2022 Winter Leadership Edition - Bronco Pride Magazine

FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY

SPECIAL ISSUE

BRONCO PRIDE WINTER 2022 | MAGAZINE

LEADERSHIP ENTERPRISE

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LEADING THE WAY

Contents 3 From the Chancellor: Renewal & potential

Fayetteville State University Bronco Pride Chancellor Darrell T. Allison, J.D.

Editor La’Won D. Williams Director of University Publications

4-5

Changing the keys: FSU acquires Bronco Square for $5 million, debt-free

Co-Editor Joy Cook Media Relations/University Spokesperson Co-Editor Tina Raines Director of Marketing and Strategic Communications Writers Kristen Blair, Janet Gibson, and Traverro L. Harden

6-11 Historic state budget to fund campus revitalization 12-13 FSU’s rural outreach gets a boost A rising star: Elie Bracy IV accepts prestigious appointment 14-15 with Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.

Photographers Ezekiel Best and Cindy Burnham Graphic Designer/Illustrator Mariano Santillan Proofreader Kristen Blair

16 Leadership: Board of Trustees 17 Leadership: Foundation Board 18-19 Leadership: Board of Visitors 20-23

Bringing units ‘back to life’: Alumni invest in rehabilitating Murchison Road housing, growing the community

24-25 Cadet Andrez Anderson knows how to ‘finish strong’ 26-28 29

Good medicine: The power of nurturing relationships fuels Vinette Gordon’s work at FSU In sharp focus: FSU student captures cover photo of popular actress for new magazine

30-31 FSU’s impact reaches children’s lives long before college 32-33 Forever begins at FSU 34

Boosting resources, fueling dreams: New fundraising efforts yield $1.7 million for FSU

35 Get involved

1200 Murchison Road Fayetteville, NC 28301 Phone: (910) 672-1377

www.uncfsu.edu Fayetteville State University is proud to be a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina System.

Letter from the Chancellor

Renewal potential

A letter from the Chancellor

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Here we stand at the dawn of 2022, with all of the attendant hope that a new year brings. Expectation quickens the mind, reviving resolve. Goals, dormant and distant, feel attainable once again. This is the cycle of the year, and it is predictable in its cadence and rhythm. But for Fayetteville State University, this is no ordinary year.

Something is stirring right now. Hope, long deferred, is being transformed into reality all around us. It is a time of renewal and potential.

Look up: There are signs and symbols of renewal coming to campus. Just before Thanksgiving, FSU became the beneficiary of $164 million in state budget appropriations. This amount is historic, representing the largest total appropriation our institution has received in 35 years. Moreover, budgetary priorities underscore our institution’s focus on renewal. These are the words that populate project priorities: renovate, repair, restore, rehabilitate, retrofit. They resonate and recur as themes across a spreadsheet.

Already, these words are coming to life.

Campus renovations are underway.

Outdated residence halls will soon give way to a new Health & Wellness Center. University Advancement efforts have been fruitful, enabling us to raise over $1.7 million since I took office in March. A provision in the new budget

FSU’s blueprint for success

authorizes FSU’s participation in the state-funded NC Promise Tuition Plan, allowing us to offer tuition to in-state students for $500 a semester. This will maximize affordability and access for all of our students—and boost enrollment and future state funding for FSU.

precepts, which he calls the “Law of the Lid,” is simple but fundamental: Ineffective leadership caps an organization’s potential. Effective leadership, however, is multiplicative in its impact, yielding exponential returns on a successful investment.

What else? Our debt-free acquisition of Bronco Square restored to us the full rights and privileges of property ownership. Our partner, who owned a 50% stake in the property for 20 years, contributed $150,000 to FSU even as he handed us the keys. The Bronco Square acquisition will create additional revenue opportunities, enabling FSU to drive new economic growth in our region.

At FSU, effective leadership encompasses my role as Chancellor as well as our Cabinet, Board of Trustees, and Foundation Board. This fall we announced new leadership among our Trustees and new members to our Foundation Board. Effective leadership also includes FSU’s newly launched Board of Visitors, comprised of industry leaders who will help guide FSU’s priorities toward realization of our full potential.

Do you see it? We are mending what is broken, augmenting what we have, and breaking new ground. These are the steps of growth. These are the engines of enterprise. These are the signs of renewal.

Yet, renewal would not be possible, or ultimately profitable, without effective leadership to guide and shape it. So, we are also strengthening our governance structures. This will ensure that we leverage resources effectively to fulfill our potential.

Across the years, my thinking on leadership has been influenced by author and leadership expert John Maxwell. One of Maxwell’s key

Renewal and potential: These are the themes of the stories in this magazine.

These are the themes of our bigger, broader FSU story. Join us in our work in 2022 to repair and renew, to build and grow. Then look up, as we watch, together, for exponential returns on our FSU investment.

Darrell T. Allison, J.D. Chancellor 3

Bronco Square

Gary Ciccone and Chancellor Darrell T. Allison mark the transition in ownership of Bronco Square. Photography by Ezekiel Best.

Changing the keys FSU acquires Bronco Square for $5 million, debt-free A staff report

Fayetteville State University is now the full owner of the Bronco Square shopping mall. The $5 million debt-free acquisition includes the new Innovation Hub, a free-standing Chick-fil-A, and a Starbucks on campus.

FSU Chancellor Darrell T. Allison announced the university’s purchase and expansion on October 12 at a “Changing of the Keys” ceremony in Bronco Square’s parking lot off Murchison Road.

“We want to play our part in this city, in this region, in this county, so that we can, too, be a more viable partner here,” Allison said. “As Fayetteville State grows, so does Fayetteville, so does Cumberland County, so does this region.”

Prior to the acquisition, the university

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owned 50 percent of the shopping mall. Gary Ciccone, a former Fayetteville lawyer, owned the other half. As he handed over the keys to Bronco Square, Ciccone also made a generous $150,000 donation to FSU. The revitalized Bronco Square building, about 32,480 square feet, comes with a new parcel of land.

The current bookstore will now be converted into the FSU Innovation & Entrepreneurship Hub, a 6,500 square foot space supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs. The Hub will include conference rooms, training capacity for up to 40 people, and 184 parking spaces. Opening is scheduled for May 2022.

