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NEWS SERVICES |
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Nov. 5, 2003 -- No. 587 |
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Local angles: Chapel Hill, Charlotte, Gaston, Winston-Salem
4 leaders honored at UNC Black Alumni Reunion
CHAPEL HILL -- Four University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill alumni who have distinguished themselves professionally and have given back to Carolina were honored recently at the UNC Black Alumni Reunion.
Benjamin S. Ruffin of Winston-Salem, Janet H. Southerland of Chapel Hill, L. Donnell Thompson of Chapel Hill and Richard T. "Stick" Williams of Charlotte are 2003 recipients of the Harvey E. Beech Outstanding Alumni Awards. Harold Woodard of Chapel Hill received the Outstanding Black Faculty Award; and Norledia Moody, a journalism major from Gaston, with the Harvey E. Beech Outstanding Senior Award.
The reunion is sponsored by the UNC General Alumni Association, with the recipients selected by a committee of Black Alumni Reunion representatives.
Ruffin became the first African-American chair of the UNC Board of Governors in 1998. He earned a bachelor of arts in education from N.C. Central University in 1964 and a master of social work from UNC in 1976. He spent seven years as a special assistant to Gov. James B. Hunt, helping improve housing, employment and educational opportunities for minorities and working to increase the number of black judges and state government employees. Ruffin was vice president of corporate affairs for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. He now serves as president of The Ruffin Group, a management and consulting firm.
Southerland is chair of hospital dentistry in the UNC School of Dentistry, chief of oral medicine service at UNC Hospitals and director of the Dental Assistant On-Call Program. She also serves on the advisory board for the Sonya Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History. She earned two bachelor’s degrees, a doctor of dental surgery, general practice residency and master of public health degrees, all from Carolina.
Thompson, a 1981 graduate, is known for successful football and business careers. Part of a legendary defensive line at UNC, he was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts and became an NFL All-Rookie. After retiring from the Colts in 1992, Thompson began his presidency of Thompson Hospitality LLC. He developed six hotels, three of which he built through his own management and construction companies. As chair of the National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators and Developers, he has worked to raise the profile of black hotel professionals.
Williams became the first African-American chair of the UNC Board of Trustees in July 2003. After earning a degree in business administration in 1975, he held numerous leadership positions with Duke Power Co. He is vice president of diversity, ethics and compliance for Duke Energy and was the first African-American chair of both the university’s Board of Visitors and the GAA Board of Directors. He joined the UNC trustees in 1999 and is a board member of the UNC-Chapel Hill Foundation, a member of the Brevard College Board of Trustees and a state board member of Communities in Schools of North Carolina.
The Harvey E. Beech Outstanding Alumni Award recognizes black alumni who have been instrumental in the support and further development of the Black Alumni Reunion, as well as individuals who have been outstanding leaders in the university community or in their local communities. It is named for Carolina’s first African-American graduate, who completed his law degree in 1952 and went on to a distinguished career.
The Outstanding Black Faculty Award recognizes UNC faculty members who have shown outstanding leadership, dedication, innovation and advancement of academic excellence. Woodard, a 1978 graduate who is associate dean of student counseling, has worked closely with UNC students for 25 years at the pre-college and college levels through numerous counseling and teaching positions. He chairs the Black Faculty/Staff Caucus at UNC and serves on the advisory boards of the Stone Center, Upward Bound, APPLES Service Learning and the Carolina Union Board of Directors.
The Harvey E. Beech Outstanding Senior Award is given to a UNC senior with a solid academic record, strong leadership ability, positive volunteer work and a desire to strengthen bonds between Carolina students and alumni. Moody is the on-campus coordinator of the Office for Minority Affairs. In this position, she coordinates minority student recruitment, support and outreach programs and supervises more than 200 student volunteers. She chairs the GAA Student Membership Advisory Board. She is a senior marshal and a member of the Carolina Association of Black Journalists and the Black Student Movement.
The General Alumni Association is a self-governed, nonprofit organization serving alumni and friends of UNC.
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General Alumni Association contact: Anita Walton, (919) 962-3582
News Services contact: Mike McFarland, (919) 962-8593
