowed Scholarship, which helped her finish school debt-free. “Being a first-gen student, I wanted to make sure others like me felt supported,” she said. “I found a passion for mentoring and building community.”
Another major highlight of Peterson’s college journey was competing on Culverhouse’s Undergraduate Case Team, led by mentor and advisor Quoc Hoang. She represented Alabama on national and international stages, even using her experience with Angel’s Home Bakery to inform strategic solutions in case studies.
“It pushed me out of my comfort zone,” she said. “I learned how to build strategy, present like a pro, and connect business theory with real-world practice.”