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N.C. A&T Honors 13 Distinguished Alumni at Fall Convocation During Homecoming

By Hope Baptiste / 10/14/2025 Faculty, Staff, Students

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. – (Oct. 14, 2025) – North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University celebrated its annual Fall Convocation program Thursday, Oct. 9, in Harrison Auditorium. Distinguished guests included local and state elected officials, members of the N.C. A&T Boards of Trustees and Visitors and the N.C. A&T Advisory Council on Alumni Relations, as well as faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends and families of the honorees.

Chancellor James R. Martin II presided over the occasion honoring 13 notable alumni, one of many events marking the university’s 99th edition of the Greatest Homecoming on Earth, Oct. 5-12. The celebration welcomed tens of thousands of alumni and visitors to the A&T campus and Greensboro area again this year, making it one of the city’s most prolific and profitable events.

“Congratulations to our exceptional alumni as all of your accomplishments continue to elevate N.C. A&T. The university’s progress and prestige are a direct reflection of your hard work, your vision, your leadership and your grit,” said Martin. “You inspire all of us, especially our students, to dream boldly and to lead with purpose. Your impact strengthens the bridge between generations linking those who paved the way with those who will shape our future. We are stronger and better because of you. Thank you for representing A&T with distinction.”

Chancellor Martin and Kwame MoldenKwame A. Molden, who earned a B.S. in information technology from A&T in 2009 and holds an MBA in marketing from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, delivered the keynote address. A native of Fayetteville, North Carolina, he is co-founder and president of Springbreak (SPGBK) Watches, a designer watch company offering a variety of impactful, stylish and affordable timepieces. Under his leadership, SPGBK has achieved major retail distribution in more than 350 stores, including Belk, Macy’s, Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack. In 2023, SPGBK was selected as one of Oprah’s Favorite Things and has garnered significant media attention from outlets such as Good Morning America, Oprah Daily, The New York Times and AfroTech.

Molden is passionate about education and committed to building community through philanthropy. He has donated more than $35,000 in watches to teachers and staff nationwide, including the entire staff of his hometown high school, E.E. Smith High School, as part of SPGBK’s Annual School Giving program.

In addition to launching SPGBK, Molden spent more than a decade as a senior process engineer for multiple Fortune 100 financial and retail companies in the Charlotte metropolitan area. He has extensive experience in managing and leading continuous improvement projects, designing core operational processes and implementing enterprise-wide technology solutions. 

Molden credits his A&T experience for giving him the tools and confidence to pursue his entrepreneurial aspirations and build a business from the ground up.

“If someone had told me 21 years ago that I would be in this position today, I wouldn’t have believed them,” he said. “After graduating from A&T, I was able to leverage the education I received to create the largest black-owned watch company in retail stores today. When you come here, (success) is already written in your legacy. That inspired and drove me. I hope it will do the same for you.”

During the ceremony, each of A&T’s 10 colleges recognized one of its alumni for their outstanding work and accomplishments on behalf of their respective college and for service to the alumni community.

Three university-wide honors were also bestowed that celebrate lifelong service and support to A&T, its community and alumni.

Howard C. Barnhill Distinguished Service Award

Barnhill, a 1938 graduate of A&T, dedicated his life to uplifting his alma mater and the broader community. Through his leadership as president of the A&T Alumni Association and the Queen City chapter in Charlotte, he spearheaded the creation of 18 new alumni chapters and introduced the “regional concept,” strengthening community ties and communication. His service on the University’s Board of Trustees reflected his deep commitment to educational advancement and student success. Barnhill’s legacy is one of unity, service and visionary leadership.

Julia S. Brooks Achievement Award

Brooks demonstrated exceptional and sustained service to A&T through decades of leadership, advocacy and alumni engagement. A 1944 graduate, she became an active member of the Alumni Association in 1950 and has served in numerous capacities at the local, regional and national levels.

Brooks made history as the first female president of the Alumni Association, the first president residing outside North Carolina and the first to serve three consecutive terms. Her leadership extended to simultaneous service as president of both the national association and the Philadelphia chapter. She also served as Parliamentarian for both the Northeast Region and the Philadelphia Chapter, helping shape the governance and growth of the association.

