Black and Gold Convocation
It is that time of year! The university will mark the beginning of the academic career for students by welcoming the class of 2023 with the annual Black and Gold Convocation, Tuesday, August 27, 2019. All faculty, staff and students are invited to gather in the Holmes Convocation Center beginning at 10:00 am. Chancellor Everts will welcome the new class, followed by SGA President DeJon Milbourne and will conclude with guest speaker Dr. Harry Williams, one of Appalachian State’s very own and President and CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
Using examples from his time as both a student and an employee of Appalachian State University, Williams will share a framework during his talk to help students maximize the impact of their college experience.
Dr. Harry L. Williams ’86 ’88 ’95, was honored with the university’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2013. Williams serves as president and CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), the nation’s largest organization exclusively representing the black college community. Williams was named to this position in 2018, making history as the first sitting university president to serve as president and CEO of TMCF. In addition to earning a Bachelor of Science in communication, a Master of Arts in educational media and an education specialist degree in higher education, administration, from Appalachian, Williams served the university in associate director and associate vice chancellor roles in the areas of academic affairs, enrollment and diversity.
In his work at TMCF, Williams, a first-generation college student, continues his 30-year career of advocating for equal access to higher education. Previously, Williams was president of Delaware State University, where he successfully led the largest five-year fundraising campaign in the university’s history.
Williams has also been a national consultant for higher education and has held notable leadership positions for the University of North Carolina General Administration (now the University of North Carolina System Office), including interim associate vice president for academic affairs and interim senior associate vice president for academic and student affairs. He also served as interim director of admissions for North Carolina Agricultural and Technical (A&T) State University.
He has garnered the National TRIO Achiever Award and TMCF Education Leadership Award, and was named to HBCU Digest’s “Top 10 Influential HBCU Presidents.”
In addition, all new students will receive their official Appalachian “A” lapel pin and take part in the traditional pinning and Aspire Oath. We look forward to seeing each of you at Convocation!