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President secures $7M for campus upgrades

In Dr. Jenkins, News, News & Events by KHarrington

SALISBURY – Livingstone College made a major announcement at its Founder’s Day program Friday that will contribute millions of dollars into refurbishing the campus residence halls. “In my first 120 days, I have secured capital investment to the tune of $4 million that we will use to begin refurbishing our student residence halls,” said Livingstone President Dr. Anthony J. Davis before a full audience. “Wait a minute, that’s not all,” Davis said, adding that he has found an additional $3 million in the college’s budget to go toward the project, for a grand total of $7 million. Davis received a standing ovation for the announcement. “The least we can do is make students comfortable while they are on their journey,” Davis said. “We will begin construction in May. I’m paying it forward because my students deserve it.” In addition to this announcement, Davis also said Mondale Robinson, a 2011 graduate of Livingstone College and the mayor of Enfield, has pledged $60,000 per year over the next 10 years. And, Dr. Laticia Godette, owner of Ottendorf Laboratories, presented the college with a check for $50,000, as part of an ongoing pledge. Challenging infrastructure has plagued the 144-year-old historic black college with students sometimes venting their frustrations on social media. Davis referenced a social media comment from an individual who said the college “should have closed a long time ago.” “Initially I was bothered,” he said. “But I realized that of all that was said, that was most factual. This institution should …

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Biden’s health official to visit campus

In Main Alumni Post, News, News & Events by KHarrington

SALISBURY – A member of the Biden Administration whose work is dedicated to bridging racial gaps in healthcare and within the COVID-19 crisis will visit Livingstone College next week. Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith, appointed by President Biden to chair the Presidential COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force, will visit the historic black college on Feb. 8. There will be a brief program at the college’s new F. George Shipman Science Annex, where STEM students will participate in scientific demonstrations during her tour of the facility. Livingstone’s science program will also unveil a new instrument at the program that no other HBCU in North Carolina its size can boast. “It is an honor to have one of the nation’s leading public health experts on the campus of Livingstone College, especially during the month that we celebrate the contributions of African Americans,” said Livingstone President Dr. Anthony J. Davis. “Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith is among those highly regarded in her field, coupling her passion for medicine with her commitment to social equity. Consistent with the population we serve, Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith’s insight will significantly impact our students and the greater Rowan Salisbury community.” The Health Equity Task Force is part of the government’s efforts to identify and eliminate health and social disparities that cause disproportionately higher rates of exposure, illness, hospitalization and death related to COVID-19, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health. Nunez-Smith was there when the first COVID-19 patient arrived at Yale New Haven Hospital at …

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Jamal Bryant is Founder’s Day speaker

In Main Alumni Post, News, News & Events by KHarrington

SALISBURY – Popular civil right activist and pastor, Dr. Jamal-Harrison Bryant, is the keynote speaker for Livingstone College’s Annual Founder’s Day program at 10 a.m. on Feb. 10 at Varick Auditorium, located on its campus. Founder’s Day celebrates the founder and first president of Livingstone College, Dr. Joseph Charles Price, and is the first formal convocation of the new year. Bryant has served as pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Ga., since December 2018. His ministry is described as one that combines sound Biblical teaching, business acumen and political insight to propel the body of Christ to action and greater levels of faith. Since his youth, Bryant has prevailed against the odds, rising from earning a G.E.D. to his Ph.D. Prior to pastoring, he served as the national youth and college director of the NAACP for six years, where he helped to mobilize more than 70,000 youth worldwide in non-violent campaigns. A third-generation minister, Bryant was the founding pastor of Empowerment Temple A.M.E. Church in Baltimore, Md., acclaimed as the fastest-growing African Methodist Episcopal church in the denomination’s 200-year history. With an undeniable gift to bridge generations from the Civil Rights Movement to the Black Lives Matter era, Bryant incites change in the faith community. His ability to reach across social, economic and political barriers has helped people to not only experience the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ, but to activate success in their everyday lives. Bryant is a graduate of a historic black college, having received …

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Serving up love for MLK Holiday

