“As I survey the upper echelons of leadership at Faye eville State University, I see innovative, decisive women walking out our mo o, ‘Deeds Not Words,’ in their daily work and calling. Theirs is a leadership born from visionary thinking and can-do, get-it-done grit.”
Chancellor Darrell T. Allison, J.D.
“Nothing has ever been achieved by the person who says, ‘It can’t be done.’” So remarked Eleanor Roosevelt, an American rst lady of legendary capacity.
As I survey the upper echelons of leadership at Fayetteville State University, I see innovative, decisive women who share a similar mindset of determination. Daily, they walk out our FSU motto, “Deeds not words,” in their work and calling. eirs is a leadership born from visionary thinking and can-do, get-it-done grit.
Truly, their in uence is inspirational.
As the proud 12th Chancellor of FSU, I have received many congratulatory comments about the historic initiatives and construction projects we have launched these past two years. I am humbled by this a rmation. Yet, I know our success is no mere re ection of the leader at the
helm; rather, it re ects the collective labors of a team of leaders.
In considering our recent accomplishments, I also note this key fact: Five of the eight members of our current FSU Cabinet—our institution’s C-suite—are women. I do not share this data point to be politically correct; I share it as an honest account and a tribute to these leaders. We would not be where we are today without them. And so, it is their transformative and inspiring leadership—and that of other FSU women leaders like them— that we spotlight in these pages.
I honor Chief of Sta Samantha Holmes, who leads our FSU sta with strength and poise—an enviable combination and one that has set her apart from her peers throughout her career. It ensures our day-to-day operations at FSU run smoothly and well.”
I applaud Provost Monica Terrell Leach, who is the Robin to my Batman. When I took the helm at FSU in 2021 as a nontraditional leader, I knew I would need a provost with signi cant experience at other campuses to ensure we got it right at FSU. Provost Leach has far exceeded that bar. Her ingenuity has helped spur record enrollment and increased retention.
I appreciate Dr. Juanette Council’s capacity to promote student engagement and success. In saying this, I’m simply echoing what hundreds of students and alumni have expressed to me. One of my proudest moments a er I arrived on campus was removing her interim title and establishing her permanently as vice chancellor for student a airs.
I praise General Counsel Wanda Jenkins. As I was preparing to take on the role of FSU Chancellor, a senior UNC System leader told me Vice
Chancellor Jenkins was ‘one of the best’ in the 16-university system. A er two years of working with her, I can say this with certainty: at was wrong. She is the best, and FSU is sound and whole because of her.”
I salute Dr. Lillian Wanjagi, our vice chancellor for budget and nance, When I thought about our future expansion e orts at FSU—which included over $160 million of construction and renovations to be completed by 2026— I knew we needed a leader who had
been where FSU was seeking to be. We have that in Dr. Wanjagi, our guide in nancial matters.”
You’ll also read about other FSU women innovators in this edition: Joyce Adams, our newest trustee; Drs. Marye Je ries and Kimberly Je ries Leonard, a mother-daughter duo; Dr. Priscilla Manarino-Leggett, a reading pioneer; Drs. Dawn Truong and Sheila Cannon, visionary health practitioners; and Merritt Chestnut Reid, an FSU Golden Bronco. In
addition, women at FSU serve as exemplars of excellence and advocacy.
Drs. Kristina Henckel and Amanda Virelles, both faculty members, are internationally acclaimed pianists.
Coach Inez Turner, a former Olympian, is a decorated leader of student athletes. Maya V. Martin, president of the Student Government Association, leverages her strong voice to speak up for other students.
In the end, no personal re ection on women’s leadership would be complete without a reference to my beloved wife, La Nica. She is not a traditional rst lady; a corporate leader at a Fortune 500 company, she juggles work and numerous other roles with grace and aplomb. I marvel at how she sel essly makes time to impact the lives of FSU students, sta , faculty, and the broader community. I’m delighted for you to get to know her better in this issue.
Today, I salute all of these women and their achievements.
What is their view on work still to come? Don’t ask me; these leaders speak for themselves. But I bet they would tell you this: It can be done.
Darrell T. Allison, J.D. Chancellor
Foldout Letter from the Chancellor: Women Who Lead
4-7
Collaborating On Strategy, Moving the Goals Forward: Samantha McKenzie Holmes, Vice Chancellor and Chief of Staff
8-11
Guided by Purpose: Dr. Monica T. Leach, Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
12-13
For the Students: Dr. Juanette Council, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
14-15
Legal Eagle: Wanda L. Jenkins, General Counsel and Vice Chancellor for Legal, Audit, Risk and Compliance
16-17
By the Numbers: Dr. Lillian Wanjagi, Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance and Chief Financial Officer
18-19 Leading the Charge: Maya V. Martin, Student Government Association President
20-21
Leadership Profile: Trustee Joyce Adams
22-23
FSU’s First Lady: Opening Doors, Forging Connections: Mrs. La Nica Allison
Chancellor
Darrell T. Allison, J.D.
Editor-in-Chief
Joy Cook
Associate Vice Chancellor for Strategic Communications/ Chief Communications Officer
Managing Editor
Tina Raines
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Marketing and Creative Services
Writers
Hope Baptiste, Kristen Blair and Janet Gibson
Photographers
Ezekiel Best, Cindy Burnham and La’Won D. Williams
Graphic Designers
Mariano Santillan and La’Won D. Williams
Proofreaders
Kristen Blair and Lisa Joyner
On the Cover:
Women leaders comprise the majority of the cabinet at Fayetteville State University.
24-25
An Open Book is a Door to the World: Dr. Priscilla ManarinoLeggett, Director of the College of Education Reading Clinic 26
Healthful Learning, Healthy Living: Dr. Dawn Truong, Health Program Manager for Bronco Wellness
27 Making Beautiful Music: Drs. Amanda Virelles and Kristina Henckel
28-29
Mother-Daughter Act: Drs. Marye J. Jeffries and Kimberly Jeffries Leonard
30-31
Beyond the Bedside: Dr. Sheila Cannon, Dean of the School of Nursing
32-33 Olympic Athlete, Coach and Mentor: Coach Inez Turner
34 A Heart for Giving: Mrs. Merritt Chestnut Reid 35 Invest in FSU
From left to right: Dr. Lillian Wanjagi, Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance and Chief Financial Officer for Fayetteville State University; Dr. Juanette Council, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs; Wanda Jenkins, General Counsel and Vice Chancellor for Legal, Audit, Risk and Compliance; Dr. Monica Terrell Leach, Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs; and Samantha McKenzie Holmes, Vice Chancellor and Chief of Staff.
Inside Fold:
Chancellor Darrell T. Allison, J.D. Photography by Ezekiel Best and Cindy Burnham
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.
Samantha Holmes leads our FSU staff with strength and poise—an enviable combination and one that has set her apart from her peers throughout her career. It ensures our day-to-day operations at FSU run smoothly and well.”
“Chief of Staff
Chancellor Darrell T. Allison, J.D.
Samantha McKenzie Holmes leads with collaboration and communication in the forefront
Story by Janet Gibson Photography by Cindy BurnhamAs Samantha McKenzie Holmes heads into her third year at Fayetteville State University, she is beginning to see the fruits of her labor come full circle. Her leadership agenda is to bring the right people to the table, and together focus on the university’s strategic goals and the chancellor’s priorities.
For this chief of staff, being intentional about what it takes to have FSU stand out as a leader in education is a part of her daily grind. Her job, she said, is all about assisting our students, faculty, and staff, while building on the great legacy of the university’s founders. As vice chancellor and chief of staff for Fayetteville State, McKenzie Holmes plays a critical role as she supports the chancellor, Darrell T. Allison, J.D.
In March 2021, she came to Fayetteville State, hand-picked by Chancellor Allison, in one of the most challenging times - the middle of a pandemic.
She is often seen in meetings or around campus weighing in on hot topics and taking great pride in finding solutions that are necessary for the moment. She’s a listener, a strategic thinker who weighs her words carefully. To those looking on, she exhibits strength and a purposeful stride, making the difficult decisions that must be made look easy.
From day to day, or from year to year, her role is vast and covers a lot of ground. Or, as she put it: “Every day I have the awesome opportunity to serve. And that’s all I can ask for.”
