NCCU Announces 2025 Forty Under Forty Honorees

The North Carolina Central University(NCCU) Office of Alumni Relationshas selected its 2025 Forty Under Forty class, who will be honored on Friday, September 12, 2025, at 7 p.m. The celebration will take place at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel, located at 4700 Emperor Blvd., in Durham

Selected by a panel comprised of alumni, university officials, and industry leaders, the honorees-each under 40-have demonstrated leadership and innovation in fields such as entrepreneurship, education, healthcare, law, social justice, sciences, mass communication and public service. They will be honored at a black-tie celebration that includes a formal dinner, award presentations and entertainment.

"We are excited to celebrate this next group of honorees who have demonstrated exceptional achievements in their respective fields," said LaMisa McCoy Foxx '95, assistant vice chancellor for alumni relations. "We look forward to all they will continue to accomplish as proud ambassadors of NCCU-representing the institution that helped shape them into the inspiring leaders they are today."

Created to acknowledge the remarkable achievements of NCCU's young alumni, the awards showcase individuals who not only excel in their professions but also foster a culture of philanthropy and leadership among their peers.For more information, please contact LaMisa McCoy Foxx at [email protected] or 919-530-7361.

To purchase tickets, visit https://www.nccu.edu/forty-under-forty

The 2025 honorees:

Latorius Adams, '10

Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina

Bachelor of Science in Health Education

Social/clinical research specialist, UNC School of Medicine

India Ali,'13

Decatur, Georgia

Juris Doctorate

Master of Business Administration

Attorney/owner, self-employed, The Law Office of India Y. Ali,

Arthur Anderson Jr., '17, '18

Raleigh, North Carolina

Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice

Master of Science, Criminal Justice

Program Manager, City of Durham Office of Economic and Workforce Development 

Alicia Andrews, '07

Ayden, North Carolina

Bachelor of Science in Public Health Education

Director of education and outreach/project coordinator, Duke University-Center for Health Policy and Inequalities Research

Amber Banks, '07

Durham, North Carolina

Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration

President, African American Alliance of CDFI CEOs; Board chair, Reinvestment Partners

Lakevious Battle, '19

Knightdale, North Carolina

Master of Science in Management Information Systems

Sr. Cloud & AI Solutions Architect, Microsoft; CTO, Sherpa Clouds Inc.

Kierra Bonner, '20

Sanford, North Carolina

Bachelor of Science in Behavioral and Social Sciences

CEO/ Founder, Life of the Party Bus, Houston, Texas

Dionne Bowick, '08

Durham, North Carolina

Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Administration

Director, owner, and operator, Growing Legacy Early Learning Center

Phillip Boyd, '16

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences

Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) educator; Impact leader, North Carolina with Profound Gentlemen

Racheal Brooks '06

Fayetteville, North Carolina

Bachelor of Art in Spanish

Director of Quality Assurance Implementation Solutions, Quality Matters

Tarnosha Burns, '09

Tar Heel, North Carolina

Bachelor of Science in Physical Education

Certification specialist, Department of Administration, North Carolina Office of Historically Underutilized Business

Omari Collins, '16

Charlotte, North Carolina

Bachelor of Arts in English

Creative developer of 4th & 1 with Cam Newton; Head of brand development, NJC Ventures; Head of brand development / executive director and co-Host, Iconic Saga

Christin Cotten, '11

Clayton, North Carolina

Master of Business Administration

Juris Doctor

Assistant staff judge advocate; Founder, Lucy Regent Legal, LLC; Founder and managing attorney; Owner of America's Choice Transport LLC 

Omari Crawford, '13

Decatur, Georgia

Juris Doctor

Master of Business Administration

Attorney at law, Williams Teusink LLC

Asia Cunningham, '07, '09, '17

Warsaw, North Carolina

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

Licensure/Elementary Education

Master of Science in School Administration

Principal, Durham Public Schools

Hadassah Eley, '09

Raleigh, North Carolina

Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Science

CEO, CME Strategies; CEO, Eminent Opulent Realty

Ciji Garner, '14, 24

Morrisville, North Carolina

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

Executive Master of Public Administration

Strategic initiatives analyst, Durham County Government

Tracy Wright Gaskins, '17

Durham, North Carolina

Master of Business Administration

Juris Doctor

Principal corporate counsel, Cisco Systems Inc.

Devin Graham, '06

Raleigh, North Carolina

Bachelor of Science in Biology Chair of the board of directors, EVOLVE Mentoring

Cordara Harper, '17

Cove City, North Carolina

Bachelor of Music in Music Language

Assistant professor of music education and director of choral activities, Grambling State University

Sierra Hobbs, '10

Long Beach, California

Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training

Assistant athletic director for sports medicine/Head athletic trainer, NCCU

Tremain Holloway, '11

Rocky Mount, North Carolina

Bachelor of Science in Mathematics

Doctoral resident in the superintendent's office, Boston Public Schools

Uyi Idahor, '12, '15

High Point, North Carolina

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

Master of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences

Engagement manager, Tricentis Software Company

Dolloress Johnson, 07, 09

Dallas, Texas

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

Master of Public Administration

Executive director of human resources, Arlington Independent School District

Imani Johnson, '21

Atlanta, Georgia

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

Public information communications analyst, City of Durham

Rodney Johnson Jr., '16

Jacksonville, North Carolina

Bachelor of Business Administration

Instructional coach, Onslow County Schools

Johnny Jones II, '13

Bachelor of Science in Biology

Co-founder and CEO; Precision Research and Development Solutions

Senior clinical research associate, IQVIA

Tangela Kenan, '10

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

Co-founder, chief executive officer, 5K Foundation Inc

Reggie McCrimmon, '13

Fayetteville, North Carolina

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

Senior vice president, Crossroads Strategies

Anngelica Mohabir Wilson, '13

Brooklyn, New York

Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication

Interior architectural designer, Determined by Design®, Design Equity Interior Designer

Gregory Pate, '08, '12

Richmond County, North Carolina

Bachelor of Science in Psychology

Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Vice president, Amethyst Counseling Services

Michael Robinson, '14, '17

Butner, North Carolina

Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice

Master of Science, Public Administration

Assistant athletic director for ticket operations, NCCU

Lance Scott Jr., '17

Durham, North Carolina

Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies

Producer, songwriter, composer and educator

Marcus Shields, '11

Sumter, South Carolina

Juris Doctor

Owner/managing attorney, Shields Law PLLC

Gabrielle Simmons Scott, '11, '21

Fayetteville, North Carolina

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

Master of Public Administration

Amondre Smith, '15

Roanoke, Virginia

Bachelor of Science in Public Health Education

Chiropractic physician

Meghan Wilder, '10, '20

Newburgh, New York

Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education

Master of School Administration

Beginning teacher mentor, Durham Public Schools

Kent Williams Jr., '09, '13

Raleigh, North Carolina

Master of Arts in Career Counseling and Placement

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

Assistant director for student leadership, NCCU

Tameka Williams, '06, '11

Lumberton, North Carolina

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

Master of Science in Criminal Justice

Director of staff development and curiosity, Justice System Partners