Fayetteville State University Homecoming ‘96 Edition Page 9
Chief Executive Officers of Fayetteville State University (Cant.)
Dr. Donna J. Benson
Dr. Donna J. Benson, associate vice
president for academic affairs of the University
of North Carolina, assumed the helm of Fayetteville
State University on January 1995 as interim
chancellor and served until November 14,1995.
Dr. Donna J. Benson earned degrees in
history and education from fee University of North
Carolina at Greensboro, wha« she was inducted into
Phi Beta Kappa, graduated magna cum laude, and
received several academic and student leadership
awards. She received master’s and doctoral degrees
in history from Duke University, and has completed
postdoctoral studies at the Georgia Institute of
Technology, Princeton University, and Wellesley
College, as well as the Educational Management
Institute at Harvard University. She began her
academic career on the faculty of North Carolina
A&T State University, and joined the University of
North Carolina General Administration in 1987.
Dr. Benson, an associate vice president
for academic affairs of the sixteen-campus
University of North Carolina, was tapped to
lead North Carolina Central University in 1992
during its search for a new chancellor. With this
appointment, made by President C. D. Spangler Jr.,
Dr. Benson became the first woman to serve as
a university chancellor within the University of
North Carolina.
In 1995, President Spangler appointed Dr. Benson as the interim chancellor of Fayetteville State University.
During the interiiri period. Dr. Benson established seven initiatives to guide the University. Significant progress
was achieved during her tenure in several areas, including: strengthening academic retention and progression
standards with the appointment of the Academic Vision Task Force; improved recruitment strategies with the
production of state-of-the-art video and CD Rom presentations; continued enhancement of the physical plant with
the completion of the dormitory renovation project; a successftil lobbying effort to secure funding to expand the
Rudolph Jones Student Center; and securing and earmarking a one million dollar appropriation for renovations
including a planned computerized energy and security management system, and improvements in campas security.
Dr. Lloyd V. Hackley
In 1988, Dr. Lloyd V. Hackley was named
the eighth chief executive officer of the university. Dr.
Hackley was born in Roanoke, Virginia, where he
completed his secondary education. He then joined the
U. S. Air Force and rose through the ranks to staff
sergeant. In 1965, while still in the Air Force, he
graduated with honors from Michigan State University,
receiving a bachelor’s degree in international relations.
Again, while still on active duty, he received the
doctorate’s degree in political science and international
relations from the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill in 1976. Dr. Hackley is a distinguished
graduate from Officer Training School and served 20
years in the U. S. Air Force. He served as associate
professor and course director of international relations
and political science at the U. S. Air Force Academy,
and coach for indoor/outdoor track and cross country
for men and women. His many military decorations
include the Bronze Star for Valor, the Meritorious
Service Medal and the Vietnam Cross for Gallantry.
Prior to his appointment as chancellor of Fayetteville
State, he served as vice president for student services
and special programs at the University of North
Carolina General Administration; chancellor of the
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff; and associate vice
president for academic affairs at the University of North
Carolina general administration.
As chancellor. Dr. Hackley actively pursued initiatives to further expand program offerings and improve the
campus environment in response to the needs and interests of students and the community. FSU master’s level
program offerings expanded to 17; FSU’s first doctoral program in educational leadership was established; and
baccalaureate program offerings increased to 38 disciplines in the arts and sciences, business and economics, and
education. The addition of the $6.3 million ultra-modem Business and Economics Building, the new $10.9 million
Health and Physical Education Building, and over $6 million in residence hall renovations underscored Dr.
Hackley’s commitment to FSU’s continu^ growth. He also strengthened FSU’s outreach to at-risk children in
the public schools, establishing scholarship and tutoring/mentoring programs to encourage more young people to
aspire to academic excellence and a college education. FSU’s first major public capital campaign was completed
during Dr. Hackley’s tenure, and enabled FSU to increase the number of privately funded scholarships available
to students. On December 31, 1994, Dr. Hackley left his post at FSU to l^ome president of the North Carolina
Department of Community Colleges, the first African-American to lead the state’s 59 community colleges.
Dr. Willis B. McLeod
Appointed chancellor of Fayetteville State
University in 1995, Dr. Willis B. McLeod brings
to his alma mater over 30 years of professional
experience in the field of education. He is the
ninth chief executive officer of the 129-year-old
institution, and the first alumnus Chancellor
since Fayetteville State University became a
constituent institution of The University of North
Carolina in 1972.
Several major initiatives have been
established by Dr. McLeod to lead FSU into the
21st century. A new “Freshman Year Initiative,”
or “F.Y.I.” program designed to enhance
students’ educational outcomes was initiated in
fall 1996; new outreach efforts aimed at forging
stronger community ties and involving the
community in University life have been
undertaken; campus improvements such as
expansion of the Rudolph Jones Student Center
and planning for a new $12 million Fine Arts
Building are in progress; and Dr. McLeod has
been instrumental in forming a regional
partnership of public school, community college,
and university leaders to focus on strengthening
the educational pipeline from pre-school to
postgraduate studies.
He serves on the board of directors of the
University of Virginia’s Curry School of
Education Foundation; the Fayetteville Area Economic Development Corporation; Fayetteville Partnership, Inc.;
the Fayetteville United Way; the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce; the Cumberland County Education
Foundation; the executive board of the Occoneechee Council of Boy Scouts of America; the board of directors of
the Fayetteville YMCA; the board of directors of Operation Sickle Cell, Inc.; and is a member of the American
Association of School Administrators Urban Affairs Committee. He is a member of the 1996 class of the Harvard
University Seminar for New Presidents of colleges and universities.
Awards received by Dr. McLeod in acknowledgement of his outstanding leadership abilities include the
Distinguished Alumni Award, National Association of Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO)
Administrator of the Year, Tri Cities Association of Educational Office Personnel; Educator of the Year, Virginia
State Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa; Distinguished Service Award, Petersburg, VA Board of Education; and
National Alumni Meritorious Award, FSU. He is the recipient of Keys to the Cities of Petersburg, VA; Columbia,
SC; and Dunn, NC. Dr. McLeod has played a prominent role in FSU’s Youth Motivation Task Force program for
many years.
He is a lifetime member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and one of the founders of FSU’s Epsilon Beta
Chapter. Other professional and civic organizations in which he holds memberships are the National Alliance of
Black School Educators, the American Association of School Administrators, the Black Family Summit Planning
Committee, the FSU National Alumni Association, and he is a life member of the NAACP.
Following graduation from FSU in 1964, Dr. McLeod began his career as a mathematics teacher in
Richmond, Virginia. From there, his career spanned through the ranks of principal, assistant and associate
superintendent, superintendent, and now chancellor of his alma mater. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics
from Fayetteville State University and earned his master’s in elementary school administration and doctorate, in
school administration from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia. A native of Dunn, North
Carolina, Dr. McLeod is a member of the Dunn Chapel Freewill Baptist Church. He is married to the former
Jacqueline Cumbo and has one son, Jeffrey, who is an FSU graduate and an attorney.*
Ik
I t
□
□
NationsBank
Congratulates
Dr. Willis B. McLeod
on his installation as
Fayetteville State University
Chancellor
&
Salutes
Coach William ^^Gus” Gaines
on his Retirement as
FSU Athletic Director
□
a
□