CHARLOTTE, N.C./March. 23, 2018 – At the Leading Ladies & Co. Women’s History Month Luncheon March 21, 2018, the Golden Bull family came together to acknowledge women of substance who have made Johnson C. Smith University great. They also got to know JCSU’s new First Lady, Mrs. Denise McGregor Armbrister, senior vice president of Wells Fargo Corporation and executive director of the Wells Fargo Regional Community Development Corporation.
Close to 100 students, alumnae, and friends of JCSU filled Grimes lounge for the event, which was organized by the Office of Student Leadership and Engagement. Shakoya Brown ’20, public relations coordinator for the Student Government Association, served as the mistress of ceremonies. Miss Johnson C. Smith University Mariah Collins ’18 and Takeem Dean, Dean of Students, provided the welcome and opening remarks, and SGA Senator-at-Large Brittany Patrick ’19 offered a meditation around the theme, ‘Nevertheless, she persisted.’
“We were not created to be small, but our accomplishments are meant to uplift and inspire other women,” Patrick said.
Deja Wilkerson ’18, president of JCSU’s chapter of the National Council Negro Women, spoke on the significance of the luncheon that recognized the contributions of women who break down barriers, raise their voices and fight for what they believe in.
“Here at JCSU, we are privileged to be connected to ladies who are standing tall as change agents on campus and in the City of Charlotte,” Wilkerson said. “Our purpose today is to use this space to empower and celebrate each other as we continue the smash the mold, in spite of discrimination in our fight for immigrant rights, education equality, racial justice and other issues affecting our communities.”
Miaamour McCants, Golden Bull Activities committee chair, followed with an introduction of Armbrister. After Shisso Mbombo ’19 gave a rousing rendition of Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful,” JCSU’s first lady took the stage for an on-stage interview conducted by Lauren Herring ’20.
In the warm and personal interview, Armbrister shared with the audience the guiding principles she lives by. Regarding the transformative power of education, she counseled the assembled to “search out, seek and accept every opportunity to be a sponge. This goes for book learning, experience or travel.”
Armbrister injected a bit of levity when she broke out in Jamaican patois to dispense her mother’s advice, “Don’t follow fashion,” instead advising students to be fearless in their pursuits and live a life of purpose. Stories about her great Aunt May, an immigrant, union organizer and entrepreneur, also gave insight into Armbrister’s worldview as an empowered woman of color.
“I feel like we really got to know her on a personal side,” Brown exclaimed afterward. “She inspired me to not just make my mark, but clear a path for others to come after me.”
Special recognition and awards were given to Dr. Kelli Rainey, vice president for Academic and Student Support Services and Chief Operating Officer for Institutional Effectiveness, and students Temitope Ashorobi ’18 and Brenda Montañez ’18.
