LOCALS
A CULTURE OF CURIOSITY Dr. Paulette Dillard preserves Shaw University’s legacy with an eye toward the future by ILINA EWEN photography by S.P. MURRAY
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ou might expect greatness from anyone who asked for a proper fountain pen for her thirteenth birthday. “I just wanted to practice my signature,” says Dr. Paulette Dillard. And it’s a good thing she did, because as Shaw University’s President, Dillard signs on the dotted line many times a day. Hailing from Mount Airy, North Carolina, Dillard was the first in her family to earn a college degree. She attended segregated schools until her senior year, when she was bussed to a 52 | WALTER
new school through forced integration. In a class of 200, Dillard was one of six black students. Despite the change, she thrived: A dedicated and affable student who drove a baby-blue Mustang, she made friends easily, was an honors student and held a spot in her school’s royal court. It was in high school that Dillard sharpened her confidence, which is one reason she wants to help students today learn to identify their strengths. “I want to teach kids how to learn and to foster a sense of adventure and discovery,” says Dillard. That aligns with the