Chief McKenzie Holmes assists the chancellor and leadership team with priorities and day-to-day operations, a job she said has been “extremely gratifying.”
She provides oversight for both the office of strategic communication and the human resources department - and also serves as the university’s spokesperson in matters of crisis communications.
How did a girl raised in Brooklyn,
New York - a daughter of Guyanese immigrants - put down roots in North Carolina and go on to excel in the higher education communications field?
She began her career after college as a journalist. After earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Norfolk State University, a historically Black university in Virginia, she crisscrossed half the country to become a newspaper reporter. Stops included the Times Leader in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, the Washington Afro-American in Washington, D.C., the Fort Worth Star-Telegram in Texas, and North Carolina’s Winston-Salem Chronicle. One of her most memorable stories was interviewing Coretta Scott King, widow of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., about her efforts to elevate women across the globe.
Along the way, McKenzie Holmes earned her master’s degree in strategic public relations from George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
In 2005, after an opportunity presented itself to work in higher
education communications, she never looked back. Through 2014, she was on the communications and special events team at North Carolina A&T State University, followed by a stint as director of marketing and communications at North Carolina Central University.
“I grew up in a home that believed in education, so it wasn’t a hard jump for me to take my writing talent from the newsroom into the college arena. At N.C. A&T, I was able to combine my passions: telling stories about people and seeing how education transforms the lives of people,” she said.
Her next assignment was as the director of marketing communications for the UNC System. It was during that time that she came into her own, and captured the notice of many in key positions, including Darrell T. Allison, J.D., who was on the UNC Board of Governors.
“I served as a staffer on the Board of Governors Historically Minority Serving Institutions Committee and the Racial Equity Task Force - both a
and laser-focused on their outcomes. In today’s environment, it’s important to me to have good character. The greatest leaders are those who are knowledgeable about their craft, but still willing to listen to others in the room. The greatest leaders are those who are compassionate about people and understand how to navigate difficulty with grace. Great leaders
first for the UNC System,” she said.
She also managed a $1 million NC Promise marketing campaign and served on the crisis planning team for HBCUs during the COVID-19 outbreak.
All prepared her for FSU.
“I love learning and appreciate the opportunities that higher education affords you,” she said. She is a strong advocate for getting a college degree, and wherever she is, she is sharing with others all of FSU’s great offerings.
“Fayetteville State University is one of the best places I have worked. I say it often that this leadership team is the most dedicated group I have worked with. Our cabinet members work hard, and they support each other. Collaboration and teamwork are the hallmarks for what we do here,” said McKenzie Holmes.
She calls Chancellor Allison “a visionary and passionate leader.”
“The rigor is intense, but we are often
navigate
workplace
know how to rally the team towards a common goal. My greatest strength as a leader is the value that I hold for the collaborative process. I enjoy working with others and truly believe
rewarded by the work that we do. Our goal is excellence in everything we do. I am very happy to see the strides the university is making, and I know that there’s so much more to come,” McKenzie Holmes added.
Samantha McKenzie Holmes views education as “the true equalizer. It opens its arms to everyone” she said.
“I I think of a college degree as a passport. It allows you to expand your possibilities and puts you in rooms with people you may have never encountered.”
She is proud of her own three adult children who have all chosen to attend HBCUs.
Her son, Shakeel, graduated from NCCU. Daughter Tahirah graduated from WSSU, and daughter Samiyah is a freshman at N.C. A&T.
McKenzie Homes is newly married to Marlon Holmes, and when she isn’t working, enjoys time with her husband. Spending time at home, after a long workday, makes her happy— she enjoys cooking, gardening (even growing her own herbs for preparing favorite dishes), and reading a good book. She likes constant movement and finds time to take Zumba classes and experience new things.
What does the future hold?
“I plan to go back to school to earn a doctoral degree. The classroom is my happy place,” she said.
In the meantime, she is focused squarely on the task at hand: the quest for continued greatness at Fayetteville State.
“I learned early-on from my parents to have a strong work ethic, strive for excellence, and have a lifelong passion for education. Education and excellence are the things that drive me,” she said. “I love FSU and all of my Bronco family and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. This really is our time.”
“Great leaders are flexible, strategic
utilize emotional intelligence to
the
and
that diverse thoughts solve big problems.”
Samantha McKenzie Holmes, Vice Chancellor and Chief of Staff
spur record enrollment and increased retention.”
In her words and actions. A pensive look, an animated expression, in the ways she interacts with students and peers that demonstrate she cares.
But she doesn’t lead by heart alone. Not even close. “I’m very data-informed,” she said, seriously.
As the provost and senior vice chancellor for academic affairs for Fayetteville State University, she will likely be the first one in the room to ask, “What does our research say?”
Leach won’t settle until she gets the right answers. Her vision is clear: FSU is on an upward trajectory toward global greatness.
“Leaders,” she mused, “don’t lead in a vacuum. We are here to actualize others’ greatness. To make others see themselves as the beams of light that they are.”
When Leach speaks, it’s often with a fiery passion-making others want to jump in and take the ride with her.
“I am a servant leader with a transformative outlook,” she said. “Through that lens, my mission is to engage our faculty, staff and students to actualize innovative opportunities for FSU to THRIVE.”
She is very specific about her role as provost—and the responsibilities she believes make the institution better and wiser. She understands those objectives meld well with her duties as the senior vice chancellor for academic affairs.
“The role of the provost is to collaborate and create alliances with myriad stakeholders—not only to build on the rich legacy and foundation
of the university, but also to make it exceedingly better for students, faculty and staff,” she said. “The provost also connects the dots, aligns fiduciary practices throughout the institution, and works collaboratively with senior university academic and administrative leadership, faculty and staff to ensure intentional and innovative goals are met.”
She added, “I have dedicated my multidimensional career to enhancing student success, developing enrollment-driven strategies, fostering faculty and staff development, strengthening academic programs and implementing high-impact policies— all while promoting a culture of academic excellence.”
She’s also dedicated to balancing her work life and family life, speaking with great pride about her family. She’s the wife of James Leach and mother to Jailen, a graduate student at North Carolina Central University.
10-year SACSCOC reaffirmation: In December 2022, FSU received “this benchmark for success, which sets the stage for us moving forward,” noted Leach. In a press release, Fayetteville State University announced that it had successfully received reaffirmation to award baccalaureate, master’s and doctorate degrees by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. For the first time in FSU’s recent history, the reaffirmation yielded no recommendations or findings.
“A SACSCOC assessment report yielding no recommendations is just as much an indicator of FSU’s exceptional and dedicated academic leaders of deans,
“My entire family drives me,” she said. “I love my family.”
When she speaks of family, she also beams about her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, in which she has experienced almost 35 years of women supporting women.
“I am proud of the profound legacy of the sorority and its commitment to public service and sisterhood,” she said. “I’m particularly grateful every day for the 16 young women who took the journey with me and have been a constant in my life for over 34 years.”
faculty, and staff, as it is of the university’s secure and strong academic profile. This designation indicates FSU is firmly positioned as a quality institution of higher education,” Leach said.
History-making enrollments: Fall 2022 enrollment jumped significantly among several populations as the university welcomed its largest, most diverse firstyear class in nearly 15 years. According to its 2022 campus census, FSU enrolled its largest first-year, first-time freshman class since 2007 – 766 students – an increase of 130 students over last year. The university hit an all-time high for military-affiliated student enrollment, surpassing 2,000 for the first time in history with a total of 2,037, an increase of more than 300 students over 2021. In addition, FSU boasts an all-time high transfer student matriculation total
Born in New Orleans and raised in nearby Slidell, “the Camellia City,” she grew up in a blended family with two sisters, three brothers and a collection of cousins. Her family stressed the value of hard work and education.
Leach received her bachelor’s degree in business education from Louisiana State University. She earned her master’s degree in adult and community college education and a doctor of education in higher education, both from N.C. State University.
“I am in my 30th year and fourth campus within the UNC System,” she said. “I started my career at UNCChapel Hill as a health professions recruiter and registrar in the medical school. I spent the bulk of my career, over 18 years, at N.C. State in myriad roles, such as diversity director, assistant dean, assistant vice provost for recruitment, retention and student success, department chair and faculty member. The third university was NCCU, where I served as the senior associate vice chancellor for enrollment management and academic affairs.”
with 1,020 transfers, more than 30% above 2021 alone.