The new free-standing Chick-fil-A will be placed at the corner of Bronco Square, and the Starbucks will be built

The HUB will feature flexible, tech-supported configuration for individual workspaces, conference rooms, group meetings, and casual coffee conversations.

on campus, said Trevor Ferguson, president of higher education for Aramark, FSU’s food and restaurant partner.

In 2020, Aramark and FSU opened a McAllister’s Deli in the same shopping center.

The “Changing of the Keys” event included remarks from Chancellor Allison; Wesley Fountain, FSU’s Associate Vice Chancellor for Community Relations and Economic Partnerships; Gary Ciccone, local business leader; Ulysses Taylor, Chair, FSU Development Corporation, and Interim Dean of the Broadwell College of Business and Economics; Scott Hamilton, President of the Golden LEAF Foundation; Glenn Adams, Chair of the FSU Board of Trustees, FSU Endowment Board, and the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners; and the Honorable Mitch Colvin, Mayor, City of Fayetteville.

Business leader Gary Ciccone donates $150,000 to Fayetteville State University.

Photography by Ezekiel Best.

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State budget

$164,00 Historic state budget to fund campus revitalization and renewal More than $164 million targets repairs, new construction, state-funded scholarships

By Kristen Blair

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00,000!

FSU

is set to receive more than $164 million in new funds from the state budget, passed by lawmakers and signed by Governor Cooper the week before Thanksgiving. The budget is historic in its capacity to promote institutional uplift.

“I am both overjoyed and humbled for FSU. This support that we will be receiving has been a long time coming. For the first time in over 35 years, the North Carolina state budget puts Fayetteville State University in a position to make a quantum leap in educating our future leaders,” said Darrell T. Allison, FSU Chancellor. “This unprecedented support will assure our success for generations to come.”

New dollars include $38.85 million for repairs and renovations (R&R) as well as $113 million in total capital construction funds for a College of Education building, residence hall, and parking deck. In addition, the budget allocates $11.5 million in recurring funds for FSU to join the NC Promise Tuition Plan, a state-funded scholarship program. Elsewhere, NC Promise has helped drive enrollment growth.

What will these resources mean for FSU at this moment in time? “We will have the opportunity to have revitalization,” said North Carolina Rep. Marvin Lucas, an FSU alumnus and 11-term lawmaker from Cumberland County, representing House District 42.

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State budget

A strong FSU supporter who enrolled at the university in 1960 as a college freshman, Rep. Lucas understands the impact of this budget historically. “This is one of the most beneficial infusions of finances for the university,” added Rep. Lucas.

“Without question, the morale should escalate, [with FSU] finally given the opportunity to have recognition from a national perspective.”

No cranes on campus— for a decade Such budgetary largesse is highly unusual; funding for FSU has trailed other institutions for years. In 201920, FSU ranked near the bottom among UNC System institutions in state appropriations revenue as well as equipment and capital expenditures, according to system data. Meanwhile, institutional impacts have accrued.

FSU “is the second oldest in the UNC System; it’s the oldest HBCU in the system,” said Carlton Spellman, FSU Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance. “Historically, our buildings have not been kept up as well as we would like, mainly due … to resources and the lack thereof.”

Deferred maintenance has taken a toll. According to a 2018 facilities inventory and utilization study of the UNC System, 87 percent of FSU square footage was deemed “unsatisfactory”—the highest of any UNC institution.

Compounding campus challenges: FSU has been passed over time and again for capital funds. “For 22 of the last 30 years, Fayetteville State has gotten no money in the capital budget, really, which is unheard of,” 8

said Wendell Phillips, FSU Vice Chancellor for External Affairs and Military Relations. FSU’s largest capital appropriation, $8.9 million, occurred in the early ‘90s, said Phillips.

Visible emblems of expansion have been missing: “There has not been a crane on this campus in over 10 years,” added Phillips.

On the road to rehabilitation and renewal Times are changing. The $38.85 million in R&R funds will enable FSU to move beyond patchwork repairs to comprehensive renewal. On the R&R list: 17 projects, including ongoing renovation of the Lyons Science Center, targeted renovations of the A.B. Rosenthal and Helen T. Chick buildings, electrical infrastructure repairs, roof replacements, and more.

And the cranes? Get ready: They’re coming to campus. The parking deck project will launch first, said Jon Parsons, FSU Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities Management. Design plans for the residence hall and College of Education building will take shape soon.

The new College of Education building has the unique capacity to bring FSU full circle, serving as an anchor to memory and a lodestar for the future. Historically, FSU was “known as one of the premier teaching institutions, especially in the minority community,” said Rep. Lucas, a former principal who majored in English and was part of FSU’s first secondary class, building on the institution’s reputation as an elementary training institution.

State budget

“For the first time in over 35 years, the North Carolina State budget puts Fayetteville State University in a position to make a quantum leap in educating our future leaders.”

Chancellor Darrell T. Allison, J.D.

The Chancellor celebrated the historic state budget allocation with students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

Photography by Ezekiel Best.

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State budget

Students make their way across campus. Photography by Cindy Burnham.

Yet, in recent years, FSU’s education program has dwindled, Rep. Lucas said.

A physical reset, then, is timely. “One of the main things we stood on from a historical standpoint was … educating the educators,” affirmed Phillips.

“There’s something to be said for going back to your roots and rethinking it—and doing it in a state-of-theart building with state-of-the-art resources—the ability to have an ‘all in one’ [approach] when it comes to education.”

The current College of Education 10

building houses day care and early college programs, in addition to college classrooms for aspiring teachers. The battered building will go, but the educational model it birthed will endure. That model represents a “diapers to diplomas” approach to education, Phillips observed wryly.

NC Promise: Impacting enrollment and funding for years to come

About those diapers: It might be time to shore up supplies. Plans are in the works to “double the size and the capacity of the day care in the new building,” said Parsons, with greater opportunities to serve students and the community.

Perhaps one of the most significant investments FSU is making in terms of sustainability is joining the NC Promise Tuition Plan. The program is expected to impact FSU’s recruitment, enrollment, retention, enterprise services, state funding, and more—for

State budget

NC Promise facts The cost to attend FSU does not change. The state pays the difference.

Normal cost to student In-state tuition

$2,982/yr

Out-of-state tuition

$14,590/yr

years to come.

“It’s the gift that keeps on giving,” said Spellman.

