VOLUME 10, ISSUE 1 • 2021
Michael Chase ’12 Senior Engineer, Net ix Contents
From the Desk of the Vice President 2 for University Advancement 4 A Witness to History 6 Faculty & Sta News SPECIAL SECTION 8 A ‘Reckoning’ and an ‘Awakening’
BEHOLD FEATURE 16 NSU Alumnus Credits NSU Experience with Acquiring Position with Net ix
20 NETFLIX Partnership AthleticNews 26 Student-Athletes Unite 28 AlumniNews
Regine Campbell (left) and
VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1 • 2021 friend in front of her work
Michael Chase ’12 "No Justice, No Peace: Senior Engineer, Net ix Unrest and Responses in 2020 America" at the Wise Gallery.
Michael Chase ’12 Senior Engineer, Netflix Photo by Sam Hughes From the Desk of the Vice President N ORFOLK S TATE U NIVERSITY for University Advancement t is a great time to be a fundraiser! Because out of tragedy has come a victory. Many in our nation have begun to see Historically Black Colleges and IUniversities (HBCUs) with new eyes. Indeed, the last 18 months have been di cult when we look at the death of George Floyd and the totality of the lives lost BEHOLDVOLUME 9, ISSUE 1 • 2021 A MAGAZINE WITH GLOBAL REACH to the COVID-19 pandemic. But what it has given rise to is a second look at our institutions for some The word “Behold” is often used by those who love Norfolk State. It sums up the individuals and corporations, and for others it has excellence of the University and pride felt for it. That is why when it came to naming been a rst look—and hopefully, a true and genuine the magazine featuring the accomplishments and progress taking place look—at the mission and achievements of HBCUs. at Norfolk State, “Behold,” easily came to mind. Perhaps in some circles the question, “Are HBCUs relevant?” no longer has to be asked. Corporations and philanthropists can now better understand Javaune Adams-Gaston, Ph.D. our historic and still relevant mission. ey can easily see the excellence in the University President highest serving HBCU graduate in the nation—Vice President Kamala Harris.
And new donors and old ones are willing to provide their support. e historic investment by philanthropist MacKenzie Scott (page 24) is BOARD OF VISITORS 2020-2021 a seal of approval, certifying that Norfolk State is on an upward trajectory. Joan G. Wilmer ’99 Rector Other major corporations like Dominion Energy, Virginia Natural Gas, Apple, Dr. Deborah M. DiCroce Vice Rector Devon M. Henry ’00 Secretary Amazon and Diageo North America Inc. (page 23) have joined her in making Dr. Terri L. Best BK Fulton principal gis to support Norfolk State. In the midst of a global pandemic, there Dwayne B. Blake Larry A. Griffith Mary L. Blunt Dr. Harold L. Watkins, II has never been a better time to be a part of the Spartan Nation! Bishop Kim W. Brown ’84 Jeremiah O’Bryant, Student Representative In this edition of BEHOLD, we spotlight how the racial reckoning and The Honorable James W. Dyke Jr. Dr. Ashley N. Haines, Faculty Representative awakening has aected Norfolk State University as a whole as well as the role PRESIDENT’S CABINET that alumni, faculty and sta have played in bringing about change. Dr. DoVeanna Fulton Provost and Vice President You will enjoy reading the story about Michael Chase, an NSU alumnus, Academic Affairs and how an internship opportunity moved him to a path where he is currently Dr. Justin L. Moses Vice President for Operations and a senior engineer at Net ix (page 16). is career move aorded him the Chief Strategist for Institutional Effectiveness Dr. Gerald E. Hunter Vice President opportunity to create an exclusive program for NSU students in partnership Finance & Administration with Net ix. Additionally, Alumnae Alisia Smith-Rucker ’94, a veterinary Dr. Leonard E. Brown Vice President regional manager for Royal Canin, and Dr. Alveda J. Williams (B.S. ’97), Student Affairs Melody Webb Athletics Director corporate director of inclusion at Dow, are breaking down barriers within Ericke S. Cage Executive Advisor to the President & BOV for their corporations and have played roles in helping their employers to hear the Policy, Compliance and University Ombudsman voices of their Black employees, recruit at HBCUs and reach out to the Black Pamela F. Boston, Esq. University Counsel community (pages 28 & 29). Tanya S. White Chief of Staff Several intriguing discussions about the state of social and racial justice in America are featured. Our very own NSU President Javaune Adams-Gaston (page BEHOLD STAFF 12) provides her perspectives on where we are as a nation and the critical role that Stevalynn Adams Assistant Vice President, Communications and Marketing Norfolk State will play in this conversation. Discover how Mensah Bey, an NSU Regina Lightfoot BEHOLD Editor, Senior Publications Manager alumnus and adjunct professor (page 14), used a street mural in Norfolk’s Five Michelle D. Hill ’96 Executive Director, Alumni Relations and Annual Giving Points neighborhood as another powerful tool to contribute to this discussion. Steven Opfer Social Media Manager Since 1935, Norfolk State has been a major contributor to the social, economic Christopher Setzer ’97 Senior Graphic Designer and political environment in Hampton Roads. We will continue our engagement in Donald Spencer BEHOLD Designer, Senior Graphic Designer Matt Michalec Assistant Athletics Director, Communications national conversations while producing the best and brightest alumni. e last 18 Susan Smigielski Acker Contributing Writer months have been a watershed moment as that has helped us enter a new chapter Sharon Hoggard (M.A.’04) Contributing Writer unprecedented in the life of the University. Please enjoy this edition. Siera Jones Contributing Writer Sincerely, Gail Kent Contributing Writer
Cli ord Porter
Vice President for University Advancement BEHOLD is published twice a year by the NSU Office of Communications and Marketing.
Contact: Stevalynn Adams | [email protected] | www.nsu.edu Call Us: 757.823.2658 2 BEHOLD MAGAZINE • 2021
BEHOLD
The word “Behold” is often used by those who love Norfolk State. It sums up the excellence of the University and pride felt for it. That is why when it came to naming the magazine featuring the accomplishments and progress taking place at Norfolk State, “Behold,” easily came to mind.
Javaune Adams-Gaston, Ph.D. University President
BOARD OF VISITORS 2020-2021
Joan G. Wilmer ’99 Rector Dr. Deborah M. DiCroce Vice Rector Devon M. Henry ’00 Secretary Dr. Terri L. Best BK Fulton RESILIENCE AND Dwayne B. Blake Larry A. Griffith Mary L. Blunt Dr. Harold L. Watkins, II Bishop Kim W. Brown ’84 Jeremiah O’Bryant, Student Representative The Honorable James W. Dyke Jr. Dr. Ashley N. Haines, Faculty Representative
PRESIDENT’S CABINET INNOVATION: Dr. DoVeanna Fulton Provost and Vice President Our Journey during the COVID-19 Pandemic Academic Affairs Dr. Justin L. Moses Vice President for Operations and By DR. LEONARD BROWN AND DR. JUSTIN MOSES Chief Strategist for Institutional Effectiveness ith a pandemic that has directly or indirectly impacted us all, community and was highly involved in the planning and implementation of health Dr. Gerald E. Hunter Vice President Finance & Administration multiple acts of violence projected on communities of color, and safety protocols at NSU since the Coronavirus was identi ed in 2019. Our Dr. Leonard E. Brown Vice President and political unrest, we have all felt an overwhelming burden. Facilities sta who has worked non-stop to ensure the campus was equipped with Student Affairs Countless lives around us have been lost including some of Melody Webb Athletics Director PPE, was sanitized on a consistent basis and so much more. Ericke S. Cage Executive Advisor to the President & BOV for thoseW in our NSU community. Despite these losses, we have supported and uplied Our faculty, in conjunction with numerous administrators and sta, led the Policy, Compliance and University Ombudsman one another by sacri cing what was normal to us. We’ve taught, we’ve learned, we’ve charge to create safe and virtual learning spaces and environments to ensure the Pamela F. Boston, Esq. University Counsel worked remotely, and many of us worked on campus to support the operations and continuity of the University’s academic enterprise and operations. Our O ce of Tanya S. White Chief of Staff provide support for students that remained on campus. We shied, adjusted, and Information Technology ensured that students had access to technological assets leveraged our resources to maintain a standard of excellence by being innovative through the distribution of laptops and wireless routers and that our faculty had in our provision of academic instruction and support to our student population. the appropriate devices in and outside of the classroom to provide the highest Stevalynn Adams Assistant Vice President, Communications and Marketing We demonstrated a culture of care by taking the steps required of us to remain level of academic instruction. Our Housing and Residential Life sta supported Regina Lightfoot BEHOLD Editor, Senior Publications Manager safe and we went above those requirements to ensure that our campus was able to students living on campus since the pandemic began and worked around the Michelle D. Hill ’96 Executive Director, Alumni Relations and Annual Giving mitigate the impact of COVID-19 that spread around us. Just this semester, nearly clock supporting students in quarantine. In addition to the people previously Steven Opfer Social Media Manager 10,000 COVID-19 tests were performed for students, faculty and sta, an Open mentioned there is a long list of faculty, sta and students who joined together to Christopher Setzer ’97 Senior Graphic Designer Vaccination Clinic was held on campus, and personal protective equipment was get us through this year. Donald Spencer BEHOLD Designer, Senior Graphic Designer distributed multiple times. e NSU community has been resilient and has responded proactively and Matt Michalec Assistant Athletics Director, Communications Susan Smigielski Acker Contributing Writer Due to mitigation eorts such as these and our collective commitment to safety, innovatively to the challenges that the pandemic presented. Despite these Sharon Hoggard (M.A.’04) Contributing Writer we have maintained a low COVID-19 positivity rate while also maintaining an challenges, we have sustained many successes. Our students have performed Siera Jones Contributing Writer engaged university community, none of which would have been possible without a exceptionally in the classroom, in athletic events, in professional endeavors, and in Gail Kent Contributing Writer resilient, caring, and purpose-driven campus community. the community. It is important to recognize the many individuals that have devoted their service, As we look forward to the future, NSU will continue to excel and as we prepare their time, their expertise, and their care to the care of others on a daily basis. e and posture ourselves for a post COVID-19 environment, the support of our Covid-19 Task Force, representing all aspects of our community, worked diligently alumni, partners, and community at large will be critical to our success. We look
to plan for and execute our community response to COVID-19. Dr. Vanessa forward to the time where we can safely congregate on campus as a family. Blowe and her sta in the Spartan Health Center have advised the entire University BEHOLD!
VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1 • BEHOLD MAGAZINE 3
A Witness to
n January 20, 2021, U.S. Army HISTORFirst Lt. AngelenaY Garland stood at attention at Arlington National Cemetery waiting for a motorcade. OGarland ’17 holds the position of Ceremonies Operations O cer in Charge for the Ceremonies and Outreach Directorate for the Military District of Washington. It was an assignment that she had received just three months earlier in October 2020. Her responsibilities that day were the most momentous of her career. e men and women arriving in those vehicles were among some of the most powerful, most respected and most accomplished in the world. On that crisp January day, Garland would not just witness history, but become a part of it. January 20, 2021, was the Presidential Inauguration of Joseph R. Biden Jr., the 46th president of the United States, and it was Garland’s responsibility that day to serve as lead escort for the Wreath Laying Ceremony for the 59th Presidential Inauguration. e motorcade that she was waiting for carried President Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Douglas Emho. Former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton and former rst ladies Michelle Obama, Laura Bush and Hillary Rodham Clinton had arrived just 30 minutes prior. During the ceremony, held at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Garland escorted Jill Biden, Emho and Tracy Jones, wife of the Commanding General of the Military District of Washington, U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Omar Jones. First Lt. Angelena Garland escorting the group to the Being in the room with those 10 powerful unknown soldier. people was a lot to take in, Garland said. But it gave her hope. “I have so much respect for every single individual that was there…,” she said. “It gave me hope to see a group of people from
4 BEHOLD MAGAZINE • 2021 UniversityNews A Witness to
First Lt. Angelena Garland saluting during ceremony.
dierent backgrounds with dierent beliefs coming together to embrace HISTORY each other and partake in a monumental moment in American history.”
Yet the gravity of the moment didn’t hit her until later. Photos courtesy of THE WHITE HOUSE It wasn’t until she saw herself on television and talked to family and friends that she understood it. “Even to this day, I’m in awe.” e “awe” is not just being in the presence of presidents, rst ladies, and the second “It is just SO important to me that we continue to elevate Black History and subscribe to the advancement of our people.”
gentleman, but in the presence of Black history makers — the rst African American president and rst lady and the rst woman, Black and South Asian vice president. “My children and grandchildren will open their history books, read about their achievements and their contributions to the Black community, discuss the importance of representation and lling spaces, and I will get to share with them that I was present for these moments. It is just SO important to me that we continue to elevate Black History and subscribe to the advancement of our people.” To serve as lead escort at the ceremony is something that Garland admits that she never thought she would be a part of and that amazes her: “To have such a signi cant role in the ceremony…especially coming from Lynchburg, VA, — such a small place and representing for so many people, for so many brown skin girls, on such a large scale.” She has embraced the moment and has a message for anyone who may be struggling because she was once there too. Garland said that she wasn’t a perfect teenager, nor a straight-A student, but she changed. “I know it’s so easy to give up when life gets tough and current circumstances seem to provide little room or hope, but your life can change as soon as you convince yourself that you deserve more.” " e appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement." VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1 • BEHOLD MAGAZINE 5 Faculty & StaffNews
NSU PARTNERS WITH SENTARA HEALTH TO HOLD VACCINATION CLINIC n Wednesday, May 5, 2021, Norfolk State University partnered with Sentara Health to host a Pfizer first dose vaccine clinic for anyone 16 years or older from 2−7 p.m. The clinic took place on campus in Echols Hall and served the NSU Ocommunity, the surrounding community, and anyone who was seeking a comfortable environment to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The University encouraged students, faculty, and staff to get vaccinated and helped participating students find their second dose if they left the local area at the end of the semester.
Dr. Adrienne R. Washington, Dr. Carl E. Bonner Jr., professor of assistant professor of chemistry and materials science, was interdisciplinary studies, was celebrated as a Trailblazer by Chemical quoted in a New York Times & Engineering News. The weekly article about how certain magazine for the American Chemical nicknames for the pandemic have Society recognized the work and become popular. Washington legacy of Black chemists and chemical spoke about how people create engineers throughout the US. Bonner new terms or nicknames as a was interviewed by NSU alumnus Isaiah coping mechanism for grave Speight. Read the article at situations such as referring to the https://bit.ly/3f6PBiM Coronavirus as “Rona.”
Marcia Neblett, assistant professor Pamela Boston, Esq., Norfolk State University of fine arts, is among the artists general counsel, was featured in the January 2021 participating in the Nourish exhibition at edition of the National Bar Association Magazine. the Virginia Museum of Contemporary The article, “The Practice of Law: A Roundtable Arts in Virginia Beach. Nourish is a Conversation with General Counsels,” included collaboration between 12 artists and perspectives and insights from Boston and local food experts that features new university counsels from Tuskegee College and works commissioned by the museum. Ohio Northern University on the dynamic nature Neblett partnered with Ashley Grosch of of practicing law in the higher education setting. The Farm Life in Pungo to create a series Boston, a graduate of Bennett College and the of drawings featuring vegetables titled Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of Chaotic Garden. The exhibit opened in William and Mary, has served as the University February and runs until June 6. general counsel since 2006.
6 BEHOLD MAGAZINE • 2021 MEDIA ZOOM IN on Professor’s Expertise n the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. along with the rest gestures and a visual presence of the world shut down. O ce complexes, restaurants and many factories when needed,” said Franklin. became ghost towns. But not all businesses stopped functioning. ose Now that people are that could have their employees work remotely continued operating. becoming fully vaccinated IOvernight, videoconferencing replaced face-to-face meetings. against COVID-19, NSU PARTNERS WITH SENTARA HEALTH TO HOLD VACCINATION CLINIC It was dierent, a whole new world. But this new mode of work quickly restrictions are being loosened or lied and businesses are reopening. Franklin produced what came to be known as “Zoom fatigue”the exhaustion, worry, makes an observation about how we may interact given the prevalence of and burnout feelings that sometimes accompany mild to extreme usage of videoconferencing over the past year. “I really do not foresee us going back to videoconferencing soware. our pre-pandemic ways for a variety of reasons,” he said. “One reason is because During that time, Dr. Andrew Franklin, NSU associate professor videoconferencing provides so much exibility, accessibility and convenience of psychology, became a much sought-aer expert for his knowledge, and some individuals will just nd it di cult to relinquish that luxury if given understanding and ability to break down this new phenomenon to media who the option. I think this will be seen in the private and public sectors and in couldn’t get enough of the topic. various industries." Franklin has provided expert commentary for such stalwart publications as Yet, Franklin said, “Hybrid/home o ce working is certainly the future in a lot National Geographic and the New York Times Magazine. He’s talked about it of industries, and I am sure some industries will experience a surge as individuals on BYU Radio’s current events show, Top of Mind, hosted by award-winning bask in the excitement of face-to-face gatherings that only months of repression journalist Julie Rose; and he’s been quoted and requoted on blogs, in lifestyle and isolation can bring.” columns and in or on all forms of media around the world. How did this happen? “Under the leadership of Dr. Scott Debb, Dr. Ernestine Duncan and Dr. Karen Holmes, a master’s in cyberpsychology program was developed at Norfolk State University. It is the rst-ever program of the kind in the United IF YOU’RE FEELING ZOOM FATIGUE, FRANKLIN OFFERS States, and I was given an opportunity to teach an ethics and research methods SEVERAL TIPS THAT MAY BRING SOME RELIEF. course within the program given my background in statistics,” Franklin explains. • Schedule time in between virtual meetings “When COVID-19 grounded face-to-face life to a halt, several journalists • Practice mindfulness and/or meditation were scrambling to learn about the psychosocial and emotional rami cations of • Establish daily routines conducting so much of our personal and professional aairs on Zoom,” he said, • Disconnect from Zoom when you can and then adding, “I guess of all the professionals they sought, I happened to be the most responsive and interested.” • Turn off your video when engaged in videoconferencing and Based on research Franklin explained that during face-to-face interactions our if it is appropriate to do so brains pick up on verbal and nonverbal cues. However, video chatting doesn’t • Avoid multi-tasking when videoconferencing (e.g., shut down allow for that as easily. We may not see a person dgeting or talking with their the internet browsers) hands because the view is generally of just the head and shoulders. Unable to • Look into voice-driven avatars detect these nuances, our brains work harder to focus on what was being said. • Consider walking during a virtual meeting A year has passed since society as a whole began videoconferencing and many • Be kind and compassionate to yourself and others as of us have learned to adjust, nding ways to outsmart Zoom fatigue. “I think we all continue to adapt to connecting over many have adjusted to the videoconferencing world by realizing the value of videoconferencing platforms minimizing their picture in picture (PIP) screen, shutting down their cameras, using the chat space for correspondence, and even using avatars to provide
VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1 • BEHOLD MAGAZINE 7 SPECIAL SECTION: A ‘RECKONING’ AND AN ‘ ‘AWAKENING’
2020 WILL GO DOWN IN THE HISTORY BOOKS AS A MILESTONE YEAR, A YEAR FOR BOTH ITS TRAGEDIES AND ITS TRIUMPHS. THIS ISSUE OF BEHOLD DOCUMENTS THE TRIUMPHS THAT CAME OUT OF THE TRAGEDIES OF THE COVID19 GLOBAL PANDEMIC AND THE AFTERMATH OF THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD AT THE HANDS OF POLICE OFFICERS.