Military-focused and friendly: FSU’s growth is in part attributed to the institution’s recently announced free tuition scholarship program dedicated to military-affiliated students and their families, including those on active duty, veterans, reservists and their spouses and dependents. Approximately one in three FSU students is military-affiliated.
Bronco Boost: This is an immersive, sevenweek transition program which allows select students to live in a residence hall on FSU’s campus at no cost, earn college credits and experience life skills mentoring, financial literacy instruction, guest speakers, mental wellness sessions, field trips and more.
Leach lost her bonus father just as she was assuming the position at FSU in Spring 2021. He, along with her mentors, encouraged her to take the next step in an already impressive career in order to continue making a difference in the lives of others. She keeps looking forward, grateful for the opportunities that Fayetteville State has provided her in working with other visionary leaders and impacting the lives of students.
The team’s accomplishments have been many as news breaks almost every day of something innovative and positive happening at Fayetteville State University. Indeed, the most recent points of pride include a 10-year accreditation or affirmation with no recommendations, record enrollments, ongoing scholarships and much more. (See sidebar.)
“Fayetteville State University,” said the provost, “is a precious gem in this higher education vortex with 156 years of a storied history and still today honors its mission to education and foster an unparalleled collegiate experience for students to learn, excel and thrive.”
In Fall 2022, FSU recorded the largest enrollment in over 20 years.
One of the most diverse HBCUs in the US
FSU is the number one HBCU for militaryaffiliated student enrollment
$500 NC Promise: A number of programs have been instituted to provide tuition assistance, including this important initiative. Fayetteville State became a select NC Promise school in the state. In-state undergraduate students attend FSU for $500 per semester.
Free summer school: FSU is entering its third year of offering free summer school with the goals of student retention and increasing rates of graduation in four years. The number of students who are taking advantage of this opportunity continue to rise.
Scholarships: A number of ongoing scholarships have been established to assist students on their educational journey. Among them are Bronco Opportunity, Military, and the Keen
Scholarship in partnership with Fayetteville Technical Community College.
Five new degree programs: Five new bachelor’s degree programs have been added to the curriculum. All are especially relevant to a rapidly changing society, and include: cybersecurity, supply-chain management, material sciences and manufacturing, public health, and sports management.
Growth of research grants: The university understands the importance of preparing students for careers in the science, math and technology fields. One such partnership is with NASA. The Research and Technology Transfer Office promotes collaboration, innovation, technology transfer, partnership, and supports economic development. FSU students are an integral part of research, innovation and programming activities – and
are prepared for employment at government agencies, national labs and industries.
Faculty also are primed to take advantage of research grants. “The faculty is a huge incubator at this institution,” said Dr. Leach. “There are new opportunities for faculty to pursue research. By doing this, we can move the [FSU] brand in ways we haven’t in the past.”
Bronco One Stop: Provost Leach called the Bronco One Stop “a game-changer.” She explained, “We reimagined the space in the library and connected that space to student success.” Students have a single and central place in which to go to have their questions answered and many issues addressed. It is the information hub – combining technology and the human touch.
Council is
blueprint for how to promote student engagement and success. In saying this, I’m simply echoing what hundreds of students and alumni have expressed to me. One of my proudest moments after I arrived on campus was removing her interim title and establishing her permanently as vice chancellor for student affairs.”
Dr. Juanette Council is an encourager.
Since 1990, she has been a guiding force at Fayetteville State University, often seen working among the crowds in the Rudolph Jones Student Center or engaged one-on-one with an individual who is seeking her sage advice or direction.
Multiple generations of students have been influenced by her calm and wise ways that are born out of experience. To many alumni and current students, she has served as a mentor, teacher
and mother figure all rolled into one.
As the vice chancellor for student affairs, she describes her role modestly and succinctly: “I’m here to help people realize their dreams and provide a level of encouragement.”
A self-confessed “behind-thescenes planner and coordinator,” she is quick to give credit to a team that is instrumental in developing many of the happenings that build a unique family environment at the university. Those happenings include Homecoming, Rodeo Week, the Mr.
and Miss FSU Pageants, Greek Life events, residence hall programs, and so much more.
“It makes me happy to create experiences for others,” she said. “It gives me great joy.”
Dr. Council has risen through the ranks over the past few decades. She credits her mentor, Mrs. Olivia Chavis, for encouraging her to first apply to FSU as a drug education and prevention coordinator. Mrs. Chavis directed the counseling center for a number of years and currently
“Dr.
a living
Chancellor Darrell T. Allison, J.D.
serves on the FSU Foundation Board of Directors.
Dr. Council did, indeed, get hired and excel in the position. She was known for developing innovative programming and building bridges to partnerships on campus and in the community.
She went on to make her mark as the director of the Student Activities & Student Center, assistant vice chancellor for student affairs, and as the associate vice chancellor for student affairs and business manager. “Creating the student experience” continues to grow as her mission, in addition to advocating for students, creating co-curricular programs and managing budgets.
In 2018, Dr. Council was selected as
In 2021, she was promoted to vice chancellor for student affairs.
While growing up in Fayetteville, N.C., where she graduated from nearby E.E. Smith High School, Dr. Council said she had one main goal: to live and work in New York City.
“But God had other plans,” she said, smiling. “And that’s been the biggest blessing of all.”
She is referring to the ability to make a difference at the school where her ancestors were given educational opportunities - and to be with her parents and family, including her now 92-year-old mother, a retired educator, three sisters, and a bevy of nieces and nephews. All the women are proud
members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Dr. Council is also the Fayetteville, N.C. chapter president for The Links, Incorporated.
Dr. Council earned a bachelor’s degree from UNC-Chapel Hill, a master’s degree from Hampton University, and a doctoral degree in educational leadership from Fayetteville State.
“I was able to learn and grow in the place that I was planted,” she said.
She defines a great leader as “someone who can galvanize people to come together and harness the energy, talent and skills to move forward. The leader encourages people to work together to make the magic happen,” she said. “No one person can do it alone. It’s not about the ‘me,’ but about the ‘we.’”
The rule of law - and institutional integrity - guide Wanda L. Jenkins, General Counsel and Vice Chancellor for Legal, Audit, Risk and Compliance
“As I was preparing to take on the role of FSU Chancellor, a senior UNC System leader told me Vice Chancellor Jenkins was ‘one of the best’ in the 16-university system. After two years of working with her, I can say this with certainty: That was wrong. She is the best, and FSU is sound and whole because of her.”
Next year marks three decades that Wanda Jenkins has served as the attorney for Fayetteville State University.
She began as a one-person office, but her role has grown exponentially over the years. In late 2021, Chancellor Darrell T. Allison, J.D. asked her to create a division to encompass all of the work for which she is responsible. That brief conversation took flight and gave birth to what is now known as the Division of Legal, Audit, Risk and Compliance.
Her role has expanded to encompass all legal matters pertaining to the university, in addition to matters related to compliance, auditing, risk management, police and public safety, emergency management and Title IX.
In 2023, Jenkins and her team rolled out two new resources: the Office of Equity and Ombuds. The division of one has grown into a division of seven.
“Chancellor Allison indicated that he wanted a more robust division that encompassed more than just a legal office,” she stated. “It is important that the university adhere to laws and policies – but there are other aspects of ‘institutional integrity’ that require a dedicated focus.”
Focusing on these aspects and adhering to laws and policies, she believes, are the foundation of any well-run organization. With Jenkins’ tenure at the university and her knowledge, she has been a guiding force at FSU. As general counsel, she advises the university’s Board
of Trustees and Chancellor Allison on legal and policy matters and is a constant go-to for her colleagues. She provides counsel to the university’s leaders, as well as students, faculty, and staff, and all will attest: Her word has authority.
She is also eloquent about what makes a great leader. And she has a resume to back it up. “Someone who can inspire their team and motivate others,” she said. “I am here to listen, to help solve problems and to help individuals navigate sensitive situations,” she added.
The hat she wears at work requires her to be both counselor and policy guru. “It’s a job that I take very seriously, but one that I also love doing ,” she noted.
In addition to serving as general counsel at FSU, she previously served as chief of staff for three years. Her service to the university is etched in stone. She has become a person that everyone comes to, in order to gain institutional knowledge—a role she truly enjoys fulfilling.