Passed by the legislature in 2016, NC Promise reduces the cost of tuition for all students at participating institutions by roughly two-thirds. Instate students pay $500 a semester in tuition instead of around $1,500; outof-state students pay $2,500 instead of $7,295. The program functions as a scholarship, with the state covering the difference between the institution’s tuition sticker price and the fixed rate of tuition for students. Participating universities experience no reduction in tuition revenue.

Three UNC System institutions made up the inaugural NC Promise cohort: Western Carolina University, UNC-Pembroke, and Elizabeth City State University. FSU was slated to be part of the inaugural group, given its location in the Sandhills region, but ultimately was left out.

At other schools, NC Promise has helped drive enrollment. At UNC Pembroke, for instance, enrollment

Cost to student under NC Promise

Savings to student with NC Promise

Savings to student over 4 years

$1,982/yr

$7,928

$12,090/yr

$48,360

$1,000/yr ($500/sem) $5,000/yr ($2,500/sem)

rose 7.3 percent between 2019 and 2020, according to a UNC System news release. At Elizabeth City State University (ECSU), annual enrollment rose 13.2 percent last year—the highest percentage increase of any UNC System school. This year, enrollment increases have been more modest, but ECSU’s growth was still over three times higher than the UNC System’s overall growth.

NC Promise won’t start at FSU until fall 2022, Rep. Lucas noted, but it should “pay untold dividends for families with financial difficulties.”

The program will help FSU compete with universities in the eastern part of the state, he added. “This makes the playing field with them more level.”

The program should also help with out-of-state recruitment. “For enrollment purposes, it’s going to be huge,” Spellman affirmed. NC Promise “gives our various programs and our recruiters the opportunity to go out and be more competitive when they’re offering scholarship dollars.”

The program should also facilitate retention and graduation. It will

reduce outstanding balances, helping in-state students stay on track to graduate, Spellman noted.

Finally, NC Promise is expected to increase FSU’s enrollment of rural, low-income, and military students.

Boosting enrollments among these student populations aligns with institutional priorities and maximizes affordability and access. Higher overall enrollments also impact future state appropriations, which rise with enrollment growth.

“Before now, [NC Promise] was a missed opportunity,” Phillips said.

“Lightning doesn’t usually strike twice in the same place. But we want to be able to harness it this time and use that electricity to energize this university, and in turn, the community and the Sandhills region in general.”

Ultimately, all of this energy and revitalization on campus should raise sights—and hopes.

“We look forward to seeing a lot of things happen,” said Rep. Lucas. “This is an opportunity to flourish.”

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NC Promise

FSU’s rural outreach gets a boost A staff report

For many students in rural areas of the state, the dream of going to college can seem elusive. Costs feel prohibitive; scholarships seem unattainable.

Too often, reality constrains hopes and dreams.

Fortunately, the NC Promise Tuition Plan, a state-funded college scholarship program, is poised to change that. The program will dramatically increase opportunities for rural and other students to attend Fayetteville State University. The tagline on the NC Promise website— “Where dreams and reality meet”— captures program possibilities and potential.

Dreaming of a new reality Created in 2016 by the NC General Assembly, the NC Promise Tuition Plan delivers on the state’s commitment to college affordability.

At participating universities, the state subsidizes a significant portion of tuition costs. In-state students pay just $500 per semester in tuition; outof-state students pay $2,500.

Initially, NC Promise launched at three UNC System schools: Elizabeth City State University, the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, and Western Carolina University. Now, thanks to a new appropriation in the state budget, FSU will become the fourth NC Promise school in N.C.

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The program represents a boon to recruitment and enrollment objectives at FSU. FSU’s location in the Sandhills region and its proximity to the state line will also provide inherent advantages for recruiting rural students, noted Dr. Monica Terrell Leach, Provost and Chief Academic Officer at FSU.

Honoring FSU’s legacy while looking to the future As a result, FSU stakeholders can look forward to a more diversified student enrollment and a revitalized campus community. Yet the program’s implementation will honor and build on FSU’s enduring legacy as an HBCU, as FSU Chancellor Darrell T. Allison has noted.

“FSU is embarking on an exciting journey that is in alignment with our rich history, while breathing new life into university culture,” Dr. Leach affirmed.

Ultimately, NC Promise and its effect on campus diversity will position FSU—and FSU graduates— for greater impact. Competitive organizations are seeking to diversify their portfolios and people; both reflect an increasingly global marketplace, Dr. Leach said.

“FSU is no different,” she added.

“For our students to have the best learning opportunities, we must provide an environment with people who have diverse thoughts, cultures, and experiences.”

Such diversity also helps ensure students graduate from FSU ready for work—and for transforming professional dreams into realworld opportunities. “The demand for professionals from diverse backgrounds is increasing across all disciplines,” Dr. Leach said. “We have a responsibility to ensure that our students leave our institution prepared to make a positive impact and meet those demands.”

“For our students to have the best learning opportunities, we must provide an environment with people who have diverse thoughts, cultures, and experiences.”

– Dr. Monica Terrell Leach, Provost and Chief Academic Officer

NC Promise

Patrick Ingram, ‘18, left, and Sydney Harris, ‘22.

Photography by Cindy Burnham.

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r a t s g n i s i r A

tment in o p p a s u io ig epts prest c c a IV y c a r B Elie rnity Inc. e t a r F i s P a h lp with Kappa A y Burnham ibson /

By Janet G

n emerging leader at Fayetteville State University – and beyond – Elie Bracy IV’s story begins in the small town of Weldon in northeastern North Carolina, where he was born 21 years ago.

At age 15, his family moved to Portsmouth, Virginia, which opened a new world for him. He started playing golf and fell in love with the game.

Against all odds for such a young player in the sport, Elie (pronounced Eli) earned a golf scholarship at a nearby university. But something kept bringing him back to the idea of attending Fayetteville State, the 14

Photograp

hy by Cind

alma mater for several of his family members, including his paternal grandparents, the late Elizabeth Bracy and Elie Bracy Jr., who graduated in ’57 and ’60, respectively.

Elie transferred to Fayetteville State in his sophomore year. Now a senior honor student, he calls FSU “one of the greatest choices of my life.”

And FSU Broncos are glad that Elie chose them, too.

Dr. Juanette Council, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, describes Elie as “a rising star.”

Elie was recently nominated for and accepted an appointment to serve as an undergraduate board member for the Middle Eastern Province of Kappa

Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated.

The Middle Eastern Province governs a wide range of undergraduate and alumni chapters throughout North Carolina and southern West Virginia, according to a press release.