t has been a year of racial reckoning and an awakening for our nation. It has brought the hard work and the absolutely high-quality education, initiatives and contributions Iof Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and our own alumni to the national forefront. Corporations began looking at what they could do at their own places of business as well as ways to contribute to racial equity initiatives. In this section, you will nd articles about the many actions that companies and individuals have undertaken as a result of this unprecedented time period. In the days following George Floyd’s death, upon seeing the outpouring of marches and cries for justice and equality, Floyd’s six-year-old daughter, Gianna Floyd, made one of the most profound comments when she said, “Daddy changed the world.” As we publish this edition of BEHOLD, that change has come in the recognition of the long history, accomplishments and promise of HBCUs. It is our hope that the progression of change continues to resonate and reverberate beyond 2020 and throughout the nation’s businesses and industries, governments, institutions, communities and colleges and universities.
8 BEHOLD MAGAZINE • 2021 Photo by Willie Graham
VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1 • BEHOLD MAGAZINE 9 A ‘RECKONING’ AND AN ‘AWAKENING’ THE LEGACY OF RALPH NORTHAM By SUSAN SMIGIELSKI ACKER
IT WAS A TOUGH IMAGE TO SEE. VIRGINIA GOV. RALPH NORTHAM, IN BLACK FACE, STANDING WITH A MAN DRESSED IN A KU KLUX KLAN COSTUME. THE PICTURE, SURFACED IN FEBRUARY 2019, WAS IN THE 1984 EASTERN VIRGINIA MEDICAL SCHOOL YEARBOOK, WHERE NORTHAM EARNED HIS MEDICAL DEGREE. OVER A COUPLE OF DAYS, NORTHAM DENIED IT WAS HIM IN THE PICTURE, THEN ADMITTED IT WAS HIM WITH AN APOLOGY. A THREE MONTH INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION COULD NOT DETERMINE WHO WAS IN THE PHOTO. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE PHOTO WAS REVEALED, IT LED TO OVERWHELMING CALLS FOR HIS RESIGNATION. AMONG THOSE WHO WANTED THE GOVERNOR TO RESIGN WERE RICHMOND NAACP PRESIDENT DERRICK JOHNSON, PLUS REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC LEADERS. HOWEVER, NORTHAM REFUSED, PROMISING TO RIGHT HIS PAST WRONG BY MAKING CHANGESBy IN SusanTHE COMMONWEALTH Smigielski Acker AND EDUCATING HIMSELF. Photos courtesy of The Governor Ralph Northam website 10 BEHOLD MAGAZINE • 2021 wo Norfolk State professors, Dr. Soji Akomolafe, chair of Norfolk State’s Political Science Department, and Dr. Cassandra Newby-Alexander, dean T of the College of Liberal Arts and professor of History, played a signi cant role in educating him and helping the Commonwealth move forward. ey agree he’s kept his word. “One thing about Gov. Northam is he’s a public gure, he’s not a politician. He shoots straight. He admitted he did something wrong and he said he would work to x it and that’s what he’s been doing,” Dr. Akomolafe said. Leaders from Virginia’s African American community, including from Norfolk State, requested a meeting. It was set to last one hour, but lasted much longer, Dr. Newby-Alexander said. At the meeting, the governor’s attitude was that he wanted to and needed to learn more about African American lives, she said. “He saw it as an opportunity to make a dierence. He decided to go on a as much. With Northam favoring decriminalizing marijuana, this disparity would journey of enlightenment,” Newby-Alexander said. end, Akomolafe noted. e main areas discussed were the disparities in criminal justice, healthcare, Dr. Newby-Alexander pointed out to Northam racist language in laws is still education and economics, said Dr. Akomolafe. on the books. Northam learned from Dr. Newby-Alexander that African American history “A University of Virginia law professor and the college’s law students found is taught incorrectly. is led to him issuing an executive order in August 2019, over 100 laws still on the books in Virginia that have racist language. ose laws to create a 34-member Virginia Commission on African American History are not enforceable, but they should not be on the books,” she said. Northam has Education in the Commonwealth. He did so at an event to mark the rst slaves' been instrumental in removing them, she said. arrival at Fort Monroe in 1619. Dr. Newby-Alexander, who served on the commission, said this was a tting RECKONING WITH THE PAST tribute. Executive Order irty Nine reads in part: “ e history of African Removing racist symbols has been forefront. Virginia’s statue of Robert E. Lee Americans in Virginia, and our nation, is di cult, complex, and oen untold. was removed from in the U.S. Capitol’s Statutory Hall, in December. It is expected A robust understanding of this important history and its continuous in uence to be replaced by a statue honoring civil rights activist Barbara Johns. He also on our communities today should be an essential component of the knowledge ordered Confederate President Jeerson Davis’ name be removed from an iron gained by every Virginia student. ...Virginia’s standards must be inclusive of African archway and memorial park within Fort Monroe. American history and provide opportunities for students to engage deeply, drawing Northam proposed in his budget $25 million to transform historical sites. connections to its relevance in our contemporary communities. ...” is includes transforming Richmond’s Monument Avenue. So far, seven statues e commission released its nal report in August 2020 with Dr. Newby- have been removed with the Robert E. Lee statue set to be gone in 2021. e Alexander giving signi cant input on Virginia’s Standards of Learning tests. funding allows Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to redesign Monument Avenue. He DIVERSITY, E UITY AND INCLUSION included several other historical projects. Close to Norfolk State, enslaved Africans who landed at Fort Monroe will soon A major development, said Dr. Akomolafe, is the appointment of Dr. Janice be honored with a public art memorial because in 2019, Northam proposed, and Underwood to serve the Commonwealth as the nation’s rst cabinet-level Chief the General Assembly agreed to allocate $500,000 toward the African Landing Diversity O cer in the O ce of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. e o ce Memorial project. collaborates with the state agencies to ensure equity and inclusion. ese actions, taken in their totality, make Dr. Newby-Alexander take notice of “He takes the O ce of Diversity and Dr. Underwood very seriously. She has the Northam’s heightened understanding of African Americans. ear of the governor,” he added. “I’ve noticed his understanding deepen. I tell him that is powerful. His response In February, the Governor and Underwood unveiled ONE Virginia, a rst- is, ‘I am still learning.’” in-the-nation statewide strategic plan to advance visible diversity, equity, and inclusion across state government. e ONE Virginia Plan supports more than 100 state agencies in the Commonwealth to create strategies to provide equitable services and cultivate a valued and high-performing workforce, according to information from the governor’s o ce. “ is roadmap will ensure our eorts are accompanied by accountability, measurable results, and sustained impact, and help make Virginia the best place to live, work, visit, and thrive,” Northam said at a press conference announcing the plan.
