“I, TOO, FACE MANY OF THESE SAME STRUGGLES EVERYDAY. AS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN IN CORPORATE AMERICA, I FIND IT TAKES A LEVEL OF RESILIENCE AND GRIT YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU HAD.” ______
VA L E I SHA BU T T E R F I E L D J O N E S
Graduates:
Arm Yourselves with Resilience North Carolina Central University awarded 580 diplomas on Dec. 10, 2016, during the university’s 128th Baccalaureate Commencement.
NCCU INTERIM CHANCELLOR
Marketing and entertainment expert
takes a level of resilience and grit you
Johnson O. Akinleye recognized School
Valeisha Butterfield Jones delivered the
didn’t know you had.”
of Business graduate Amber Richardson-
Commencement address, urging gradu-
Butterfield Jones, daughter of NCCU
Booker for her resilience after her educa-
ates to arm themselves with “resilience
alumni, U.S. Congressman G.K. But-
tion was disrupted for two years following
and grit” to overcome obstacles, especially
terfield and N.C. Rep. Jean Farmer
a serious car accident.
those tied to gender or race.
Butterfield, grew up in Wilson, N.C.
“Today, Amber stands among you, a
“I, too, face many of these same
As the newest class of Eagles prepares
proud Eagle who is graduating with a 4.0
struggles everyday,” said Butterfield
to fly, Akinleye told the graduates: “Let
GPA, and two business administration
Jones, named earlier in 2016 to head the
today give you the wings that allow you
degrees – in management and account-
division of black customer engagement
to climb higher in your career aspirations
ing,” Akinleye said at the ceremony in
for Google. “As an African-American
and ascend to new levels of greatness in
McDougald-McLendon Arena.
woman in corporate America, I find it
your life.”
6
NCCU NOW SPRING 2017
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