FIRST FEMALE BISHOP OF AME CHURCH IS NCCU’S FALL COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER DURHAM, N.C.

Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, who calls herself the woman who “broke through the stained glass ceiling,” will deliver the fall commencement address at North Carolina Central University on Friday, December 12, 2009, at 9 a.m. in the McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium on NCCU’s campus.

McKenzie is a woman of “firsts.” In 2000, she became the first woman bishop elected in the 213-year history of the church, and the first female bishop to preside over the Council of Bishops. McKenzie, from 2004 to 2008, served as chair of the general conference commission of the AME Church.

As the 117th prelate of the African-American Methodist Church, covering the 13th Episcopal District, McKenzie oversees areas including Tennessee and Kentucky. Recently, the bishop was selected as a member of President Barack Obama’s Faith-based Council. Bishop McKenzie has been called a dynamic and passionate speaker and a minister who believes the church must play a significant role in black communities here and abroad.

In the past, she has worked to renew communities in Baltimore, Md., Dayton, Ohio, and Atlanta, Ga. Bishop McKenzie helped build or expand computer labs, schools, daycare centers, businesses, and churches in Southeast Africa in Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana, and Mozambique.

Click for the full announcement!

Commencement Webcast (Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009 - click on webcast icon at upper right corner of the page)  

NCCU’S MARCHING SOUND MACHINE SELECTED FOR THE

2011 TOURNAMENT OF ROSES PARADE

(Photo to Left)  NCCU Marching Sound Machine Director Jorim Reid (left) and Chancellor Charlie Nelms announce the selection of the band for the Tournament of Roses Parade in 2011.

“There is Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the John Philip Sousa Foundation’s Sudler Trophy for most outstanding college or university band, and the Tournament of Roses Parade,” said Reid.  “The Rose Parade was in my 15-year plan.  I didn’t intend to submit an application for another seven years.”

But Reid’s success over the course of his initial eight years as director at NCCU, particularly his band’s five consecutive appearances at the annual Honda Battle of the Bands (HBOB), gained the attention of Rose Parade officials.  The rumor was that he should take a chance and apply.

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Richard Smith, President of NCCU Alumni Association, Inc.

Our goal in creating this site was to offer a more efficient way for NCCU alumni to connect with one another and the University.  As alumni, you are the university's strongest supporters and best ambassadors.  I have met many of you, and you have asked for a more meaningful engagement with the alumni association-beyond direct mail-and we are working hard to provide that engagement to you through this online community, which has been designed with input from alumni around the world.

Welcome to the new NCCU alumni website!

We applaud the National Alumni Association for their work on this website and hope you will visit it often for updates about your alma mater. We’re raising expectations at NCCU and are working very hard to strengthen the academic, cultural and intellectual climate of the campus community.

I have returned from the holiday break energized and optimistic by all that NCCU has to offer! The world is changing more rapidly than during any other time during my four decades in higher education, offering this institution an opportunity to continue to evolve in measurable ways.