LEGISLATIVE AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM An area where Dr. Akomolafe feels Northam has been eective is criminal justice reform. For instance, he said African American youth are jailed more oen than white youth for marijuana possession even though whites consume just
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VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1 • BEHOLD MAGAZINE 13 12 BEHOLD MAGAZINE • 2021 VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1 • BEHOLD MAGAZINE 13 12 BEHOLD MAGAZINE • 2021 VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1 • BEHOLD MAGAZINE 13
BEHOLD_SPRING 2021.indd 12 5/25/2021 4:01:59 PM BEHOLD_SPRING 2021.indd 13 5/25/2021 4:51:23 PM
BEHOLD_SPRING 2021.indd 12 5/25/2021 4:01:59 PM BEHOLD_SPRING 2021.indd 13 5/25/2021 4:51:23 PM
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Black partners at Ambition iswe how have, ... we that’s the frame bigger important the our hard helpthe lives them of to young achieve people a better and chancethat they in havelife. access to an education which will einstitutions opportunity receive to becausebe identi ed they areby MacKenziealways engaged Scott with as an those institution organizations. that forportfoliotransformation us because of opportunities that work gets that people we and todo development. know every that day. this at is a place is how you we might frame want the to hard 12help BEHOLD them to MAGAZINEachieve a better • 2021 chance in life. e opportunity to be identi ed by MacKenzie Scott as an institution that transformation work that we do every day. VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1 • BEHOLD MAGAZINE 13 12 BEHOLD MAGAZINE • 2021 VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1 • BEHOLD MAGAZINE 13 12 BEHOLD MAGAZINE • 2021 VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1 • BEHOLD MAGAZINE 13
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intersections, crosswalks, plazas and sidewalks. It also includes utility boxes, tra c barriers and underpasses. Norfolk was one of 16 cities in the country to receive the funding. e Asphalt Art Initiative responds to the growing number of cities around the world embracing art as an eective and relatively low-cost strategy to activate their streets. e area was chosen based on neighborhood diversity, tra c safety, police data, pavement conditions, and resident interest, according to Photos courtesy of City Norfolk Karen Rudd, manager in the Norfolk O ce of Communications. It was important to Bey that the artwork not be in a designated arts district, but rather in a regular neighborhood. According to the artist, everyone and every community deserves art. STREET MURAL Engaging the community was a high priority for him. Because of the pandemic and racial unrest, he Conveys Message of Togetherness and wanted to give a sense of normality to participants. When creating the design, he had to keep in mind Cooperation for Norfolk Neighborhood social distancing rules so the public could easily paint By SUSAN SMIGIELSKI ACKER it. e design has ower symbols spaced 10 feet apart to show where individuals could safely stand during er months of lockdowns induced by the COVID-19 pandemic and amid calls for social justice choreographed activities. and police reform across the country, a Norfolk, Virginia, community came together over art. On average, about a dozen people worked on it at Gather in Abundance, a 2000-square-foot street mural in the Norview neighborhood near the a time. In all, 55 people, of various ages, participated Five Points intersection, brought together a total of 55 people over two days last October. to complete the artwork in two days. AMensah Bey (MFA’18), an artist and NSU adjunct professor, created the artwork to help serve that Police o cers painted in an eort to increase purpose. Area residents, Norfolk police o cers and the Boys and Girls Club, worked in groups of 12 police-community trust. “We have a good painting the mural. relationship with law enforcement,” said Rochelle, “So much of 2020 was about isolation because of COVID,” Bey said. “I wanted to bring something who was part of the selection committee, “and big that shows we are getting through it and it will be over.” people that were painting alongside them were able Bey, a Richmond native, was inspired from the West African Adinkra symbolism of unity. e vibrant to hold a conversation with them.” colors of dierent shades of blue, along with a bold red, engage the community and bring life to an area Bey truly believes art should be available to all. that needs improvement. Having area residents involved provides them a sense Jackie Rochelle, president of the Greenwood/Elmhurst/Norview Heights Civic League, agrees with the of ownership for the art and the neighborhood. sentiment of the piece. “ e artwork conveys a clear message of unity, understanding and communication.” “I want people to think twice,” he said, “before “Five Points is a diverse community by its nature. ere are people from all walks of life," Rochelle added. maybe they throw trash on the ground when they see “I feel this artwork brings that home.” this work that the community created.” e piece was commissioned by the city and was paid for with a grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies. Bey’s next project is creating art work on utility e grant speci cally called for asphalt art, which it de ned as visual interventions on roadways such as boxes in San Diego where he currently resides.
14 BEHOLD MAGAZINE • 20192021 A ‘RECKONING’ Photos courtesy of THE WHITE HOUSE KAMALA AND AN ‘AWAKENING’ HARRIS VP election focuses attention on AKA sisterhood and pearls By GAIL KENT amala Harris, the country’s rst female and woman-of-color vice president, became known on the campaign trail for wearing her iconic “Chucks and pearls.” e casual, classic and comfortable “Chucks,” or Converse All-Stars, made dashing from one event to another easier on her Kfeet than would heels. e strand of pearls is a reminder and recognition of a deep and proud legacy. “When Kamala wears them, it’s indicative of her membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) sorority,” says sorority sister Aurelia Williams, Ph.D., NSU Interim Vice Provost for Academic Administration. She says members wear pearls as a tribute to AKA’s 16 founders and four incorporators. “Sometimes you’ll hear us elected as president, so many people of color saw themselves, and now we’re say, ‘Pretty girls wear 20 pearls.’” e members themselves are also known as pearls. drilling down even deeper with Kamala. Her story is my story, and her experience e rst Black Greek-letter sorority, AKA was established in 1908 at Howard is my experience. It’s very powerful.” University, where Harris attended college and became a member in 1986. Fitzgerald notes that she was touched by photos on social media of little girls e sorority, founded to support and upli women and girls and to serve the watching Harris’ inauguration on TV. “I’m in awe of so many people posting pictures community, has grown to more than 290,000 collegiate members and alumnae of their daughters watching her. ey’re thinking, ‘I can do that. I can be her.’” with 1,007 chapters worldwide. Dr. Faith Fitzgerald, whose two daughters are Williams, who served as president of Norfolk State’s AKA chapter, Delta also AKA members, agrees. “It’s a phenomenal, Epsilon, when she was an undergraduate in the ’90s, is celebrating her 30th year heartwarming experience. For those of us who have of sorority membership. While most people join a Greek organization during daughters or granddaughters, it’s really about our legacy undergraduate college years, some join while in graduate school. and wanting them to be a part of it.” AKA membership, as with other sororities and fraternities, lasts a lifetime, e fact of Harris’ multicultural background is and members are expected to continue participating in service work such as also signi cant. “I have a multicultural family and raising money for HBCUs, donating clothing to orphans in Africa, working in multicultural granddaughters, so for them to be able to foodbanks and organizing blood drives. see Harris become vice president is great. ey know “Sisterhood is about upliing each other and motivating each other toward that they, too, can aspire. at means a lot to me.” common goals,” says Faith Fitzgerald, Ed.D., executive director of NSU’s Housing e women give the Biden-Harris team a passing and Residence Life, who joined AKA more than 20 years ago while in graduate grade for their performance early in the term, but school. She served as graduate advisor for the NSU chapter for many years. “I believe Democrats should push harder to get their loved what Alpha Kappa Alpha women represented and some of the things they agendas passed. were doing in the community. I was excited to join.” “My concern is that when Republicans have control One of AKA’s top initiatives is grooming women for leadership through over the House, Senate and presidency, they do conferences and special programs. Witnessing Kamala Harris’s rise as a leader has whatever they want,” says Williams. “But Democrats been a point of pride. want to play nice. I just wish they would do what needs “She’s a woman of AKA who has made huge, huge strides,” says Rhonda to be done.” Fitzgerald, Ph.D., associate professor of mathematics. “She’s not just my sorority All three women expressed support for the possibility sister, she’s a member of a Black Greek organization, and we all came together to that Harris might someday ascend to the presidency. support her. is is a huge point in our history.” “I think she’s ready, whether the country is ready AKA is one of the “Divine Nine” historically Black Greek-letter organizations, or not,” says Dr. Rhonda Fitzgerald. "She can do it, both sororities and fraternities, comprising the National Pan-Hellenic Council. so why not?” Harris’s election is also personal to Fitzgerald. “When Barack Obama was
VOLUME 8,9, ISSUE 1 • BEHOLD MAGAZINE 15 Photo by Dominique Calder of EXPSD CREATIVE ALUMNUS CREDITS NSU EXPERIENCE WITH ACQUIRING POSITION WITH
By SHARON RIDDICK HOGGARD (M.A.’04)
CONTINUED ON PG. 18 BEHOLD Photos by Dominique Calder of EXPSD CREATIVE CONTINUED FROM PG. 16 BEHOLD Now he is helping the next generation of Spartans to grab opportunities in Silicon Valley
sk Michael Chase, senior engineer at Net ix and 2012 graduate of NSU, what Norfolk State means to him, and he will tell you that the University faculty instilled in him con dence. “NSU gave me a lot of con dence in the ways I didn’t know I needed,” Chase said. “Con dence is key. It allows you to speak eloquently when you are speaking about Ayour skills.” at con dence played an important role in a journey that allowed him to take internships and positions from government to large corporations, to traditional industries in the world of nance to high-tech rms willing to carve out new frontiers. At Net ix Inc., the world’s leading entertainment streaming service company with 204 million paid memberships in over 190 countries, Chase explained his role as an engineer by saying he unravels challenges and creates solutions. “We solve issues that usually aect large numbers of customers, or partners and solving them with code — just trying to piece together how data ows from our system that ends up with a video playing on your screen or device.” A DNIMAS (Dozoretz National Institute for Mathematics and Applied Sciences) scholar and computer science major, with a concentration in computer engineering, Chase began forming his con dence by working on projects in labs at Norfolk State. “I worked in the gaming lab with Dr. Rasha Morsi and served as a tutor in the STARS program,” he recalls. “Dr. Morsi is a leader in creative gaming. She really believed in me. She involved me in million dollar contracts and gave me credit for the work. She gave an incredible amount of freedom and trust that I would deliver.” Chase continued to hone his programming skills by also participating in coding and robotics competitions. “Michael liked to program and was adept at it,” remembers Dr. orna Humphries, graduate program director and associate professor of computer science, who had Chase as a student in soware engineering and operating systems. "He also participated in ARTSI, a collaborative robotics initiative,” she said. “He liked problems that challenged him in respect to programming. He took pride in the soware products that he developed, in particular the one for his senior project. I knew that he would work diligently to become successful in the industry.” Chase credits these opportunities, internships, faculty and others for helping him to get employment at Net ix. His internships, while at NSU, included two stints at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the Department of Commerce where he worked at the IT Help Desk assisting employees with computer issues. Working through the University’s Career Services Center, Chase received assistance in putting together his resume and got wind of an internship opportunity at
18 BEHOLD MAGAZINE • 2021 JP Morgan Chase, the multinational investment bank and nancial services holding company based in New York City. He snapped up the internship and worked with databases in the New Jersey o ce. Chase’s journey, impacted partly by NSU’s Career Services and his internship at JP Morgan Chase, taught him the necessity of giving back. “My experience with the Career Center and JP Morgan taught me about reaching back, building those bridges so that there is that open communication. Aer I graduated, and whenever I found opportunities, I made it a point to reach out to Norfolk State however I could. I like to connect students with opportunities to advance their academic success and professional lives.” Discussing his belief in reaching back to help others, Chase mentioned his role in helping to bring the Net ix Boot Camp to NSU. He said he simply spoke up in a meeting of Net ix executives planning a trip to Washington, D.C. and suggested they visit NSU. “NSU showed up
extremely well. e company was convinced that the University would be Photo courtesy of Netflix a great partner because the faculty and students exhibited knowledge and skills. It le an impression.” Dr. Aurelia Williams, Interim Vice Provost for Academic Administration, sought out Chase to participate in the computer science department’s
Chase believes that companies like Netflix wholly embrace diversity and inclusion because they recognize that their customers want to see stories that they can better identify with.
