The North Carolina Central University (NCCU) Office of Alumni Relations will honor 40 outstanding alumni at the fourth biennial Forty Under Forty Alumni Awards Gala on Friday, Sept. 28, at 7 p.m., at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel & Convention Center in Durham.
Chosen by a committee of their peers, the honorees are all under the age of 40 and have made significant contributions in the arts, law, entertainment, healthcare, sciences, U.S. military, education, business, philanthropy and public service.
“We are extremely excited to recognize another distinguished cohort of incredibly talented young alumni who will engage, inspire, and serve as ambassadors, advocates and mentors for current students matriculating at North Carolina Central University,” said Harriet F. Davis, Ph.D., vice chancellor for the Division of Institutional Advancement at NCCU.
The awards were created to recognize young leaders as they develop into the next generation of NCCU alumni who are making a difference in the world. They represent approximately one-third of the university’s under-40 alumni and a valuable percentage of new NCCU donors.
“Our Forty Under Forty Awards Program is an opportunity for us to recognize and celebrate our young alumni who are achieving great success in their professional endeavors,” said LaMisa McCoy Foxx, interim assistant vice chancellor for NCCU Alumni Relations.
The selection committee was comprised of NCCU alumni, administrators and industry leaders. The gala will feature entertainment, award presentations and dinner. Early bird tickets are available now at $60 per person until Aug. 28. General admission tickets will be available at $70 per person after Aug. 28.
For information on sponsorship opportunities, please contact LaMisa McCoy Foxx at lmccoy@nccu.edu or 919-530-7361, or visit www.nccu.edu/40under40.
The honorees are:
Terra Abrams, ’02
Oxon Hill, Md.
Bachelor of Arts, Political Science
State registrar for the District of Columbia
Angela Alston, ’00
Columbus, Ohio
Bachelor of Science, Biology
Manager of Advanced Practice Providers, OhioHealth Physician Group
David Bailey, ’07
Silver Spring, Md.
Bachelor of Science, Physical Education
Special agent, United States Capitol Police
Montrale Boykin, ’00, ’04
Winston Salem, N.C.
Bachelor of Arts, Political Science; Juris Doctor
Chair of Healthcare Management Department, Winston-Salem State University
Kristin Broyles, ‘08
Winston Salem, N.C.
Juris Doctor
Partner-attorney, Halvorsen Bradshaw PLLC
Gineen Cargo, ’04
Cary, N.C.
Bachelor of Arts, Mass Communication and Media Studies
Endowed professor, NCCU Department of Mass Communications; business owner and entrepreneur at G&S Business Communications and Cargo & Co. Events
Shakiera Causey, ’03, ’10
Greensboro, N.C.
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology; Master of Arts, Psychology
Professor, NCCU Department of Psychology
John Comer, ’04, ’12
Bachelor of Arts, Political Science; Master of Public Administration
Baltimore, Md.
Director of public health campaigns for Baltimore City Health Department
Ebony Dilworth, ’07
West Orange, N.J.
Bachelor of Arts, Mass Communication
Senior account manager, Microsoft
Lynn Douglas, ’10, ’14
Greensboro, N.C.
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology; Master of Arts, School Counseling
Executive director at Chosen Productions Inc.
Whitney Frye, ’11
Colorado Springs, Colo.
Juris Doctor
Director, SafeSport, USA Basketball
Desmera Gatewood, ’13
Oxford, N.C.
Bachelor of Arts, English
Director of operations and communications, Coalition for Peace with Justice
Ronbardo Gay, ’03
Doral, Fla.
Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice
Coordinator of special programs, Community Health of South Florida
Timothy Gibson, ’04
Greensboro, N.C.
Bachelor of Business Administration
Senior financial advisor, Merrill Lynch
Jefferson Griffin, ’08
Raleigh, N.C.
Juris Doctor
Wake County District Court judge; first lieutenant, N.C. Army National Guard; JAG officer, U.S. Army
Zack Hawkins, ’04
Durham, N.C.
