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My sense of purpose is grounded in the lessons that I learned from my parents, around hard work and treating people well. I went into education because I know first-hand the power it has to transform the lives of people, families, and communities.
Participating in CLP in 2017–2018, as a part of Cohort 22, was a defining experience in my development as a leader. It challenged me to look beyond position or title and focus on authenticity, integrity and community impact. Through honest dialogue and shared experiences with fellow participants, I gained a deeper appreciation for diverse perspectives and the strength that comes from collective problem-solving.
One of the most meaningful moments came during our fall opening retreat, where I was given the opportunity to tell my story. The ability to reflect deeply and distill my experiences into an authentic narrative, within the larger cohort culture of belonging, shaped my path in profound ways.
At the time, I didn’t realize that it was preparing me for the next phase of my life and leadership journey, which would center around asking questions, talking to others, and learning from others. None of us is ever a finished product.
It guided me to the work of student support and success in higher education, where I served as Vice President for Student Affairs and Special Assistant to the President for Student Success at Stockton University from 2018–2024. It was a full-circle privilege to serve students in my home state of New Jersey, and I was deeply humbled to be honored in 2022 by the ACPA Foundation for my professional contributions to the field of higher education and student affairs.
In turn, that joyful work was the foundation for an opportunity I could not have anticipated: serving since 2025 as Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University, the nation’s largest historically Black college or university and a national leader in social mobility — a mission I have long embraced as a first-generation college student. Our work here is helping students persist to graduation, which will change the trajectory of their lives.
I stay grounded by focusing on the things that matter — for both students and staff. It’s my job to create the conditions for the staff who directly support our college students to succeed. You can’t have student success without educator success. They make a world of difference, supporting academics, basic needs, well-being, mental health, physical health, building communities and shaping a sense of belonging. If the educators are successful in their work, the students will be too.
In 2025, I was recognized with the Distinguished Leader in Education Award from the Rutgers University–New Brunswick Graduate School of Education for my contributions to the field of education, and delivered the commencement address for the 2025 graduates. In my remarks, I reflected upon what I learned as a leader that I wanted to encourage the next generation to consider: leading with purpose, integrity and wisdom. Those principles align with the reflections that we shared as a community in CLP Cohort 22.
In addition to successful leadership advancement, I have applied the lessons that I learned from my CLP experience to serve organizations committed to expanding access, as a volunteer member of boards supporting educational, healthcare and social impact organizations. And I have learned that even when we’re focusing on what matters, leadership is never a popularity contest. Knowing my values — that CLP helped me clarify and highlight — makes all the difference.
CLP didn’t simply prepare me for leadership — it reshaped how I understood and practiced it. I have learned that one of the greatest gifts we can offer each other is our time, our presence, and our belief in someone’s potential. Our success is intertwined. I remain grateful for the experience and proud to be part of a network committed to strengthening our communities through thoughtful, engaged leadership.
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