Computer Science External Advisory Board. He grabbed the chance not really knowing initially how he could help. “I saw it as an opportunity to make things happen like the Net ix boot camp. I thought if we could just get NSU exposure to the west coast and Silicon Valley, it would be an immediate match or connection.” Chase served as head of the external advisory board from 2014-2020 and is still a board member. “His role on the board,” said Dr. Claude Turner, professor and computer science department chair, “was instrumental in bringing the Net ix initiative to NSU.” Chase believes that companies like Net ix wholly embrace diversity and inclusion because they recognize that their customers want to see stories that they can better identify with. “We want to tell stories that entertain the world so people see themselves in these stories. We have to have diversity in the writing room, diversity in the greenlighting room, and diversity in production,” said Chase. “ at trickle-down eect is the power of diversity at the company and throughout all levels in the organization. It’s important to make sure that you have a wide array of voices as you’re solving these challenges that aect people all around the world.” “Morally, it’s the right thing to do. Companies that are more diverse deliver
higher revenue and better products.” Photo courtesy of Michael Chase
VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1 • BEHOLD MAGAZINE 19 Dr. Claude Turner, professor and chair of the Department of Computer Science, says the Net ix partnership bene ts the University in several ways including:
• offering industry-specific training in three areas of need in the private and public sectors: applied data science, Java and UI/UX. • providing scholarships for students, • furnishing financial support for student-related activities. Photo courtesy of Netflix e inaugural virtual boot camp began in January 2021. Eighty students have enrolled, mostly from the sciences and tech areas, but 17 students are from “other than” science elds. According to the Net ix HBCU Boot Camp website, any major is welcome to apply Shelby Sturgis, a Senior Data Visualization Engineer at Netflix, talking with an NSU student. and participate in the program. rough this partnership, the Net ix HBCU Boot Camp oers cutting-edge programs that allow students and alumni to participate in a 16-week course. is next crop of students will gain real-world training applicable to the tech industry and, in the NETFLIX process, students will also create that all-important professional portfolio that showcases their knowledge. Additionally, students will establish one-to-one mentorship with seasoned Net ix employees, ideally creating long-term network relationships. PARTNERSHIP According to Vernā Meyers, Vice President of Inclusion Strategy at Net ix, “ e most Seen as Helping to Build Black important thing we’ve learned is that when you pair Net ix’s culture with diversity and inclusion Talent Pipeline to High-Tech – it unlocks our ability to innovate, to be creative, By SHARON RIDDICK HOGGARD M.A.’04 and to solve problems. It breaks up group think. It brings dierent lived experiences and perspectives n October 2020, Norfolk State University announced a partnership with Net ix Inc., the to a problem, so that we’re no longer solving them world’s leading entertainment streaming service with 204 million paid memberships in over in old ways. And, we’re able to better entertain our 190 countries, and 2U, a global leader in technology education, to create the Net ix HBCU current and future members.” Boot Camp. e program oers students the chance to gain market-driven skills in advanced Chase is expecting that the boot camp has at IJava programming, applied data science and UX/UI (user interface/user interface engineering) least two favorable outcomes. “I hope that we get through the pioneering curricula developed by industry experts and Net ix professionals. Accepted more NSU representation at Net ix. Exposing students receive a Net ix scholarship to cover the cost of attendance. e boot camp, championed by students and graduates to these high-tech roles NSU alumnus and Net ix senior engineer Michael Chase, is the rst at an HBCU and is expected is expanding our representation,” he said. “It’s to serve as a model. our responsibility to think about a long-term “If we really hope to increase Black representation in the tech industry, we need to address our pipeline.” Chase views the partnership as a way current gaps while expanding access to Black students,” said Kabi Gishuru, director of inclusion to get high-tech companies to seek out NSU recruiting programs at Net ix. “ is starts with being intentional about building future talent students, and as a way for students to gain the pipelines. ese boot camps are just one step in that direction, but we can’t do it alone. We hope needed skills and obtain jobs at high-tech rms. more companies will invest in technical training for Black talent at the college level, contributing to a Because as Chase sees it, “It’s good business to necessary shi in the future of our industry.” have diverse people throughout a business.”
20 BEHOLD MAGAZINE • 2021 For 150 years, Historically Black Colleges and Universities have educated countless African Americans. Many of those graduates went on to be considered the greats in their fields while numerous others with outstanding contributions remained hidden figures. According to UNCF, HBCUs make up just 3% of the country’s higher education institutions, enroll 10% of all African American students and produce nearly 20% of all African American graduates. Yet for most of their existence, HBCUs have been grossly underfunded and often unseen. However, 2020 brought the intersection of the COVID-19 pandemic, the killing of George Floyd with the resulting calls for racial justice and the election of the 1st black woman, an HBCU graduate, as the nation’s vice president. This brought an unprecedented amount of attention and donations to HBCUs, including Norfolk State University, which received a total of $45.8 million in pledges, partnerships and donations from corporations, philanthropists and high-tech firms.
By SHARON RIDDICK HOGGARD M.A.’04 U.S. TECH FIRMS Connect with HBCUs to Close Diversity Talent Gap
acebook users – did you know that Facebook Inc.’s U.S. workforce companies have been slow to improve the situation. e industry remains employs just 3% Black workers? And, that’s up from 2% back dominated by White and Asian men. “It’s a systemic problem that’s been in 2014. Similarly, only 2% of Google’s workforce is Black. Talk around for a very long time,” said Dr. Aurelia Williams, NSU interim vice about a diversity talent gap. According to Fortune.com business provost for academic administration. She believes the diversity talent gap Fmagazine, among the country’s eight largest tech companies, the portion of has been around for at least 20 years or more. Williams, NSU’s Computer Black workers in technical jobs rose to 3.1% in 2017, from 2.5% in 2014, Science Department, internal boards, and other STEM counterparts, are all according to stats compiled by Bloomberg News. e latest data from the working to ensure students are trained and ready to meet the demands of the U.S. government, which was released in 2016, reported that Blacks made ever-evolving high-tech industry. up just 7% of the U.S. high-tech workforce and only 3% of the total Silicon Williams is also working with CEBOT – the Council Exchange Board of Valley workforce. Trade. CEBOT is comprised of 65,000 U.S. minority tech companies whose e tech giants are quite aware of the lack of racial diversity within its mission is to build relationships with the government and communities. industry, and for an industry that prides itself on pivoting on a dime, tech CEBOT leverages its members’ capabilities with its stakeholders’ access
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in an eort to bring prosperity to communities. Williams hopes to forge each institution’s nancial aid process. “Norfolk State University is pleased an HBCU Consortium, aligned with minority tech companies, and oer to be a part of the inaugural class of Diageo HBCU endowment recipients,” a dierent capability statement to the federal government. If all goes as stated Cliord Porter Jr., NSU vice president for university advancement. planned, NSU will lead an organization that competes with the high-tech Porter added, “ is fund will have a preference for students in engineering, giants, because the consortium will have minority representation to do the chemistry, marketing, and communications, but is open to all students.” work that competes with the oerings of the bigger tech companies. MITRE Corporation, founded in 1958 as a private, not-for-pro t Tech rms are now engaging to partner with HBCUs at record levels. company to provide engineering and technical guidance for the federal “ e diversity talent gap . . . it’s just been ampli ed now due to current social government, has established a relationship with two HBCUs–Norfolk justice crises we have going on,” said Williams. She expressed that these State and Alabama A&M. rough MITRE’s partnership with AMIE, companies don’t want to go down in history as being on the wrong side of (Advancing Minorities’ Interest in Engineering), MITRE is building a the story. “ ey don’t want to be seen as contributing to anything that shows pipeline of next generation technical experts by implementing support there are the two dierent societies in U.S. and that Black persons are treated programs that attract, educate, graduate and place underrepresented students dierently. ere have always been initiatives and programs designed to hire in engineering and computer science careers. Nearly a dozen Norfolk State underrepresented students with STEM degrees into these companies. Some graduates now work for the MITRE Corporation. Dr. Williams’ goal with of these companies have successful programs that have worked.” Dr. Williams this partnership is to forge business partnerships that actually compete with noted that the tech companies’ issue of closing the tech diversity talent gap is the big tech companies. two-fold. “ ey have the challenge of keeping these underrepresented persons NSU has scored another business venture by securing a Microso Impact in these positions, and secondly the environment is not always conducive Grant, a $200,000 grant that will be used to help advance the cause of social to retention of these employees. So the problem is two-fold; rst you’ve justice and equality through the development of technology tools that will got to nd out where these students are, and then you have to gure out raise awareness of voting and civic engagement all in advance of the 2024 how to keep them.” Williams added, “A lot of these companies have a nity election. is is a big deal. Microso has taken a leadership role in this eort, groups. Google does this. Diverse employees can congregate and share their since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, providing funds to nonpro ts experiences without being judged. People are more likely to stay where they around the globe for employment training for those who lost jobs. e feel comfortable. Companies can then use those persons to help recruit.” company’s