In News, News & Events by KHarrington

  Livingstone College observed the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday in the way it was intended: A Day of Service. The college fed homeless individuals of Rowan County at the Salisbury Civic Center on Friday, providing hot meals, toiletries and conversation. The college gave away 41 packaged lunch boxes of turkey and cheddar sandwiches, roast beef and Swiss sandwiches, cookies, chips, fruit and water. They also served homemade chicken noodle soup with crackers. Each person also received a bag filled with hand sanitizer, toothbrushes, tooth paste and other personal hygiene items. The N.C. Counts Coalition, a nonprofit organization, were on hand distributing bags filled with hats, gloves, hand warmers and COVID-19 tests. Livingstone College Culinary Arts students, under the leadership of chefs Elizabeth Marquez and Carl Brown, prepared and packaged the meals and served them from the college’s impressive and branded 53-foot mobile food unit. The event was in partnership with the Salisbury Police Department’s victims/homeless program, in which Dennis Rivers is the program liaison. “We reached people, but the goal is to reach more,” Rivers said. “We made an impact because if we feed one, that’s one less hungry person. We will continue to collaborate with Livingstone College and Rowan Helping Ministries to tackle homelessness.” Social work majors, student leadership, football players, faculty and staff joined Livingstone President Dr. Anthony J. Davis throughout the two-hour event. “Everybody can be great – because anybody can serve,” said Livingstone President Dr. Anthony J. Davis, quoting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “Today …

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Brooks, Bedford join Livingstone College in key posts

In News, News & Events by KHarrington

Livingstone College welcomes Mr. Anthony Brooks as vice president of enrollment management, and Mr. Robert E. Bedford as dean of students/housing and residence life. Brooks returns to Livingstone College after 17 years, when he served as assistant vice president for enrollment management and strategic planning from 2001-2005. He has more than 25 years of higher education experience, having most previously worked with Atrium Health’s Carolinas College of Health Sciences in Charlotte as dean of student affairs and enrollment management. Brooks’ higher education experience spans across historically black institutions within and outside of North Carolina, including N.C. Central University in Durham, Saint Augustine’s and Shaw University in Raleigh, and Claflin University in Orangeburg, SC, where he broke enrollment records at each institution. Additionally, he has served as a consultant and executive recruiter in higher education. Brooks received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from N.C. Central University and earned his Master of Business Administration degree in management and marketing from Claflin University. In his free time, Brooks enjoys traveling, reading and all aspects of fashion including shopping for others. One could typically find him relaxing on the couch reading a Ralph Lauren fashion book or other fashion magazines, he said. He and his wife, Sherri, have one son, Christian. Bedford Bedford has a dual master’s degree in counseling psychology/student development in higher education. Among his accolades are former Administrator of the Year at Northeastern Illinois University; Alpha Man of the Year of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; and …

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Dixon receives honorary degree

In News, News & Events by KHarrington

Livingstone College has added another distinguished member to its family of honorary degree recipients. Wells Fargo’s Georgette “Gigi” Dixon received an honorary doctorate degree from the historic black college in Salisbury on Dec. 9 during Livingstone’s ninth annual December Conferral of Degrees. Livingstone President Dr. Anthony J. Davis, by authority of the college’s Board of Trustees, conferred upon Dixon the honorary doctorate degree in humane letters, following her commencement address to the graduating seniors. Dixon serves as executive vice president and head of External Engagement for Diverse Segments, Representation and Inclusion for Wells Fargo. She received the honorary doctorate for her work with the company and as a champion for diversity, equity and inclusion. She is also a member of the national NAACP Board of Directors; vice chair for the NAACP Foundation; vice chairman of the U.S. Black Chambers Inc.; a corporate advisory board member of UnidosUS; a trustee of the Trust for the National Mall; a member of the Rainbow Push/Coalition Board of Directors; and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. “This has been a very emotional and moving day for me and my family,” Dixon said. “Never would I have thought that I would receive this honor.” She thanked Davis for the invite and the honor as she mentioned how proud her mother would be if she were alive to witness this because she believed education was the great equalizer. Dixon spoke to the graduating class about resiliency, relevancy and readiness – three branding points of …

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Wells Fargo’s Gigi Dixon is graduation speaker

In News, News & Events, Pebbles by KHarrington

Livingstone College will hold its annual December Conferral of Degrees on Friday, Dec. 9, at 10 a.m. at Varick Auditorium, located on the campus. Georgette “Gigi” Dixon, executive vice president and head of External Engagement for Diverse Segments, Representation and Inclusion for Wells Fargo, will deliver the address to the graduating seniors. The college’s Board of Trustees also approved for Dixon to receive an honorary doctorate degree in humane letters during the program. Dixon is no stranger to Livingstone College, but her reconnection to the historic black college has been renewed through Livingstone President Dr. Anthony J. Davis. This will be his first commencement as the new president of the college. “Mrs. Dixon is a key influencer who uses her platform and insight to support communities and organizations who are executing the critical work that impacts society, Davis said. “As the 13th president, I am committed to exposing our students to individuals that will assist them in unlocking their potential and unleashing their power.” Dixon is an HBCU graduate herself, having earned a Bachelor of Science with distinction from Tennessee State University (TSU) in speech communications and theater. She has certificates in Corporate Community Involvement and Nonprofit Leadership from the Boston College Carroll School of Management. Her upbringing in the South during desegregation and accomplishments at Tennessee State paved a career and life work for her in diversity and inclusion. She was one of two girls to desegregate her middle school; and she became the first woman president of the …