“I love Fayetteville State University,” she said proudly. “Each day brings with it a different challenge that keeps my job interesting and motivates me,” Jenkins added. “This job and the people I work with are like family to me, and I could not do what I do without their constant support.”
And that family atmosphere that she’s helped to create is one of “the bestkept secrets in North Carolina.” Her mission, however, has always been to change that perception by ensuring
that her division helps “create a community that is more engaging—a university where people feel like their needs are being met,” she said.
Prior to coming to FSU, Jenkins served as an associate university counsel and a business officer at North Carolina State University. She has worked as a financial analyst at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., but happily admits she prefers the North Carolina winters.
After graduating from Lumberton High School in her hometown, she went on to Howard University in Washington, D.C., where she earned all three of her degrees: a bachelor’s in accounting, an MBA, and her juris doctor.
When she isn’t working, Jenkins said that she can probably be found with her head in a book or newspaper: She reads three to four periodicals per day and enjoys reading histories and biographies.
She is also a sports enthusiast and enjoys watching all types of sports, but is particularly dedicated to all of her alma mater’s sports teams and the Carolina Tar Heels men’s and women’s basketball teams.
“I like to stay engaged in current affairs and spend some of my free time keeping up with trends in higher education and changes in the political environment,” she said. “All these things, I believe, impact my job and the university as a whole. But I truly enjoy watching sports which helps relieve some of the pressures of my job.”
Provides an independent and confidential environment to discuss conflicts or issues interfering with academic
over $160 million of construction and renovations to be completed by
Dr.
Lillian Wanjagi, Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance and Chief Financial Officer, deliversa wealth of experience in her financial role at Fayetteville State University
Pacing herself. At times, slow and steady. Ultimately, charging toward the finish line. The goal: extreme preparation and accuracy to produce successful outcomes for the university.
But it’s about more than just numbers for the seasoned accountant, who has also completed 14 marathons and counting. She believes that higher education has the power to transform individuals, families and communities.
“When I thought about our future expansion efforts at FSU—which included
2026—I knew we needed a leader who had been where FSU was seeking to be. We have that in Dr. Wanjagi, our guide in financial matters.”
Chancellor Darrell T. Allison, J.D.
“It is very rewarding to work on a college campus because of the outcomes: Research tells us that students who attend institutions of higher education obtain a wide range of personal, financial and social mobility, and other lifelong benefits,” she said.
Dr. Wanjagi came to Fayetteville State in October 2022 with extensive experience in leadership, strategic planning, budgeting and organizational development. She had served as CFO and vice president of administration and finance at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Before that, she was the executive director of facilities administration at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in her hometown of Houston, Texas.
She earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in accounting from Wingate University, an MBA in international business from Gardner-Webb University and a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration/Leadership from the University of Houston.
Her current days are often spent in meetings about business operations and finance. She works closely with the chancellor and provost to support executive data-driven decision-making and communicate
tradeoffs required in tight budgetary times. She is counted on to provide financial leadership to ensure that FSU business and finance are aligned with institutional priorities.
“A key part of my role is ensuring that the university meets its fiduciary responsibility to donors, state and federal government officials, employees, students and the general public,” she explains. “I have responsibility for establishing and monitoring a sound business environment. This involves developing and monitoring university policies related to internal control, financial and accounting requirements, procurement, sponsored project financial administration, indirect costs, business services, facilities management, and business and finance administrative systems.”
An immediate focus, she said, is to “streamline and improve the administrative process.”
“Fragmented processes are complex and confusing, and often result in errors and rework, and are a cause of long lead times ,” she added. “Additionally, non-integrated systems result in redundancy and manual data re-entry so as a team we are looking to improve these business and administrative systems and processes.”
Dr. Wanjagi, who is a mom of a college freshman daughter, also is passionate about promoting fitness. “I enjoy sharing with everyone the physical and mental benefits of an active lifestyle,” she said. “Active doesn’t have to mean marathons - it can be three 30-minute walks a week.”
But Dr. Wanjagi is not just active; she is an avid marathoner. She has completed 14 full marathons (26.2 miles) and 34 half-marathons (13.1 miles) and numerous 10Ks and 5Ks.
“I am on a quest to run all six world major marathons,” she said. “I have run five to date: Chicago, New York, London, Berlin, and just recently, Tokyo. The only one left is the Boston Marathon.”
In the meantime, she can be seen adhering to a strict schedule, focusing on the tasks at hand on campus. She is known for her calm and helpful demeanor - and an extraordinary commitment to finish strong.
“Fayetteville State University,” she said, “is an incredible place to work with staff and faculty dedicated to our access mission and to students. I am delighted to be a part of the team.”
“I encourage anyoneespecially any woman who has a passion - to go for it full throttle. The worst thing that can happen is you receive a ‘no.’ ”
Maya V. Martin
Maya V. Martin doesn’t necessarily say that she attends Fayetteville State University.
“I call it Family State University,” she said, smiling.
The familial environment drew the Charlotte native to FSU while her twin sister chose N.C. Central University. FSU is everything she hoped for – and so much more –and she is vocal in promoting the university on and off-campus. “Now my little brother and cousins all want to come here!” she remarked.
Martin holds the distinction of being elected by the student body as the 14th woman president of the Student Government Association in the university’s history. “Our voice needs to be heard,” she said, “in every room.”
Part of her commitment involves listening intently to the opinions, ideas and concerns of her fellow students and “communicating those messages to the administration, faculty and staff,” she said.
“I wake up thinking about SGA and go to bed thinking about SGA,” she noted.
Her position gives her a place at the table as a contributing member of Fayetteville State University’s Board of Trustees.
Martin estimates that she works 40-plus hours per week in Student Government Association business, in addition to carrying a full academic load as a junior working toward a Bachelor of Arts in English and Literature with a concentration in prelaw and paralegal studies. She has made the Chancellor’s List and Dean’s List.
A slate of meetings, special events and appearances, hand-shaking with dignitaries and speeches before small groups or large crowds are all in a week’s work for this petite powerhouse. Of the latter, some of the most memorable were speaking at the 2022 Pinning Ceremony and during Chancellor Allison’s installation ceremony this past September.
Fayetteville State University Board of Trustees, Ex-Officio (May 2022-Present)
Judge Ola M. Lewis Pre-Law Scholar (April 2022-Present)
Fayetteville State University Career Spotlight (2022-Present)
Rho Alpha Sigma, Resident Assistant Honor Society (August 2021-Present)
Student Leader Appreciation Award (2022)
National Honors Scholars Association (2020-Present)
Thurgood Marshall College Fund, Yard Ambassador (May 2022-Present)
UNC System OER and Affordability Council, Student Liaison (January 2022-Present)
Her desk is a study in organization at the SGA office in the Rudolph Jones Student Center. She also surrounds herself with books, from classical literature to science fiction. But Martin wasn’t always so serious.
“I was classified as a ‘bad kid’ in elementary school,” she recalled, adding, “but it took one teacher, in one year, to change me from who I was, to who I wanted to be.”
Martin not only credits that teacher for setting her in the right direction, but also her parents—Walter Martin Sr. and Duuna Martin—as well as her grandparents, for their support and encouragement.
“I encourage anyone - especially any woman who has a passion - to go for it full throttle. The worst thing that can happen is you receive a ‘no,’” Martin explained.
As for her future, she’s straightforward about her long-term goal: “I want to become governor of North Carolina.”
Voter Registration, Education and Mobilization, Program Ambassador (October 2022-Present)
Pre-Law Society, Treasurer (April 2022-Present)
National Council of Negro Women, Parliamentarian (February 2022-Present)
College Democrats, Executive Secretary (August 2020-Present)
Meet FSU’s newly appointed Board of Trustees member, Joyce A. Adams. She is a strong leader with an impeccable and stellar record of civilian service to the military community and the United States. She has decades of experience, expertise, leadership and insight with global military operations and high-level intelligence, having worked alongside the nation’s most elite special operations forces. Since 2009, she has served with the Department of the Army, Joint Special Operations Command and Joint Special Operations Command Intelligence Brigade executive staff to provide senior resourcing, contracting and program leadership.
FSU sat down with Adams to learn more about her leadership journey.