speci c interest is working with groups that are underrepresented e university’s networks, its outreach eorts, and solid connections in the in the tech business. NSU’s impact grant project is being directed by faculty tech industry are paying dividends as several major U.S. tech companies are in the departments of Computer Science and Engineering. e technology meeting the challenge to form a diverse talent pipeline. IBM announced a deliverables are not the only result of this program. e project is also $100 million HBCU partnership to increase recognition, achievement, and designed to provide students with exposure to the theoretical and practical hiring of Black talent through the IBM Skills Academy. A comprehensive skills to excel in the tech business sector. training program designed to empower students of diverse backgrounds, Research clearly demonstrates that companies that embrace diversity in the skills academy includes workshops and intensive hands-on experiences leadership and throughout the ranks are more likely to be quite pro table. using industry solutions. rough the skills academy, IBM is donating assets Norfolk State University continues to take aggressive and bold measures to that include guest lectures, curriculum content, digital badges, soware ensure that tech diversity talent gap is slowly and deliberately closing. and faculty training. Other HBCUs also involved in the skills academy include Fayetteville State University, Grambling State University, Johnson C. Smith University, North Carolina Central University, Stillman University, Virginia State and Western Virginia State universities. Ultimately, this initiative will help prepare NSU students for the digital age, enabling them to embrace a range of technologies from arti cial intelligence (AI) to cloud, data analytics and quantum. Williams believes these kinds of partnerships are critical for HBCUs. “If we don’t have people that look like us in big tech to advocate for us, we’re not going to get hired.” Diageo North America, a global premium drinks company, has pledged $10 million to support 25 HBCUs including Norfolk State. Additionally, Diageo is creating endowed funds to provide continuing nancial aid and grants for students in the coming years. Funds are available for HBCU students across dierent disciplines and majors, and distributed according to
22 BEHOLD MAGAZINE • 2021 By SHARON RIDDICK HOGGARD (M.A.’04) REGIONAL CORPORATIONS Make Financial Commitments orfolk State University’s latest fundraising eorts have paid o. $2.7 million to support student retention and graduation, as well as enhance the e University has been the recipient of several large nancial University’s impact as a leader in public policy and social justice. Additionally, the gis from state and regional corporations. “ e University has funding will be used to increase minority representation in science, technology, actively sought out new funding opportunities with local, regional engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers. “ e funding from these entities Nand national agencies. Members of the faculty and the advancement o ce have will impact several initiatives on campus including scholarships, advising and partnered to submit proposals that have been approved for funding by several retention programs, and community health initiatives,” Porter reiterated. new agencies,” stated Cliord Porter, vice president for university advancement. VIRGINIA NATURAL GAS AND SOUTHERN COMPANY SENTARA HEALTHCARE AND SENTARA HEALTH PLANS Virginia Natural Gas and its parent company, Southern Company, have One of the most signi cant revelations of the COVID-19 pandemic has been awarded NSU with a $220,000 award to support student career readiness. the disparities in health care in minority and other underserved communities. According to a news release on the Virginia Natural Gas website, Virginia Sentara Healthcare, a not-for-pro t health care organization that serves Natural Gas and Southern Company continue to be committed to the success Virginia and northeastern North Carolina, has stepped up its eorts to improve of HBCUs and fostering greater diversity and inclusion across the communities the health and well-being of these communities. Sentara Healthcare and Sentara they serve. NSU’s grant will be used for scholarships, internships, leadership Health Plans announced a $10 million investment earlier in 2021, called e development, access to technology and innovation. Sentara Healthier Communities Fund. e funds will be used to bolster public health for underserved communities and support healthcare education. NSU, BLACK AMBITION HBCU PRIZE as one of the benefactors of this regional investment, received a $2 million grant Virginia Beach native, music icon, and creator of the Something In e Water from Sentara Healthcare & Sentara Health Plans, which will be used to further concert festival, Pharrell Williams launched the Black Ambition HBCU Prize, the development of a joint School of Public Health, a collaboration between which has the potential to build future business endeavors. e main goal of NSU and Old Dominion University (ODU). e grant also provides $2 the project is to level the playing eld and foster the ingenuity, determination, million to ODU. Ultimately, this grant will enable NSU to proactively address and resilience of underrepresented entrepreneurs. Williams has partnered with the health inequities that impact Norfolk and the greater Hampton Roads companies and organizations that include Adidas, Chanel, the Chan Zuckerberg Community. Health experts, epidemiologists and virologists alike believe Initiative, e Rockefeller Foundation, Tony’s Chocolonely and the Visa that COVID-19 is going to be with us for a while serving to further expose Foundation. e grand prize winner will receive $250,000 and nine other teams community health issues. During a time of national and international concern will receive smaller awards. Williams believes that minorities need more business for the health of all people, the Sentara Healthcare grant will allow NSU to ownership and that the most fertile ground for business ideas is among the country’s be part of the solutions to public health inequities and challenges through the HBCUs. e Black Ambition HBCU Prize will oer prizes and mentorship for university’s health-related academic programs and civic engagement. current and former students at HBCUs as they develop seed or early-stage ideas and launch companies in tech, design, healthcare, and consumer products and services. DOMINION ENERGY INC. — HBCU PROMISE GRANT “Typically, HBCUs don’t have very large endowments like our PWI peers,” said Dominion Energy Inc., headquartered in Richmond, historically has been Dr. Aurelia Williams, interim vice provost for academic administration, assessing a corporate partner in a host of diverse programs and charities in the states it various corporations’ new interest in creating relationships with HBCUs. conducts business. rough its Dominion Energy Six-Year HBCU Promise Grant, Williams also noted, “ ese investments fund scholarships, training, and create Norfolk State University is one of 11 HBCUs to bene t. e program supports a pipeline that will continually funnel minorities into high tech positions.” endowments, capital projects, operating expenses and educational programs in Porter added, “ ese partnerships are essential to helping Norfolk State in clean energy at HBCUs in Virginia, Ohio, North Carolina, and South Carolina. accomplishing its mission of educating students and making sure that they are Dominion has committed $25 million to the grant, of which NSU will receive rst-day ready upon graduation.”
VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1 • BEHOLD MAGAZINE 23 NSU RECEIVES Transformational and Historical $40 Million Gi By GAIL KENT
orfolk State has received a $40 million economic development opportunities. gi, the largest single-donor gi in ese will include public/private ventures its 85-year history, from MacKenzie supported by faculty research, such as the Scott, philanthropist and novelist. McDemmond Center for Applied Research, a N e reaction at NSU has been jubilation, says 136,000-square-foot facility that houses advanced Vice President of University Advancement Cliord research in computational science, engineering, Porter. “Everyone has been extremely excited. It’s information assurance and materials science. e a testament to the work that has been done at center is home to one of the highest rated “clean Norfolk State and a signal that we’re moving in the room” research facilities on the Eastern Seaboard. right direction.” Before the donation, Scott, the wealthiest woman He says receiving a gi this size with no in the country and the 12th wealthiest in the world, restrictions on its use is a “seal of approval that evaluated a list of several thousand charities across Norfolk State is not just a great HBCU, but that it’s the country. Porter says Norfolk State o cials knew a great institution and has been run properly.” NSU was under consideration when Scott’s team e gi will be a catalyst for future fundraising, contacted them asking a series of questions. e team too, he says. “When you get a gi like this, it brings contacted the University about a month later in attention to you. We’re going to be announcing other December with the good news. seven- gure gis soon.” “We didn’t know at the time how much the gi “We are pleased to receive this level of support for would be, and when we found out, the president and transforming the curious thoughts of our students I were trying to decide who was going to pass out into the brightest minds of our world,” says NSU rst,” Porter says with a laugh. President Javaune Adams-Gaston. Scott gave gis totaling $410 million to HBCUs All of the gi, either directly or indirectly, will across the country in December alone, adding to the bene t students. About $15 million will bolster the nearly $6 billion she gave away in all of 2020, all of University’s relatively small, $39 million endowment it without strings attached. Scott has become one of to support scholarships. “One of our major the most generous philanthropists in the country. challenges is not that our students don’t achieve e gi is helping prepare Norfolk State for academically, it’s that they cannot aord to go to an upcoming capitol campaign, says Porter, who the institution, so a lot of our numbers have been assumed his position less than a year ago. “ e impacted by the inability to pay,” Porter says. University has only had one capital campaign and “We will put this money in a special that was almost 30 years ago. As I was coming in scholarship endowment, and it will be spread the door, the president asked me to consider doing a out among several dierent programs, including capital campaign and how to structure it.” need-based scholarships.” e main purposes of the campaign will be to Other uses for the gi include expanding the build the endowment so that it will yield enough campus, creating an Institutional Excellence Fund to fund every scholarship the University gives and to help faculty and sta acquire grants requiring to provide funds to oset emergencies, such as the matching funds from the University, and supporting impact COVID-19 has had on campus.
