Awards gala on Sept. 29, 7 p.m., at university student center
The North Carolina Central University (NCCU) Office of Alumni Relations has named its 2023 Forty Under Forty class and will honor these young alumni on Friday, Sept. 29, at 7 p.m., at the NCCU Student Center, 500 Nelson St., in Durham.
Chosen by a committee of their peers, the inductees are all under age 40 and have made contributions to a variety of fields including education, social justice, law, healthcare, sciences, mass communication, public service and real estate.
“The Forty Under Forty awards recognizes the accomplishments of North Carolina Central University’s young alumni, who are the embodiment of ‘The Eagle Promise,’” said LaMisa McCoy Foxx, assistant vice chancellor for NCCU Alumni Relations. “We are excited to celebrate our sixth class of amazing young Eagles who have carried out the University’s mission of “Truth and Service” both personally and professionally since leaving the Nest.”
The awards were created to recognize 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.
The selection committee is comprised of NCCU alumni, administrators and industry leaders. The celebration will feature entertainment, an award presentation and dinner.
For more information, please contact LaMisa McCoy Foxx at [email protected] or 919-530-7361.
To purchase tickets, visit https://www.nccu.edu/forty-under-forty.
The 2023 honorees are:
Dene’ Alexander, ’12
Clayton, N.C.
Juris Doctor
Assistant city attorney for City of Greenville, N.C.
Ndeh “Will” Anyu, ’13, ’16
Greensboro, N.C.
Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication
Master of Public Administration
Senior program manager for equity and development, GoGuardian
Jamise Bell, ’13
Durham, N.C.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Associate director, Operations Medical Communications
PPD (a part of Thermo Fisher Scientific)
Reginald Boney, ’08
Durham, N.C.
Bachelor of Arts in History
Minority Business Development Agency Program specialist, NC Department of Administration
Kayla Britt, ’16, ’18
Raleigh, N.C.
Master of Public Administration; Juris Doctor
Assistant attorney general, NC Department of Justice
Nimasheena Burns, ’10
Durham, N.C.
Master of Public Administration
Durham County Commissioner
Tierra Butler, ’11
Roseboro, N.C.
Bachelor of Science in Biology
Consumer safety officer, US Food and Drug Administration
Stacey Carless, ’13
Raleigh, N.C.
Juris Doctor
Executive director, NC Counts Coalition
Tasha Carson, ’07, ’14
Nashville, Tennessee
Bachelor of Science in Political Science
Bachelor of Science in Human Sciences
Master of Arts in Counseling Education
Assistant vice president, Tennessee State University
Shan Carter, ’13, ’19
Greensboro, N.C.
Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences
Master of Public Administration
Coordinator of positive culture and climate, Guilford County Schools
Sheena Cooper, ’05
Durham, N.C.
Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication
Director of marketing and strategic communication, Durham Public Schools
Chassity K. Coston, ’10
Boston, Massachusetts
Bachelor of Arts in Middle Grade Education
Principal, Bigelow Middle School, Newton Public Schools
Jahara Davis, ’10
Fayetteville, N.C.
Bachelor of Arts in English Literature
Teacher, Hillside High School, Durham Public Schools
Aaron Daye, ’05
Gainesville, Florida
Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communication
Multimedia specialist, University of Florida Foundation
Ariel Germain, ’06,’17
Detroit, Michigan
Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication
Master of Science in Athletic Administration
Marketing and communication director for the NCCU Division of Student Affairs
Mel Gwathney, ’09
Huntersville, N.C.
Master of Public Administration
Director of global operations, Slalom Consulting Inc.
Ticca Harris, ’07
Clayton, N.C.
Bachelor of Science in Biology
Clinical trial lead, PSI CRO
Drew Johnson, ’08
Raleigh, N.C.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Program director, NCCU Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program
Gabrielle Jones, ’09
Louisville, Kentucky
Bachelor of Arts in English and Mass Communication
Vice president of content, Louisville Public Media
Stephanie Wilson Jones, ’04
Knightdale, N.C.
Bachelor of Business Administration
Founder & Broker in Charge, Next Move Realty
Stacy Lee, ’09
Richmond, Virginia
Juris Doctor
Presiding judge, Commonwealth of Virginia
Ashley Marshall, ’15
Durham, N.C.
Master of Public Administration
Deputy director, Forward Justice
La’Tanta McCrimmon, ’19
Raleigh, N.C.
Executive Master of Public Administration
Senior director, APCO Worldwide
Angelica McDonald, ’14
Raeford, N.C.
Juris Doctor
Attorney, McDonald Law PLLC
Lanetta Pantiel, ’05
Wilmington, N.C.
Bachelor of Business Administration
Program manager, FDA Performance Management and Awards, Food and Drug Administration
Tiffany Parms, ’09
Winston-Salem, N.C.
Bachelor of Science in Biology
Master scientist, clinical studies, Reynolds American Inc. (RAI) Services Company
Ronald Perry, Jr., ’09, ’15
Youngsville, N.C.
Bachelor of Business Administration
Master of Business Administration
Food truck operator, Lawrence & Perry Barbecue LLC
Jared Pone, ’09, ’11, ’20
Holly Springs, N.C.
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
Master of Public Administration
Juris Doctor
Attorney, policy counsel, Center for Responsible Lending
Ashley Rawlison, ’08
Durham, N.C.
Bachelor of Science in Health Education
Owner and CEO, HERitage Wines
India Reaves, ’07
Winston-Salem, N.C.
Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and History
High school educator, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools; author; empowerment specialist
Lawrence Jordan Reid, ‘13, ’16
High Point, N.C.
Bachelor of Science in Recreation Administration
Master of Science in Athletic Administration
College football and NFL draft analyst, ESPN
Brian A. Shackleford, ’10, ’12
Greensboro, N.C.
Bachelor of Science in Biology
Master of Science in Biology
Medical director, NCCU Student Health Center
Alena Smith, ’06
Powder Springs, Georgia
Bachelor of Science in Education
Chief executive officer, Trust Your Strength
John Edward Stephenson, ’09, ’13
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Bachelor of Science in Recreation Administration
Master of Business Administration/Juris Doctor
Senior associate athletics director and chief athletics diversity officer, Florida Atlantic University
Cassandra Stokes, ’13, ’16
Durham, NC
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History
Juris Doctor
Democracy and economy coordinator, NC Black Alliance
Crystal Taylor, ’05
Durham, N.C.
Bachelor of Arts in Business
Chief executive officer, executive director and co-founder of the Underground Collective
Taraza Tyler, ’10
Rose Hill, N.C.
Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice
Founder and CEO, P.O.W.E.R. Inc. Community
Jo-Sette Wilkes, ’05, ’09
Bethel, N.C.
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
Master of Science in Chemistry
Associate professor of chemistry, Livingstone University
Jamia Williams, ’18
Rochester, New York
Master of Science
Consumer health program specialist, University of Utah
ClarLynda Williams-Devane, ’02
Garner, N.C.
Bachelor of Science in Mathematics
NC State Registrar; deputy secretary for operational excellence, NC Department of Health and Human Services