Elie is a Spring 2020 initiate of the Epsilon Beta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. He also serves as the vice polemarch to assist with leading and guiding its members. In addition, he is active on the Middle Eastern Province Membership Training Academy (MTA) Committee, and he was nominated to contribute to the International Headquarters Code of Conduct Committee.

“Being a part of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. has been a life-changing

Feature Student leader Elie Bracy IV takes time to appreciate the new Greek Plots on campus.

event for me,” he says. “It has given me an extended family of brothers near and far who share a common bond.

I look forward to assisting the Middle Eastern Province Board in providing leadership and guidance for our undergraduate members.”

He adds that it’s an honor to be recognized by his peers (undergraduate and alumni) who feel he is worthy of the appointment. In his new role, he will assist in the planning and implementation of provincial (regional) activities, including training and governance, and serve as a liaison for the province as directed by the province polemarch.

Elie is majoring in health and physical education with a concentration in

sports management. In addition to his Greek involvement, he is making a difference in a number of organizations and activities. He serves on the Student Government Elections Committee and volunteers with the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, Mile High Kids Organization, and Uzuri Community Foundation, to name a few.

“It’s a vibe where great energy flows,” he says about Fayetteville State. “People are outgoing and family-oriented.”

Elie’s goal is to become an educator and, ultimately, a school administrator, which would mean following in the footsteps of his father, Elie III, who is superintendent of Portsmouth Public

Schools and also pledged Kappa Alpha Psi while attending Kentucky State University. His mom, Kimberly, works in public relations. Elie’s older sister is an educator, and a younger brother attends North Carolina A&T State University.

Elie says he has been greatly influenced by his parents and grandparents who taught him that “being a leader means making sacrifices, being organized, responsible, and part of a team.”

His grandparents, in particular, “poured a lot of wisdom” into him, he added. “It sounds simple, but they made me believe that anything you set your mind to, you can achieve. You can conquer anything.”

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Leadership

Our boards help Board of Trustees

This governing body is responsible for developing and approving the school’s mission, strategic goals and objectives, and creating policies related to programs and services.

Trustee Glenn Adams, Chair What does serving as a volunteer leader at FSU mean to you?

Serving as a volunteer leader at Fayetteville State University means the world to me. It is truly an honor to be able to serve an institution in my hometown that has enriched the lives of so many.

Why is serving as the Chair of the Board of Trustees important?

2021-2022, Alumni labeled in blue

Val Applewhite

Stuart Augustine

Jonathan Charleston

John Douglas English

Dr. Kimberly Jeffries Leonard ’86

Sydney Harris Ex-Officio

Dr. Warren G. McDonald

John McFadyen

Frederick Nelson Jr. ’98

Dr. Brandon Phillips ’04

Gregory Pinnix ’95

William R. Warner

Serving as the Chair of the Board of Trustees is important because it allows me to be an ambassador for Fayetteville State University. It allows me to assist the Chancellor, staff, and students to meet the goals they have set for themselves.

What do you hope to accomplish?

It is my desire to continue the proud tradition of Fayetteville State University. It is my desire to make Fayetteville State University a household name in the city, state, and nation. It is my desire to build collaboration around the world that will embrace Fayetteville State University and its students. We must always remember that it is about the students and student success. When the students succeed, the university succeeds.

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Leadership

lead the way Foundation Board Current members: » Jermaine Coble, ’13 (New York City and Fayetteville), Vice Chair » Theodore DeBose (Fayetteville) » Dr. John Goldbolt, ’74, ’88 (Fayetteville) » Willie Gray, ’81 (Huntersville) » Jared James, ’15 (Cleveland, Ohio, and Fayetteville) » Jermaine Pittman, ’12 (Smyrna, Ga.) » Gina Roulhac (Fayetteville) » Dr. Wilson Lacy (Fayetteville), ex-officio

New members:

This is the fund-raising arm of the university. The board works closely with Advancement and other key departments of the university to leverage opportunities to raise funds for scholarships, new construction, special projects, and more.

“Fayetteville State University is an institution that is very dear to my heart. With over 150 years in existence and service as an HBCU, it is extremely important to me that its legacy be fostered and preserved. I feel blessed and am grateful to be able to give back and to pay it forward in any productive way to further and advance the successful accomplishment of FSU’s mission.”

– Ben Brown, Chair

» Ben Brown, ’89, ’91 (Greensboro), Chair » Olivia Chavis (Fayetteville) » Christopher G. Davis (Fayetteville) » Vedas Neal, ’70 (Wilson) » Will Thomas III, ’96 (Annandale, Va.) » Dr. Cathy Waddell, ’76, ’03 (Fayetteville) » Reginald Wells (Fayetteville)

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Leadership

Board of Visitors

Leading the way in the community Question for the Co-chairs: What does it mean to serve as a volunteer leader?

Donald D. Moore, Ed.D. ‘93, Co-Chair

Dr. Roxie Wells, Co-Chair

“I’ve heard it said that service is the price we pay for the space in life we occupy. Serving as the Co-Chair of the inaugural FSU BOV is first and foremost an honor and a privilege. Being able to give back to the University in a tangible way is reflective of my gratitude to the institution that has afforded me with unspeakable opportunities.

FSU laid the foundation for every accomplishment and goal achieved in my life from 1989 to the present.

Serving as Co-Chair, my sole intent is to ensure that I now give a return on

the investment FSU has made in my life. As an organizational strategist, civic leader, and connector of people, it is incumbent upon me to utilize the skills I have developed to benefit the current and future FSU students and community. Having the opportunity to serve with other individuals who bring a vast array of professional and life experiences to the BOV will prove to be invaluable in the months and years to come. It is my hope and prayer the inaugural BOV is the pebble dropped in the pond with positive and sustaining ripple effects. Proud 2 Be!”

“Serving as a volunteer leader for Fayetteville State as Co-Chairman of the Board of Visitors offers the opportunity to advance institutional growth by connecting community leaders with faculty, staff, and students of the university. I truly believe that community connectivity is critical for ensuring unsurpassed success of the university. Fayetteville State alumni and friends who are part of the inaugural class of the Board of Visitors are well respected in their fields and are recognized as top performers. Leveraging the expertise

and connections of these members will serve to further enhance the reputation of the university and ensure that future graduates have the opportunity to enter the workforce in positions that will afford them meaningful careers with opportunities for advancement in their chosen fields.

