Distinguished Alumni
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The College honored Valeria Lynch Lee, '69, with the 2008 Distinguished Alumni Award. At a university-wide ceremony held on November 7, the College recognized Lee for her contributions to education in North Carolina. |
Valeria Lynch Lee is the retired President of The Golden L.E.A.F (Long-Term Economic Advancement Foundation), Inc., a position she held from November 2000 to October 2008. Golden LEAF was founded in 1999 by the State of North Carolina to receive and distribute a portion of the funds coming to the state resulting from the settlement of litigation against manufacturers of tobacco products. During her tenure as president, the foundation awarded 682 grants worth more than $351 million to nonprofit and public agencies to benefit tobacco-dependent communities and others that are pursuing economic development projects in response to changes in the State’s economy.
Prior to joining Golden LEAF, Ms. Lee served as program officer of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, a private foundation based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. From 1973 to 1985, she was general manager of WVSP, a public radio station that was based in Warrenton, North Carolina., of which she was also a founding member of its governing board.
Ms. Lee currently serves on the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center (Vice Chair) and Branch Banking and Trust. In the past, she served on the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina, the Board of Trustees of North Carolina Central University, and the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Partnership for Children, North Carolina Center for Public Television, Southeastern Council of Foundations, Women and Philanthropy and the Rocky Mount Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, she has served in an advisory capacity to several educational and community organizations in the State.
Ms. Lee was awarded a B.S. degree in business education from North Carolina Central University; an M.Ed. in guidance and personnel services from North Carolina State University; an M.A. in radio, television, and film from Ohio University and a D.H.L. from East Carolina University.
A native of Hollister, North Carolina (Halifax County), Ms. Lee lives in Rocky Mount.
PastDistinguished Alumni
| 2007 | Linda R. Harrill ’84 |
| 2006 | Dr. G. Thomas Houlihan ’75 |
| 2005 | Dr. June S. Atkinson ’96 |
| 2004 | Dr. Jenny Penny Oliver ’77, ’83 |
| 2003 | Chuck Amato ’69, ’73 |
| 2002 | Dr. Robert G. Templin, Jr. ’76 |
| 2001 | Raymond C. “Bucky” Waters ’58 |
| 2000 | Gov. James B. Hunt, Jr. ’59, ’62 |
| 1999 | Michael J. Fedewa ’87 |
| 1998 | Bill Cowher ’79 |
| 1997 | Dr. Michael E. Ward ’77, ’81, ’93 |
| 1996 | Mary M. Atwater ’80 |
| 1995 | Dr. Parker Chesson ’74 |
| 1994 | Dr. Henry L. Johnson ’90 |
| 1993 | Lt. Gen. Teddy G. Allen ’58 |
| 1992 | Rhone Sasser ’59 |
| 1991 | Dr. Edward H. Wilson, Jr. ’73 |
last updated
10/29/08