Master of Science, Biology
Director of development for Student Affairs, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Keenon James, ’03
Upper Marlboro, Md.
Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice
Supervisory Program Specialist
U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS); Washington, D.C.
Dwayne Johnson, ’11
Roxboro, N.C.
Bachelor of Arts, History Education
Teacher for Person County, N.C., Schools
Kirtina Jones, ’04, ’11
Durham, N.C.
Bachelor of Arts, Elementary Education; Master of Arts, Educational Technology
Teacher at R.N. Harris Integrated Arts and Core Knowledge Magnet School, Durham, N.C.
JuWann Jones, ’06
Hyattsville, Md.
Bachelor of Science, Parks and Recreation Management
Facility director, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
JaNassa Kearney, ’05
Charlotte, N.C.
Bachelor of Science, Business Administration
Personal trainer, nutritionist, entrepreneur with A’ssanaj Fitness
Marquisha Lee, ’01,’02
Addison, Texas
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology and Political Science; Master of Arts, Psychology
Staff psychologist at Veteran Affairs, North Texas Health Care System
Chance Lynch, ’09
Greenville, N.C.
Juris Doctor
Associate attorney, Wilson Williams Law
Morris McAdoo, ’00
Charlotte, N.C.
Bachelor of Business Administration
Managing attorney, McAdoo Law Firm, PLLC
Chavery McClanahan, ’10
Accokeek, Md.
Bachelor of Arts, English
Strategic outreach officer, U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon
Brandon McEachern, ’05
Los Angeles, Calif.
Bachelor of Arts, Communication and Theatre
Founder and CEO, Think Broccoli LLC
Shinika McKiever, ’07
High Point, N.C.
Master of Public Administration
Director of corporate and Foundation relations for University Advancement,
N.C. A&T State University
Dorothy Mitchell, ’99, ’02
Durham, N.C.
Bachelor of Arts, Political Science and English; Juris Doctor
Assistant clinical professor and supervising attorney, NCCU School of Law
Tolulope Omakaiye, ’06
Raleigh, N.C.
Bachelor of Business Administration
Founder and CEO, EVOLVE Mentoring
William Pagan, ’14
Cary, N.C.
Juris Doctor
Senior patent attorney, Coats & Bennett
Jamie Patterson, ’00, ’02
Durham, N.C.
Bachelor of Science Sports Management / Master of Science, Athletic Administration
Brand manager and co-owner, Subject 2 Change LLC and Grapefruit Investments LLC
Courtney Robinson, ’09
Washington, D.C.
Bachelor of Arts, Political Science
Senior counsel, U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services
Ebonie Smith, ’01
Fuquay-Varina, N.C.
Bachelor of Business Administration
Branch chief and supervisory accountant, Environmental Protection Agency
Nina Smith, ’08
Durham, N.C.
Master of Arts, Psychology
Assistant professor, Department of Human Sciences, NCCU
Vivian Spencer, ’04, ’02
Atlanta, Ga.
Bachelor of Business Administration; Master of Business Administration
Audit project manager, U.S. Bank
Kurtis Stewart, ’03
Knightdale, N.C.
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology
Founder and CEO, Millennium Sports,True Care, Omega Community Center
Jasmine Thomas, ’14
Charlotte, N.C.
Bachelor of Social Work
Child welfare social worker, Gaston County, N.C.
Michelle Thompson, ’08
Marietta, Ga.
Master of Education, Communication Disorders
Speech language pathologist for EBS Healthcare at Cherokee County, Ga., School District; CEO of Speaking Clearly Inc.
Trish Wray, ’04, ’07
Charlotte, N.C.
Bachelor of Arts, Political Science and English; Juris Doctor
Senior counsel, Duke Energy Corp.
Nykole Wyatt, ’00, ’03
Charlotte, N.C.
Bachelor of Arts, Political Science; Master of Public Administration
