View Post

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 …

View Post

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 …

View Post

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 …

View Post

Davis named 13th president of Livingstone College

In News, News & Events, Pebbles by KHarrington

The Livingstone College Board of Trustees voted unanimously to name Dr. Anthony J. Davis as the 13th president of Livingstone College. The announcement was made Thursday, Sept. 22, during the Board of Trustees’ annual fall meeting held on campus, following an executive session. Davis, an alumnus of Livingstone College, currently serves as senior vice president of Institutional Advancement and chief operating officer. “The Search Committee was very intentional on finding someone that would embrace students, understand the culture of the school and be familiar with the community,” said Bishop Kenneth Monroe, chairman of the board. “We had good candidates. We had to look at the vision of the person and if that person was able to connect with the ideals we were looking for.” In his current role, Davis led the college through the COVID-19 pandemic as chair of its task force and managed the day-to-day operations of the college, all while supervising and providing leadership for the entire fundraising enterprise at Livingstone College. “I recognized Dr. Davis’ talents and his willingness to roll up his sleeves and to work hard. That’s why I appointed him chief operating officer,” said Livingstone President Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins, Sr. “In essence, he has been practicing to step into the seat of president.” “I’m happy, I’m humbled, and I’m honored to be selected to serve as the 13th president of Livingstone College,” Davis said. “Twenty-one years ago, I started on this journey to become president. It is true what poet Langston Hughes said, …

View Post

Livingstone Athletics fills four positions

In News, Pebbles by KHarrington

SALISBURY, NC — Livingstone College Athletics has hired four new employees to fill the roles of compliance, sports information, sports performance and assistant to the athletic director. Aaron Williams is the new sports information director; Kyle Dexter joins the team as director of sports performance; Alexis Anderson has been named associate athletic director for compliance and business operations; and TyNiece Sutton is the new assistant to the athletic director. “I am excited about the talent that we have added to our team,” said Athletic Director Lamonte Massie-Sampson. “As we get ready for growth in our athletic department, it’s great to know they will be instrumental in that progress. They will hit the ground running, executing and leading.” Aaron Williams Williams has spent the last four years in retail operations management with stints at Walmart and CVS Health, driving store operations’ metrics and aiding fiscal partnership formations with local businesses and institutions. But he is no stranger to the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). He served as a tournament media relations assistant for more than eight years, aiding in the video compliance for NCAA tournament requirements and press room management during post-game press conferences. In concert with his retail employment, Williams served as an athletics contractor for game day production for Howard University Athletics. At Howard, he sharpened the overall live broadcast and production strategy, creating a foundation of more than 26,000 viewers across the power four sports on the Bison Sports Network. Williams has also served as the communications manager for Voices …

View Post

Rising music mogul Da’ud Carter, who discovered DaBaby, is Livingstone commencement speaker

In Pebbles by Donnie ButlerLeave a Comment

Da’ud Ramiz Carter, also known as King Carter, rose to prominence in the music industry by managing the Grammy-nominated rapper, DaBaby. Today, he is focused on building an empire of his own to develop other talented creatives through his label, Social Currency Enterprises, which recently announced a partnership deal with Empire. The partnership will allow the label to provide management, booking, publishing and publicity. Social Currency Enterprises’ mission is to do more than manage an artist, but to educate them as well. “They have to understand the importance of building their social currency to grow within the industry,” he said. Those in the Hip-Hop culture or who follow the Charlotte Hip-Hop movement, have probably heard of King Carter. He became a local and regional success on the Carolina Hip-Hop scene in the late 2000’s. After retiring from the mic, Carter shifted his focus to A&R (artist and repertoire) and artist development. He took advantage of an opportunity to help build Arnold Taylor’s vision for South Coast Music Group in 2014. “When I was coming up, there wasn’t any true local representation for artists besides Arnold Taylor’s South Coast Marketing. I knew with my ear for talent and Arnold’s expertise in working with labels, we would be a force to be reckoned,” Carter said. Taylor and Carter started looking for the label’s first act. After a year and a half of searching, Carter found a young artist named Baby Jesus. Fast forward seven years and DaBaby (formally known as Baby Jesus) …

We won again in the Home Depot Retool Your School Program $30,000 will be used for podcast cafe and game room

In Pebbles by Donnie ButlerLeave a Comment

Livingstone College has won $30,000 in the Home Depot’s Retool Your School Program, which will be used to build a podcast café and upgrade its game room. The Home Depot Retool Your School Program strives to give back to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) what they have so generously given to their communities: a strong foundation, renewed purpose and distinctive character. Livingstone will use its $30,000 to repurpose its existing game room, located on the first floor of the Walls Center, into a Podcast Café and Game Room that would benefit students and serve the community. Click here to read more: https://livingstone.edu/lc-wins-30k-for-podcast-cafe/

Broadcast legend Bill Rollins donates $200,000 for proposed communications program

In Pebbles by Donnie ButlerLeave a Comment

Broadcast legend William “Bill” Reid Rollins has donated $200,000 to Livingstone College to support the genesis of a communications program. Rollins, former chairman and chief operating officer of Suburban Radio Group, visited the Salisbury campus on April 30 with his attorney, Mark Prak. During a business luncheon in the Hilliard Room, Rollins presented Livingstone President Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins Sr., with a check for $200,000. The gift was due to a proposal submitted by Dr. State Alexander, vice president of communications and public relations. Alexander worked for Rollins when he owned WPEG FM in Charlotte.   More details coming soon.

View Post

Freshmen, new transfers to get free, new laptops

In Pebbles by Donnie ButlerLeave a Comment

Other incentives also offered Livingstone College will offer each incoming freshman and new transfer student in the fall of 2021 a free new laptop computer. All freshmen and new transfers who are fully enrolled and registered, have completed their 2021 FAFSA, cleared the student health services office and satisfied all related fees will receive the new laptop. “An area of concern for the college is closing the digital divide,” said Livingstone President Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins, Sr. “We have discovered that as a result of this pandemic, many students do not have the necessary tools to render their matriculation successful. A critical tool is having access to a laptop computer, which is compatible with the upgraded campus network.” Click here to read more: https://livingstone.edu/freshmen-to-get-free-new-laptops/

Elizabeth Duncan Koontz Awards banquet to air April 8

In Pebbles by Donnie ButlerLeave a Comment

The 2021 Dr. Elizabeth Duncan Koontz Humanitarian Awards Virtual Program will air Thursday, April 8, at 5:30 p.m. on WSRG – Hotwire (HD channel 394) and Spectrum (channel 16) as well as the Human Relations Council Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/SalisburyHRC/.  This year’s honorees will also be featured in the April issue of the Lamplighter newsletter. Koontz is a notable alumna of Livingstone College. She was the first African-American president of the National Education Association and director of the United States Department of Labor Women’s Bureau. She died on Jan. 6, 1989.