My hope is that this inaugural class of the Board of Visitors will serve to open doors of opportunity for current and future students, and subsequently when individuals think of Fayetteville, NC, they synonymously think of Fayetteville State University.”

Established in September 2021, the Board of Visitors is comprised of community leaders and change-makers who volunteer their time and expertise to serve as ambassadors for the university.

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Leadership

Dr. Richard Adams

Roderick Allison

Rodney Anderson

Elaina Ball

Timothy Biltz

Dr. Mary Black

Oliver Bradley

Wayne Branch

Charles Broadwell

Dohn Broadwell

Kevin Brooks

William Brooks

Dr. Dorothy G. Brown

Patricia Brown

Vernon Bryant

David Camps

Linda Coley

Dr. Jeannette Council

Jonathan DeCarlo

Kendrick Faison

Shari Fiveash

Elmer Floyd

William Ford

Brenda Freeman

Michael Gibson

Demetrius Haddock

Nancy Harris

Michele Jones

Honorable Toni King

John Malzone

Terence Murchison

Vedas Neal

Dr. LaDelle Olion

Suzetta Perkins

Maria Pierce-Ford

Honorable Edward Pone

Charlotte Privott

Alvin Ragland

Michael Randall

Dr. John Ray

Chris Rey

Honorable Cheri Siler-Mack

Christoppher Stackhouse

Honorable Stephen Stokes

Mary Stork

Brian Thompson

Tammy Thurman

Shaquana Veney-Miller

*The names of FSU alumni are highlighted in blue.

Judith P. Waddell

Dr. DeSandra Washington

Honorable Tiffany Whitfield

Kimberly Williams

Col. Christopher Williamson

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Bringing units ‘back to life’ Jermaine Coble, ‘13

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Jared J. James, ‘15

feature

Alumni invest in rehabilitating Murchison Road housing, growing the community

By Janet Gibson / Photography by Cindy Burnham

ermaine Coble and Jared J. James believe that one of the best ways they can give back to their alma mater, Fayetteville State University, is by investing in the Murchison Road corridor.

Recently, the partners in J&J Global Assets purchased a residential quadplex, three singlefamily homes, and a parcel of land in the 2200 block of Murchison Road, about a half-mile from

campus. The acquisition adds to their growing portfolio of properties in the area.

The purchase is their way of investing in FSU’s future. In a joint statement, J&J said, “We have a true affinity for Fayetteville State and its perception in Fayetteville and North Carolina … Like many other HBCUs, Fayetteville State is rooted in a community that has seen a lack of public and

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in excellent condition, said Jermaine and Jared, but the four-unit building will require a $100,000 investment to prepare it for rental. Improvements will include kitchen and bathroom upgrades, drywall and ceiling repairs, painting, and installation of new flooring and appliances.

For smaller jobs, Jermaine and Jared have rolled up their sleeves and completed repairs themselves. For this project, however, they hired L&M Quality Built Homes, LLC, owned by FSU alumnus Rayshawn Locklear, to act as general contractor. “We look forward to working with a fellow alum and serve as models of the university mantra of Res Non Verba,” said Jared.

“We look forward to working with a fellow alum and serve as models of the university mantra of Res Non Verba.”

— Jared J. James, ‘15

private investments, suffered from redlining, and houses many lowincome renters. These factors mean a lack of resources for on-campus students, the absence of developers, and limited retail options. Therefore, investing in Murchison Road was the best way we could give back to FSU. By bringing these units back to life, we are cleaning up a large piece of real estate leading into the university, providing quality housing, and taking an active role in the university’s future.”

News of the investment is unlikely to surprise other Broncos, who may 22

remember Jermaine and Jared for their leadership roles while at FSU. Jermaine was the president of the Student Government Association in 2012-13 while Jared was the president from 2014-15. Both now serve on the FSU Foundation’s Board of Directors.

Partnering with a fellow alum to create quality housing Some of the newly acquired properties need considerable renovations. Three of the seven new residential units are

At the time of purchase, one tenant was in place; the other available units have since been rented to two new tenants. “We hope in the future, this property could be an option for the larger Bronco community … especially as the Murchison Road corridor project gets underway and renovation expands from downtown to Country Club/Pamalee Drive,” explained Jermaine.

Over the past 18 months, the pair have acquired 15 doors across eight properties (single and multifamily mix). “We are still very interested in single-family and multifamily properties where we can meet our required returns but would like to acquire our first commercial property in 2022 to diversify our portfolio and bring a unique experience to the city,” said Jermaine.

A shared love of business began at FSU Multiple forces—childhood experiences, education, and travel— have shaped Jared and Jermaine’s shared entrepreneurial mindset. But their love of business took root at FSU.

Jared’s path to FSU was circuitous. A fire claimed his home in Greenwood, S.C., forcing his family to accept help from the Red Cross and move into an extended-stay hotel temporarily.

Eventually, the family relocated to Charlotte, N.C., where a friend encouraged Jared to take the SAT, and he became interested in attending an HBCU. Encouraged by his mom, Jared enrolled at FSU, earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration, and becoming the first person in his family to graduate from college.

For Jermaine, who grew up in Greensboro, attending an HBCU was more instinctive: Every member of his immediate family attended an HBCU. His father chose North Carolina A&T State University; his mother, St. Augustine’s University. One sister attended Johnson C. Smith University; two sisters and a twin brother chose N.C. Central University. But Jermaine was captivated by FSU. “I fell in love with the campus upon arrival,” he said. “To me, it’s breathtaking. I loved to study in the Quad.” Like Jared, Jermaine was an honors student and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

Their educational journeys extended beyond their time at FSU. Jared poured himself into finance at Louisiana State University, earning his MBA in August 2021. Jermaine earned an M.S. in Real Estate Asset Management from the Schack Institute of Real Estate at New York University.

Travel shapes perception, but the road leads back to FSU Both traveled extensively to gain perspective. Jermaine studied abroad in China, including Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Shenzhen. For more than a

“We are committed to helping the community grow.”

— Jermaine Coble, ‘13

year, he worked in Belgium and Serbia.

Jared ventured throughout Asia and Europe, racking up stamps from 16 countries on his passport. During Summer 2015, he studied in London with students from FSU’s Department of Criminal Justice.

After graduating from NYU, Jermaine moved to Washington, D.C., where he worked for Nuveen Real Estate, a subsidiary of TIAA-CREF, one of the largest real estate owners in the country. Jared landed in Bentonville, Arkansas, working as a manager in Walmart’s corporate offices.