Professional Title:
Vice President, Strategic Plans and Programs, AEVEX AEROSPACE in Fayetteville
Hometown: Eastover, North Carolina
Family:
Married to 30-year veteran, SGM(R) Mitchell Adams; mother to one daughter, Diona Taylor; FSU alumna; and proud grandmother to two grandsons, Ian and Noah.
Education:
Bachelor of Science in psychology from Capella University. Advanced leadership and organizational certifications from Harvard University, the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School, North Carolina State University and the University of Louisville.
First and foremost, I enjoy supporting our military community, but also supporting and volunteering throughout Fayetteville in general. I support various nonprofit, and currently am the premier sponsor of the Fayetteville Woodpeckers [Minor League Baseball] that, in turn, support greater Fayetteville and military families.
Accolades/Achievements:
» Military Intelligence professional for more than 34 years
» Pristine Civilian award recognition at the level of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
» Stellar and unmatched reputation in the military community and special operations
Passions/Hobbies:
I enjoy assisting senior citizens of Cumberland County as well as mentoring youth and college students by setting and exemplifying higher standards that earn and showcase respect for both subordinates and peers. I relish family time and different family engagements. There’s nothing more important or fulfilling to me than spending time with my husband and daughter, grandsons, sisters, nieces and nephews.
Causes:
Supporting veterans is extremely important to me as well as outreach to the homeless population. I also participate in backpack initiatives for military families. It’s vital that we give of ourselves and give back to our communities especially through local nonprofit organizations.
At my core, I am simply a servant leader with a humble heart. I believe everyone is somebody and has
something to offer to the world. Everyone deserves a chance to make a difference.
Never ask anyone to do what you are not willing to do. Be an empathetic leader and always put yourself in others’ shoes before rendering a decision.
You in five words:
Empathetic, committed, loyal, disciplined, integrity driven, and I’ll add another one for good measure: a pursuer of excellence.
Thriving. FSU is a compassionate HBCU dedicated to advancing the opportunities of our military community and students to the next level.
I am looking forward to participating and contributing to the professional growth of the university. FSU’s culture and diversity are unmatched.
I am honored to serve on the FSU Board of Trustees. My main portfolio and non-negotiable standards will always be [those five words]: discipline, commitment, loyalty, integrity and pursuer of excellence for the students and staff at Fayetteville State. I feel privileged to be a part of this great HBCU and institution. I will support the chancellor, and I am ready to start my journey to make a difference.
“Be an empathetic leader and example. Never ask others to do what you are unwilling to do yourself.”
Trustee Joyce Adams
Service to Fayetteville State University feels natural, even instinctive, for First Lady La Nica Allison. Both of her parents attended FSU, meeting as students and marrying after graduation. “It’s a full circle moment for me to be able to serve the university—as First Lady—where my parents met,” Mrs. Allison said.
The leadership culture at FSU, which values women, aligns with the ethos of Mrs. Allison’s own family. “I had a nurturing upbringing,” she said, with “role models of female leaders.” Her parents cultivated resilience and encouraged authenticity—being “comfortable with who you are,” she added.
For Mrs. Allison, such qualities are perhaps best embodied in her mother, Brenda Timberlake, a preeminent mentor for life and leadership. “She has endured hardships in her life.
To be able to see her live life to the fullest in spite of hardships is an inspiration to my siblings and me,” Mrs. Allison said of her mother. “She has committed her life to improving the lives of others and serving her community. And that has been the best role model for me in how I look through the lens of helping build others up.”
This lens for uplift has shaped Mrs. Allison’s successful career in business operations. A corporate leader within IQVIA—a global health information technology and clinical research organization on FORTUNE’s list of the “World’s Most Admired Companies”—she has sought to ensure “the doors are open for others as well,” she said. This perspective influences her work on campus too, and “fits well with FSU’s motto, ‘Res non verba … deeds not words,’” she said.
Last year, when the university launched an initiative around paid student internships, Mrs. Allison found another door to open. She saw a clear connection point between FSU’s programs and IQVIA’s focus, which resulted in securing paid internships as business analysts for two FSU students last summer. Both were extended through the fall. FSU is now recruiting IQVIA interns for Summer 2023.
Such engagement on behalf of students has great potential, according to FSU leaders. “Mrs. Allison’s initiative was much appreciated and serves as an excellent example of the outcomes that can be achieved when we as members of the Fayetteville State University community use our resources and our
‘We are better together’Photography by Ezekiel Best
networks to help connect students with opportunities,” noted Greg McElveen, the assistant vice chancellor for strategic initiatives at FSU.
Mrs. Allison is delighted to facilitate such opportunities. “My goal is to connect. If I know of a resource and a way to meet that need, then I try to be the connector,” she said.
Really, she is walking out a new phase of an old and durable commitment: Connect and empower others. But she is doing it in her own inimitable way. “When Chancellor Allison took on the role, I knew I had to create my own path as first lady,” she said. “I have a demanding full-time job and also have children that are minors, with busy extracurricular schedules. So, I knew that my role might look different from other first ladies, or how first ladies take on the role at other universities.”
Enrollment and university demographics have fueled her focus: 70% of students and 62% of university leaders are female at FSU. “I really wanted to be intentional with the type of programs that were offered, not only for students but also for staff and faculty,” she said.
As a result, she has worked to champion women’s leadership programming and strong female relationships across age groups. “What is important to me is empowering, inspiring, and connecting women,” she said.
Such intentionality is bearing fruit. “In August, we celebrated Women’s Equality Day, and had a panel of some of our female leaders at Fayetteville State,” Mrs. Allison said. In October, she hosted the First Lady’s Homecoming Sunday Brunch, connecting women while showcasing
programs that support FSU students. Deeply impacted by the prevalence of student hunger and food insecurity, Mrs. Allison worked to highlight FSU’s food pantry. One-fourth of brunch ticket sales went to support the pantry’s work with students.
That event also strengthened women’s interpersonal connections. “I made sure that each lady who attended met someone she did not know,” Mrs. Allison said. “My ask of them was to be intentional” with women they knew or admired, she added. Event feedback warmed her heart: One student now connects regularly with a community leader she met at the brunch—a
Her service and role align closely with Chancellor Allison’s vision for women’s leadership—a vision that is both strategic and aspirational. “He gets the strengths of having a diverse leadership team; he was raised with strong females in his family,” Mrs. Allison said. In fact, “he has three strong females in his household right now!” she added, laughing. “He gets
relationship that “blossomed as a result of that event,” Mrs. Allison said.
Most recently, in conjunction with Women’s History Month in March, FSU hosted an event celebrating women’s leadership contributions. The event brought together female educators, corporate visionaries, and local leaders, with Mrs. Allison introducing the panel discussion.
How would Chancellor Allison sum up his wife’s impact? “She is not a traditional first lady,” given the demands of her role as a corporate leader, he affirmed. “Yet, she still selflessly makes time to impact the lives of FSU students, staff, faculty, and the broader community. She serves quietly but tangibly.”
it and knows that it is important to have female representation on his leadership team.”
Diversity in leadership also raises students’ sights. “To have a reflection of yourself as a female student—to see well-educated leaders at FSU, and to see them empowered—only helps a student to say, ‘I can do this. I can do whatever I put my goals and my mind to,’” Mrs. Allison said. “The female leaders at FSU are powerhouses.”
Ultimately, women’s connections can be transformative, she believes— across generations and spheres of influence. So, women need regular reminders “that they are not alone, whether it is a student or one of the female leaders at FSU,” Mrs. Allison said. “We are better together.”
Dr. Priscilla ManarinoLeggett has always wanted to be a teacher. And she has been doing just that for more than four decades. As the oldest of five kids growing up in Florida, Dr. Manarino-Leggett said teaching just called her.
She answered.
“It’s always been important to me to make a difference in people’s lives and to help bring about change where and when I can,” she said. “Teaching enables me to do that and as a reading specialist focused on literacy and the science of reading, I think it’s even more critical that we lay a solid foundation in the classroom both for students and teachers. I want to help make that happen.”
After earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees as well as her Ph.D. in Elementary Education/Reading/ Language Arts from the University of South Florida, she headed to North Carolina and Fayetteville State University (FSU) to begin an epic teaching career in the College of Education (COE).
