The North Carolina Central University (NCCU) Office of Alumni Relations has selected its 2025 Forty Under Forty class, who will be honored on Friday, September 12, 2025, at 7 p.m. The celebration will take place at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel, located at 4700 Emperor Blvd., in Durham
Selected by a panel comprised of alumni, university officials, and industry leaders, the honorees—each under 40—have demonstrated leadership and innovation in fields such as entrepreneurship, education, healthcare, law, social justice, sciences, mass communication and public service. They will be honored at a black-tie celebration that includes a formal dinner, award presentations and entertainment.
“We are excited to celebrate this next group of honorees who have demonstrated exceptional achievements in their respective fields,” said LaMisa McCoy Foxx ’95, assistant vice chancellor for alumni relations. “We look forward to all they will continue to accomplish as proud ambassadors of NCCU—representing the institution that helped shape them into the inspiring leaders they are today.”
Created to acknowledge the remarkable achievements of NCCU’s young alumni, the awards showcase individuals who not only excel in their professions but also foster a culture of philanthropy and leadership among their peers.For more information, please contact LaMisa McCoy Foxx at [email protected] or 919-530-7361.
To purchase tickets, visit https://www.nccu.edu/forty-under-forty
The 2025 honorees:
Latorius Adams, ‘10
Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina
Bachelor of Science in Health Education
Social/clinical research specialist, UNC School of Medicine
India Ali,‘13
Decatur, Georgia
Juris Doctorate
Master of Business Administration
Attorney/owner, self-employed, The Law Office of India Y. Ali
Arthur Anderson Jr., ‘17, ‘18
Raleigh, North Carolina
Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice
Master of Science, Criminal Justice
Program Manager, City of Durham Office of Economic and Workforce Development
Alicia Andrews, ‘07
Ayden, North Carolina
Bachelor of Science in Public Health Education
Director of education and outreach/project coordinator, Duke University-Center for Health Policy and Inequalities Research
Amber Banks, ‘07
Durham, North Carolina
Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration
President, African American Alliance of CDFI CEOs; Board chair, Reinvestment Partners
Lakevious Battle, ‘19
Knightdale, North Carolina
Master of Science in Management Information Systems
Sr. Cloud & AI Solutions Architect, Microsoft; CTO, Sherpa Clouds Inc.
Kierra Bonner, ‘20
Sanford, North Carolina
Bachelor of Science in Behavioral and Social Sciences
CEO/ Founder, Life of the Party Bus, Houston, Texas
Dionne Bowick, ‘08
Durham, North Carolina
Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Administration
Director, owner, and operator, Growing Legacy Early Learning Center
Phillip Boyd Jr., ‘16
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences
Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) educator; Impact leader, North Carolina with Profound Gentlemen
Racheal Brooks ‘06
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Bachelor of Arts in Spanish
Director of Quality Assurance Implementation Solutions, Quality Matters
Tarnosha Burns, ‘09
Tar Heel, North Carolina
Bachelor of Science in Physical Education
Certification specialist, Department of Administration, North Carolina Office of Historically Underutilized Business
Omari Collins, ‘16
Charlotte, North Carolina
Bachelor of Arts in English
Creative developer of 4th & 1 with Cam Newton; Head of brand development, NJC Ventures; Head of brand development / executive director and co-Host, Iconic Saga
Christin Cotten, ‘11
Clayton, North Carolina
Master of Business Administration
Juris Doctor
Assistant staff judge advocate; Founder, Lucy Regent Legal, LLC; Founder and managing attorney; Owner of America's Choice Transport LLC
Omari Crawford, ‘13
Decatur, Georgia
Juris Doctor
Master of Business Administration
Attorney at law, Williams Teusink LLC
Asia Cunningham, ‘07, ‘09, ‘17
Warsaw, North Carolina
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
Licensure/Elementary Education
Master of Science in School Administration
Principal, Durham Public Schools
Hadassah Eley, ‘09
Raleigh, North Carolina
Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Science
CEO, CME Strategies; CEO, Eminent Opulent Realty
Ciji Garner, ‘14, '24
Morrisville, North Carolina
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Executive Master of Public Administration
Strategic initiatives analyst, Durham County Government
Tracy Wright Gaskins, ‘17
Durham, North Carolina
Master of Business Administration
Juris Doctor
Principal corporate counsel, Cisco Systems Inc.
Devin Graham, ‘06
Raleigh, North Carolina
Bachelor of Science in Biology
Senior clinical research associate III, ICON
Cordara Harper, ‘17
Cove City, North Carolina
Bachelor of Music in Music Education
Assistant professor of music education and director of choral activities, Grambling State University
Sierra Hobbs, ‘10
Long Beach, California
Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training
Assistant athletic director for sports medicine/Head athletic trainer, NCCU
Tremain Holloway, ‘11
Rocky Mount, North Carolina
Bachelor of Science in Mathematics
Doctoral resident in the superintendent’s office, Boston Public Schools
Uyi Idahor, ‘12, ‘15
High Point, North Carolina
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Master of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences
Engagement manager, Tricentis Software Company
Dolloress Johnson, '07, '09
Dallas, Texas
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
Master of Public Administration
Executive director of human resources, Arlington Independent School District
Imani Johnson, ‘21
Atlanta, Georgia
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
Public information communications analyst, City of Durham
Rodney Johnson Jr., ‘16
Jacksonville, North Carolina
Bachelor of Business Administration
Educator and mentor, Onslow County Schools
Johnny Jones II, ‘13
Charlotte, North Carolina
Bachelor of Science in Biology
Co-founder and CEO; Precision Research and Development Solutions
Senior clinical research associate, IQVIA
Tangela Kenan, ‘10
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
Co-founder, chief executive officer, 5K Foundation Inc
Reggie McCrimmon, ‘13
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
Senior vice president, Crossroads Strategies
Anngelica Mohabir Wilson, ‘13
Brooklyn, New York
Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication
Interior architectural designer, Determined by Design®, Design Equity Interior Designer
Gregory Pate, ‘08, ‘12
Richmond County, North Carolina
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Vice president, Amethyst Counseling Services
Michael Robinson, ‘14, ‘17
Butner, North Carolina
Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice
Master of Science, Public Administration
Assistant athletic director for ticket operations, NCCU
Lance Scott Jr., ‘17
Durham, North Carolina
Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies
Producer, songwriter, composer and educator
Marcus Shields, ‘11
Sumter, South Carolina
Juris Doctor
Owner/managing attorney, Shields Law PLLC
Gabrielle Simmons Scott, ‘11, ‘21
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Master of Public Administration
Durham County organizer, NC Black Alliance and Advance Carolina
Ryan Stowe, '13, '16
Salisbury, North Carolina
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
Bachelor of Arts in History
Juris Doctor
Managing attorney, Stowe Law Firm
Amondre Smith, ‘15
Roanoke, Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Public Health Education
Chiropractic physician
Meghan Wilder, ‘10, ‘20
Newburgh, New York
Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education
Master of School Administration
Beginning teacher mentor, Durham Public Schools
Kent Williams Jr., ‘09, ‘13
Raleigh, North Carolina
Master of Arts in Career Counseling and Placement
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
Assistant director for student leadership, NCCU
Tameka Williams, ‘06, ‘11
Lumberton, North Carolina
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
Master of Science in Criminal Justice
Director of staff development and curiosity, Justice System Partners