Brooks’ dedication to A&T students is evident in her financial support for their education, directly contributing to their academic and professional success. Her service has been recognized through awards and testimonial honors from both the university and the broader community. Her pioneering leadership and unwavering commitment to A&T leaves a legacy of pride, achievement and dedication to every Aggie, everywhere.

Dr. Velma Speight Young Alumna Award

Speight is a trailblazing educator and civic leader whose career spans more than four decades of service in education, alumni engagement and community advocacy. A proud graduate of A&T, she earned her M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Maryland and went on to serve as assistant state superintendent for the Maryland State Department of Education. Her commitment to education extended to leadership roles at several universities, including East Carolina University and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, where she was honored as Teacher of the Year. In 1991, she was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study in Ghana and Senegal.

Returning to her alma mater in 1993, Speight served as director of Alumni Affairs and continued her service post-retirement as chair of the Board of Trustees and leader of the Chancellor Search Committee. Her legacy is cemented through an honorary doctorate, keynote speaking roles, and the naming of campus facilities in her honor.

“It is always an honor to welcome our alumni back to campus during the Greatest Homecoming on Earth, and we are thrilled to recognize those who go above and beyond for our alma mater,” said Crystal W. Boyce, M.S. ‘07 ’15, associate vice chancellor for Alumni Relations. “N.C. A&T alumni share a powerful and enduring affinity for this special place, and we look forward to seeing that thrive for generations of Aggies to come.”

alumni achievement bannerThe 2025 Alumni Achievement Award recipients (full bios can be found here):

  • College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences: William Allen Hill ‘99, DVM, MPH, director and attending veterinarian, Laboratory Animal Resources, Florida State University, Tallahassee

Hill serves as director of laboratory animal resources, attending veterinarian, and courtesy associate professor of biomedical sciences at Florida State University. After graduating from A&T with a B.S. in laboratory animal science, he went on to become the 11th African American to earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from North Carolina State University.

  • College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences: Robert T. Parker ‘99, MA, director of interpretation, collection and education, Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture, Baltimore

Parker is an accomplished leader in cultural preservation, museum administration and education. In March 2024, he was appointed as Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture’s director of interpretation, collection and education. He also serves on the national Board of Directors for the Association of African American Museums. He earned his bachelor’s in professional history from A&T.

  • Willie A. Deese College of Business and Economics: Chuck Burch ‘82, CPA/PFS, CFP®, president, The Burch Financial Group, Dallas

Burch earned his B.S. in accounting from A&T. He is a certified personal accountant and certified financial planner. He is the founder and president of The Burch Financial Group, a tax, financial advisory, and wealth management firm. Burch is deeply committed to community enrichment. He started the Chuck Burch Scholarship Fund, which has awarded more than $175,000 in college scholarships in the Dallas-Fort Worth Area. Burch is also a member of the Willie A. Desse College of Business and Economics Hall of Fame.

  • College of Education: Shon F. Barnes ‘14, Ph.D., chief of police, Seattle Police Department

Barnes was named chief of police for the Seattle Police Department in February 2025, but his 24-year career in law enforcement began with the Greensboro Police Department, where he would climb to the rank of captain. He has served as a subject matter expert for the U.S. Department of Justice and helped develop a national training curriculum on police and race. He was named an HBCU Living Legend in 2023 and inducted into George Mason University’s Center for Evidence-Based Crime Policy Hall of Fame in 2024.  He earned his Ph.D. in leadership studies from A&T.

  • College of Engineering: Gina Loften ’90, chair, A&T Board of Trustees, retired
    chief technology officer, Microsoft US, Raleigh, North Carolina

Serving as chair of the A&T Board of Trustees, Loften is a transformative technology executive and Fortune 100 board director. Her journey spans senior leadership roles like chief technology officer and chief innovation officer at IBM and Microsoft, where she led multi-billion-dollar businesses and global teams across research, development, consulting and sales. She sits on the board of directors for multiple companies, including TIAA. She earned her B.S. in electrical engineering from A&T.

  • John R. and Kathy R. Hairston College of Health and Human Sciences: Brandon Crooms ‘12, Ph.D., assistant professor of business administration in sports management, Trinity University, San Antonio

Crooms is a leader in sports management and education, serving as assistant professor of sports management at Trinity University. He uses his organization, Crooms Collective, for athlete development and youth mentorship programing, extending his impact globally. He is an author and founder of the Special Ops Athletics Development Conference. He also started the nonprofit, BPowered Up Inc., to empower athletes by focusing on holistic identity. He earned his B.S. in sports science and fitness management from A&T.