Fortunately for FSU and our students, she’s spent most of her professional life here. She’s also made Fayetteville her home with her husband, Greg Leggett, a Robeson County native whom she met not long after arriving at the university.
Currently a professor in the Department of Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle Grades, Reading and Special Education in the COE, Manarino-Leggett has worn many hats, including that of department chair and coordinator of reading education and elementary education. She also served as the FSU Reading Clinic’s inaugural director when it was first established in 1978 as both a community outreach project to assist in reading recovery and remediation for area school children and to provide practicum experiences for M.Ed. candidates in reading education.
Dr. Manarino-Leggett is broadly published, a prolific speaker, has garnered several grants and participated in state and national accreditation processes. She spearheaded the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) revision of programs in the department and developed and led workshops for North Carolina state licensing exams in reading. She has been dissertation chair to Ed.D. candidates in educational administration and conducted professional development workshops
for in-service teachers regionally and statewide. She received the North Carolina Board of Governors Teaching Award in 1995 and earned several department Teacher of the Year honors as well as numerous awards for her exemplary service to the COE.
Though she semi-retired in 2020 following her stint as department chair, she didn’t stay away long.
Invited back to FSU to teach a class in January 2023, ManarinoLeggett is once again leading — and revitalizing — FSU’s Reading Clinic. “This is such a critical program in so many ways,” she said. “Not only are we engaging once again with our community to offer free assessment, tutoring and reading recovery services to area elementary school children and their families, we are also better training the next generation of educators in the science of reading and giving in-service teachers desperately needed professional development opportunities, resources and support.”
The clinic has experienced many changes and challenges over the years. Declining enrollment in advanced degree programs and changing curricular requirements for teachers limited clinic services because fewer students were available for assessment and tutoring. When FSU introduced an undergraduate concentration in reading for elementary education majors in the mid-2010s, undergraduate elementary education majors provided clinic services under the guidance of COE faculty.
COVID severely limited on-campus services, but thanks to support from various funding agencies, the COE provided reading tutoring services
virtually. Now, with continuing support from community partners, the COE is returning to on-campus services during Spring 2023. The clinic currently has between 12 and 14 tutors available and aims to boost that number to 25. Additionally, the clinic hopes to expand its services to include weekend workshops and possibly a summer immersion/ retention initiative.
The College of Education Reading Clinic supports the UNC System Literacy Innovation Leaders Initiative, which aims to improve literacy across the state by training pre-K through third grade teachers in the science of reading using the Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) professional development training in concert with the NCDPI.
FSU is one of five inaugural Literacy Innovation Leader educator preparation programs (EPPs) to prepare more teachers in the science of reading using the LETRS professional development training. Thanks to a $12 million COVID relief package passed by the General Assembly in 2021, FSU is also a center for the LETRS professional development program for teachers in low-performing schools.
“The FSU Reading Clinic is more than a service or resource; it’s lifechanging,” Manarino-Leggett said. “Reading is such a fundamental skill that everyone deserves to have regardless of their circumstances. It’s incumbent upon us as educators and leaders to ensure that we prepare and support our new and serving teachers in the classroom and help our community increase literacy for our children. FSU is ideally positioned to do this, and I am thrilled to be a part of it.”
by Hope Baptiste
Dr. Dawn Truong is a public health promotion and education guru specializing in health disparity, food insecurities among college students, substance use and abuse prevention research, community-academic partnerships and public health programming.
Truong brings a holistic health approach to creating quality and innovative health promotion and health education services for the FSU campus community to promote healthier lifestyle practices and reach health and wellness goals.
“When I was pursuing my graduate degree in public health and my doctorate in higher education, my goal was to focus on improving young adult health in a higher education institute,” she said. “As a health program manager, I am committed to leading the development and implementation of health education programs to provide students with health education resources and to teach risk reduction behaviors to encourage students to adopt healthy living practices throughout their academic career and thereafter. My vision is to enhance students’ experiences by engaging them in health promotion activities, peerto-peer education, and hands-on research opportunities. It’s extremely fulfilling to make that connection in developing health programs for students and work alongside students to enhance their education experience.”
Amanda Virelles, D.M.A., is interim chair of Fayetteville State University’s Department of Performing and Fine Arts and is an associate professor of music.
“I love the exchange of cultures that music makes possible. Mentoring students and developing projects that impact them, my colleagues and my audience mean the world to me.”
Kristina Henckel, D.M.A., is an adjunct faculty member in Fayetteville State University’s Department of Performing and Fine Arts music program and an instructor of music at Sandhills Community College.
“Playing music, promoting the arts, mentoring young artists and inspiring the next generation of musicians and performers is so rewarding.”
» National and international award winner in piano and chamber music performance.
» Soloist in chamber ensembles in South America, the Caribbean, Europe and across the U.S.
» Released several commercial recordings available in all platforms.
» 4HANDS Piano Duo named Grand Prize winner at the 2022 International Youth Music Competition in the chamber music category.
» National semi-finalist for The American Prize in Chamber Music Performance, 2023 - professional division.
» May 2022 - Honorable Mention from The American Prize in Solo Piano Performance.
» 4HANDS Piano Duo named Grand Prize winner at the 2022 International Youth Music Competition in the chamber music category.
» National semi-finalist for The American Prize in Chamber Music Performance, 2023 - professional division.
» Piano Star International Competition: PL Excellence of Teaching 2021 and 2022.
» Carmel Klavier International Piano Competition: Teaching Excellence Award 2021 and 2022.
Drs. Amanda Virelles and Kristina Henckel combine talent and passion to inspire, impact and move studentsStory by Hope Baptiste Photography by Ezekiel Best Amanda Virelles, D.M.A., (left) and Kristina Henckel, D.M.A.
Together, they comprise 150 years of wisdom, beauty and trailblazing wonder.
They are a mother and daughter with close ties to Fayetteville State University - past, present and future.
Just say the name “Jeffries,” and many will immediately know about whom you speak: Dr. Marye J. Jeffries and Dr. Kimberly Jeffries Leonard, ages 90 and 60, respectively.
Dr. Marye J. Jeffries is synonymous with education and excellence. An established educator and Army spouse
when she relocated to Fayetteville, N.C. in 1963, she became the first Black teacher at Vanstory Hills Elementary School. While teaching there, she received her master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and went on to become an associate professor of education at Fayetteville State University.
Always one to aspire higher, Dr. Jeffries earned her doctorate of education administration and supervision from UNC-Chapel Hill. She held various positions at Fayetteville State University, culminating in her appointment in
1995 as associate vice chancellor of academic affairs, the first AfricanAmerican woman to hold that position. She retired in 1998 and remains active in the community
As part of that involvement, she was named an honorary trustee of Fayetteville Technical Community College in 2022, after serving on its board of trustees for 26 years, including four years as chair. She was the only African-American woman to do so.
Her community service includes presiding as board chair for the Fayetteville/Cumberland County Arts Council and the Cumberland County Auditorium/Arena Commission (now the Civic Center Commission).
She has been awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine and the Old North State Award, the top two civilian honors in the state. In 2011, she was recognized by Fayetteville State University as an Outstanding Black Woman in American Culture and History.
Dr. Kimberly Jeffries Leonard said her mother set the bar exceptionally high when it came to work ethic and breaking glass ceilings. She and her mother both lead by the FSU motto, “Res Non Verba” (Deeds, Not Words).
The daughter “literally grew up” on the campuses of Fayetteville State and UNC-Chapel Hill. Where her mother went, so did Kimberly Jeffries Leonard and her younger brother, Kenneth, a biologist at the National Institutes of Health.
“I hung out in my cousins’ dorm rooms and took piano lessons in Rosenthal Hall,” she reminisced during a joint Zoom interview with her mother that took place in her family home in Northwest Washington, D.C. In the background sat a grand piano that she found at an estate sale. She still enjoys the instrument, but said it is used most by her husband, who plays by ear.
The current season marks a quieter
time for Dr. Jeffries Leonard, who is often rushing to catch a plane or meeting with clients. She is the founder, president and CEO of Envision Consulting, LLC, a boutique public health consulting firm specializing in strategic and innovative executive level solutions for public, private and government entities. Previously, she was the chief operating officer for the District of Columbia’s Department of Health.
