Though her work background has largely been in the field of education, LaToya Caesar-Crawford views earning a juris doctor degree at North Carolina Central University (NCCU) School of Law as a continuation of the work she has always done.
Caesar-Crawford was raised in Queens, New York, by parents who had immigrated as teenagers from the West Indies. Her father worked as an electrical engineer for Con Edison and her mother as a client services administrator for Chase Bank.
“I grew up in the crack cocaine era in New York City in the mid-80s to early 90s,” Ceasar-Crawford said. “I was a latch key kid. My parents invested heavily in my education.”
Caesar-Crawford earned a bachelor’s degree in business with a concentration in human resource management at Baruch College, then earned two master’s degrees at Brooklyn College – one in education and the other in educational leadership.
She worked as a teacher of students with disabilities and later as an administrator in the New York City Department of Education. In North Carolina, she twice served as a principal along with being a director of equity and engagement and a specialist in diversity, equity and inclusion.
She then left education to become the first manager of intergovernmental relations for the City of Greensboro.
“Being at the table to shape policy at the government level, it is what helps to make schools a better place and communities better,” Caesar-Crawford said. “Very few people of color are usually at the table to make the impact.”
In August 2024, she returned to education, this time as chief of staff at Barber-Scotia College in Concord, North Carolina. Among her responsibilities are assisting with the process of re-accreditation, interacting with city, county and state legislators, particularly when it comes to funding.
For Caesar-Crawford, earning a law degree is about increasing her advocacy skills.
“I am a domestic violence survivor,” she said. “I was a single mom for a long time. I grew up in a marginalized community where I experienced injustice. I’ve also been an advocate for school buildings. I’ve helped shape policy, legislative agendas, overseen lobbying groups, raised millions and worked with just about every level of government. Now I get to add to my toolkit in terms of advocacy.”
So why did she choose NCCU School of Law?
Besides its reputation as a premier law school, Caesar-Crawford says she appreciates the privilege and honor of attending a historically Black university.
New Law School Student Seeks to Increase Advocacy Skills
