Chancellor’s Message

Greetings,

The Fall 2022 semester is off to a great start. Students are back to campus in full force and we are excited to usher in a return to the high-energy, student-centered environment we know and love at North Carolina Central University. While we continue to offer COVID-19 testing on campus, there have been no major issues with COVID-19 thus far in the academic year.

If you had walked through our campus two short years ago (admittedly, those years were not so short, after all!), you might be forgiven for wondering if you have returned to the same campus when you visit the sloping hills and verdant green today. We have completed four new major capital projects, including the NCCU STUDENT CENTER and three PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP (P3) RESIDENCE HALLS, each of which was celebrated at the grand opening held on April 26, 2022 (pages 8–9).

I am thrilled to update you on the progress we have made in building out our executive leadership team and other senior leaders across the university. We have made many NEW APPOINTMENTS to critical roles and these talented individuals are already working to move the university forward (see pages 12 – 15).

We celebrated the graduating classes of the 138th Fall 2021 and 139th Spring 2022 Commencement ceremonies and I invite you to read the inspiring stories of a selection of our Spring graduates (see pages 15–25).

North Carolina Central University is an incubator for remarkable people. The three Eagle alumni who have served as MacArthur Foundation Fellows, REV. WILLIAM J. BARBER II, PH.D., IBRAHIM CISSÉ, PH.D., and TRESSIE McMILLAN COTTOM, PH.D., since 2018 are clear examples of this (more on pages. 30–33).

Thank you for everything you do to support NCCU and our commitment to excellence.

In Truth and Service. Johnson O. Akinleye

Johnson O. Akinleye, Ph.D. Chancellor

/ 1 / NCCU Chancellor Johnson O. Akinleye greets alumni during the Duke's Mayo Classic game held in Charlotte, N.C. / 2 / Along with members of the Fayetteville Alumni Chapter, Chancellor Akinleye, congratulats newly-admitted students / 3 / NCCU's beam signing for the School of Business, held Feb. 2021. (Pictured L-R) Jaden Pledger, an NCCU junior majoring in business administration and marketing; Anthony C. Nelson, dean, School of Business; Akua J. Matherson, CFO and vice chancellor for Administration & Finance; Provost David H. Jackson Jr., provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs; and Johnson O. Akinleye, chancellor. 1

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