  • College of Science and Technology: Tabatha Williams ’11, founder and CEO, Hall Pass & Prompt Solutions, certified grant writer, Greensboro

Williams is an artificial intelligence educator, digital entrepreneur and certified grant writer whose work bridges innovation, education, and empowerment. She is the founder and CEO of Hall Pass, a collegiate apparel company, and Prompt Solutions, a tech-education organization focused on helping individuals and businesses harness the power of artificial intelligence. She remains deeply connected to her alma mater, serving on the advisory board of The Honors College. With roots in STEM and a career built on strategic communication and tech-driven entrepreneurship, she exemplifies creative problem-solving and community-focused innovation. She received her B.S. in biology from A&T.

  • The Graduate College: Pamela Richardson Wilks ‘97 ’98, Ph.D., president, Clinton College, Rock Hill, South Carolina

Wilks is the 14th president of Clinton College, and she has than 25 years of transformative leadership in higher education. She is deeply committed to academic excellence, institutional growth, and student-centered innovation – especially within historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). She has held leadership roles at Wilberforce University, Shaw University, Edward Waters University, Coppin State University and Paine College. Her expertise spans academic program development, institutional effectiveness, policy design and student success. She has worked with multiple accrediting bodies and led reaffirmation efforts across institutions.

  • The Honors College: Kwame Molden ’09, MBA, co-founder and president, Springbreak Watches, Charlotte
  • Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering: Md Faruque Hasan ‘23, Ph.D., process engineer, Intel Corp., Beaverton, Oregon

Hasan is a process engineer at Intel Corp. His journey into science began with a simple gift – a cell phone during his higher secondary education – which sparked a deep curiosity about its materials and functions. This early fascination led him to pursue a Ph.D. in nanoengineering at A&T. His impactful research focused on developing high-performance supercapacitor electrode materials from sustainable carbon sources, aiming to improve energy storage efficiency and affordability. It received joint funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and National Science Foundation. His work was honored with the 2024 JSNN Outstanding Dissertation Award.

  • Velma R. Speight Young Alumna Award: Reyniah Taylor Massey ‘20, M.H.S., adjunct professor, program specialist, Pre-Professional Scholars Program, A&T

Massey earned her B.S. in biology from A&T and received the Chancellor’s Distinguished Fellowship to pursue her Ph.D. in applied science and technology – STEM Education. She also holds an M.H.S. from Meharry Medical College. As an adjunct biology instructor at A&T, she mentors students and coordinates numerous special programs. Her work connects students to research and healthcare opportunities, including collaborations with Yale University and the Foundation for the Development of Minority Physicians. Her research focuses on inclusive excellence in STEM, aiming to improve student success and retention, especially at HBCUs.

  • Julia S. Brooks Achievement Award: Nicole Strayhorn Piggott ‘97 ‘00, M.S., director of secondary pathways CTEC, Guilford County Schools, Greensboro

Piggott is a dedicated educator with more than 28 years of experience in North Carolina public schools. A proud A&T alumna and lifelong learner, she holds multiple advanced degrees in education and administration. She serves as Secondary Pathways CTE director for Guilford County Schools, where she champions student success and innovation. She is a life member of the Gate City N.C. A&T Alumni Association and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., and actively serves her church and community. She is also a proud mother of two Aggies, Daniel and Ari, and lives by the motto: Aggie Pride! 

  • Howard C. Barnhill Distinguished Service Award: Barry L. Obie ‘76, retired Air Force
    lieutenant colonel and UPS commercial pilot, Gainesville, Virginia

Obie, retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and UPS captain, is a decorated aviator with more than 8,000 flight hours and extensive global experience. A proud A&T alumnus, he helped establish a $25,000 university endowment and received the 2025 Super NOVA Award. He serves at Mount Olive Baptist Church, where he helped secure a $95,000 safety grant and supports the food pantry aiding more than 500 families monthly. He mentors youth through the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals’ ACE Academies and school outreach, promoting STEM and aviation careers. His legacy reflects leadership, service and a deep commitment to education, faith and uplifting his community.

Media Contact Information: jtorok@ncat.edu

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