Dr. Jeffries Leonard’s list of achievements would take reams of paper to chronicle. Among her achievements are appointments by Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, including chair of the Commission on African American Affairs and as a member of the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic ReOpen DC Advisory Group and the ReOpen DC Task Force on Equity, Disparity Reduction, and Vulnerable Populations Subcommittee.
But the road always leads back to FSU.
“Fayetteville State is the foundation of everything I am today,” she said. “I learned leadership there.”
She graduated in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree from FSU, going on to earn a master’s degree from N.C. Central University and a Doctor of Philosophy from Howard University - all in psychology. Fellowships and special programs that she has completed cover the realm of cardiovascular and cancer epidemiology, HIV-AIDS research, psychiatry and more.
She currently is a member of and serves as secretary on Fayetteville State’s Board of Trustees, has been honored as Alumni of the Year, reigned as the 2018 Homecoming Grand Marshal, was the featured speaker for the Sesquicentennial Founders Day, and is a recipient of the Chancellor’s Medallion, Fayetteville State University’s highest honor bestowed upon an alumnus.
Perhaps we model what we see. Both mother and daughter have made their marks as leaders in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and The Links, Incorporated, a service organization with worldwide membership totaling more than 17,000 professional women of African descent. Dr. Jeffries served two terms as chapter president, and Dr. Jeffries Leonard is the immediate past national president after serving a four-year term.
Dr. Jeffries Leonard was executive producer of The Links, Incorporated’s documentary “The Invitation,” chronicling the history of the organization and featured at the 2022 Official Selection Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase. She was also a cultural advisor on Disney Pixar’s “Soul.”
Both women credit strong women who came before them: pioneers, such as Dr. Jeffries’ mother, Lorraine Tillmon, who lived to the ripe age of 109. Dr. Jeffries Leonard remembers her grandmother for her courage in trying times. Mrs. Tillmon devoted herself to community involvement with various organizations and spent half her life as a Red Cross volunteer.
Both are quick to also thank supportive spouses for encouraging them on their educational and career journeys. Dr. Jeffries’ husband, Captain Onde H. Jeffries, was a Veteran who served in World War II and Korea. He was supportive when his wife lived in Chapel Hill during the week and came home to Fayetteville on weekends during completion of her doctoral studies. Captain Jeffries passed away in 2004.
Dr. Jeffries Leonard has been married since 1992 to retired Washington, D.C. Fire and EMS Battalion Fire Chief Stephen V. Leonard. The couple have two grown sons, Victor and Alexander, and a senior Jack Russell terrier mix named Ombré.
They beam with pride when one talks about the other. And there’s a bit of banter and good-natured ribbing, too.
“She’s the reason I stopped coloring my hair!” said the mother, referring to her daughter’s striking silver locks, and adding that it’s the older one who typically goes gray first.
“Never going to happen,” the daughter chimed in, referring to the possibility of any dye touching her roots.
She has a point - and the award to back it up - receiving national exposure as a recipient of an inaugural CROWN (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) Award from Dove and the CROWN Coalition in 2021.
For both women, dedication, servant leadership and keeping it real pays off in the long run.
Dr. Marye Jeffries said she is also grateful that both of her children nurture their spiritual side. Growing up, service to College Heights Presbyterian Church on Seabrook Road in Fayetteville was, and continues to be, important. Dr. Jeffries is a ruling elder there. Dr. Jeffries Leonard is a ruling elder at 15th Street Presbyterian Church in the District. Both women believe great leaders exhibit a perfect mix of empathy and boldness and vision with a deep understanding of issues. They work to build an excellent team—and give credit where credit is due.
“One of the things I admire about you,” the mother turns to her daughter, “is your role as president of The Links. It’s not easy being the head of an organization. But she did it with grace. She did it with style. She did it with compassion.”
A bit taken aback—delightfully so— the daughter responded with a smile: “I’m not rattled easily. I come from amazing stock.””
Sheila Cannon is a worldclass healthcare professional, educator, therapist and innovator with a plethora of credentials and certifications behind her name. She has been a registered nurse (RN) for 35 years and an educator for over two decades, having taught nursing courses in mental health, fundamentals, leadership, research, and advanced medical-surgical, pharmacology and psychotherapeutic interventions. She also has expertise in trauma-informed cognitive behavioral therapy.
She is passionate about mental health and wellness and brings her practical experience in clinical psychopharmacology/psychotherapy to the classrooms and dean’s suite at Fayetteville State University’s (FSU) School of Nursing (SON) as associate professor and associate dean.
Cannon could teach and practice anywhere. She has taught at prestigious universities and served as a practitioner in a large practice group south of Boston as well as in Virginia. She practiced in the SON’s Collaborative Institute for Interprofessional Education and Practice (CI-PEP) prior to COVID, and also in New Hanover, Brunswick and Robeson Counties. She has directed numerous educational and clinical programs including online, accelerated and CI-PEP, and has served as senior clinical directors and as an administrator of various inpatient programs in psychiatric arenas.
Cannon said she got her passion for healthcare, wellness and service from her dad, Floyd Jones Sr., who served as an EMT for the local fire department in her tiny hometown of Sneads Ferry, North Carolina, a fishing village in Onslow County. As the middle child of five, Cannon is the only one of her siblings to follow his example.
“I always enjoyed hearing and learning about the work my dad did helping people,” Cannon said. “He would get called out at all hours and even though it was challenging sometimes, I was always fascinated by it. I knew I wanted to do something to make a difference; nursing offered so many options for me.”
When Cannon returned to her home state to care for her parents, she hoped to find a place where she could pursue her career and academic goals and, ideally, serve at an HBCU again. FSU checked those boxes and then some; she is currently in her 11th academic year.
“I was so impressed with the students and faculty, and the leadership of Dean [Afua] Arhin in the Lloyd College of Health, Science and Technology made FSU an easy choice,” Cannon said. “What was an incredible nursing department has now become a thriving nursing school that is preparing nursing professionals to enter the workforce and address a critical nursing shortage as well as provide excellent care in any healthcare setting.”
» Board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist (PMHCNS)
» Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), approved Buprenorphine provider
» Post Master’s Certificate, Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Vanderbilt University
» Ph.D., Hampton University
» B.S.N., M.S.N., Psychiatric Mental Health, PMH CNS Certification, University of Virginia
» A.D.N., Cameron University
In addition to its pre-licensure, RN to BSN, and MSN programs, the school is launching an accelerated, foursemester BSN program this summer to help graduates from other disciplines transition to a nursing career in about a year’s time. A new accredited patient safety and quality master’s program is also now available.
For Cannon, what really sets the SON apart from other schools and HBCUs is its Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Program. Launched in September 2022 under Cannon’s leadership, FSU’s SANE training program is a free, one-of-a-kind pilot program aimed at increasing the number of these specially trained nurses across the state and building a more diverse pool of these professionals to help make survivors more comfortable during an already traumatic time.
FSU is the nation’s first HBCU to host a SANE training program at its nursing school. It’s supported by a $1.5 million appropriation from the state of North Carolina and a pilot funding award of $125,000 from the Rape Crisis Center of Cumberland County. The program aims to train 20 SANEs per semester, including the summer, with a goal of 60 per year. FSU’s SON also plans to grow and sustain this program to address a void in specialized nursing care, particularly in underserved and underrepresented communities.
“FSU is uniquely positioned to fulfill critical needs across our state, and the response to the SANE program has been phenomenal,” Cannon said. “We currently have 36 participants in the program, well above what we expected, and we’re still receiving inquiries daily. The program has brought well-deserved attention to the school, but an even greater result is the attention on sexual assault victims’ needs and how we can be there for them when they need us most.”
From humble beginnings on her family’s farm in Litchfield, Trelawny, Jamaica, Inez Turner grew into a world-class athlete who knows a thing or two about what it takes to compete — and win — at the highest level. The second of four girls, the Jamaican Olympic runner (Atlanta, 1996) has amassed a trove of awards, medals, records, accolades and championships as a competitor and a coach. Enshrined in the Penn Relays and National Junior College Halls of Fame, Turner was ISA Athlete of the Decade for the 1980s.
“Growing up, my sisters and I ran everywhere. From fetching water, tending crops, feeding the cows and even going to school, our feet carried us,” Turner said.“It definitely brought out the competitive spirit in all of us, and made us stronger with every step. My dad always said when you get the morning dew water on your feet, it makes you stronger and focused on positive things.”