Now, fresh professional challenges await them both. Jermaine began a new role with Etsy in New York as a senior manager for real estate and workplace sourcing. Jared was recently tapped by Nestle in Cleveland, Ohio, to be a supply chain customer solutions manager.

They plan to keep close tabs on their investments, which will include travel back to Murchison Road.

“We are committed to helping the community grow,” said Jermaine.

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Military

FSU ROTC Cadet Andrez Anderson

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Cadet Andrez Anderson knows how to

“Finish strong” Story by Janet Gibson / Photography by Cindy Burnham

“Finish strong”: Those two powerful words have resonated with Andrez Anderson throughout his 27 years of life. They were instilled during his early childhood, even as he witnessed gang violence in Clarksdale, Mississippi, deep in the Delta. He rehearsed that same mantra as he juggled college with a job at Walmart, becoming a father at age 19. He dropped out of college to join the military, which led to deployments in Iraq and Korea.

it. I wanted structure.”

Fort Bragg leads to enrollment at FSU In fact, as soon as he landed in Fort Jackson, S.C., for basic training, he knew he had found his niche. Later, when he was stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C., he discovered FSU nearby.

Now, Cadet Anderson is enrolled in the U.S. Army’s Green to Gold Program at Fayetteville State University—and his personal mantra still keeps him running. He is determined to emerge in 2023 from FSU’s Army ROTC program as a military officer, becoming 2nd Lieutenant Andrez Anderson.

In 2021, he applied for and was accepted into FSU’s program to train aspiring military officers. “It’s very competitive,” Cadet Anderson said, adding that he is up for all challenges. “We cover a lot about field tactics, war tactics, land navigation, and leadership. You learn a lot about prioritizing your work and time, the importance of appearance, and public speaking.”

“Life had beat me down,” said nowSgt. Anderson, reflecting on his decision to sign up for the military in September 2015. “I was so ready for

Cadet Anderson is a full-time student with active-duty status in the military. In short, he gets paid to go to school.

Another strong finish … in the future Cadet Anderson is working hard at FSU, and it’s paying off: He has a 4.0 GPA. He balances school and service with a home life that includes a significant other and a newborn baby, in addition to his older son.

All of that has his instructors impressed, positioning him well for yet another strong finish—this one, in service to his country.

“Cadet Anderson is the best type of solider—curious, well-read, and [demonstrating] leadership. He is forward-thinking, and I enjoy his inquiries about our weekly readings,” said Dr. Kelli Cardenas Walsh, who teaches military history at FSU. “Cadet Anderson, like many of his peers, brings great confidence in the future of U.S. Army officers,” she added.

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Vinette Gordon, FSU’s Director of Health Services and a retired Army Colonel, is modest about a background that includes serving on the White House medical team, working with the U.S. Surgeon General, and holding top leadership positions at the Pentagon.

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Feature

Good medicine Strong leadership helps Broncos rise to COVID challenges

By Janet Gibson/Photography by Cindy Burnham

I

t took a bad car accident at age 17 for Vinette Gordon to discover her life’s calling: healthcare.

A high school senior in Virginia Beach at the time, Gordon was on her way to her first job at a Rose’s department store when the accident occurred, totaling the vehicle and sending her to the hospital.

“There I was, with a head injury and stitches in my head—and feeling terrible because it was our family’s only car—and [the medical team] offered me so much compassion,” Gordon said. She recovered, but the experience left a lasting impression.

Inspired by the care and collaboration of her medical team, Gordon set out on a personal journey to become a nurse. She was awarded an ROTC

scholarship, attending Virginia Commonwealth University and then the Medical College of Virginia, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing. She later earned her master’s degree as a critical care clinical nurse specialist, and a postcertificate degree as an acute care nurse practitioner—both from Duke University. For nearly 30 years, she served as a military nurse in the U.S. Army, rising to the rank of Colonel.

Gordon is modest about her accomplishments and her unique experiences—which include holding executive leadership positions at the Pentagon, working directly with the U.S. Surgeon General, serving as a nurse on the White House medical team for President Bill Clinton, and accompanying First Lady Hillary Clinton on a fact-finding mission to Africa.

The power of nurturing relationships fuels Vinette Gordon’s work at FSU After Gordon retired from the military, she joined Fayetteville State University as Director of Student Health Services in 2017. She is responsible for strategies, daily operations, and a team of nine people.

Gordon took a rare break to be interviewed on a bench outside the health center. “The pandemic has tested this campus,” she said without hesitation, adding that Broncos have risen quickly to the challenge.

Vaccination numbers tell an impressive story. In just a few months, the student COVID-19 vaccination rate has risen from 22 percent to over 60 percent. For FSU staff, the 27

Feature

“It’s good to have passion, but it’s more important to have compassion.”

– Vinette Gordon

vaccination rate is even higher: about 70 percent.

In early September, Chancellor Darrell T. Allison suspended Homecoming planning temporarily until vaccination rates increased on campus. A “group effort” made that increase happen, said Gordon. She is quick to give credit to university leadership, staff, students, and the team at Student Health Services.

To be sure, having a vaccination program and COVID testing capability on campus are invaluable.

Masks and hand sanitizer stations are helpful as well. A residence hall beside Student Health Services has been dedicated to quarantining, and another nearby hall houses students who are diagnosed as COVID-positive. The health team has also coordinated house calls and telemedicine, along with deliveries of food and medications.

Education has played a central role in helping the university persevere through the pandemic, especially when it comes to dispelling myths about the vaccine. “Simple conversations are vital,” said Gordon, 28

whose motherly instincts often kick in, particularly when it comes to comforting students and their parents.

Gordon and her husband, Vincent, also a veteran, are parents to a 23-yearold daughter, Victoria, who works for an art museum.

Compassion and dedication lead to recognition and accolades Gordon has a guiding ethos for her work: “It’s good to have passion, but it’s more important to have compassion.”

That philosophy and dedication helped earn her the John L. Sanders Student Advocate Award in April 2019. The honor is bestowed annually on one or more public figures for service to the students in the University of North Carolina System—for advocating in the best interests of students and contributing to their quality of life.

It is the highest honor bestowed by the UNC Association of Student Governments upon a member of the UNC community.

