The North Carolina Central University (NCCU) School of Business will host a dual celebration on Thursday, March 14, marking a pivotal moment in the school’s history.
The festivities will kick off at 10 a.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Lowe’s Auditorium and Information Technology Program, underscoring a significant advancement in the academic offerings provided by the School of Business. Simultaneously, the school will launch its inaugural Cybersecurity Summit, a collaborative venture with Lowe’s. The summit aims to foster connections with students from local community colleges and universities, providing a platform for engagement with industry leaders.
Distinguished speakers at the Cybersecurity Summit include Seemantini Godbole, SVP, chief digital and information officer, and Marc Varner, chief information security officer, both from Lowe's. Attendees can expect insightful discussions and workshops showcasing leaders from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Red Hat Inc. and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
In a generous show of support, Lowe's pledged $1.5 million to NCCU’s School of Business in 2022, marking the largest donation to date for the new School of Business building. This contribution underscores Lowe's commitment to empowering talented and hard-working students, particularly through partnerships with historically Black colleges and universities.
Marvin Ellison, Lowe’s chairman and CEO, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, emphasizing the company's dedication to community investment and creating opportunities for economic mobility.
“Lowe’s has a history of investing in communities and focusing philanthropic contributions on initiatives that break down barriers to opportunity and economic mobility,” said Ellison. “I’m excited that this investment will strengthen the business school at NCCU and give us an opportunity to create an academic program that will deepen the region’s talent pool of future leaders.”
The naming of the new auditorium and information technology degree program after Lowe's signifies a tangible commitment to strengthening the business school at NCCU and nurturing a pipeline of future business leaders in the region.
"Lowe’s has not only been a financial partner, but their commitment extends in ways that signify their investment in our students and a testament to our shared dedication to fostering excellence and innovation in information technology. The Lowe's Auditorium will enable us to host key speaker series and engage School of Business students in new and dynamic ways, further enhancing our mission to develop emerging global leaders,” said Anthony Nelson, Ph.D., dean of the NCCU School of Business.