24 BEHOLD MAGAZINE • 2021 NSU RECEIVES Transformational and Historical $40 Million Gift STUDENTATHLETES UNITE AROUND CIVIC AND SOCIAL JUSTICE CAUSES By Siera Jones In the summer of 2020, while repeated instances of police brutality against the Black community inflicted pain and uncer- tainty across the United States, NSU’s SAAC partnered with other SAAC organizations across Hampton Roads to create the “757 Student-Athlete Coalition for Social Change.” This coali- tion included student-athletes and athletic administrators from Hampton University, Old Dominion University, The College of William and Mary, Virginia Wesleyan University and Christo- pher Newport University. The march began on Norfolk State’s campus and ended in downtown Norfolk at the site where a Confederate statue once stood. The coalition organized a march on July 18, 2020 to unite the community to stand against racial discrimination, police brutality and social injustice. NSU SAAC president and wom- en’s basketball senior Armani Franklin was among those who organized and participated in the unity walk. “Being a student-athlete, you are already faced with so many challenges of your own,” Franklin said. “But to be able to raise awareness for a cause that is important to us and affects so many of the lives of people who we can relate to, or consider friends and family, was just an amazing experience that I was blessed to be a part of.” As the academic year progressed, and the 2020 presidential election approached, NSU’s student-athletes created an initiative geared toward reaching 100% voter registration across all athletic teams. Leading the charge was SAAC civic engagement chair and women’s volleyball player Symone Thomas. Thomas organized a partnership between NSU Athletics, Campus Vote Project and NSU Young Democrats to create the “Spartans Vote” Campaign. Despite limitations caused by the COVID-19 pan- demic, the SAAC board worked to host virtual information sessions for student-athletes and launch social media campaigns to educate the athletic community. These efforts informed athletes how to reg- ister to vote in their respective states and request absentee ballots for the upcoming election. Their efforts allowed NSU athletics to n a year marked by the United States’ desperate need for social reach a record-breaking percentage of registered voters. change, social activists have arisen from various athletic commu- “I wanted the athletes to know that they were more than the sports nities. With instances of police brutality shaking the nation, and a they were playing,” Thomas said. “Letting athletes know that they pivotal election approaching, the student-athletes of Norfolk State are more than just athletes on campus, and that they actually have a Ifought together for social justice in their communities. voice and the power to do something meant a lot to me.” NSU’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) has been at the The efforts of NSU’s SAAC have allowed student-athletes to find forefront of organizing events to raise awareness among student-ath- their voices and strive for social change despite the many challenges letes, and encourage the entire campus community to use their facing them. The change that they achieved has benefited the voices to create change. Two primary efforts included the NSU Unity campus community and set a precedent for social activism that will Walk and the Spartans Vote initiative. continue to impact the NSU community for years to come.
26 BEHOLD MAGAZINE • 2021 AthleticNews STUDENTATHLETES UNITE MARCH WAS FULL AROUND CIVIC AND SOCIAL JUSTICE CAUSES OF MADNESS AT NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY THIS YEAR. By Matt Michalec
or just the second time in its history—and first since school year. Many programs across the country did not complete 2012—the Spartan men’s basketball team won the MEAC their seasons due to COVID-19 challenges. Tournament championship, topping Morgan State 71-63 Despite all of this, NSU persevered, winning 17 of its 25 games in the final round. And just like that legendary 2012 team, and once again putting the program in the national spotlight. Fthis year’s Spartans made a name for themselves in the NCAA Along with its stellar showing inside the conference, the Spartans Tournament, knocking off Appalachian State in a First Four game notched non-conference wins over James Madison, Radford, on national television. The team showcased its trademark grit, George Mason and Hampton along with its post-season victory seeing its 19-point lead turn into a six-point deficit late in the against Appalachian State, the Sun Belt Conference champions. game, only to rally for the win in the closing seconds thanks to This year’s Spartans also became the first team in program history two Devante Carter free throws. to win both a regular-season MEAC title, tying for the top spot in Though the Spartans fell to top-ranked Gonzaga in the next the conference’s Northern Division, and win the MEAC Tourna- round, more history had been made. NSU is the only MEAC school ment. Not even the 2012 team that shocked No. 2 seed Missouri with two NCAA Tournament victories in its history. And the feat can say that. has been accomplished in just two trips to the Big Dance. “I told them (after the Gonzaga game): No tears out here,” said That the Spartans reached that point was notable in itself, head coach Robert Jones, who was a finalist for three national as teams nationwide faced challenges all year related to the awards. “You should lift your heads up, because you’ve done COVID-19 pandemic. Fan attendance was limited to player fam- something that no other team in Norfolk State’s Division I history ilies for much of the year. The schedule was in constant flux due has done. to virus protocols with other programs, and players did not have “With us having quality non-conference wins, we showed we as much contact with the outside world as they would in a normal can compete with anybody mid-major in the country.”
VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1 • BEHOLD MAGAZINE 27 A ‘RECKONING’ AND AN ‘AWAKENING’
Just days a er the video of the murder of George Floyd surfaced, shocked Americans took to the streets in protest of his death and to call for racial and social justice everywhere. By mid-June, four polls showed that between 15 million and 26 million said they had protested the killing and racial injustice. Corporations also quickly stepped forward to condemn racism and made commitments to their employees to take action. Two NSU alumnae have played and continue to play important roles in helping their companies shape and carry out those policies and commitments. Read their stories below. LIVING DIVERSITY
& INCLUSIONuring her nearly two decades at Dow, Alveda holistic plan to address systemic racism, inequality and injustice J. Williams Ph.D. (B.S.’97) has held numerous through the three pillars of advocacy, community and talent by positions in research and development, contributing listening to its employees and partners. to highly successful projects involving technology Because of the Company’s leadership on these issues, As You Ddevelopment for the food packaging, electronics and automotive Sow, a nonpro t foundation that promotes corporate social industries. Williams, a chemistry major and DNIMAS scholar, responsibility through shareholder advocacy, named Dow as one of also served in technical leadership, recruitment and human a few companies that provide a strong example of how companies resources positions at the global materials science company. at should address racial injustice. experience has placed her in the right place at the right time at the “Dow has a long history in the diversity and inclusion space and right company. in 2017, we reignited our journey to be even more deliberate and Currently, Dr. Williams is the corporate director of inclusion, a intentional,” said Dr. Williams. “However, in 2020, in the middle position she has held since 2017. “In my role as corporate director of the global COVID-19 pandemic, our country experienced yet of inclusion, I am responsible for de ning and implementing another crisis – a long overdue national reckoning on race aer a global strategy that allows the Company to achieve the murder of George Floyd. Like so many other companies, Dow its ambition which is “to become the most innovative, responded by visibly leading on topics of social justice and racial customer-centric, inclusive and sustainable material equity through a holistic strategy, commitments, and actions. science company in the world.’ While no company is perfect, at Dow we know where we are Williams also leads the Global Center of headed and we are constantly working to do better.” Expertise for Talent Acquisition which sets best One of the initiatives that Dow has undertaken expands practices and governance for sourcing, recruiting, its existing recruitment partnerships with ve HBCUs, who and hiring talent. “While the outcomes are oer Bachelor of Science degrees in chemical or mechanical focused on building a more diverse workforce engineering. Last fall, under Dow ACTs, the company announced and supply chain,” Williams said, “the work a $5 million investment to Florida A&M, Howard, North is about ensuring equity and fairness in our Carolina A&T, Prairie View A&M and Southern universities processes, and cultivating a culture where through 2024. e goal is to enhance the Black STEM pipeline. 100% of the more than 36,000 employees at “ is includes support for development of teachers and students, Dow can bring 100% of themselves to work undergraduate and graduate research programs, and underwriting 100% of the time.” the education for 10 students per year pursuing STEM degrees During the protests in the wake of the killing at HBCUs through the Future of STEM Scholars Initiative of George Floyd, Dow was out front denouncing (FOSSI),” said Williams. racial and social injustice and making a corporate Dr. Williams has advice for students about working for a global commitment to help be part of the solution. corporation like Dow. “It’s not just up to the African American community to “Know that your HBCU education prepares you, but what will ght the racism these incidents re ect. It’s up to all of us, dierentiate you from other students is demonstrated leadership, especially those of us who would likely never personally agility, problem solving, teamwork, project management, experience a situation like this,” Jim Fitterling, Dow communication skills, and business acumen.” She said that since chairman and chief executive o cer, wrote in Dow’s past performance is the greatest predictor of future success that Seek Together Blog in May 2020. working to develop and re ne these skills now is critical. By mid-June, Dow had developed Dow ACTs, a AlumniNews ADVOCATING For Black Employees ast June, Alisia Smith-Rucker ’94, could feel that the right time and diversity workplace initiatives and sustainability issues and has used the had come. In the wake of the killing of George Floyd and calls for hashtag #TomorrowStartsToday as a way of conveying that change must start social justice, Mars, her employer’s parent company, had tweeted today and must start with the company. LIVING DIVERSITY the following on June 1: “We’re deeply saddened by the recent “BAC is a core contributor to Royal Canin being inclusive, courageous and Ltragic events in the US that have once again highlighted the pervasiveness accountable for inclusion and diversity (I&D), ensuring talent is diverse and of discrimination. We need to come together around the world to eliminate representative at every level in the company,” Smith-Rucker said. e Black racism. We remain committed to inclusion, equality & justice for everyone.” Advisory Council has also worked to get Royal Canin to invest in recruiting & INCLUSION #TomorrowStartsToday. e graphic below was posted as part of the tweet: candidates from Historically Black Colleges and Universities, ensuring Smith-Rucker, who that the company’s talent is diverse and representative at every level from was at the time Royal internships to experienced