Still does.
Turner said she followed her heart to Fayetteville State University (FSU) in 2017 to revive its women’s track and field program. It didn’t hurt that
Anthony Bennett, FSU’s director of athletics, had a relationship with Turner and sought her advice on potential coaching candidates for the university’s track and field program. Turns out, she was her own best recommendation to serve as FSU’s coach!
“I was so inspired by the possibility of building a program, bringing in talented athletes and helping them reach the next level,” she said. “I love being able to motivate these athletes and show them that if you can find it in your heart, you can do anything. We began with little but have gained so much.” Ten championships to date and counting.
A 20-year coaching veteran with previous stops at New York Track Club, North Carolina A&T State University and Winston-Salem State University, Turner led FSU to its first Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Women’s CrossCountry Championship in her first season, and never looked back. The Broncos continued their winning ways in 2018, 2019 and 2021. With each title came a CIAA Coach of the Year accolade for Turner and multiple runners of the year awards.
Under Turner’s leadership, the Broncos’ indoor track and field program has become a perennial conference contender, capturing its first-ever women’s title in 2020 and an Indoor Track Coach of the Year honor for Turner. FSU has captured three CIAA indoor titles in four years, including the 2022 and 2023 championships.
In FSU’s first year of women’s outdoor track and field in 2019, the Broncos captured the university’s first-ever second-place finish. FSU claimed its first conference title at the 2022 CIAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, sharing the podium with in-state rival Winston-Salem State University.
But Turner doesn’t define success with trophies or medals or COY accolades. For her, it’s about the impact she can have on the lives of her studentathletes and the relationships that come with sports.
“Sports bring people together behind a common interest and give studentathletes goals, self-esteem, a sense of belonging and personal achievement,” Turner said. “Sports drive you to be and do your best, to push yourself to achieve a goal that might seem out
success in life through humility, determination, and ‘dew on your feet’Story by Hope Baptiste Photography by Ezekiel Best
of reach, but is achievable with hard work, dedication and perseverance. As a coach, I want to help my studentathletes be their very best selves not just while they’re at FSU, but long after they’ve graduated and moved on to the next stage of their lives.”
Turner said that theme also translates to her own life. She has four children and, like most mothers, she wants them to be happy, healthy and fulfilled in whatever they do.
“It’s critical for young people, my children included, to explore the opportunities available to them and to have a safe space to discover their strengths, weaknesses, likes and dislikes,” she said. “My goal is to guide and support them, encourage them, be an example for them, celebrate the victories and be there for the defeats. If you can do that, the success will come. To me, that’s what life is all about.”
Turner attended Vere Technical High School in Hayes, Jamaica, which produces world-class athletes who go on to compete in college, the Olympics and professionally. She came to the U.S. to attend Barton Community College, home to many fellow international athletes as well, where she earned multiple All-America honors, set numerous school records for various distances, won an individual championship and participated as a member of the school’s indoor/outdoor
» 16 National Junior College
All-America honors
» Multiple school records
» 1993 Division I NJCAA Championship in the 800-meter run
» Among the fastest times ever recorded in the event at the championship level
» Member of the 4x800-meter relay team that won an NJCAA national championship
relay teams.
She went on to compete for and graduate from Texas State University, where she earned a B.S. in exercise and sports science in 1998. She was a two-time NCAA champion and distinguished herself at the historic Penn Relays. She also earned two Southland Conference Athlete of the Year awards and was a team captain. She was inducted into the school’s 2019 Hall of Fame.
Turner said that while she is proud of all her victories, one of her most prized titles is college graduate. “It was extremely important to me to be a student-athlete and perform at the highest level in the classroom as well as on the track,” she said. “Earning my degree not only helped me prepare for a wonderful career, it enabled me to turn my passion into my life’s work. I hope all my student-athletes are so fortunate.”
Turner has used her platform to elevate communities and give back whenever possible. In 2012, she established the Inez Turner Foundation to raise funds for Vere Technical High School to assist disadvantaged students. She has spoken multiple times at the US-JA International College Fair, an organization that aids third world countries.
Turner said coaching at FSU is one
more opportunity for her to make a difference. “The student-athletes at FSU are among the best anywhere, and I am honored to be a part of their journeys during, and after, their sports careers,” she said. “Collegiate athletics is such a special family you choose and the experience goes by so quickly. So few amateur athletes go on to compete professionally, and that’s ok. What I’m most interested in is making a difference now that will endure long after the final whistle.”
CIAA Championships
2017 Women’s Cross Country
2018 Women’s Cross Country
2019 Women’s Cross Country
2020 Women’s Indoor Track & Field
2021 Women’s Cross Country
2022 Women’s Indoor Track & Field
2022 Co-Women’s Outdoor Track & Field
2023 CIAA Indoor Track & Field
CIAA Coach of the Year
2017 Women’s Coach of the Year
2018 Women’s Coach of the Year
2019 Women’s Coach of the Year
2020 Women’s Coach of the Year
2021 Women’s Coach of the Year
2022 Women’s Coach of the Year
2022 Women’s Co-Coach of the Year
2023 Women’s Coach of the Year
» Consecutive NCAA championships (1994-95)
» Two Southland Conference Athlete of the Year awards
» Team captain
» Inducted into the Texas State University
2019 Hall of Fame
» Penn Relays:
» Won 13 title races
» Set two world junior records
» 3 time Penn Relays Athlete of the Meet
» 5 time Penn Relays Wall of Famer
» Won gold in the 1994 Commonwealth Games in the 800-meter run.
» Won bronze at the 1997 World Championships in Athens, Greece, as a member of the 4x400-meter relay team.
» Won seven gold and two silver medals at the CARIFTA (Caribbean Free Trade Association) Games from 1988-91 between the junior and youth divisions.
» First athlete from an English-speaking Caribbean country to run 800 meters under two minutes.
Born on February 16, 1929, in Goldsboro, N.C., Mrs. Merritt Chestnut Reid has done a lot of living, and giving, in her 94 years. She makes her home in Columbia, South Carolina, near family and friends whom she has touched with her grace and charm for literally decades.
This Golden Bronco is a Class of 1952 graduate of Fayetteville State Teachers College who has dedicated her life’s work to improving the lives of children and families in underserved communities where she taught reading, writing and arithmetic — and maybe just a little bit more.
Properly adorned in pearls and a perfect top bun, Reid spoke fondly of her days at Fayetteville State Teachers
College, which holds a special place in her heart, she said, because it’s where she grew and thrived as a young Black woman. “There was so much I loved about my time at Fayetteville State, but I especially loved working in the library,” she said. “Being around the books and people studying, the faculty and often their spouses spending time there, it was a special place for me. That and going to vespers every week, which at that time was required.”
After graduation Reid took a job teaching in Richmond County Schools in South Carolina. She met her husband, Willie K. Reid, a Georgetown native who was in service at the time, and they married in 1956. She taught in Germany during his deployment there and spent more than
30 years in the classroom inspiring young minds and moving generations forward, one step at a time.
“It was really important for me, especially during that time, to help earn a better living for me and my family,” Reid said, a copy of FSU’s Bronco Pride magazine prominently displayed on her coffee table.
“Attending Fayetteville State Teachers College and becoming an educator helped me do that and gave me the chance to make a difference in people’s lives. I love my alma mater, and I am so glad to see it grow and thrive so future generations can do the same.”
Along with the standard lessons in her classroom, Reid also shared her gift, love and passion for art. Reid never formally taught art and, in fact, only enrolled in art classes at the University of South Carolina after she retired. But she said there was always some creative or artistic element in her classroom and in her lesson plans because it brought her joy to share it with her students and encourage them to pursue their passions.
“I always loved painting, creating and capturing images and moments in time that made me happy,” she said. “And if I could touch someone else and help them find beauty in the world, that made it all the more special.”
Reid recently donated four of her many memory-making paintings of Georgetown to The Rice Museum in honor and memory of her late husband, Willie, a frequent museum visitor who growing up often occupied its benches for a shady spot to rest and people watch.
“I was so honored and touched to have my artwork displayed at The Rice Museum and for the chance to celebrate my husband in such a special way,” she said. “It is among the highlights of my life, and I will cherish the experience and the memories for the rest of my life.”
If Reid has her way, she has a lot more living to do.