In September of this year, another accolade came: Gordon was named

Nurse Administrator of the Year by the North Carolina Nurses Association (NCNA). The annual award is given to the administrative nurse in the state who excels in providing innovative and creative management strategies, demonstrates excellence in leadership, serves as a role model, and delivers a lasting positive impact on the environment.

“It gives me great pleasure to celebrate this huge honor bestowed upon an esteemed FSU family member. Our very own FSU Bronco, Director Gordon is considered the best of the best,” said Chancellor Allison.

In true leadership style, Gordon took the opportunity to recognize others, noting: “Last year was an unpredictable, challenging, and rewarding time for our campus. The pandemic made more visible the strength and resiliency of our Student Health Services and Bronco Wellness Team. Our team deserves the credit, and we remain committed to keeping Fayetteville State University safe and healthy. I am humbled by this recognition and proud of the work we do every day.”

Student stories

Mariah Tyes photographs client Tiffany Bonner of Tip Top Tea in Charlotte N.C., in an outdoor setting in Fayetteville.

looking strong but with a touch of vulnerability.

Mariah, who grew up the youngest of five siblings in Buffalo, New York, can barely remember a time in which she didn’t have a camera in her hands.

She was inspired by her dad who was constantly photographing or filming life at home.

In sharp focus FSU student captures cover photo of popular actress for new magazine

By Janet Gibson/Photography by Cindy Burnham

A

Fayetteville State University sophomore is making a name for herself in photography circles by capturing actress Novi Brown (“Tyler Perry’s Sistas”) in Palm Springs, Calif., for the cover and two inside photos of a hot, new magazine.

Mariah Tyes’ work can be viewed in She’s Single, which premiered as a digital magazine in September at shessinglemag.com/novi-brown—and now with print copies being scooped up from racks in New York City.

Mariah, 30, is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in digital art with a concentration in photography at Fayetteville State University. She will be a junior in the spring and has a projected graduation date of Summer 2023. But she is already setting the photography world on fire.

“She’s an exceptional student who is doing big things,” says Shane Booth, her photography professor.

Mariah, who has a calm and cheerful demeanor, seems to effortlessly juggle her studies with work as a freelance

photographer and the most important job of all: single mom to daughter, Eden Oshun, who turns two in January. “I want her to see what is possible,” Mariah said.

What became possible in July of this year was a dream come true, thanks in large part to social media. Mariah was recruited for her first celebrity photo shoot after her Instagram photos caught the attention of decision makers at the magazine.

Shooting in the desert in the middle of summer presented its own set of challenges, but Mariah took it all in stride. Besides, she has a great subject. “She was so down-to-earth!” said Mariah of Novi Brown.

The cover photo shows the actress standing in the desert in a formfitting white dress. Inside shots highlight the subject, also in chic fashions,

Mariah attended an arts academy and took photography classes for several years while growing up, perfecting her craft.

As a young adult, she moved to Charlotte and dabbled in photography.

She ended up joining the Army, which brought her to Fort Bragg as a culinary specialist. After serving for about five years, she became a civilian and student at Fayetteville State University.

She uses Canon cameras and, on a recent Friday, was photographing a client who traveled from Charlotte for the shoot. The images will be used for advertising, marketing, and rebranding. Mariah’s own business, Retrospectyes, is a take on two words: retrospect and her last name.

Mariah believes it’s important to have a mentor when building your career. Hers is Maxim Vakhovskiy, a professional photographer in Charlotte. She connected with him on Instagram.

As for the future, she is working to secure more editorial photography assignments and also wants to continue pursuing her passion for set design, which comes in handy with her home studio.

When asked the “secret” to taking memorable photos, she quotes the late, legendary lensman Ansel Adams: “A good photograph is knowing where to stand.”

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Guest column

FSU’s impact reaches children’s lives long before college Fayetteville State University can impact children in powerful and positive ways, long before they become students at the university.

By Traverro L. Harden Contributed photos

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My family is living proof of FSU’s far-reaching impact. In the summer of 2017, my three sons—PaHeru Nubia-Ra, Khalid, and Emir Selah, at ages 6, 5, and 4, respectively—were the youngest entrepreneurs at FSU’s Murchison Road Flea Market. Their business: a homeschool economic empowerment project called 3 Brothers Stand. In fact, the boys’ lemonade enterprise began in Fall

2016 at the end of our driveway in Fayetteville’s Lakedale subdivision.

Eventually, the boys moved from the driveway to a booth at the Raeford Road Flea Market, and then to the Black Heritage Farmers’ Market on Saturdays in Spring Lake in 2017.

In 2018, 3 Brothers Stand settled at the FSU Murchison Road Farmers’ Market because of the support and steady business this optimal location provided. Every week, Don Bennett and Julius Cook helped us set up our tent and table for vending homemade lemonade, chocolate chip cookies, brownies and, later on, handmade

children’s accessories. We could always count on Mr. Bennett and Mr. Cook to point customers to our vending table for ice-cold cups of lemonade during the hot season.

Guest column

What did we learn? So much more than we expected: Our simple but practical entrepreneurship experience empowered my family’s homeschool lessons in mathematics, entrepreneurship, and public speaking. Nothing gets young children more motivated to use the skills they have learned than putting theory to praxis in real time—and getting paid to do it!

The 3 Brothers Stand has evolved since its days at the FSU Farmers’ Market; the two older brothers have developed their own businesses that display their unique skills. Khalid, now 9, has started “Khalid Dakid Art” with a mission to help children identify and develop their gifts. Through his “Plans with Fans” project, he uses his knowledge of STEM, art, and entrepreneurship to build custom wooden, motorized fans within the local community. His goal is to use sales revenues to patent and mass produce 3D-printed fans designed especially for children, while donating 20 percent of his sales to a local homeless shelter.

PaHeru Nubia-Ra, Khalid, and Emir Selah manning the 3 Brothers Stand.

Nothing gets young children more motivated to use the skills they have learned than putting theory to praxis in real time—and getting paid to do it!

To help Khalid achieve his goal, we are working with FSU’s Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) to create a business plan and model that will turn this empowerment project into a thriving business in the local community.

My children are not teenagers yet, but their hometown FSU is already a fixture in their lives—a formative force helping them to fulfill their potential.

Traverro L. Harden is a Compliance & Data Specialist for the Office of Access & Student Success at Fayetteville State University. She is the author of “Homeschooling While Black: Our Family’s Journey of Consciously & Purposefully Educating Our Black Children.”