hires. e BAC has also forged relationships with Canin’s Veterinary District community organizations such as the Annie Malone Children and Family Manager for Veterinary Services Center in St. Louis, where Royal Canin is headquartered; has also hospitals in Northern begun providing support to the Emerson Academy erapeutic School, VA and Washington Girls at Risk and Girls Clubs of America. BAC also serves as an engagement DC, proposed forming a partner with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the Martin Luther King Jr. Black Advisory Council Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta. (BAC) at Royal Canin. “ e Black Advisory Council's initiatives and mission of ensuring Black " e unfortunate 2020 talent is not overlooked at Royal Canin USA will live in perpetuity, while public murder of George Floyd, coupled with the social climate of the country driving brand recognition and delivering education on animal health and made it more than the right moment to launch the Black Advisory Council,” nutrition in Black communities from K-12 and at HBCUs,” she said. she said. “It made it necessary to take a stand for something greater than Smith-Rucker is an exemplar. She is a high-achiever at Royal Canin, myself that would make a signi cant impact in my company's culture as well as which has recognized her with its Red Club award for reaching 175% of throughout the communities Royal Canin serves.” her goals. e company has also honored her achievements by selecting Later that month, Smith-Rucker became the founder and co-chair of the her as the 2019 District Manager of the Year for achieving the highest sales Royal Canin Black Advisory Council (BAC) Associate Relations Group. numbers among the company’s 500 sales associates nationwide, exceeding “BAC was formed to drive sustainable change all key performance indicators and going out of her way to share best where every Associate has the opportunity practices with colleagues across the country. Aer six years of hard work as to succeed regardless of race or color, in District Manager, last October, Smith-Rucker became the rst Black female support of the Mars North America Veterinary Regional Manager at the company. She is now responsible for Equity, Inclusion and Diversity managing a team of District Managers aligned to over 2000 Veterinary strategies which focus on gender clinics and hospitals in Central and Southern Virginia, West Virginia, balance, inclusion and workforce Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana. representation,” she said. “Our “Large corporations build eective teams by hiring people from diverse initiatives promote an inclusive, backgrounds, cultural experiences and thought leaders to achieve their goals,” psychologically safe workplace said Smith-Rucker. She encourages students to think about the following that encourages recruitment, when they work for a large corporation that may have subsidiaries, “have an development, retention and open mind, a desire to learn and display exibility with their skillsets as well advancement of Black talent.” as have the ability to pull from global awareness.” Finally, she advises, “In For several years, Mars, a family- your life and career, you will have victories as well as moments that challenge owned global company that you mentally and physically. In these moments, your strategic agility, decision may be best known for its quality and problem solving will help you quickly pivot. Shine as your candy products such as authentic self, always drawing on the fundamentals you gained at Norfolk M&M’s, Snickers and State University.” Skittles, has been at the forefront of inclusion
VOLUME 8, ISSUE 1 • BEHOLD MAGAZINE 29 n Saturday, March 6, 2021 the NSU Alumni Association, Inc., Kimberly Roberts ’93 each received the Chapter Service Award. virtually honored its members and chapters for their outstanding e NSUAA also honored two regional groups with its Chapter of the Ocontributions to the NSUAA. e association also welcomed 98 Year Award. e recipients have consistently supported the mission and goals new life members. of the alumni association and donated their time and treasure to Norfolk Tracy D. Boone ’88 & ’12 received the NSUAA’s Alumnus of the Year State University. e Central Virginia Alumni Chapter received the 2020 Award. While Coletta Bey ’85, Shalym Benyahu ’96, Christine Booth Chapter of the Year Award for the 35 and under membership category. ’78, Phillip Hawkins ’94 & ’05, Lawrence Hillian ’75, Tressa Hundley While the Greater Northern Virginia Alumni Chapter received the award ’07, Jacqueline Milteer ’98, Valerie Perkins ’78, Sandra Pitchford ’70, and for 36+ membership category.
CHAPTER OF THE YEAR AWARD RECIPIENT Membership Size (10-35) Central Virginia Chapter
30 BEHOLD MAGAZINE • 2021 AlumniNews
CHAPTER OF THE YEAR AWARD RECIPIENT Membership Size (36+) Greater Northern Virginia Chapter
ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR AWARD Tracy D. Boone RECIPIENT ’88 & ’12
Central Virginia Chapter
VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1 • BEHOLD MAGAZINE 31 AlumniNews NSUAA PRESIDENT Believes in Power of Connections ntonio L. Harrison ’92 is putting into practice many of the He wants to continue bringing prospective students to campus, to continue lessons that he learned as a student at Norfolk State. From the mentoring students who are already enrolled and to help them make connections beginning, his journey has been about connections. ose with NSU alumni. “ e rst job I had in technology was with a Norfolk State connections have proved to be a positive force in his life. alumnus that had his own company,” Harrison said. “You don’t know where life is “One of my best friends was a student here,” said Harrison going to take you, so when that door opens, just be prepared to walk through that as he spoke from the Division of University Advancement conference room in door and take advantage of it.” HarrisonA B. Wilson Hall. “He invited me here for homecoming. I came and got to see the campus.” But there was one more connection Harrison had that also played an important role in his decision to attend. “Back then, my vice principal was Dr. James Crawley ’61, who was the rst NSUAA president. He recruited a lot of students to Norfolk State, so that’s how a big group of us ended up here.” While at NSU, Harrison, a (Mechanical) Design Technology major, began to learn the importance of connections. “ e deans, they pushed you to become not just another student sitting in the seat,” he said. “As a work study student, I was able to help con gure the rst Local Area Network in the School of Technology— pre- Internet. I was given the opportunity to become a leader in an organization. I was student president of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. I was able to travel with my dean.” As president of the group, Harrison explained that it helped him grow into a leader. “We would go to Hampton to meet with professional engineers—Newport News Shipbuilding— and to talk with them. Just being able to get in front of a group of professionals and to talk about the University and the program provided growth and exposure,” he said. “Later in life that just prepared you for when you got on the job to be ready for any situation.” Harrison took that experience, and many more like it, into his professional life and has made it somewhat of a philosophy. “I think what I learned is that if you’re willing to be a part of an organization, then you should be willing to lead that organization,” said Harrison. “I oen tell that to students. I tell them just don’t be a part of a club in high school, aspire to lead that club.” Now aer six years as president of the Greater Northern Virginia Chapter- NSUAA, Harrison has taken up the mantle of his former vice principal as president of NSUAA.
During his three-year term, Harrison has set several broad goals: • Increase NSUAA membership • Raise funds in support of the University • Provide a professional network for alumni to help them excel in their professions • Recruit and mentor outstanding students to Norfolk State
32 BEHOLD MAGAZINE • 2021 NSU ALUMNI MOVERS AND SHAKERS
Dr. Felicia L. Ganther ’92 Dr. Patricia Ramsey (B.S. ’71) , was selected as the next became the first woman and sixth president of Bucks County president of Medgar Evers College in Community College, becoming Brooklyn. This CUNY senior college, NSUAA PRESIDENT the first African American a Predominantly Black Institution, woman to lead the public and an Emerging Hispanic-Serving institution. Ganther will replace Institution, was created in response Believes in Power of Connections retiring president Stephanie to community advocacy in 1970 and Shanblatt and will work with her named for the iconic civil rights leader on the transition over the next slain seven years earlier. Dr. Ramsey few months. Ganther will be the brings more than three decades fifth president in the college’s of wide-ranging experience as an 57-year history, bringing 25 educator, educational administrator, years of education and a law scientist, scholar and student-focused degree to the position. She has leader at universities in Maryland, experience in Student Affairs, Virginia and North Carolina. She most Auxiliary Services and College recently served as a senior executive Retention Services. fellow at the Thurgood Marshall Her work in developing College Fund in Washington, D.C., programs to support the and as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Lincoln University recruitment and retention of African American, Latino, in Pennsylvania, the oldest degree-granting HBCU in the nation. A seasoned Native and underserved students has been highlighted by strategist and action-oriented leader, Dr. Ramsey has implemented initiatives national organizations. that yield positive outcomes such as the $1.3 million award she negotiated in her first three months as a fundraising officer at Norfolk State University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology Education.
While spending her summers in Kenneth L. Pritchett ’16 & ’19, Ohio, Evita Perkins ’12 would Petersburg City Public Schools spend a lot of time with her Board Chair, was recently grandmother, Bettie Broadnax, recognized as a leader in modern watching her get ready every governance. The Diligent day. In which, her grandmother Corporation honored Pritchett became her inspiration for her as part of its Inaugural Modern brand since her initials began Governance 100 Community with a ‘B’ which turned into a Boards program, which is bee theme. Perkins started with dedicated to the recognition of making two to three fragrances community governance leaders and sent them out to close friends who are committed to driving and family members to get positive organizational change. It their feedback. After receiving shines a light on publicly elected positive feedback, Butta Bee’s boards and councils as well as the officially launched. She felt that professionals that support them. it was extremely important for Over the last year, governance African Americans to have their leaders faced an array of new own products that caters to challenges, from the COVID-19 their skin. Perkins participated in pandemic to civil unrest to shifting the 2021 Black History Makers to work from home offices. In the face of these changes, governance Market where, unbeknownst to her, she won the Black History Maker of the experts redefined their roles and helped to ensure service continuity and Year Award – Tampa. You can find more information on her business on long-term organizational success. The professionals recognized by the Instagram at @butta.bees. Modern Governance 100 Community Boards program demonstrated exceptional work throughout the year, with a consistent focus on communication, collaboration, and community.
VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1 • BEHOLD MAGAZINE 33 Office of Communications and Marketing 700 Park Avenue, HBW 340 Norfolk, VA 23504
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NSU extends its most heartfelt congratulations to the Graduating Classes of 2020 and 2021!