NC Legislative Black Caucus Foundation Annual Education Scholarship Event June 15th

Raleigh, NC — The North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus Foundation (NCBLCF) will host its Annual Education Scholarship Event on June 15, 2018 at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel in the Research Triangle Park. (4600 Emperor Blvd, Durham, NC). The theme of this year’s event is “HBCUs: Continuing the Great Investments for Our Future.” The NCBLF has provided support to higher education in North Carolina for more than 30 years by awarding need-based scholarships to students attending one of the 10 participating Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in North Carolina.

The banquet keynote will be U.S. Congressman Mark Walker. Deborah Holt Noel of WUNC-TV and host of the award winning public affairs program Black Issues Forum will be the Mistress of Ceremonies for the banquet. The education luncheon guest speaker will be Dr. Karrie Dixon interim Chancellor for Elizabeth City State University.  There will be breakout sessions and several opportunities for networking throughout the day.

NCLBCF is a 501(c)(3) organization established in 1986.  The Foundation has a 21-member board that drives the success.  About half of the NCLBCF board members are private (non-legislative) citizens, while the other half are members of the NC Legislative Black Caucus.

Implementing sound organizational systems to ensure that the Foundation operates with the highest levels of efficiency and effectiveness, the aim of NCBLCF is to spend no less than 75% of their revenues on their mission to provide students with educational scholarships.

It is the Foundation’s goal to help address the decrease in college affordability, mounting student debt and to provide opportunities for education, information and empowerment of the community.

For more information, visit nclbcf.org.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Dr. Karrie Dixon

Dr. Dixon has served as a senior administrator at the University of North Carolina System since 2008. In 2014, she was promoted to Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs. Dixon was responsible for overseeing the Division of Academic and Student Affairs for the System’s 17 institutions. During her tenure, she was responsible for providing University-wide guidance for policy that shapes the work and practice within academic and student affairs divisions. She has fostered innovative collaborations among the UNC System, the NC Community College System, the state’s independent colleges and universities, and the NC Department of Public Instruction and has been instrumental in leading multiple projects and policy changes that have greatly impacted students in the University of North Carolina System and statewide.

Dixon also served as the Chief Student Affairs Officer for the UNC System, working closely with Vice Chancellors for Student Affairs and other University leaders on efforts regarding community college transfers, enrollment and minimum admission requirements, campus safety, and military student success. Statewide programs, under her direction, included the College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) Pathways and the federally-funded NC State Approving Agency. Over the years, her research and scholarly presentations focused on summer bridge programs, transfer articulation and strategies for student success.

Prior to joining the UNC System, Dixon served a total of 10 years combined at two other UNC campuses. She previously served at North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Most recently, she was named a 2016-17 American Council on Education (ACE) Fellow. Her host campus for the academic year was Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC.

Congressman Mark Walker

After serving almost two decades as a pastor – Congressman Mark Walker followed a new calling and launched an improbable but successful campaign to represent the people of North Carolina in the United States Congress. With a message of putting people before politics and a heart for all communities, Rep. Walker took on the challenges of reducing the waste and excess of the federal government, fighting human trafficking, getting Washington out of our classrooms and working on tax reform to help stimulate job growth and expand small businesses.

In the 115th Congress, Walker was elected by his colleagues to serve as the Chairman of the Republican Study Committee – the large conservative caucus of the House Republicans and a leading influencer on policy since 1973. He is also the Co-Chairman of the Congressional Prayer Caucus which works successfully to promote efforts that protect the free exercise of religion for all Americans. Additionally, Walker is a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and the Committee on House Administration.

A native Floridian, Walker has called the Piedmont-Triad home for almost three decades. In vocational church ministry, Rep. Walker worked in various pastor roles including directing musical productions and leading overseas mission trips as well as into the heart of our nation’s inner cities. Prior to his ministry work, Walker worked in business and financial management.

Walker lives in Greensboro, North Carolina with his wife Kelly, and his three children – Ryan, Rachel and Anna Claire. Kelly is a nurse practitioner and flight trauma specialist for Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center’s AirCare program.