Graduate Alumni Hall of Fame Inductees
2026 Inductees:
Dr. Laklieshia Izzard
Community and Agency Counseling, M.S. '07
Dr. Izzard, founder and CEO of Shekinah Counseling LLC in Oxford, Georgia, earned an M.S. in mental health counseling through N.C. A&T’s College of Education and was inducted into Chi Sigma Iota Academic and Professional Honor Society International (CSI) during her time as a graduate student. “Dr. Izzy,” as she is known, is a Licensed Professional Counselor, experienced faculty member and author recognized for her mental health expertise. She received the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Georgia 2024 DEi Executive Director’s Award, NAMI Georgia 2023 Program Leader Award, NAMI Georgia 2022 DEi President’s Award and NAMI Georgia 2021 Outstanding Leader Award, as well as the 2021 Leadership and Advocacy Award from the American Counseling Association (ACA). She is a founding member and former secretary and vice president of ACA of Georgia. Additionally, she was appointed in 2021 by the Newton County (Georgia) Board of Commissioners to serve on the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health Advisory Council, where she continues to serve as the county’s only member. She also received the 2022 One Newton Award during the county’s bicentennial celebration for her service to diverse populations across the county. Georgia Sen. Tonya Anderson presented Izzard with the 2025 Legislative DEi Community Award during Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.’s AKA Day at the state capital.
Dr. Kanton T. Reynolds
Leadership Studies, Ph.D. '14
Industrial Engineering, M.S. '97
Dr. Reynolds, undergraduate programs director for Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at North Carolina State University, earned an M.S. in industrial engineering and Ph.D. in leadership studies from A&T. He served as a graduate intern with the U.S. Embassy Lilongwe, where he was assigned to the political and economic sections. As a graduate researcher at The Carter Center, he worked on political and human rights issues in Malawi and Sudan. He is a distinguished Park Faculty Scholar, subcommittee chair for NCAA Legislation for the Faculty Council on Athletics and past chair of the University Courses & Curriculum Committee. He co-leads summer study abroad programs to Rwanda (Engineering Education) and the United Kingdom (STEM/Liberal Studies), where he developed a structured internship component to further enhance experiential learning. With his selection to the prestigious Fulbright-Hays Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education, he spent a month in summer 2024 in the Republic of Colombia building sustainable academic partnerships with universities, advancing international collaboration, and expanding access to transformative global learning experiences for undergraduate students.
Dr. Karl Ricanek, Jr.
Electrical Engineering, Ph.D. '99
Electrical Engineering, M.S. '93
Dr. Ricanek, professor of computer science in the College of Science and Engineering at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, earned a B.S. in electrical engineering with a focus on artificial intelligence and machine learning, M.S. in electrical engineering with a focus on software engineering, and Ph.D. in electrical engineering with a focus on AI and machine learning-computer vision, all from A&T, graduating summa cum laude and holding memberships in multiple engineering and academic honor societies. An internationally recognized leader in AI, machine learning, and computer vision, his pioneering research in facial analytics, biometrics, and health intelligence from facial imagery has produced multiple patents and over 90 peer-reviewed publications. As co-founder and former CEO and chief AI scientist of Lapetus Solutions, he helped deliver breakthrough AI solutions for insurance and financial services. He is director of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Identity Sciences and was founding co-director of the National Intelligence’s first Center of Academic Excellence in Science and Technology. He also is a senior member of both the National Academy of Inventors and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). His career includes prestigious fellowships with NASA, the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, and the National Security Agency.
2025 Inductees:
Crystal W. Boyce
Adult Education, M.S. '15
Crystal W. Boyce serves as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Alumni Relations at North Carolina A&T State University, the nation's largest historically Black college or university (HBCU). In this role, she oversees programs and operations that engage and support more than 70,000 alumni worldwide. From coordinating The Greatest Homecoming on Earth to leading commencement recognition and milestone celebrations for the 50-year (Golden) and 25-year (Silver) anniversary classes, Crystal plays a pivotal role in preserving Aggie traditions and strengthening alumni connections. As a key member of the N.C. A&T leadership team, she is a prominent public representative of the university, fostering relationships with one of its most vital constituencies, its alumni. Her dedication and leadership ensure that Aggies remain connected to their alma mater for a lifetime.
Dr. Siobahn Day Grady
Computer Science, M.S., Ph.D. '18
Dr. Siobahn Day Grady made history as the first woman to earn a Ph.D. in Computer Science from North Carolina A&T State University. Since then, she has distinguished herself as a leader in academia, innovation, and service, dedicating her career to advancing equity and social justice through technology. As the Director of the Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Research (IAIER) at North Carolina Central University (NCCU), Dr. Grady spearheads groundbreaking initiatives that address bias in artificial intelligence (AI), equity in human-computer interaction (HCI), and the ethical implications of emerging technologies. Her research focuses on developing frameworks to ensure fairness in AI governance, working to create systems that promote inclusivity rather than perpetuate inequalities. Through her pioneering work, Dr. Grady is shaping the future of AI while advocating for a more just and equitable technological landscape. Her contributions continue to break barriers and inspire the next generation of scholars and innovators.
