CHARLOTTE, N.C. (March 4, 2026) — Hundreds gathered inside Brayboy Gymnasium on March 4, 2026 for the annual Johnson C. Smith University Health Fair and Career Extravaganza. Organized by Dr. Robert Lindsey, JCSU Professor of Health and Human Performance, the event provided on site health screenings, wellness education, and career recruitment as a one-stop-shop extravaganza that drew students, faculty, staff, alumni, neighbors and droves of community partners.
“This event has been taking place under my leadership since 2007,” Lindsey said. “It originally started as a health fair, but over the years it has grown into both a health and career fair. Since most career fairs take place in the fall, this event gives students a spring opportunity to focus on their health while also connecting them with employers and job opportunities.”
Vendors on site were vast, including Atrium Health, No Grease Barbershop, CenterWell Senior Primary Care, United Healthcare, Smart Start of Mecklenburg County, Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC, Skyla Credit Union, Cabarrus County Schools, Equitable, and a host of organizations committed to supporting student success and community wellness.
Among the recruiters present was Alexys Gabriel, a 2022 Johnson C. Smith University graduate who returned to campus representing Equitable as a campus recruiter. Gabriel, who served as valedictorian and Miss JCSU during her undergraduate years, described the 2026 Health Fair experience as a joyful moment.
“For me, it’s full circle because I attended this event as a student,” Gabriel said. “It’s truly a blessing to come back now as an employer. It’s an amazing event not only for students, but for the broader community because you really get the best of both worlds.”
Gabriel added that the event’s unique combination of health resources and career recruitment creates valuable opportunities for students.
“You can learn about resources from a health perspective and from companies like ours that focus on financial wellness,” Gabriel said. “At the same time, for those exploring career opportunities, there are employers here who are actively looking to recruit talented individuals.”
For many attendees, the event demonstrated the power of this network. The JCSU Health Fair and Career Extravaganza is unique in its ability to draw a cross-section of community partners and resources in one place at one time.
JCSU alumna Malay Simmons provides some perspective. “As an alumna and now a professional in the field, I think this was a great and very successful event,” she said. “It brought so many services and opportunities into one space — from community resources and job opportunities to things like free haircuts.” Free haircuts were provided by No Grease Barbershop, owned by Jermaine and Damian Johnson ’95.
JCSU students tackled the networking opportunities head on! Billy Dupree, JCSU junior class president, met recruiters one-by-one, greeting each with a firm handshake.
“This event was very enlightening,” said Dupree. “I was able to meet a lot of people, make connections, and even get a free haircut. It was truly inspiring.”
Lindsey said the continued growth of the event reflects its lasting impact on students and alumni.
“The goal is to create an outstanding experience where people can take care of their health, explore job opportunities, learn about graduate school, and simply have a good time,” Lindsey said. “We want people to leave associating a great experience with Johnson C. Smith University.”
Lindsey noted that the event’s success is the result of collaboration across the university and with the support of the greater Charlotte community.
“We had more than 100 vendors present,” he said. “I want to thank everyone who helped make this possible — including the Office of Communications, Health and Human Performance, Johnson C. Smith University, and all of our sponsors.”
By combining health education, career development, and employer engagement in one setting, the Health Fair and Career Extravaganza set the stage for student success beyond the gates.
