Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Dr. Debra Saunders-White, the 11th Chancellor of North Carolina Central University, previously served as vice chancellor for information technology systems at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. She passed away on Saturday, Nov. 26 after a brave fight with cancer. In her honor, a "Celebration of Life Tribute" will be held on Friday, Dec. 2 at 2 p.m. in NCCU’s McDougald-McLendon Arena. 

Chancellor Jose V. Sartarelli

"I had the privilege of working with Dr. Saunders-White several times at various UNC system meetings, and every day I am surrounded by her impact on this community. It was practical and innovative, in areas like our IT operations and classroom technology, emergency communications, diversity efforts, and the development of the Learning Commons in Randall Library, among other achievements. But it went beyond our academic environment, in her implementation of a mentoring program for local at-risk teenagers and her work to bring literacy training to Housing Authority residents. Everyone who had the honor of working beside Dr. Saunders-White speaks of her authoritative but compassionate leadership and the role she played in helping them stretch their goals in previously unimaginable ways. My thoughts and prayers are with Deb's family, loved ones, and NCCU community, and I am grateful for the countless ways she helped UNCW grow and excel, because of the kind of professional she was but more so because of the kind of person she was."