N.C. A&T Alumnus Featured in Netflix Reboot of “A Different World”

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (Oct. 6, 2026) – Forever a North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Aggie and now a Hillman College Falcon, former Mister A&T Joshua Suiter ‘22 is starring in the Netflix reboot of the 1980s and 1990s hit sitcom “A Different World.”

The series, which debuted at No. 1 on Netflix in the U.S., has already been renewed for a second season. It builds on the cultural impact of the original series, which helped shape national perceptions of historically Black college and university (HBCU) life and inspired generations of students.

Following a new generation of students at the iconic fictional HBCU, Hillman College, the sequel explores the lives of today’s students while examining the legacy of those who came before them. The series’ writing team includes Ashley Laverne Jackson, daughter of late civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson ‘64.

Suiter portrays Andre, a fellow student and classmate of Deborah Wayne (Maleah Joi Moon), daughter of original characters Whitley (Jasmine Guy) and Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison). As Deborah begins her journey at Hillman, she works to establish her own identity beyond her parents’ legacy while experiencing the highs and challenges of campus life.

“Seeing all the love for Andre really hit home,” Suiter said. “He’s one of my favorite characters thus far, and we created him from scratch, so to know that the hard work is being received and folks want more encourages me to keep going.”

Suiter discovered his calling for acting and musical theater at 7, quickly realizing that hours spent studying lines and practicing techniques felt like minutes. That passion led him to N.C. A&T, where he earned a B.A. in professional theatre from the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.

While at A&T, Suiter built a strong foundation in the performing arts, gaining experience both on stage and behind the scenes. One of his notable performances was in “Ain’t Misbehavin’” during the university’s first Town & Gown Gala in 2019, where he first met Guy, who reprises her role as Whitley in the reboot.

In addition to acting, Suiter worked as a theater technician and developed skills in the marketing and business aspects of performance and the entertainment industry. This versatility helped propel him into his professional career.

“I came in as a creative, but what A&T did between Alpha Phi Alpha, the classes, talking business with professors and serving as Mister A&T sharpened me on the business side,” said Suiter. “It sharpened my networking skills while showing me how to be authentic to who I am.”

As a talented and emerging actor who most recently appeared in the Hulu series “All’s Fair,” performing alongside prominent Hollywood actors, starring in “A Different World” represents a full-circle moment for Suiter as an HBCU alumnus, bringing him into a reimagined version of a series he grew up watching.

“When you talk about an HBCU experience, I’m putting mine up there with the best of them,” he said. “I have so many experiences to pull from with the run of this show, with the character Andre. Hillman even has a heartbeat of its own, so it’s been fun exploring what that feels like as a student there, while still carrying that Aggie Pride in my heart.”