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Livingstone announces death of business professor

In News, News & Events, Pebbles by KHarrington

SALISBURY –  It is with profound sadness that Livingstone College announces the passing of one of our own, Dr. Colin A. Pillay. He died on Nov. 2, 2022, after a battle with cancer. Dr. Pillay has been a distinguished member of our faculty since 2010. He was a tenured professor of business and economics who elevated our business program on many levels. Under the leadership of Dr. Pillay, Livingstone College students achieved top ten rankings in the CAPSTONE Business Strategy game among 2,000 international competitors. Their outstanding results were the subject of an article published in the Salisbury Post and the students also made a presentation to the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Pillay presented research papers in many conferences and published many articles in academic journals. Dr. Pillay is the driving force to the students for achieving leadership skills through the student organization, Phi Beta Lambda. Through this organization, Dr. Pillay engaged extensively with the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce, and attended Business After Hours programs and the Power in Partnership Business Breakfasts. He guided two students in the Phi Beta Lambda organization at Livingstone College to take first-place positions in Impromptu Speaking and Sports Marketing in the State of North Carolina. Dr. Pillay created the first entrepreneurship course at Livingstone College and also created the minor in entrepreneurship. He assisted in initiating the Study Abroad Program by leading the first team of Livingstone College students to India. Since then, he had been extensively involved with the program …

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Arrest made in shooting

In News, News & Events by KHarrington

One arrest has been made in the shooting incident that occurred on the campus of Livingstone College and more arrests could be forthcoming. Capt. P.J. Smith of the Salisbury Police Department announced Tuesday that Talib Latrell Kelly, 21, of Salisbury, has been charged with attempted first-degree murder, discharging a firearm on educational property and possession of a firearm by felon. The alleged shooter is also a victim and remains at Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center in Charlotte. Kelly is not a Livingstone College student. The Salisbury Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in this ongoing investigation. Anyone with videos of the shooting incident is urged to send them to Salisbury Police. Send videos as a private message to the Salisbury Police Department’s Facebook page; email them to the Rowan Regional Crime Information Center at rrcic@salisburync.gov; or call the criminal investigation division at (704) 216-5262. You do not have to reveal your identity. Livingstone College’s 13th President Dr. Anthony J. Davis spoke at the historic press conference along with Mayor Karen Alexander. This is the first time in recent history, if ever, that Livingstone College has held a joint press conference with the Salisbury Police Department. “I want to thank all of you who are standing with the ‘Stone – Livingstone Stone,” said Davis, naming Salisbury Mayor Alexander and the city of Salisbury, the first responders, law enforcement agencies, and Catawba President Dr. David Nelson, who had to deal with an act of violence on his campus this past …

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Joint media statement on shooting

In Main Alumni Post, News, News & Events, Pebbles by KHarrington

Joint media statement from Livingstone College and Salisbury Police Depot on shooting incident Salisbury Police Department: Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Livingstone College family, and the victims of the incident that occurred on campus late yesterday evening. Although the Salisbury Police Department is still very early in its investigation, additional information is being made available by law enforcement. An altercation occurred on the campus of Livingstone College last night during its homecoming concert. During the altercation, a person, who is not a student of Livingstone College, fired one or more shots. The investigation up to this point indicates that there was no exchange of gunfire by those involved in the altercation contrary to earlier rumors. Salisbury Police Department is still investigating the incident and is devoting additional resources to solving this crime. The City of Salisbury continues to coordinate and work closely with Dr. Anthony Davis and the entire staff at Livingstone College. We appreciate his leadership, patience and full cooperation with law enforcement through this difficult situation. Livingstone College President Dr. Anthony J. Davis: Our priority is and remains to ensure the mental wellness of our students and to evaluate our public safety measures to create a safe, living, learning and working environment. I am saddened because our students, alumni, family and friends were exposed to this senseless act of violence. We are working collaboratively with our local law enforcement agencies as they are conducting a thorough investigation. Please pray for us in the coming days …