May 2016: Graduation Inspiration, 15 HBCU Alumnae Who Are Changing the Game

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May 2016: Graduation Inspiration, 15 HBCU Alumnae Who Are Changing the Game

Janice Bryant Howroyd, an alumna from North Carolina A&T University is the founder and chief executive officer of ACT-1 Group, an employment agency. ACT-2 Group planted it’s roots in Beverley Hills with its first client being, Billboard in 1978. Today, Howroyd has grown ACT-1 Group to 75 offices in U.S cities. Earlier this year, Howroyd was awarded 2016 Peter Yessne Staffing Leadership Award which recognizes “exceptional leadership in growing and developing the industry and in driving innovation and thought-leadership.”

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May 2016: Graduation Inspiration, 15 HBCU Alumnae Who Are Changing the Game

Florida A&M University Alumna, Pam Oliver is known as a sportscaster having worked on the sidelines of NBA and NBA games with networks including ESPN, Fox Sports and TNT. In 2004, Oliver was named, “Outstanding Woman in Journalism” by Ebony Magazine.

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May 2016: Graduation Inspiration, 15 HBCU Alumnae Who Are Changing the Game

Norfolk State University alumna, Jenee Osterheldt has been named a Harvard Nieman Fellow (class of 2017). Osterheldt is a lifestyle and culture columnist for The Kansas City Star who will be researching discrimination, feminism and storytelling.

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May 2016: Graduation Inspiration, 15 HBCU Alumnae Who Are Changing the Game

Tennessee State University alumna, Oprah Winfrey has made history as the first and only African American multi-millionaire in the United States. Winfrey was a host for 25 years for her own international talk show, an actress, writer, publisher and producer. Currently, Winfrey has her own TV network, Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) and will be starring in a film adaptation of “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,” a novel that told the story of Lacks, an African American woman who sells were used without her knowledge to find the cure for cervical cancer.

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May 2016: Graduation Inspiration, 15 HBCU Alumnae Who Are Changing the Game

Dillard University alumna, Glenda G. McNeal is the Executive Vice President and General Manager of American Express. McNeal joined the company in 1989 and served in many positions, each position increasing with responsibilities.

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May 2016: Graduation Inspiration, 15 HBCU Alumnae Who Are Changing the Game

Mirian Graddick-Weir, Hampton University alumna is the Executive Vice President of Human Resources for Merck & Co. Inc. Graddick-Weir has held several leading roles while at Merck & Co. Inc & AT&T.

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May 2016: Graduation Inspiration, 15 HBCU Alumnae Who Are Changing the Game

Fayetteville State University alumna, Dr. Algeania Warren Freeman is the country’s oldest private HBCU, Wilberforce University’s president as of 2014. Freeman in her 40-year career in education administration has served as President for HBCUs: Martin University and Livingstone College and was awarded Teacher of the Year at Norfolk State University.

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May 2016: Graduation Inspiration, 15 HBCU Alumnae Who Are Changing the Game

Howard University alumna, Nicole Bernard was promoted to Fox’s executive vice president of audience strategy in 2014. Bernard’s responsibilities include improving the diversity efforts among all of Fox’s platforms. In her efforts, Bernard launched the Fox- HBCU Alliance that focuses on diverse talent recruitment.

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May 2016: Graduation Inspiration, 15 HBCU Alumnae Who Are Changing the Game

Jerri DeVard, Spelman College has been ADT Corporation’s Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer since 2014. DeVard’s responsibilities including marketing across residential, business and health companies, financial strategies for brand advertising, sponsorships, among other tasks.

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May 2016: Graduation Inspiration, 15 HBCU Alumnae Who Are Changing the Game

Spelman College alumna, Elizabeth Blount McCormick is President and Co-Owner of UNIGLOBE Travel Designers. The U.S Small Business Administration recently announced Blount McCormick was the 2016 Minority Small Business of the Year. Blount McCormick is also a Visionary Award finalist.

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May 2016: Graduation Inspiration, 15 HBCU Alumnae Who Are Changing the Game

Erykah Badu, Grambling University alumna is a soulful breath of fresh air as a singer/songwriter, producer, activist and actress. Among her accolades, Badu has won four Grammy Awards and two NAACP Image Awards. These women are inspiration and proof that there is no limit to your success, alumna!

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May 2016: Graduation Inspiration, 15 HBCU Alumnae Who Are Changing the Game

Kahlana Barfield Brown, Howard University alumna is the editor-at-large at InStyle Magazine. Brown started her career at InStyle Magazine as an intern and worked her way up. “What Howard taught me was if you’re going to do something, you do it at the highest level. You want to work at fashion magazine, you move to New York! That’s the capital of fashion,” Brown said.

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May 2016: Graduation Inspiration, 15 HBCU Alumnae Who Are Changing the Game

Bonita Stewart, a Howard University alumna has been the Vice President of Global Partnerships for Google since 2006. Stewart’s responsibilities include forming strategic partnerships representing Global News and Publishing, Global Broadcast, Media and Entertainment, Latin America and Canada. Stewart’s advice to her younger self and the future women leaders, “Do not be afraid to follow the road less traveled,” said Stewart. “If I had not ventured into technology with a business background, I would not have had this career trajectory.”

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May 2016: Graduation Inspiration, 15 HBCU Alumnae Who Are Changing the Game

Amanda Miller Littlejohn, Howard University alumna is founder of Package Your Genius Academy. “I am always empowering woman. You don’t need permission to do something that you want to do,” Littlejohn said. Littlejohn was awarded in 2015 for Innovation 50 and in 2014as the Life/Business Coach of the Year.

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May 2016: Graduation Inspiration, 15 HBCU Alumnae Who Are Changing the Game

Rosalind Brewer, an alumna from Spelman College is the first woman and African-American to be a CEO of a Walmart Stores, Inc. business. In 2012, Brewer was named CEO of Sam’s Club focusing on health and wellness which led to her being listed in Fortune's Most Powerful Women List in 2015.

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For the first time in history, African-American women have surpassed all groups in college entrance based upon race and gender. National Center for Education Statistics

May is upon us and around the country hardworking women are celebrating the completion of one of the biggest personal investments of their lives: graduation.

Each year thousands of women of color graduate from Historically Black Colleges or Universities (HBCUs) across the nation.

Whether you are graduating from high school, undergraduate or graduate school, or, are celebrating the achievements of friends, this month’s The List inspiration is all about HBCU alumna who are the leading in industry and beyond.

Ashleigh Boisseau

Ashleigh Boisseau is a feminist with plans to use her passion for communications to advocate and empower anyone she can. She is alumna from VCU with degrees in Mass Communication and Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies. She also is a former contributor to emPower and RVAMag/GayRVA. If she can inspire a few, she’s happy!

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