Charlotte, N.C. / June 24, 2021 - It is with great pleasure that Johnson C. Smith University announces the appointment of two alumni to the Board of Trustees and the election of an alumnus as vice chairman.
Trustee Steven Boyd ’79 will serve as vice chair of the Board of Trustees. Not only does he bring a wealth of knowledge as a former business executive, but he also brings his love for his alma mater as a long-time engaged and active alumnus.
“I appreciate his service on the Board of Trustees over the past 12 years. I look forward to working with him as part of the board’s executive leadership during this pivotal time in the University’s history as we set the vision to transform JCSU into one of the nation’s best HBCUs for providing a relevant, market-driven education to traditional and non-traditional students,” said Shirley J. Hughes, chair of the Board of Trustees.
“I have been a member of the Board of Trustees for 12 years and have had a front row seat to some very challenging times and some very exciting times for the University,” Boyd said. “As an alumnus, the ongoing growth and development of Johnson C. Smith is extremely important to me. To be elected by my peers to serve as vice chair under the extraordinary leadership of Chair Hughes and President (Clarence) Clay Armbrister is one of the greatest honors of my life. The future is bright at our institution, and I am excited to be a part of it.
In addition, Dr. Valerie Kinloch ’96 and James Ely III ’88 have been appointed to the Board of Trustees.
“I am extremely honored and excited to have been appointed to the Board of Trustees of my undergraduate alma mater, Johnson C. Smith University," said Valerie Kinloch, the Renée and Richard Goldman Dean of the University of Pittsburgh School of Education. "I owe so much of my professional achievements and personal growth to the impactful education and critical mentoring I received at JCSU. Undoubtedly, I will always treasure my time there. As a trustee, I look forward to supporting the future of our University, particularly as we continue to center on student learning, educational equity, innovation, and collaboration.”
Ely, vice president of Customer Development at Johnson and Johnson Consumer Health, echoed Kinloch’s sentiments, “I’m extremely honored and excited to serve on the Board of Trustees as an alumnus of the University. It was the support of the University that provided me the career that I have today. It’s important for me to find ways to continue to pay back that generosity to students so they, too, are set up for successful post-graduation outcomes. My desire is to ensure that we continue to develop strategies, capabilities, and partnerships that generate those outcomes for our students, to continue to elevate JCSU’s profile as a top destination for sourcing talent, and to ensure that the University continues to strengthen the foundational aspects of its operations for its long-term viability.”
Hughes said Kinloch and Ely are valuable additions to the Board of Trustees. “We are proud of their professional accomplishments as alumni of JCSU. I am confident that their professional knowledge and demonstrated loyalty to their alma mater will strengthen the board’s governance of the University and broaden our access to resources that will enhance academics and student life,” she said.
