Shaw University to Honor “Women Who Lead”
Raleigh, NC – As part of the day-long celebration of the inauguration of Paulette R. Dillard, PH.D., as its eighteenth president on April 25th, Shaw University will host the “Women Who Lead” luncheon honoring NC Chief Justice Cheri Beasley, Dallas Mavericks CEO Cynthia Marshall, and McDonald’s owner/operator Deborah Holder. The luncheon will begin at 11:00 am in the auditorium of Estey Hall on Shaw University’s campus (118 E. South Street).
Chief Justice Beasley assumed the highest seat on North Carolina’s Supreme Court in February 2019, becoming the first African-American woman ever to serve as Chief Justice. Justice Beasley has served on the North Carolina Supreme Court since 2012, having been appointed to that position by Governor Beverly Perdue, and subsequently winning statewide election to the office in 2014. Justice Beasley had previously served on the Court of Appeals and as a district court judge in the Twelfth Judicial District, Cumberland County. She is the only Chief Justice in our state’s history to have experience as a district court judge. Justice Beasley serves in numerous bar organizations and other professional and civic organizations. She is a graduate of Douglass College at Rutgers University, received her J.D. from the University of Tennessee College of Law, and her Masters of Law (L.L.M.) in judicial studies from Duke University School of Law.
Cynthia Marshall, currently the CEO of the Dallas Mavericks and the NBA’s first woman CEO, is widely recognized as one of the most powerful and influential women in business today. Ms. Marshall came the Mavericks at a time when the franchise needed a leader with her specific skill set. Ms. Marshall previously was senior vice president of Human Resources and chief diversity officer of AT&T. When she retired from AT&T, Ms. Marshall founded Marshalling Resources, a consulting firm that provides support for team building and human resource needs. Ms. Marshall graduated from the University of California-Berkeley with degrees in Business Administration and Human Resource Management. Bennett College and Livingstone have conferred honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees for her many corporate achievements, public service, and support of young people.
Deborah Holder and husband William are the owner/operators of 4 McDonald’s restaurants in Raleigh, NC. The Holders previously had owned 6 McDonald’s restaurants in New York for many years prior to relocating to the Raleigh area in 2011. Prior to joining the entrepreneurial ranks as a McDonald’s owner/operator, Ms. Holder worked to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in Washington, DC. Ms. Holder believes it is vital to give back to the community that supports her business. While in New York, she served as Committee Chair for the New York Metro Black McDonald’s Operators Association for 5 years, during which time they raised over $200,000 for scholarships and other charitable causes. She served on numerous other boards and committees in the area as well. Ms. Holder currently is the Raleigh Board Representative for the National Black McDonald’s Operators Association, and is on the board of the Boys and Girls Club of Durham and Orange Counties.
For information on tickets to the Women Who Lead Luncheon or the Inauguration Gala, go to www.shawu.edu/President18 or call 919.546.8430.
ABOUT SHAW: Shaw University, located in North Carolina’s vibrant Downtown Raleigh, was founded in 1865 and is the first historically black institution of higher education in the Southern United States. Shaw’s mission is to advance knowledge, facilitate student learning and achievement, enhance the spiritual and ethical values of its students, and transform a diverse community of learners into future global leaders. Learn more at www.shawu.edu.