Johnson C. Smith University Receives $15,000 Donation from Accomplished Alumnus

Goodwin and Panda pose with check

CHARLOTTE, N.C./JAN. 25, 2024 - Johnson C. Smith University and the College of Business and Professional Studies recently received a $15,000 gift from accomplished alumnus Kenneth A. Goodwin Jr. '96 and his wife Rosalind Panda. The couple made the donation as a way to support Goodwin’s alma mater; the vision of Dr. Alphonso Ogbuehi, dean of the College of Business and Professional Studies; and the vision of Dr. Valerie Kinloch, the 15th President of Johnson C. Smith University. 

Image
Goodwin and Panda sign check
Goodwin (middle) reminisces about his time at JCSU with Dr. Kinloch (left)

Goodwin and Panda presented the check to Kinloch on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024.  Provost Thiam Thierno was also on hand for the presentation.  

Goodwin has more than 20 years of Wall Street capital markets expertise and serves as the managing partner of Jeanensis Ventures, a private investment capital and digital asset advisory firm. He is also the general partner and chief investment officer for the 144 Trail Blazer Digital Impact Fund targeting cash flow positive growth to Series A+ digital transformation and emerging technology firms in Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain Applications, Agri-Tech, Edu-Tech, FinTech and Med-Tech. He is the co-founder of Oqulus Tech LLC (a Cyber Security and AI Firm). Goodwin serves on several public and private advisory boards.

Panda describes herself as a visionary, technology innovator, and artist with more than two decades of experience. She is the founder of Rosalind Arts Gallery and Oqulus Tech LLC, an AI and cyber security platform. Panda also serves as chief technology officer at Jeanensis Ventures, a venture capital and digital asset advisory firm. She believes technology is indispensable in today’s world and provides endless opportunities for innovation and progress. 

Following the $15,000 check donation Goodwin and Panda participated in an open forum with students, faculty and staff.

Johnson C. Smith University thanks Goodwin and Panda for their generous donation of both financial resources and the resource of time and expertise they lent to our students, faculty and staff during their visit!


 

Related Articles

Dr. Alphonso Ogbuehi, Mike Lamach and Chasity Boyce
Mike Lamach is the retired CEO of Trane Technologies and a member of the JCSU Board of Trustees. On the evening of Wednesday, April 24, 2024 he was the featured speaker of the Dean's Distinguished Speaker Series, sponsored by the Johnson C. Smith University College of Business. Chasity Boyce, Managing Director of US and European Business Management Barings, LLC, served as co-moderator of the conversation, alongside Dr. Alphonso Ogbuehi, Dean of the College of Business.
View Content
Gaming Day 2024
The Johnson C. Smith University Esports and Gaming program continues to break new ground and carve out fresh territory in Charlotte. On Saturday, April 27, Esports and Gaming faculty and staff welcomed up to 30 middle and high school students from near and far, from the Charlotte Metro area to Greensboro, N.C. The event was called STEM and STEAM: Changing the Game through Esports and Gaming.  
View Content
Talk to Me Nice Event Photo 1
​ In an age where connecting has never been easier or more convenient, true connection has never been rarer. Dr. Terza Lima-Neves, professor of Political Science and chair of the Department of Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies, collaborated with Melissa Gonzalez, a professor at Davison College, to bring authentic connections back to college campuses through the Talk to Me Nice event. ​
View Content