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THEN NOW

Natesha Daniels Cobb, ’03 Brian Cobb, ’04

Forever begins at FSU

By Janet Gibson

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Then & now

I

f the bench that sits between New Residence and Vance Halls could talk, chances are it would have a lot to say.

It might speak about young students whose eyes and souls connect, and lively conversations that seem to go on forever.

Natesha and Brian Cobb know that bench well, and they aren’t the only FSU students who became smitten at that very spot.

“The very first conversation we had on that bench—I knew there was a future there,” said Natesha.

That was in 2000. The couple, married since 2005, now live in the Atlanta suburbs. They are parents to a daughter and two sons: Brianna, 14; Bryson, 11; and Braxton, 6.

Campus activities and achievements at FSU

She was also the first runner-up for Miss Fayetteville State University and a talent winner in the pageant for her dance performance. The statuesque Tesha—she is 5’10”—compiled a lengthy list of campus activities and achievements, including serving as captain of the Bronco Strutters and as president of the Black Millennium Modeling Club.

She was adamant that Brian, a transfer student, also make the most of his FSU experience by becoming involved in extracurricular activities. Brian, a dashing 6’4” tall, joined the Black Millennium Modeling Club and is a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. Tesha earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2003; Brian earned his bachelor’s degree in political science in 2004. Both continued their education through the master and doctoral levels.

FSU as a foundation for the future Today, Tesha is the head of school for a prominent international Montessori school. She recently authored a children’s book, “Why Can You Not See the Color Black in the Rainbow?”

Brian works as a human resources professional for a packaging solutions firm. He also is a FAA-certified drone pilot who is the CEO of his own company, Special Ops Drone, in Atlanta.

The Cobbs say at least four other couples in their inner circle met and fell in love at Fayetteville State.

“There’s something incredibly special when it comes to FSU—in building connections and relationships,” said Tesha.

“FSU was the foundation of my professional self, but more importantly, my marriage and my family,” said Brian.

Originally from Durham, N.C., Natesha, who also goes by “Tesha,” recalled that she had “literally run into Brian” in the FSU cafeteria days before their bench encounter, which sealed the deal. She liked his capacity for “thoughtprovoking conversation” and his passion for politics. Brian, who hails from Washington, D.C., encouraged Tesha’s artistic side. Tesha asked him out on their first date, as her escort for Homecoming coronation ceremonies.

Tesha and Brian enjoy traveling back to FSU for special events, including scholarship galas and Homecoming games.

They always make a special effort to return to the bench. It’s like a new beginning every time, recapturing the feeling of finding love at FSU. Did your love story begin at Fayetteville State University?

We would like to hear from married alumni about how you met at FSU and where you are now. Email Tina Raines at traines1@uncfsu.edu.

In addition to her role on the Queen’s Court, Tesha is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., and she held the title of Ms. Delta Xi in 2002.

Natesha Cobb is the author of “Why Can You Not See the Color Black in the Rainbow?” She wrote the children’s book during the pandemic.

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Support

Boosting resources, fueling dreams New fundraising efforts yield $1.7 million for FSU A staff report

In addition to celebrating historic appropriations in the state budget, Fayetteville State University leaders closed out the calendar year by marking extremely successful and targeted advancement efforts. Since Chancellor Darrell T. Allison took office on March 15, 2021, fundraising efforts have yielded $1,718,047 in private philanthropy support.

What a difference those eight months have made. Last March, FSU ranked last among 16 UNC System schools in fundraising. Now, the university is poised to deploy extensive resources to advance programs and fuel dreams— for current and future Broncos alike.

Donations reflect the generosity and commitment of a broad range of FSU stakeholders. The $1.7 million sum represents 2,504 gifts in total, including 1,245 donations from alumni

L-R: Corman Franklin, Bevin Franklin, Chancellor Darrell T. Allison, Joyce Franklin, and Jerome Willingham.

Photography by Ezekiel Best.

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and 337 donations from faculty and staff. Corporations, foundations, and other private organizations provided additional support.

Such investment has the capacity to yield exponential dividends. It increases institutional resources, to be sure, but it also promotes and strengthens institutional sustainability.

According to the University’s fundraising team, the success of a university is directly attributable to the support from alumni and friends, as well as the involvement from community partners and investors.

For their part, FSU donors understand the essential role they play in ensuring that opportunities are available to the next generation of college students— especially those whose hearts are set on attending an HBCU. “It is important to support HBCUs like

FSU, and I do so with honor,” said former Notre Dame football head coach Tyrone Willingham. “Investing in an HBCU provides opportunities to students who look like me, who come from the same places as me.”

FSU wishes to express gratitude to all university donors, including the following corporations, foundations, and individuals: » Lillian P. Willingham Endowed Scholarship: $351,700.30 » Anonymous: $282,000 » FedEx: $250,000 » Gary Ciccone: $150,000 » Truist Foundation: $30,000 » George Floyd Foundation: $25,000 » D.C. Alumni Chapter: $25,000

Support

Get involved!

Giving to Fayetteville State University has the power to transform the lives of our students. Whether you give time, an opportunity, or a financial donation, you are influencing the next generation of leaders and ensuring our students’ success.

School of Nursing mobile health unit.

Photography by Ezekiel Best.

Volunteer opportunities

Career Services welcomes friends of the university and supporters to partner with our office to provide professional, internship, and job opportunities to students—or networking services and career coaching. We offer a variety of partnership and engagement opportunities for you to work with us. Be a part of our next professional workshop, information session, or career development event. To become a partner, please fill out the interest form: bit.ly/engagewithFSU

Donate Your financial donations support our ambitious and bright students in achieving their very best.

Give online Visit uncfsu.edu/give-to-fsu.

Mobile Text FSU to 41444 to give on your mobile device using your credit or debit card.

Contact Reach Michelle Hocker at (910) 672-1311 for assistance with making a gift by phone.

Alumni, we would love to stay in touch. Update your information: uncfsu.edu/alumni-and-friends

Stay connected Text FSUINFO to 51555 to join our text list.

Visit the Division of University Advancement uncfsu.edu/dua 35

Non-Profit Org. US Postage PAID Fayetteville, NC Permit No. 247 1200 Murchison Road Fayetteville, NC 28301 www.uncfsu.edu

LEADING THE WAY Fayetteville State University is now designated a Purple Heart University.

Learn more: www.uncfsu.edu